ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT revelation st mary’ s
Nestled just off Ashford High Street is the 14th-century St Mary the Virgin Church – warm, intimate, quaint, the very picture of what a country church should be, slightly at odds with being just a stone’ s throw from a bustling high street.
Jon Boden © David Angel
© Lewis Brockway Seth Lakeman
But it’ s a church with a difference as just five years ago it opened its doors as Revelation St Mary’ s – a unique music venue at the heart of Ashford’ s arts scene. What makes this place so special is the passion of all those involved, with just one full-time member of staff and two part timers, RSM( a registered charity) relies on its amazing team of volunteers and its board of trustees, who help run the box office and bar, steward events and anything else required.
This revolutionary approach to arts programming( the church is still a working church) is nothing new for Ashford who were also one of the first to embrace the concept of shared space with great success.
Amazingly for a town that’ s central to international travel and business, Ashford has no major arts venue but is home to a number of great arts organisations including Rose Bruford College and Jasmin Vardimon dance and Ashford realised it needed a venue of its own.
Following major investment and support from both Ashford Borough Council and Arts Council England, RSM opened its doors in 2011, with an exceptional acoustic, high quality sound and projection system plus an ambition to transform the arts scene in Ashford. Five years later it’ s well on its way, welcoming international artists such as Courtney Pine and Martha Wainwright, performers such as Gaz Coombes, Toploader and the Unthanks to name but a few, along with rising stars Ezra Furman, Coco and the Butterfields and Johnnie Flynn, quickly gaining a reputation on the circuit as a truly unique venue.
Creative directors Anna Moulson of Melting Vinyl and Matthew Sharp, make sure RSM has an eclectic mix of contemporary and classical from Minnesota indie-rock band Low on 1st August to the wonderful acapella Voice with celebrated US cellist Matt Haimovitz on 6th August.
But it doesn’ t stop there. RSM has just launched a great new series of kids’ concerts: Wheels on Debussy aimed at pre-schoolers and parents – a truly relaxed affair combing craft, coffee and cakes and top-quality music where children dance around and just have fun; the Curiosity Club, a series of entertaining talks and lectures with the fantastic Dave Bramwell, Sony awardwinning presenter on BBC Radio 3 and 4; plus upcoming concerts with the amazing Jon Boden from Bellowhead on 12th November and a special Christmas performance by the stunning Seth Lakeman on 10th December.
So take a trip to Ashford and visit Revelation St Mary’ s – you never know what you might find. Visit www. revelationstmarys. co. uk for full programme details or call 01233 633201.
Where is Revelation St Mary’ s? St Mary the Virgin The Churchyard, Ashford, Kent TN23 1QG
Just off the M20 Junction 9 40min from Medway 30min from Folkestone and Canterbury
10min walk form Ashford International Station
Free parking in Tufton Street after 6pm – just five mins walk from venue
Want to get involved? Revelation St Mary’ s is always looking for volunteers to help with a range of opportunities on offer from marketing to stewarding, technical to admin. For further information contact kate @ revelationstmarys. co. uk
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