Enjoy music and picnic as manor hosts festival

Live music returns to the Bath area from tonight (July 30) to Sunday with a series of classic concerts.

Iford Manor near Bradford on Avon launches its impromptu Bounceback Festival 2020 – a celebration of live music from international artists over four evenings.

The festival offers music from the comfort of your socially-distanced picnic in the stunning Iford Valley with the manor as a backdrop.

William Cartwright-hignett, owner of Iford Manor, said: “The music industry has suffered particularly badly over the lockdown period, with most artists having had barely any professional work since March.”

His wife Marianne added: “We hope that in some small way this festival can not only provide much needed revenue to artists, but also act as a beacon generally for live music. And of course it finally gives us all something positive to put in our diaries!”

Internationally acclaimed violinist Tim Kliphuis brings his intoxicating blend of gypsy jazz, folk and classical to kick off the festival tonight, with bassist Roy Percy and guitarist Nigel Clark.

Baroque classics will be brought to life by nine international musicians tomorrow (July 31).

On Saturday multi-award winning singer-pianist Joe Stilgoe is joined by Ben Reynolds on drums and Tom Farmer on bass.

The weekend is rounded off with an opera gala hosted by international soprano Mary Bevan MBE, on Sunday with an award-winning group of friends.

Booking is open at www.ifordmanor.co.uk. Tickets start at £25, either for socially-distanced picnic pitches or seats at the back.