Wetherby Festival 2009

This year’s Festival will be held between Saturday 17th October & Sunday 1st November, and it promises to be a cracker!

If you enjoy live music, theatre, literary events, dance and more besides, then look out for Wetherby Festival’s eyecatching leaflet which will be dropping through local letterboxes in the area this autumn. From Saturday 17^th October to Sunday 1^st November, Wetherby Festival will play host to top artistes, performing in venues in and around the town.

Wetherby Festival is unique on the UK festival calendar because it hosts both professional and amateur events alike, offering audiences an opportunity to see established performers as well as local theatre and music groups.

This year’s Festival promises as exciting and eclectic a line-up as ever! Acts already booked include the Pasadena Roof Orchestra, with their brilliant mix of swing and dance music. Also appearing is top Queen tribute band Kings of Queen, who promise ‘a terrific show!’ Folk fans won’t be disappointed; Scottish fiddle sensations Blazin’ Fiddles, who Mike Harding described as ‘absolutely mindblowing’ are storming into town, and Hilary James and Simon Mayor will showcase their virtuoso blend of finely crafted music and song. A very special treat awaits lovers of dance. This year Subitango (pictured) will delight audiences with their exquisite displays of tango dance and the powerful Tango Nuevo tango music of Astor Piazzolla. The Independent described their performance as ‘intense, epic and beautiful.’

Everest mountaineer Doug Scott will enthral audiences talking about his pioneering ascent of the Southwest Face of Everest back in 1975. Journalist and broadcaster Simon Hoggart will also present an entertaining talk to festivalgoers; he’s the man who famously said ‘Peter Mandelson is the only man I know who can skulk in broad daylight!’

You’re guaranteed ‘poems and cartoons to go’ courtesy of Yorkshire poet Ian MacMillan and Cartoonist of the Year Tony Husband, who offer a ‘unique, improvised evening in which the audience are the stars.’ The Richmond-based North Country Theatre Group will also appear, and performances by the Leeds Symphony Orchestra, the Parish Church Choir, and the Wetherby Silver Band are also secured.

Perhaps one of 2009’s more eye-catching events will be a performance by The Knicker Lady – a unique, hilarious one-woman show that ‘romps through the chronology of underwear in an unforgettable way that’s just too good to miss.’ Creator Rosemary Hawthorn says: ‘It’s a happy show; people like to laugh!’

Details about how to obtain tickets will be available soon!

Would you consider sponsoring us?

Wetherby Festival is a Registered Charity run by a team of volunteers, dedicated to bringing the best of the Arts to the town since 1977. The Festival team is inviting sponsorship for this year’s events, both from the business community and from individuals who wish to support the Arts. We have a wide range of sponsorship packages available depending on your level of contribution, and benefits can include:

• A credit or your logo in our festival leaflet (distributed to over 15,000 homes across the Wetherby area);
• Preferential booking, complementary tickets, reserved seating, or even hospitality facilities at your sponsored event;
• The opportunity to meet our artistes, wherever possible;

We welcome your sponsorship, no matter how much or little you can afford. Your support will help to maintain Wetherby’s reputation as a lively town where the Arts continue to be enjoyed at the heart of our community.

Please contact either of our sponsorship directors for more information: Mary Anslow (maryanslow@yahoo.co.uk) or Nick Hopkinson (nickhopkinson100@yahoo.co.uk).  Thank you!

Get involved!

The Festival Board is always pleased to receive suggestions for the programme, and to hear from groups and individuals wishing to take part.

We’re also keep to recruit additional  Board members who have good organisational skills, and plenty of experience in business, publicity and marketing.  You also, of course, need to have a love of the Arts and be keen to promote them in Wetherby!

Our email address is info.waf@ntlworld.com

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