Full line-up revealed for Bath Festival
The full line-up has been announced for this year’s Bath Festival, and it includes world renowned musicians, acclaimed writers, comedians and influential leaders and thinkers.
And the Finale Weekend includes performances from Mcfly, UB40, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and KT Tunstall.
The Bath Festival runs from Friday, May 15 to Sunday, May 24, celebrating the best in music and books with more than 140 events.
Literature
The literature side of the festival embraces the spirit of enquiry as some of the big issues of our time are subject to lively debate, from sustainability and democracy to mental health and morality.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, right, will be exploring issues of morality, while MP David Lammy will be talking about tribalism and community, the subject of his new book Tribes.
Festival-goers can enjoy comedian Marcus Brigstocke tearing through the Sunday papers or chuckle along as Rachel Parris, below, brings her new stand-up show to Bath.
You can drop in to learn about the sixth century hero Beowulf or how to cultivate a healthy brain with advice from psychologist Kimberley Wilson.
Bestselling novelist Neil Gaiman will be commemorating the centenary of sci-fi guru Ray Bradbury in discussion via Skype with award-winning Bradbury biographer Sam Weller.
Cult graphic designer Stanley Donwood, the man behind Radiohead’s artwork, will talk about his career and share notes and sketches.
Marine biologist Monty Halls and his family will be sharing stories of their wildlife adventures on the Galapagos islands.
Emily Eavis will be looking back at 50 years of Glastonbury Festival, and comedian Adam Buxton will be delivering his comic ramblings.
There will be a strong poetry and spoken word collection, including the three times World Poetry Slam Champion Buddy Wakefield.
Other visiting writers include George Alagiah, Lionel Shriver, Polly Toynbee, Claire Tomalin, James Runcie and Joanna Trollope.
Music
This year’s music programme offers performances in some of Bath’s most historic buildings.
The festival returns to Bath Abbey for an evening of Renaissance choral music with The Gesualdo Six, while pianist Bertrand Chamayou will be at the Assembly Rooms.
The queen of punk Patti Smith will be filling The Forum, while folk singer Chris Wood gives an intimate gig at Walcot House.
International conductor Charles Hazelwood will be bringing the Paraorchestra to the Roman Baths.
Bath Philharmonia will be joined by the Band of the Royal Marines School of Music for the Concert for the People of Bath.
This year sees a revival of the Bath Festival Orchestra, originally set up by Yehudi Menuhin in 1959. Its first festival concert at the Assembly Rooms will be recorded by BBC Radio 3. There will also be jazz from Bristol band Get the Blessing.
The Dodge Brothers return to provide a live soundtrack to the 1928 silent movie Beggars of Life, in a screening in partnership with Bath Fringe.
The festival is working with Scala Radio, the new national entertainment radio station which plays classical music for modern.
You can immerse yourself in music at a workshop with Bath Camerata exploring Brahms’ Requiem, followed by a performance from the choir in the acoustically perfect historic Prior Park Chapel, and the massed ranks of a new multi-schools choir take to the stage at the festival Finale Weekend.
Finale Weekend
The Finale Weekend is a spectacular two-day music event on Bath Recreation ground on Saturday and Sunday, May 23 and 24. The line-up includes Mcfly, Scouting for Girls and KT Tunstall on the Saturday and UB40, featuring Ali Campbell and Astro, Billy Ocean, Fun Lovin’ Criminals and and Seth Lakeman on the Sunday. One-day tickets and weekend tickets for Finale Weekend are on sale now.
The Bath Festival 2020 opens with the free Party in the City on Friday, May 15, attended by thousands of people each year. Musicians, poets, bands and choirs will perform in more than 30 venues across the city, with outdoor stages in Queen Square, Parade Gardens and Southgate. General release tickets go on sale on March 5 at www.thebathfestival. org.uk, 01225 463362 or in person from Bath Box Office, 2 Terrace Walk, Bath BA1 1LN.