Performance

A festival for all tastes – Burton Bradstock – 11 to 19 August

THE 2018 Bradstock Festival, from 11th to 19th August is a delightful programme of classical, jazz, folk and world music preformed by some of Europe’s finest young performers

There are 11 musical events, from lunchtime concerts to late night recitals with supper, performed by the virtuoso festival players and singers, led by festival director, violinist David Juritz, and including Craig Ogden, Milos Milivojevic, Claire Bradshaw, Yuri Zhislin, Eluned Pierce, Adrian Bradbury, David Gordon and Anna Hashimoto.

Monday’s evening concert is by multi-instrumental Irish contemporary folk quartet Ranagri, at St Mary’s Church,  followed by a late night recital with David Juritz, guitarist Craig Ogden and accordionist Miloš Milivojevic in Happy 350th François Couperin, the first of three concerts celebrating the great French master.

Tuesday begins with a lunchtime concert at 12.30pm by pianist Sarah Beth Briggs, winner of the International Mozart Competition in Salzburg, with David Juritz and cellist Adrian Bradbury. In the evening there is innovative and improvisational jazz from 6Pac, followed at 9.45pm by Adrian Bradbury playing Bach’s Cello Suite No 5 joined by Milos Milivojevic for Five Views of the Gulag State by Victor Vlasov.

Wednesday’s chamber concert is a guitar trio by de Fossa, a Mozart sonata, Faure’s C minor piano quartet, and Vaclav Trojan’s music for the film, The Emperor and the Nightingale. The Atéa Wind Quintet give the late night recital of Ravel’s Tombeau de Couperin and excerpts from Bach’s Goldberg Variations.

On Thursday lunchtime, Alena Walentin, flute, Yuri Zhislin, viola and Eluned Pierce, harp, play trios by Debussy, Ibert and Leclair. In the evening, From Berlin to Bernstein is a programme of songs from the Berlin nightclubs to New York via the streets of London and the foothills of the Alps, performed by Claire Bradshaw and Damian Thantrey with  the Festival Players. The late night Couperin tributes continue with pianist David Gordon and friends playing his mesmeric Les Baricades Mistérieuses, plus Gordon’s own Mysterious Barracudas.

The gala finale on Friday includes two masterpieces to celebrate Debussy’s centenary, a virtuoso accordion concerto by Galliano, and works by Mozart, Richard Strauss,\Bach and more.

For more information visit www.burtonbradstockfestival.com

 

 

Footloose at the EP – Bridport 21 to 25 August

BRIDPORT Musical Theatre Company is staging the hit rock’n’roll musical Footloose at the Electric Palace from 21st to 25th August.

City boy Ren thinks his life is over when he is forced to move to small-town backwater Bomont with his mother. But things are far worse than he could have ever imagined, as the town has banned dancing following a terrible tragedy.

The ban on dancing is the brainchild of the local preacher so when his daughter sets her sights on Ren trouble is sure to follow. It isn’t long before Ren can’t resist breaking the rules, and he’s not alone.

Based on the popular film, Footloose the musical has an Oscar-nominated score including the classic 80s anthems, Holding Out for a Hero, Almost Paradise, Let’s Hear it for the Boy and, of course, the title track.

Tickets are only available from Bridport Tourist Information Centre in person or by calling 01308 424901

 

 

Hank Wangford has his hat on – Bridport – September 1st

HAT fan and country music icon Hank Wangford brings his Lost Cowboys to Bridport’s Haturday – the main day of Bridport Hat Festival – Saturday 1st September. The festival is one of the biggest (and most eccentric) days in the West Dorset calendar.

As well as fun, Bridport Hat Festival is also a fundraiser for head-related charities and a giant summer-ending party for the town and its visitors – all run by volunteers. The most creative, quirky, stylish and inventive headwear combines with live music, multiple competitions, demonstrations, talks, displays, shows, a hat auction, games, hatted dogs (yes, hatted dogs) and much more, all ‘topped’ off by a HUGE mass hat-wearing photoshoot in Bucky Doo Square.

Bridport Museum is running a family event on Wednesday 29th August, from 11am to 3pm – come and dress up in some historic hats in the Museum to take a walk back in time. Then make yourself a hat inspired by the collection, ready  to wear at Bridport Hat Festival. Materials are provided or bring a basic hat to decorate if preferred!