‘Culture and creativity’ – for nothing!
Free events a key feature for Leek Arts Festival
NEARLY half of all events in this year’s Leek Arts Festival programme will be free of charge, festival organisers have confirmed.
The Festival, missing for the past two years because of covid, is bouncing back next month with a line up of national and international stars alongside dozens of events featuring local artists and groups.
A key feature of this year’s Leek Arts Festival programme will be the number of events on offer completely free of charge.
And one of the earliest free gigs will feature an explosion of sound and culture as the Tri Nations Trio hit the stage at Leek’s Foxlowe Arts Centre on May 4.
This newlyformed group has collaborated to bring a unique new sound to audiences across the country.
TNT features Mr Will, a Stoke-on-trent based musician of dual heritage with over 20 years experience as an international fingerstyle guitarist, percussionist, composer and teacher; along with Zimbabwean singer and percussionist Bruce Ncube and Gambian singer and kora player Sefo Kanuteh.
Their Leek performance is part of a project, funded by Arts Council England, which has allowed the trio to share and compose material which they are now performing in various locations acrss the UK.
Arts Festival Chairman Phil Edmeades said: “This promises to be an exciting night out featuring three brilliant musicians who will be supported by the Leek U3A African Drumming Group. “Incredibly, we’ve been able to secure this gig at absolutely no cost, allowing us to put it on free of charge. Anyone who wants to enjoy the buzz of culture and creativity exploding from TNT just needs to turn up at Leek’s Foxlowe Arts Centre at 7.30pm on Wednesday May 4.” Other free events in the Festival programme include a string quartet concert in the rear yard of a local pub on May 8, a day of folk music and storytelling on May 14, free ska music sessions, free Blues and Americana events and a gathering of hundreds of scooter enthusiasts on May 22.
Major ticketed events include Eddi Reader on May 13, Scott Doonican - frontman of the madcap Barsteward Sons of Val Doonican - on May 20, Fairport Convention on May 25, Climax Blues Band on May 28, comedian Boothby Graffoe on June 3; and internationally renowned jazz flautist Gareth Lockrane who will be appearing with the Joe Tatton Trio on June 8.
Tickets for all these events are available at The Foxlowe Arts Centre or online at www.leekartsfestival.co.uk where further information and full programme listings can be found.
Incredibly, we’ve been able to secure the TNT gig at absolutely no cost
Arts Festival Chairman Phil Edmeades