FESTIVALS
FESTIVAL FEVER HITS KENT! cont.
JAM On The Marsh
www.jamconcert.org/jam-on-the-marsh // 5-15 July
JAM on the Marsh spans
Romney Marsh from 5th – 15th
July including seven concerts,
five exhibitions, four children’s
events, two theatrical
performances, three poetry
recitals and a churches tour.
There’s something for
everyone!
Changeling Theatre’s
acclaimed, open-air
production of Noel Coward’s
comedy classic Blithe Spirit
comes to New Romney’s Old
School Garden. Celebrated
novelist Charles Condomine
invites local medium and
eccentric Madame Arcati to
conduct a séance, but the scheme backfires… Bring a chair, a rug and
watch this wonderful play under the vast Marsh sky.
Music runs throughout the festival. Chart topping group Voces8
and the Canterbury Cathedral Girls’ Choir join forces for the first time
ever, and the BBC Singers and BBC Radio 3 return to JAM on the Marsh
performing one of the greatest choral works, Rachmaninoff’s Vespers,
as part of the festival’s commemoration of WW1. The London Mozart
Players and Mousai Singers perform Fauré’s Requiem.
Enjoy five art and photography exhibitions: renowned
photojournalist Justin Sutcliffe captures faces in unexpected objects,
local artist Ruth Parkinson brings us her dramatic Time and Tide
exhibition, local photographer Susan Pilcher makes a return after her
hugely successful Marsh at Night exhibition last year, plus there’s
exhibitions by students of the Romney Resource Centre and Kate
Walters ‘tunes in’ to the music and the churches of the festival. Come
to the Children’s Sunday ‘JAM’-packed with art, crafts, drama and steam
trains.
Throughout the festival there will be a bus service to most events
for just £1 return; must be booked in advance.
The Big O Festival // www.thebigofestival.co.uk // 7 July
The Big O is Kent's biggest and best vintage festival packed full of
memories. The festival has dedicated decade zones from the 1940s and
50s to the 1960s, 70s and 80s. With live bands, DJs, a great vintage
market, classic cars (register only) and vintage scooters. Each zone
features film and TV props. And this year an expanded 1940’s zone and
a celebration of 50 years of Trojan records, as well as a great retro
gaming tent, retro beauty parlour, lovely street foods and bars, a giant
Ferris wheel and kids rides. The best bit of all is its free to get in. Follow
the events on social media (bigofest) and at www.thebigofestival.co.uk.
Hythe Festival // www.hythefestival.co.uk // 7-15 July
Less than three months to go
before the grandest event in
the district this year. The
ambitious programme for the
Hythe Festival offers a
programme of events with
something, quite literally, for
everyone. The first weekend
brings a festival within a festival
in the form of ‘Fun on the
Green’ with free events across
both days. The extensive nine-
day programme, detailed on
their website, culminates with
an extravaganza of music and
fireworks on the final weekend.
Kent County Show // www.kentshowground.co.uk // 6-8 July
Leeds Castle Classical Concert // www.leeds-castle.co.uk // 14 July
Open from 8am to 6pm every day, the Kent County Show is a wonderful
day out with plenty of displays, entertainment and local food. With
over 400 exhibitors and trade stands and over 300 competitions,
activities and displays. The three-day event brings together the very
best of Kent with animals and food, fun and excitement and above all
a sense of what ’The Garden of England’ has to offer.
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People in their thousands have attended the stunning setting of Leeds
Castle across the last 39 years to be entertained by this amazing open-
air musical delight. The first concert took place in 1978 and to celebrate,
along with classical favourites, the audience will be treated to a special
finale including greatest hits from the 70’s era. This special ruby
celebratory event will have a real birthday party atmosphere throughout
the summer’s afternoon and evening.