New summer folk festival

St Mary Bourne hosts Valley Music weekend of songs, bands, music, dance and workshops

THE countdown has begun for the first folk-inspired music festival for north-east Hampshire's Bourne and Test Valleys. Valley Music will be a three-day programme of traditional folk songs, bands, dance and workshops in the village of St Mary Bourne in just over 100 days time.

The family festival, with workshops during the daytime and performance and dance in the evening,will run from Friday, June 24 until Sunday, June 26, will take place in various venues in the village including the church and community hall and a specially-erected tent site near the war memorial.

St Peter's Bell Ringers will kick off a special celebration of English music on the Friday, which will include performances by local schoolchildren, along with award-winning folk duo Belshazzar's Feast among others.

Highlights of Saturday's events include masterclasses on bagpipes, the hurdy gurdy and the fiddle, a performance from Hampshire vocal harmony group Craig Morgan Robson and an evening dance with English dance band Blowzabella.

Blowzabella are known for their inimitable, driving drone-based sound played with a fabulous sense of melody, rhythmic expertise and feeling. They compose their own music which is influenced by British and European traditional dance music. Many bands across Europe who experiment with the boundaries of folk music cite Blowzabella as a major influence.

Sunday's programme focuses on world music, with performances from Uganda's Mityana Choir, samba, African drumming and a Bollywood disco.

Valley Music founder, Mary Childs, said: “As the big weekend gets closer and closer, the village is becoming increasingly excited about hosting our first ever music festival.

“We hope families will come from all over Hampshire and our neighbouring counties to help us celebrate the musical heritage of the British Isles and countries around the world.”

Fundraising events are taking place at St Mary Bourne throughout March to pay for the festival.

Tickets are already on sale and vary in price. However, many of the events are free.

There are discounts available if you buy before Wednesday, June 1.

For more information about Valley Music, including ticket costs, visit www.valleymusic.org.uk or telephone Mary Childs on (01264) 738400 or 07721 866434. To book, telephone Anvil Arts on (01256) 844244 or email box.office@anvilarts.org.uk