Archives - 2024 • Devizes Arts Festival - quality events in Devizes & the West Country

A look back at some of the highlights of previous Festivals

Here’s a reminder of some of the highlights from 2024!

Irish actor Aidan Dooley in character as Tom Crean, wearing a rustic shirt and waistcoat circa 1900, with a wooden hat and pipe. He is carrying an ancient oil lantern, with a large black and white image of the moon above his head

Aidan Dooley as Tom Crean in Discovering Antartica at Devizes Wharf Theatre, DAF 2024

In pure black and white, the Grand Slambovians with style, panache and hats

The Grand Slambovians!!!! In Devizes!!!!!

A medium close-up of comedian Lucy Porter in shiny green spangly top. She is standing in front of a pink background flicking her hair and smiling.

Comedian Lucy Porter performs a set at the 2024 Devizes Arts Festival.

Bristol singer and raconteur Lucy Nade stares and smiles at the camera. She is sitting, with a guitar on her lap, wearing a red dress. Her head is set at a 45 degree angle, and she has an enigmatic smile.

Lady Nade performs at the Corn Exchange

Folk singer and guitarist Martin Simpson sitting on an outside bench holding one acoustic guitar with a second to his side. He is wearing a white patterned shirt, and spectacles, smiling to the camera.

Sheffield’s finest folk singer and song-writer – Martin Simpson

Dayglo-bright Cable Street Collective. The seven band members are wearing the brightest clothes imaginable, with three sitting on the front row and four standing at the back, in front of a blue wall. They have a drum, saxophone and trumpet in hand, and the signer has her foot on a silver glitter ball

The brilliant Cable Street Collective

Edward Cross, of the Edward Cross Quintet, sits in front of a piano or organ. He is wearing a casual sweatshirt. The image is black and white, as he stares at the camera without smiling.

Edward Cross, eponymous leader of the Edward Cross Quintet, who played majestically at the Assembly Rooms.

Liz Grand as Mrs Churchill in My Life With Winston

Dr Phil Hammond in close up smiling at the camera with a black background. He is wearing spectacles and a flowered shirt.

Dr Phil Hammond at the Devizes Arts Festival 2024

Dr Phil Hammond with Festival Event Sponsor Richard Jaggs of Resolution Design

Poetry major Hollie McNish is on stage talking into a microphone with stage lighting behind her. She is carrying a book of poetry and is mid-sentence

Hollie McNish at DAF 2024

Jo Carly and the dry skulls, in a black and white image. There are three band members. One chap in a long beard looks off stage - he is carrying a double bass decorated as a skeleton. The singer is looking at the camera with dark make-up and outfit. The guitarist is near the camera, lurking.

Jo Carly and the Dry Skulls bringing life and magic to the Merchant Suite

Naturalist Mike Dilger is in nature with trees behind him. He is in close-up, smiling into the camera. He is wearing a camouflage cap and dark jacket, carrying binoculars.

Mike Dilger – One Thousand Shades of Green

The jazz band, The Sound of Blue Note, standing in an urban outdoor scene in a black and white photo of five grown men. All are wearing suits with ties, looking into the camera without smiling.

The Sound of Blue Note – laconic jazz maestros brought the Blue Note playbook to the Town Hall

Geneticist Adam Rutherford talking on stage at the Devizes Corn Exchange in a close up image of his head and chest. He is speaking in front of a red curtain, wearing a grey tee shirt.

Adam Rutherford enjoying an evening out at Devizes Arts Festival

Poets Clive Oseman and Nick Lovell are both on stage. There are two separate images juxtaposed next to each other, and both have a single image of a man in front of a black background. Both poets are speaking into microphones, and both wear glasses.

Clive Oseman and Nick Lovell lead the Poetry Slam at DAF 2024

Publicity image of pianist Ida Pelliccioli looking directly into the camera with a black background. She is wearing a black lace top and gold earrings.

Pianist Ida Pelliccioli performed at the Assembly Rooms for the Devizes Arts Festival

Flautist Annie Parker plays the flute. She is looking straight into the camera, with a plain white background. She is wearing a black leather jacket.

Annie Parker Trio wooed the crowds at St Johns Church, Devizes

The summer of 2024 saw Devizes alive with creativity as the Arts Festival welcomed an extraordinary line-up of performers. Comedian Lucy Porter had audiences in stitches, while Lady Nade and Martin Simpson filled the halls with music that stirred the soul. Thought-provoking talks from Adam Rutherford sat alongside the lyrical words of Holly McNish, creating a programme that blended science and art. International guests The Grand Slambovian Circus of Dreams brought a touch of Americana, and The Sound of Blue Note kept the jazz tradition thriving. This archive of images offers a window into the highlights of an unforgettable festival season.