Join Britain’s most popular soprano for a delightful evening of song, reminiscences and chat. Lesley’s behind‑the‑scenes stories and anecdotes will give audiences a unique insight into her life on the stage.
She will be accompanied by Andrew West on piano.
Sophie Hannah is a Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling writer of crime fiction. Her books have sold millions of copies worldwide. In 2014, with the blessing of Agatha Christie’s family and estate, Sophie published a new Poirot novel, The Monogram Murders, which was a bestseller in more than fifteen countries.
This phenomenal 10 piece Cumbia band takes you right back to the dance halls of Colombia, whilst creating an atmosphere that is definitively 21st century.
The four-piece percussion section features world-class bateristas. The five-piece horn section is a well oiled unit that will blow your socks off, and the harmony of double-bass, piano and accordion will ease your soul.
One big sounding three-piece Rock’n’Roll Rockabilly band from Somerset.
Altogether this band brings you a toe-tapping, hip-shaking, boppin’ 1950s rockin’ sound that will get you on your feet!
Formed in 2012, the Leonore Piano Trio brings together three internationally acclaimed artists whose piano trio performances as part of Ensemble 360 were met with such enthusiastic response that they decided to form a piano trio in its own right. The Trio has since given concerts both at home and in many other parts of the world, combining a comprehensive repertoire of works by the celebrated classical and romantic composers.
Their funk-fuelled repertoire is wildly eclectic, ranging from New Orleans inspired swing to heavy rock riffs, and since their beginnings in the ratty alleyways of London’s Soho, the band has evolved into a wild groove machine.
Musically inspired by bands from the British invasion of the 60s and artists such as Tom Waits, Blur, Randy Newman and Queens Of The Stone Age, Tankus the Henge defy categorisation. Their hair-raising show, like no other, has to be seen and heard to be believed. Like a psychedelic, rock n roll octopus – only with four more legs.
Quentin Crisp: Naked Hope is a solo show which has toured the UK ever since it was first previewed in Edinburgh in 2014. Starting in the late 1960s Quentin surveys a lifetime of degradation and rejection in his filthy Chelsea flat. Repeatedly beaten for being flamboyantly gay as early as the 1930s, but also ostracised for daring to live life on his own terms.
“A cast-iron rule is to play every piece as if you really, really love it. The Borealis Saxophone Quartet played ball impeccably.” – The Times
The Borealis Saxophone Quartet is an award-winning chamber ensemble comprised of musicians who have studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, the Royal College of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the University of Cambridge.
After the year they’ve had, Helen and Ellie are going OUT-OUT. Join them for an evening of comedy, songs, filth and laughs. Everyone’s welcome, from Mums and Dads to carers, grandparents, and people who want to be reminded they’re really glad they don’t have kids. So bring your mates and make it a big night out!
This up-and-coming London band are riding the wave of the alt-Country revival. The Homing combine three voices and over twenty instruments on a journey from a cappella via country duets to blistering rock ‘n’ roll.
Their sound is characterised by strong vocal harmonies with an eclectic mix of folk, rock and country instruments and influences, creating a dense, dynamic soundscape that defies categorisation but evokes memories of 70s radio classics.
The Festival is thrilled to welcome one of contemporary British fiction’s most famous double-acts. Nicci French is the pseudonym of husband and wife writing team Nicci Gerard and Sean French. Both journalists, the pair met when working at the New Statesman and married in 1990.
Asa Murphy has entertained audiences for nearly 20 years as the UK’s No. 1 Swing artiste, travelling all over the world singing the songs of the great crooners. Asa now sets out on a tour which focusses on his own unique song-writing talents, backed by a fantastic live band.
Florian Felcitta is an astonishingly accomplished jazz guitarist who is making a name for himself following in the style of Django Rheinhardt.
Adam’s love for the great outdoors started from a young age when he helped on his grandparent’s allotment. His fascination with watching plants and vegetables grow and the wildlife it attracted has stayed with him and he remains passionate about passing this on to future generations.
Simon Calder is Britain’s leading travel commentator and a charismatic speaker on the adventures and misadventures of a travel writer.
With a policy of paying his way wherever he travels in the world, Simon always finds that the most interesting stories tend to come from the cheap seats.
Paying tribute to his father’s music in the jazz master’s centenary year, pianist and composer Darius Brubeck teams up with saxophonist Dave O’Higgins, bassist Matt Ridley and drummer Wesley Gibbens for their Devizes debut after critically acclaimed international tours and sold-out shows at major jazz houses in London.
When Shakespeare died he famously left his wife Anne only one thing; the Second Best Bed.
It has long been debated if this was the ultimate insult or a private joke between a loving couple.
In this frank, humourous and revealing monologue the audience gets to know Shakespeare like never before, through the eyes of his wife.
Join BBC Radio 4’s cop-turned-comedian Alfie Moore for his latest stand-up tour show. Fair Cop Unleashed is based on a dramatic real-life incident from Alfie’s police casebook. Relive with him the thrilling ups and downs of the night a mysterious clown came to town and more than one life ended up in the balance. It was no laughing matter – but this show certainly is!
Time to celebrate everything green with Absolute, the Irish party band who will blow your socks off!
These guys are some of the country’s finest young musicians, and without doubt they will have the whole Corn Exchange rocking to a Celtic vibe. They bring their own unique mix of traditional and modern Irish favourites, with a few classics thrown in for good measure.
