Bigger - better at Arundel Festival
ONE of the great success stories of recent Arundel Festivals looks set for even greater success this year.
The Big Weekends over the two weekends during the festival (August 20–30) are bigger than ever this time round, established now as important new platforms for a wide range of up-and-coming musicians from the area.
All performances are free.
Glenda Harkess, artistic co-ordinator for the festival, introduced the Big Weekends two years ago and is delighted at the way that they have taken root, rapidly becoming a key focus for the festival.
"In year three now, they are bigger than ever. I was just thinking that Jubilee Gardens are not used properly and I wanted to draw on local talent. It has just escalated from there.
"I don't tend to do things on a small scale! I went to Northbrook College to collaborate. I knew that they had a sound and music department, and we started off with six bands on each weekend day. It was a small stage to start with and there was no bar, but it was so successful that we got a bigger and better stage the next year and bigger and better equipment and we had a bar. And now it has grown again."
And so too has its reputation. Glenda was approached by more than enough performers wanting to take part that she could have filled the programme before she was even ready to start looking. The event has got a healthy reserve list just in case any of the performers should fall through.
The first Sunday of the festival will feature bands from Northbrook College; the other days will offer a mix of performers across a range of different musical styles.
Glenda decided against theming the days and having a folk day and a rock day and so on. She felt the important thing was to offer variety on the day, given that most people tend to drift in and drift out - though she has been delighted at the number of people who have come along and stayed all day.
"We felt that it if was just a folk day, then perhaps not everyone would be drawn to it. We thought it would be far better to be much more eclectic all day." More details on www.arundelfestival.co.uk. The Arundel Festival runs from August 20–30.
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Weather for Horsham
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
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