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Beverley’s inspirational feast of festivals for 2009
Story published: Thursday, 30 April 2009
Music and the written word combine with boutique shops and cosmopolitan cafes to create a festival treat in the elegant East Yorkshire medieval town of Beverley.
British folk legend Billy Bragg, a celebration of early music and inspiration from top authors headline 2009’s feast of Beverley festivals. And with short break suggestions on offer from Visit Hull & East Yorkshire, Beverley provides the perfect backdrop for a weekend break with a touch of culture.
Under the shadow of the magnificent 13th century Minster, Beverley with its narrow streets, antique shops and craft arcades, is renowned for its colourful market, historical architecture and its music.
Nestling on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, Beverley’s annual festivals of early, chamber and folk music celebrate the town’s ancient tradition as a centre of musical excellence and attract visitors from far and wide.
A highlight is Beverley Folk Festival (19-21June) a mix of breathtaking roots, world and acoustic music, dance, comedy and family events
. www.beverleyfestival.com
This year Billy Bragg returns to headline the opening night on Friday 19th June while the Saturday headliner will be The Peatbogs, described as ‘the future of Celtic dance music’. Also appearing at the Festival will be The Demon Barber Roadshow, which won the 'Best Live Act' award at the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, and Seth Lakeman, a Mercury Prize nominated artist.
In a brand new layout the free-to-enter Festival Village and Wold Top Performance Marquee becomes the outdoor hub of the Festival, brimming with an eclectic mix of market stalls promoting fair trade and ethical produce from around the globe as well as an official merchandise outlet for Festival artists CDs and the Music Café.
The Wold Top Performance Marquee will also showcase the best of national new and emerging talent - and host the Festival bar, where visitors can sample a special Wold Top festival beer. This delicious brew has been designed specially for the event by award-winning East Yorkshire micro-brewery, Wold Top Brewery.
Younger visitors will be well catered for too with children's activities expected to include storytelling for all the family, singing workshops, learning about music and face painting. Children under the age of 11 years are also admitted free to all festival concerts and events, making it the perfect way to spend a family weekend.
Launching Beverley’s year of festivals will be the Beverley and East Riding Early Music Festival (21 – 23 May), celebrating the musical and architectural heritage of the town and its Minster.
www.ncem.co.uk
The Festival remains one of the cultural landmarks of the East Riding of Yorkshire that embraces a mix of concerts , illustrated talks and educational activities.
Topping the bill - and opening the Festival in the Toll Gavel Methodist Church - is Red Priest, an acoustic foursome offering a ‘rock-chamber concert approach to early music’ and the only early music group to have been compared in the press to the Rolling Stones, the Marx Brothers, Spike Jones and the Cirque du Soleil!
Among other guest artists for 2009 are the acclaimed viol group Fretwork presenting a timely commemoration of the genius of Henry Purcell (Beverley Minster, Friday 22) and The Bach Players led by Nicolette Moonen presenting a programme of Bach’s instrumental arrangement of Pergolesi’s masterpiece ‘Stabat Mater’.
The written word takes centre stage 1-11 October at the Beverley Literature Festival (
www.beverley-literature-festival.org), which offers over 30 events for writers and readers of all ages led by some of the finest authors around, including Lionel Shriver, Richard Holmes, David Guterson and Bernard Cornwell.
There are also events for children and young families, from ‘sing and sign with your baby’, a spell-binding session by the master story-teller Ben Haggarty and a chance for youngsters to have ‘their ribs tickled to bits’ by Jeremy Strong and Kjartan Poskitt.
For full details of events throughout 2009, accommodation suggestions and short break ideas in Hull and East Yorkshire, click on to
www.realyorkshire.co.uk
ENDS
For press enquiries, please contact Dan Harrison, Visit Hull and East Yorkshire PR Executive, on 01482 486567 or
Daniel.Harrison@vhey.co.uk
Notes to editors:
1) Visit Hull and East Yorkshire is the Destination Management Organisation for the Yorkshire sub-region. VHEY was formed from a partnership between Yorkshire Forward, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and Hull City Council.
www.realyorkshire.co.uk