Festival promises music, art, gardens and wine-tasting
CRICCIETH Festival will be taking place from June 15 to 22, with a very varied programme which includes live music, a garden trail, the David Lloyd George memorial lecture given by former MP Elfyn Llwyd, an art exhibition and craft workshops.
The festival starts with live music from Jamie Smith’s Mabon, at the Memorial Hall on Saturday, June 15 at 8pm.
Doors and bar open at 7.15pm.
The band offers a distinctive, multi-award winning blend of world music and Celtic roots, presented with good humour, joy and passion.
Tickets for this gig cost £15. On the Sunday and Monday there is a Garden trail, from noon to 4pm.
Start from the Bishop Gwilym Room at St Catherine’s church, and visit some of the town’s gardens, with three new gardens added this year.
Some gardens have sculptures, and on your return you can enjoy the crafts exhibition and refreshments at the Bishop Gwilym Room.
The two-day ticket for this trail costs £5 and includes a map.
On Sunday evening at the Memorial Hall, at 7.30pm (doors open at 7pm) Music in Criccieth at the Festival presents “Bronwen’s Big Birthday Bash”, a celebration of “Slap, Tickle and Saw” Bronwen Naish (double bass and musical saw), and Maurice Horhut (piano). Admission is free to this concert sponsored by Dr Bern Atenstaedt.
From Monday, until Saturday, the Castle Gallery, in Castle Square, will host an art show, courtesy of Andrew Kime. This is open daily 10am-5pm, and includes paintings, textiles, ceramics and sculptures. Admission free, but donations are welcome.
Also on Monday, at Llanystumdwy Village Hall, former MP Elfyn Llwyd delivers the David Lloyd George Memorial lecture. Doors open at 7pm, and the talk starts at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £12.
On the Tuesday at 7.30pm at the Memorial Hall, the Starlight Players perform a variety show, following the trials and tribulations of Chris, Ellie and Jules as they endeavour to establish a theatre group in their town, and encounter star-struck divas, inept dancers, grumpy caretakers and absent-minded ladies. Tickets £8, or £6 for under-15s.
The same night, but at Cadwalader’s, Castle Street, will be a jazz night with saxophonist Alex. Admission £5, pay at the door.
On Wednesday, at the Memorial Hall, the Pisces Piano Quintet will present a lively and varied concert which includes works by Schubert and Hummel. The concert starts at 7.30pm, doors open at 7pm. Admission costs £12.
On the Friday, at 8pm, at the Memorial Hall, the London Swing Orchestra, a Jazz Age Swing Band of international repute, will bring their interpretation of popular music from the great dance band days.
Other events include a flower festival at St Catherine’s Church, craft workshops, and a wine-tasting competition.
■ For full details of the events, and to book your tickets, see the website: www.cricciethfestival. org.uk.