On this page you will find details of all the events that WMF has organised during the heart of the festival, the Festival Fortnight. This year that’s from Saturday 21 June to Sunday 6 July.
As well as the events listed below, we also arrange a series of five lunchtime recitals in Wymondham Abbey. We have included the details in a separate page to make them easier to find - please click here for details of these events.
Midsummer Jazz Picnic
Becketswell, 18.00 - 21.30 Monday 23 June
Sole Bay Jazz Band
A superb six-piece band with nearly 30 years experience playing at events all over the region. Their repertoire ranges from trad. to classics from the 1920s and 30s and songs from the swing era.
The evening will be interspersed with more musical antics from the ladies of Theatre of Adventure. What would we do without them?
Bring a picnic, some rugs or chairs, meet your friends and enjoy the intoxicating sounds of jazz al fresco.
Why not make use of our free shuttle bus service from the Central Hall car park from 5.45pm to 9.15pm?
Free admission - bucket collection
Event supported by Toilets+
Gledhill Music Lecture
Fairland Church Centre, 20.00 Wednesday 25 June
“What is this thing called Jazz?”
This will be our eighth annual music lecture and this year we turn our attention to jazz.
Here’s your chance to find out about what happened after the Swing era and take some of the mystery out of the development of modern jazz.
Members of ‘Red Shadow’ -- Trevor Rowland - saxophones, Peter Hayes - piano and Dave Pullin - double bass -- will share the presentation and perform musical illustrations.
Admission free
Event supported by Rotary Club of Wymondham
Drumming at Dusk
Abbey East Tower, 20.30 Thursday 26 June
Popular local group DrumsKin tried out the acoustics of the East tower last September with the Beacon installation and were so impressed that they requested a return visit! Come and listen to their invigorating rhythms from across Africa reverberating around the ruined tower and monastic remains. Bring a rug and torch (and umbrella if rain threatens!).
Admission free
Robin Phillips Sextet
Ex-Services Club, 20.00 Friday 27 June
Great songwriters of jazz
Robin Phillips - piano, vocals, Kirsty Jarvis - vocals, Tony Royle - trumpet, Andy Cahn - saxophone, Vilem Hais - bass, Claire Brock -drums
The Robin Phillips Sextet is an ensemble whose programmes look at the history of jazz as well as the music. Its eponymous bandleader is a talented pianist, arranger, vocalist and informative speaker. The group features the fantastic talents of Norwich-based singer Kirsty Jarvis.
This programme focuses on the vocal side of jazz in the 20th century including works by Rogers & Hart, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael. Listen to all-time favourites Come fly with me, Night and day, Stardust, Let’s face the music and dance, One for my baby, and I get a kick out of you.
This will be a great evening of popular jazz tunes with the added bonus of a high quality grand piano to add to the romance of it all!
Event supported by Foolproof Business Services Ltd
Tickets £8, £2 children from Book Fountain or Festival office
Live ‘n’ Gigging
Browick Road Recreation Ground, 11.00 - 17.00 Saturday 28 June
This gig offers a showcase for local youth bands and up-and-coming DJs. For some it’s their first big public appearance.
Wymondham Music Festival is once again working in partnership with SNSounds, run by a committee of young people with help from a youth worker from the County Youth and Community Service. The group's aim is to support and promote young bands from South Norfolk.
If you want to take part in this or future gigs please contact Jo Bowley at the District Resource Base in Diss. Tel 01379 642425
Free event
Teddy Bears’ Picnic
Kings Head Meadow, 12.00 - 15.00 Sunday 29 June
Here’s something completely new - a special event for under-fives, Teddy Bears and their friends and relations.
Bring some rugs or chairs, a family picnic (you can see that Mo and Algernon have been busy preparing theirs already), and enjoy the range of informal entertainment on offer. Additional drinks will be available in the Clubhouse bar.
Activities to enjoy include:
Sing-a-long-a-pingy-ponga - magical storytelling and inventive musical activities with Charlotte Arculus, more music and story times for tiny tots with Christine of Creative Learning Unlimited, some amazing Banana People full of ridiculous antics and a Mobile Banana Sound System!
The Bear Shop in Norwich has given us a bear to give away but he (or is it a she?) has no name! There will be a draw for your suggestions and the winner gets to keep the bear!
Members of Livewire will be painting willing faces and we expect a visit from Radio Norwich’s famous and very friendly humanoid dog Norry (click here to find out all about Norrie). So there’ll be lots going on to make a super event - one that we hope will be remembered long after the day itself has gone.
Admission free but please bring some pocket money to name the bear and for face-painting.
Event supported by The Bear Shop, Norwich, Wymondham Town Football Club and South Norfolk Council
Come along and name me! You could get to keep me for ever and ever!
Country night
Central Hall, 20.00 Monday 30 June
Kenny Lee and Hustler - Kenny Lee, Mike Breame, Laurie Sudder and Sonny Walkman
This group has been playing together, with much the same lineup, for 18 years. They are one of the most popular bands in the area, and to prove it this will be their fourth booking in four days! Their music covers a wide variety of Country and Western - old, new and for line dancing as well as slow ballads.
Morning Blue - Stuart Moore, Paul Williams and Simon Engler - provide a brilliant support act with a reputation as one of the best acoustic-based bands in Norwich. Stuart’s lyrics shine through a blend of Americana, country and pop and as Grapevine says ‘this is classic stripped-down honest songwriting with not a rhinestone in sight’.
Tickets £6, £2 children from Book Fountain or Festival office
Event sponsored by Les and Angela Dawes
Wymondham Young Pianists’ Concert
Wymondham Abbey, 19.00 Tuesday 1 July
This concert has earned itself a very special place in the Festival, offering a valuable shared experience for performers, families and friends. The young pianists - and some are very young - all come from the Wymondham area. Nominated by their teachers, they are at various stages in their piano studies, from near beginner to Grade 8 and above.
The odd mistake only adds to the supportive atmosphere! The grand piano hired for Festival Week is put to good use for this event. The students respond wonderfully to the opportunity of performing on a top quality instrument, in a magnificent venue to an enthralled audience.
Admission £3 (all children and performers free)
Cost of piano hire donated by Harry Hemstock
Breath of Folk
Central Hall, 20.00 Wednesday 2 July
Hannah James - accordion and vocals, Sam Sweeney - fiddle
Hannah and Sam have been playing together since their early teens, and are best known for their playing in Kerfuffle. Hannah also dances with The Demon Barbers, whilst Sam has recently joined Bellowhead. Sam’s stunning fiddle playing and Hannah’s interpretations of traditional songs and tunes will delight and entertain.
Hare's Breath
Four familiar names now together after years of experience in various Norfolk and Suffolk bands. Peter Hughes - mandola, hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes, Adie Brown - melodeon, acoustic guitar and vocals, Keith Tyrrell - bass, guitar, bouzouki and mandolin, and Wymondham singer Mary-Jane Evans - guitar, flute, and vocals.
This year we have quite a change from our previous pub-based folk event. You get two great ensembles on stage plus other acoustic players to entertain you in between.
Tickets £6, £2 children from Book Fountain or Festival office
Spanish Spice
Wymondham Abbey, 19.30 Thursday 3 July
Eclipse
Joy Smith - harps; Layil Barr - recorders and viol; Andres Ticino - percussion; Lynda Sayce - theorbo and baroque guitar; Gabriela Rosa - flamenco and contemporary dance
Eclipse’s ‘Spanish Spice’ programme is based on 17th century Spanish dance music, drawing on flamenco and other influences. This fusion creates an exciting musical and visual experience, linking the world of ethnic, ancient and contemporary dance.
The musicians introduce their instruments, many of which are rarely heard or seen today, and give us some insights into the stories behind the music.
The dancing of Eclipse’s guest artist Gabriela Rosa creates an exciting link between the early music and the folk world with exhilarating flamencos, lyrical pieces and the swirling passionate tarantella.
This music has had a wide appeal for all ages and backgrounds throughout the centuries and today Eclipse will give another electrifying performance, brimming with kaleidoscopic moods and colours. Don’t miss it!
“Beautifully transported us to Moorish Spain... truly wonderful! Come and play for us every day!” Sean Rafferty BBC Radio3
Tickets £10, £2 children from Book Fountain or Festival office
Event supported by Greenland Houchen Pomeroy
Lewis Wright Quartet
Ex-Servicemen’s Club, 20.00 Friday 4 July
Lewis Wright - vibes, Kit Downes - piano; Pete Randall - double bass, James Maddren - drums.
Prepared to be dazzled by this quartet fronted by 19-year old vibes player Lewis Wright. Lewis gave his first public performance when he was only six, going on to become the Norwich Student Jazz Orchestra’s youngest member at the age of ten. He is currently studying Jazz at Trinity College of Music.
After success on The Jazz Services Promoter's Choice Stage at the London Jazz Festival he began to create a storm on the British jazz scene. He displays a virtuosic command of the vibraphone and communicates his enthusiasm for modern jazz - joyous, hard swinging bebop to great acclaim at clubs all over the UK.
The remainder of the quartet are all superb players. Pianist Kit Downes, also from Norfolk, is a student at the Royal Academy of Music (RAM) and well established on the UK jazz scene with the award-winning band Empirical and his own trio which includes fellow student James Maddren on drums.
Pete Randall plays double bass to complete the line up. He comes from West Sussex and like Kit is studying at RAM.
Tickets £8, £2 children from Book Fountain or Festival Office
African Music and Dance Day
Baptist Church, Saturday 5 July
Want to develop your own skills? Ccome and join in one of these exciting workshops; please contact Kay Southgate to book your places in advance. The fee for each workshop is £5. Telephone Kay on 01953 713108 or email her at kay.southgate@wymondhamhigh.norfolk.sch.uk
African dance workshop with Anna Mudeka
13.00 - 14.30
If you’re reasonably fit and able you’ll love this session!
Workshop fee £5 advance booking essential
Rhythms and Riffs African instrumental workshop with Trevor Rowland
15.30 - 17.00
Suitable for acoustic guitar, brass and woodwind players from about grade 3 standard who are able to pick up simple tunes by ear.
Workshop fee £5 advance booking essential
Anna Mudeka Band
Baptist Church, 19.00 Saturday 5 July
‘Once you listen to the rhythms of Africa, you have to give it your soul’. Anna Mudeka is regarded one of the best African dancers and singers of her time. Over the last 15 years she has worked with some of the top musicians on the world music scene and her music heritage continually re-invents itself. Her gritty, soaring vocals and rich instrumental virtuosity continues to resonate, soothe and uplift your soul. She’s backed by a band assembled from most corners of the globe - how good for us that they have come to live near Norwich!
The line up is Anna Mudeka - vocals, dance, mbira, shakers, Trevor Roland - sax, guitar, vocals, Olli Lukkari - lead guitar, José Ferrera - djembe, vocals, Samantha Everett - vocals dance and percussion, Glennis Masuku - dance and vocals, Paul Fitzgerald - bass, Barry Jones - drums
Note the early start time specially so you can bring the family - they’ll love it!
Tickets £6, £2 children from Kay Southgate, Book Fountain or Festival Office
Tales and Tunes
Cemetery Chapel, 15.00 Sunday 6 July
Sheila and Alan Hine
Irish Folk singer Sheila entertains in the traditional unaccompanied style.
Husband Alan will provide support with more comic and serious songs delivered a cappella* - very appropriate for this particular venue!
As well as singing, Sheila will be reciting some of her own poetry - sometimes sad, sometimes funny - and telling stories about her early life in County Wexford in Ireland.
Come and enjoy some Irish blarney all the way from Narborough.
No tickets required - retiring collection
* a cappella - “in a chapel”, ie unaccompanied. Don’t say that WMF doesn’t educate as well as entertain!
Event supported by Rosedale Funeral Home
registered charity no 1081375
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