Festival opens in high spirits
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Press Release Published: 7 July 2008
Nature's wrath failed to dampen spirits as hundreds turned out to celebrate the first weekend of Frome Festival 2008.
Somerset 's largest community festival saw record audiences support the beginning of this year's ten-day celebration of the performing arts.
Mendip's historic market town will host more than 150 events from Friday 4 July to Sunday 13 July.
Frome's sax master Iain Ballamy launched the cultural fiesta at Rook Lane Chapel with his three-piece ensemble, Quercus. Ballamy's emotional range, Huw Warren's delicate piano phrasing and June Tabor' haunting vocals sent a happy crowd home enchanted.
Elsewhere, the Czech Republic 's Jolly Jumps Dance Theatre kicked off the Merlin Theatre's festival programme with a thrilling adaptation of Tolstoy's Anna Karenina.
Saturday saw the Penny Hill Show creating patterns in copper on Catherine Hill for Frome charity Positive Action on Cancer, while writers sweated on stories in Cheap Street shop windows and dedicated gardeners explored the town's Hidden Gardens.
Live bands upstaged persistent rain during the World Food Feast, with a blend of hard liquor folk and rousing funk from the Lucky Sevens, who, for the record, fielded eight on stage. Revellers cheered on the bands from doorways, bus shelters, food tents and the Milk Street Brewery's beer tent.
Gastronomic highlights included Sagebury Cheese's wholefood platter, Settle Restaurant's spaghetti bolagnese and scrumptious Old Bakehouse chocolate cake.
Acoustic Plus at the Cheese & Grain attracted so many people, organisers had to rearrange the seating to accommodate everyone. The first lucky 50 guests to arrive received a free CD of past performers.
Elsewhere, the Flying Ducks Comedy Club satisfied a hungry crowd at the Masonic Hall with wry observations on life and the West Country, while Bath Camerata's sold out concert at Rook Lane Chapel covered capella versions of Monteverdi and Lennon and McCartney.
Sunday's Green Fair at the Cheese & Grain assembled many of the county's most influential environmentalists for an entertaining day of conservation.
In the evening, FilmFrome's cutting edge premiere of modern silent La Antena (2007), from Argentina, at the Merlin Theatre told a moving story of how one family overcomes the evil power of censorship to a live soundtrack from Frome musicians.
Elsewhere, Ken Dodd delighted a packed audience at the Memorial Theatre on his return visit to the town.
Highlights during the second weekend of the festival include Sheila Chandra by candlelight at St John's Church on Saturday 12. Described as "one of the most beautiful voices in the world", Chandra has recorded three albums on Peter Gabriel's Real World Music label. appears on the soundtrack to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Paul Kennington reveals life as a professional stuntman at Frome Community College Media Arts Centre on Saturday, while Julian Lloyd Webber plays the Memorial Theatre on Sunday 13.
The Cheese & Grain welcomes renowned jazz vocalist Clare Teal on Friday 11 and Seventies rockers 10cc on Saturday.
Late Nights at the Masonic Hall continue with Caberet sans Frontières on Friday, the James Morton Quintet on Saturday and straight from widespread acclaim at Glastonbury Festival, Frome's The Operation close the festival on Sunday.
The second half of festival week also hosts a rare collaborative video installation between painter Michael Bennett and filmmaker Clive Walley at Frome Museum from Thursday 10 to Sunday 13.
For full details of all other events continue to browse the Frome Festival website, to book tickets call the festival Box Office on 01373 455420.
