Line-up for Ribchester Festival of Music and Art announced

INTERNATIONALLY-RENOWNED violinist Tamsin Little, acclaimed pianist Martin Roscoe and jazz legends Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen are among the line-up appearing at this summer’s Ribchester Festival of Music and Art.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Mar 2012, 15:07 BST

The festival takes place from June 20th-24th and this year’s will be extra-special – it’s the 20th anniversary of the festival which has, over the years, continued to draw top names from the world of music.

This year’s line-up includes the festival’s first artistic director, Prof. Malcolm Layfield, who returns with The Goldberg Ensemble for the final concert on June 24th. The Ensemble were regulars throughout the early years of the festival.

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With tickets at accessible prices – from £5 for a concert by the Tempest flute trio, to £25 for main aisle seats at the most expensive events – organisers hope to have “full house” signs out at every event.

The programme was announced at a 2012 launch concert at the festival’s main venue, St Wilfrid’s Church, on March 22nd. Mezzo soprano Joyce Tindsley and pianist Tim Kennedy entertained with a programme which ranged from Purcell to Elgar, Aaron Copeland to Gershwin.

For Joyce the concert was a return to home-ground, as the acclaimed singer was brought up in Inglewhite and had music lessons in Longridge before studying at Bangor University and the Royal Northern College of Music. Later she returned to Longridge when her husband, Michael, was Methodist minister at Christ Church. Their home is now in Burscough.

Joyce and her accompanist Tim, a Manchester-based musician, sing with the BBC Daily Service singers. Tim said: “It was a pleasure to come and do a recital in the lovely village of Ribchester.”

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Festival chairman Mr Tim Rainford said: “This year’s birthday event sees many popular artists making a return visit – Tamsin Little, Martin Roscoe, Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen have all delighted previous audiences.”

Friends Of The Festival will enjoy priority booking until April 8th. After that the box office is contactable on 01254 878881 or you can book online at: www.ribmusicfestival.co.uk

The principal festival sponsors are Booths supermarket and the Friends of the Ribchester Festival. Other major sponsors are Workhouse Creative Marketing and Ribble Valley Borough Council. Sponsorship opportunities are still available, contact Tim Rainford on 01254 878957.

Highlights of the 2012 festival are:

June 20th – Donald Maxwell and Friends take a musical journey through Gilbert and Sullivan; Tempest flute trio.

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June 21st – two concerts by the Pachelbel String Quartet, at St Wilfrid’s Church and St Saviour’s, Stydd; Tamsin Little and Martin Roscoe; Ribchester-based actress Melissa Sinden and Friends present Poems By Candlelight

June 23rd – Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen; Absolution Saxophone Quartet.

June 24th – Festival Eucharist sung by Stonyhurst College’s Schola Cantorum. The Rt Rev. Nicholas Reade, Bishop of Blackburn, will preside and preach; Malcolm Layfield and The Goldberg Ensemble.

The festival also includes Ribchester Amateur Theatrical Society’s 11th Festival Fringe promenade production starting at the White Bull at 8 p.m. on June 20th, 21st and 22nd. This year’s production has the theme of Wartime Ribchester 1939-45.

For festival details, including concert times and venues, visit {http://www.ribmusicfestival.co.uk or call the box office on 01254 878881 after April 8th.