This year’s Swaledale Festival features 50 music, arts and walking events in celebration of its 50th anniversary. With seven weeks to go until the fields dance with buttercups and the merriment begins, you may be wondering where to start, so here are some gems that are sure to entertain and inspire.
The Festival’s Young Artists Platform, which showcases tomorrow’s stars, sees Bammental School Symphony Orchestra travelling from Germany with their inspirational conductor to perform a combination of orchestral classics, tangos and Irish folk tunes on Tuesday 31 May.
Also taking their place on the YAP stage are maestros Richard Uttley, Callum Smart, and Ben Goldscheider on Thursday 2 June. Pianist Uttley played in the Festival in the early days of what is now a stellar career. He is joined by two more fast-rising stars - the superb violinist (and Instagram king!) Smart, and the gifted French horn player and BBC Young Musician finalist Goldscheider.
Another bright young concert not to be missed will be given by the Magnard Ensemble, a talented woodwind group with great chemistry. They will perform a mouthwatering programme of Byrd, Mozart and Stephen Dodgson on Tuesday 7 June.
This year’s programme includes some Festival favourites who have produced some truly memorable shows in past years. Aurora Percussion Duo return to share their beautifully choreographed music on a myriad of instruments from maracas to marimbas on Monday 6 June, and the world-renowned vocal ensemble VOCES8 will lead a relaxed singing workshop for all abilities on Friday 3 June.
Friends since they were neighbours in the sixties, guitarist Dave Kelly and keyboardist Bob Hall have had illustrious careers in the British blues scene and have won many awards for their artistry. These living legends, who cut their teeth with the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker and Muddy Waters, will be jamming with bassist Hilary Blythe on Monday 6 June.
There are some great duos in the line-up this year. Violinist Michael Foyle and cellist Thomas Carroll - two exceptional players who are in great demand around the world - will perform duets by Ravel, Martinu and Kodaly on Sunday 29 May, and the amazing folk harmonica wizard Will Pound will spar with the superb young guitarist Jenn Butterworth on Monday 30 May.
The wonderful Australian soprano Lotte Betts-Dean and brilliant Greek guitarist Dimitris Soukaras will perform an intimate programme entitled ‘Travels with a Guitar’ - an entertaining selection of songs and solo guitar pieces from Elizabethan ballads and love songs to fiery Brazilian Bossa Nova.
All this, plus exhibitions, walks, talks, film, poetry, a Family Fun Day in Reeth and a whole lot more.
The Festival runs from 28 May to 11 June 2022 and tickets for under 25s are available for just £3.