Alternatively buy tickets at Sheldon Bosley Knight on North Street from 1 September between 10.00 and 1.00 Thursday to Saturday.
BROOM DANCING – sold out!!
Fancy having a go at a broom dance? It’s an old English folk dance related to the Scottish sword dance but instead danced over a broom. It’s fun and relatively easy but some agility is required. Happenstance Border Morris will put you through your paces. All ages welcome. Some brooms available but bring your own if possible. Tickets: £3 (accompanied children free)
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »‘PLAY THE HARMONICA’ WITH BEN HEWLETT
Ben, an internationally acclaimed harmonica instructor, will teach you how to hold the instrument, breathe, play a blues shuffle, the 12-bar blues – even try an improvisation. Suitable for beginners and improvers. Bring your own harmonica (diatonic, 10- hole, in C) or buy on the day from £8.99.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »THE STORY OF THE BLUES – sold out!!
Steve Page (Americana band Open Secrets) and Ben Hewlett (National Harmonica League chair) take us from the origins of the Blues in Africa and Asia all the way through to 1950s Chicago via work songs, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly and some Vaudeville, performing on guitar, banjo, harmonica and Jew’s harp.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »COMIC SANS SCRIPT
Comic Sans Script make a welcome return to the festival after a sold-out event in 2017. They are a Cheltenham-based troupe of comedians who improvise scenarios from suggestions of objects, professions, places and more provided by those attending, meaning every show is as unique as its audience! Tickets £8
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »CHELTENHAM OPERATIC & DRAMATIC SOCIETY CHOIR (CODS)
The CODS Choir makes a welcome return to the Festival under the musical direction of Beverley Whitaker to perform musical numbers in two sets, ranging from popular classics and West End shows to well-known contemporary songs and more, accompanied by a professional, four-piece band.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »PEARL STRINGING WORKSHOP AT ‘JUST GEMS’
Helen Plumb of ‘Just Gems’ will show her beautiful pearl collection, talk about pearl gathering and help you select a strand of colourful real cultured pearls, grown in freshwater bivalves. She will guide you through the process to create your very own necklace to take home. For more information about Just Gems, go to www.just-gems.co.uk/. Tickets £35 to include materials
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »JAZZ IN THE GARDEN
Bring your picnics, rugs and garden chairs for this popular event and unwind to the sound of the Spa Notes. Order your picnic hamper from event sponsor Food Fanatics and have it delivered to the venue for you to pick up on arrival (email info@food-fanatics.co.uk. Tel 01242 604466). Event supported by Food Fanatics. Tickets £7: £2 under 18s
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »ROBIN TANNER: THE ART OF COUNTRY LIVING
In this illustrated slide talk, local writer and curator John Edgeler outlines the life of the wellknown country artist and etcher Robin Tanner (1904–88) and provides an overview of his rural and floral etchings. and Arts and Crafts home. Tanner is the subject of a retrospective show at Long Room Gallery of Winchcombe opening 19 May 2018 (Tel 01242 602319; website: www.winchcombearchivecollection.wordpress.com. Tickets £5
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »THE SONGMEN
The Songmen have built a reputation as one of the finest and most versatile a cappella groups. Tonight they present a journey through the genres taking you from some of the finest renaissance polyphony, through contemporary sacred music to their trademark jazz and pop arrangements.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »THE ZEN HUSSIES
Six-piece energetic musical behemoth drawing on various influences including VintageRock andRoll,Rhythm and Blues, Ska, Pre-War Jazz, Mariachi Brass and Soulful Latino – all infused with a feisty Post-Punk attitude and a terribly English sensibility. ‘Born showmen with one eye on the absurd … creating a sea of beaming revellers on a dance-floor bursting at the seams’ – Venue Magazine See them here on YouTube. Tickets: £14
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »PHOTOGRAPHIC EXHIBITION BY WINCHCOMBE HISTORY GROUP
*Free Event – No ticket needed* Winchcombe History Group and Winchcombe Museum will show more of the growing photographic archive of life in and around Winchcombe in days gone by.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »BANK HOLIDAY STREET FAIR WITH FESTIVAL FRINGE
*Free Event – No Ticket Needed* With dozens of stalls and the Festival Fringe, the Street Fair is a day packed full of fun for all the family. Stall holders selling everything from food and local produce to crafts, jewellery, furniture and gifts will set up shop on North Street, which will be closed to traffic for the day.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »ART TRAIL
More than 25 local artists exhibiting at 18 venues, most open daily throughout the festival. Winchcombe’s popular Art Trail offers a unique opportunity to view and buy original works of local art and craft. Follow the Trail round Winchcombe, Greet, Toddington, Stanway and Hawling. Meet the artists in studios, coffee shops, gardens and St Peter’s Church, Winchcombe. All Art Trail events are free of charge. View the Art Trail listings Download the Art Trail Brochure Download the Art Trail Map…
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »COFFEE CONCERT – WINCHCOMBE COMMUNITY CHOIR
It’s good to see the Community Choir and their enthusiastic leader Liz Hooper at the Festival again. Come and absorb its glorious worldwide harmonies. The Choir welcomes anyone who wants to sing – no auditions, just a desire for ‘song satisfaction’. Free. Ticket not required. (Donations welcome for refreshments afterwards)
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »ART AND THE COSMOS BY BARBARA CURRY
This fast-paced, fully illustrated talk takes you on an exhilarating journey through space and time. From the earliest times when humans made art, we have visual records of people looking up, wondering what’s going on above them: aboriginal lightning gods, stone age structures, Islamic astronomy, the Aztec sun god and Hubble ‘photographs’ all help to tell the fascinating story. Tickets £5 TICKETS ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE ONLINE BUT CAN BE BOUGHT AT THE DOOR OF THE EVENT
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »WINCHCOMBE POETS EN FÊTE!
Following their highly successful event last year, Winchcombe Poets invite you to another evening of poetry and piano music – with a French flavour with Susy Firth making a welcome return to the Festival. Come, listen and enjoy, with refreshments and a glass of wine. This soirée is not to be missed! Find out more about the poets at helenacavan.com/the-winchcombe-poets-1. Doors open at 7.00pm. The entertainment starts at 7.30pm. Tickets £5 TICKETS FOR THIS EVENT ARE NO LONGER AVAILABLE…
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »MARCEL AND LYDIA
A select programme of outstanding music performed by The Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year Lydia Kenny (Saxophone) and Prizewinning Composer Marcel Zidani (Piano). The evening will include piano works by romantic greats such as Franz Liszt and Grieg with an added touch of Tango and music for saxophone and piano from early Jean-Baptiste Singelée, to contemporary Charlotte Harding. Event supported by British Bespoke Auctions. Doors open 7.00pm. Concert starts at 7.30pm. Tickets: £12 Adults; £4 Under 18s. Bar available.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »COFFEE CONCERT – MORE MAYTIME HARMONY: FIVE IN A BAR & PATCHWORK
Following their great success in earlier coffee concerts, it’s very good to present these two local groups again. Both Patchwork and Five in a Bar entertain audiences around Gloucestershire with their differing takes on close harmony singing. Prepare to be swept along by their infectious joie de vivre! FREE. Ticket not required. (Donations welcome for refreshments afterwards)
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »SCULPTURE EXHIBITION
Original sculptures, many for sale, in various media (stone, metal, wood, glass, wicker), created by Cotswolds and regional artists, set in the beautiful gardens of Charingworth Court. Free. Ticket not required. Tuesday to Sunday 11am – 5pm NB: The Festival cannot accept responsibility for any personal injury, loss or damage as a result of members of the public visiting the Sculpture Exhibition
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »GLORIOUS COLOURED GEMSTONES
Helen Plumb of Just Gems will talk about her adventures sourcing gemstones around the world. She will describe the pitfalls and perils in the murky world of international gem trading and how to distinguish excellence from adequacy and rarity from abundance, using knowledge rather than guesswork. There will be mineral specimens, loose cut gemstones and examples of Helen’s finished jewels. Event supported by Just Gems Tickets £5 A small number of tickets will be available at the door.
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »THE CARDUCCI QUARTET
Recognised as one of today’s most successful string quartets, the internationally renowned Carducci Quartet makes a welcome return to the Festival to perform a concert of Beethoven, Borodin and Ravel. A concert not to be missed! Visit www.carducciquartet.com for more about the Carducci Quartet. ‘….high octane playing balancing control with devil-may-care spontaneity…’ The Guardian Event supported by anonymous donation Doors open at 7.00pm. Event starts at 7:30pm Tickets £14 Adults; £4 under 18s Bar available Tickets will be available at…
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »MATT BLACK, NON-DRIP POET
Matt returns with a full evening show of his trademark silly, serious, sharp, reflective, funny and joyous poetry. Entertaining, thought-provoking, mischievous and previewing some of his forthcoming Edinburgh Fringe show, Disco Dog. Matt is a prize-winning published poet and playwright, and was Derbyshire Poet Laureate (2011–13). He also invented the world’s first Poetry Jukebox. See matt-black.co.uk for more about Matt. Doors open at 7.30pm. The show starts at 8.00pm. Tickets £8 A number of tickets will be available at the…
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »TAKE BETTER PHOTOS – sold out!!
This workshop will help you progress beyond the automatic settings on your camera to create images that have greater appeal and impact. It covers the basics of composition; how to use shutter speed and depth of field for creative effect; and how best to use available light. The workshop is led by David Thomas, and will include classroom instruction, a practical photo walk and review of images taken. By purchasing a ticket or tickets, you are confirming acceptance of the…
MORE INFO & BOOK TICKETS »COFFEE CONCERT – A FEAST OF TUDOR MUSICAL DELIGHT WITH WAYTES AND MEASURES
Based here in Winchcombe, Waytes and Measures play and sing music from Medieval times to the 16th century. Their great variety of period instruments includes recorders, shawms, portative organ, fiddle, gittern, hurdy-gurdy, pipe and tabor, and percussion. Berkeley Castle recently commented that their music was ‘all incredibly professional … a real pleasure’. Free. Ticket not required. (Donations welcome for refreshments afterwards)
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