Still some major events to come at Leek Arts Festival
AS we move towards the final couple of weeks in the 2022 Leek Arts Festival programme there are still some major events to come.
First up are the mighty Fairport Convention - known as the ‘godfathers’ of folk/rock - who have been coming to Leek in May for more than 30 years.
Ever popular and always evolving, Fairport will be on stage at the Foxlowe Arts Centre tonight (May 25) at 8pm (doors open 7.30pm) with a few tickets - £25 - still available on the door. After two Covid-hit years this promises to be a comeback gig to beat all comeback gigs.
Friday (May 27) sees the Peak District Big Band, again at the Foxlowe. This 19-piece outfit - mostly young people - offer a mood-lifting mix of music and song from swing to modern jazz classics. Tickets are £12 from the Foxlowe or online at www. leekartsfestival.co.uk Doors open 7.30pm.
On Saturday the Foxlowe will be rocking to the sound of local favourites Climax Blues Band with doors open at 7.30pm for an 8pm start. Tickets are £15 from the venue or online as above.
For those who enjoy choral music don’t miss the St Cecilia Singers who will provide the choir at Leek’s All Saints’ Church on Sunday (May 29) for a special Jubilee Choral Evensong starting at 4pm.
And looking slightly ahead to the following week take the opportunity to see surrealist comic and musician Boothby Graffoe - as far as we know, the only comedian named after a tiny hamlet in Lincolnshire.
Boothby will be on stage at The Foxlowe on Friday June 3, with doors open at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £15 from the Foxlowe or online as above.
LAF chairman Phil Edmeades, said: ‘After two years without a festival we’re delighted to have bounced back with such a successful programme of events.
“Everything we’ve put on so far, including the Tri Nations Trio, the Rondino Strings, Eddi Reader, Bernard Wrigley and Scott Doonican, has been well-received by festival fans. We’ve also had tremendous support from local groups and individuals who have staged their own events as part of the LAF 2022 programme.
‘These have included the hugely popular Scooterfest, Leek Blues and
Americana sessions, ska sessions, and a wide range of events staged by the team at The Foxlowe. We now have 11 more events until the festival ends in early June and details are at www.leekartsfestival.co.uk.”