1 hour
9 minutes ago
Glastonbury
This year’s Somerset shindig was all about sunny afternoons under the fluttering flags listening to silky funk from the likes of The Bees and the more worldly rhythms of Quantic and Combo Barbaro.
A festival for me is also about discovery as well as seeing those you already know, so it was my delight that I caught the impressive Imogen Heap. Her experimentation with voice loops and samples was spellbinding and a cameo from beatboxer Shlomo (who made his Cheltenham début this year of course) added some fun to her great set. The festival closed for me with a Jamaican flavour as the mighty Toots & The Maytals brought smiles to the sun burnt masses, before a brief surreal moment for me seeing Rodrigo y Gabriela headline the Jazz World Stage (I know it’s been renamed but I’m sticking to its proper title!). It wasn’t anything to do with the fact that this Mexican guitar duo didn’t deserve their slot but the fact that the last time I saw them was here in Cheltenham at The Daffodil restaurant playing to 120 people back in 2004. As ever they wowed crowds with their blend of Latin rhythms, Celtic lyricism and heavy metal riffs. Their meteoric rise is hopefully a sign that Cheltenham has good form in spotting rising stars.
continue reading Ian’s summer festival review...
We’ve tagged this post with Cornbury Festival, Glastonbury, Ian George, jazz, Newport Jazz Festival, North Sea Jazz Festival on Thursday 2 September 2010.
7 hours
34 minutes ago
Last Sunday, BBC Radio 3’s Listener Requests programme featured requests from musicians, audience and staff members associated with the HSBC Cheltenham Music Festival.
The BBC asked festival staff, volunteers, Pump Room staff as well as the curator of the Holst Birthplace Museum plus performers Simon Callow and Francesco Piemontesi for their requests.
Listen to their choices on the BBC iplayer (until Sun 5 Sept)
We’ve tagged this post with BBC, BBC Radio 3, Francesco Piemontesi, Holst Museum, listen, music, Simon Callow on Thursday 2 September 2010.
1 week
1 day ago
This year’s Literature Festival is already shaping up to be a huge event – and as well as the stars of the literary world, we’ll be welcoming some experts of the kitchen in October! So if you’re fan of gourmet gurus, don’t miss some of the events in our Bitesize strand:
Antonio Carluccio, joining us on 13 October at 8.45pm, will be sharing his philosophy of Simple Cooking;
Popular TV chef Rachel Allen will be performing a live demonstration of some delectable family food recipes on 14 October at 4.30pm, together with Hardeep Singh Kohli;
Olly Smith, presenter of Iron Chef and Saturday Kitchen regular, shows how to achieve taste heaven with food that’s great to drink with on 14 October at 8.45pm;
And Nigella Lawson will be joining us on 15 October at 6.30pm, to discuss her passion for food and cooking – and the ethos behind her new book and TV series, Kitchen.
There are lots more great events in the Bitesize strand too – do check out the full programme. To get your tickets, you can either book online, go in person to Cheltenham Town Hall, or call Box Office on 0844 576 7979.
We’ve tagged this post with Antonio Carluccio, literature, Nigella Lawson, Olly Smith, Rachel Allen on Wednesday 25 August 2010.
2 weeks ago
Booking for The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival has got off to a record breaking start — with more than 50,000 tickets sold already!
If you haven’t got your tickets yet, don’t worry — there are still plenty of tickets available, but don’t leave it too long to book. Head to the Centaur for the opening weekend and you can enjoy a look back at Michael Caine’s life in Hollywood, comedy genius from dynamic double-act Armstrong & Miller and explore the eventful life and writing career of Germaine Greer.
Elsewhere at the Festival, don’t miss a feast of culinary treats from queen of the kitchen Nigella Lawson, plus some literary excellence from Sophie’s World author Jostein Gaarder and comedian Dawn French.
To get your tickets, you can either book online, go in person to Cheltenham Town Hall, or call Box Office on 0844 576 7979.
We’ve tagged this post with Armstrong and Miller, Dawn French, Germaine Greer, Jostein Gaarder, literature, Michael Caine, Nigella Lawson on Thursday 19 August 2010.
3 weeks
1 day ago
Here’s another chance to enjoy an event we recorded at The Times Cheltenham Science Festival 2010…
Professor Clive Page, Dr Mark Miodownik, Dr Andrea Sella and master chocolatier Keith Hurdman introduce The Science of Chocolate to a packed venue at the The Times Cheltenham Science Festival 2010.
Dates to remember: it may sound like a long way off, but it will come around quickly, Science Festival dates next year, 8-12 June 2011.
We’ve tagged this post with Andrea Sella, chocolate, Clive Page, Keith Hurdman, Mark Miodownik, science, video, watch on Wednesday 11 August 2010.
3 weeks
1 day ago
Ten days, 450 events, everyone from literary legends to big screen stars!
view the brochure | still time to become a member and book early
We’ve tagged this post with brochure, literature on Wednesday 11 August 2010.
3 weeks
1 day ago
If you’d like to be amongst the first to book tickets for October’s Literature Festival, there’s just one way to secure your seats this week.
Join our membership scheme
- receive priority booking
- get fantastic ticket savings
- see exclusive events
- AND discounts at top hotels, bars and restaurants
It’s easy… join now from just £15!
- choose your membership package
- choose your events from the 2010 brochure
- BOOK AND JOIN by phone, call 0844 576 7977
Note: if you wish to join by direct debit during this very busy priority booking week, you’ll need to visit the Town Hall box office in person. Normal joining etc will resume from Monday 16 August.
Tickets to the 2010 Cheltenham Literature Festival are exclusively on sale to Cheltenham Festivals Members until Sunday, 15 August.
We’ve tagged this post with literature, membership on Wednesday 11 August 2010.
3 weeks
2 days ago
Greenshoots is our project to create a more sustainable Cheltenham Festivals. We want to reduce our environmental impact, research and adopt best practices, work with our partners and share our ideas as we embark on our journey towards greater sustainability.
Thinking about the literature festival…
With the science and music festivals in the bag — it was time to reflect before the literature festival begins in October. The good news is that the recycling at science went well with improved signage and the active engagement of the catering staff. Sponsors had been encouraged to cut down on leaflet distribution in line with our environmental activities — apparently without complaint. Great stuff!
And so our thoughts turned to literature where our focus will be on transport. So new copy highlighting public transport options for speakers to be drafted and a message board to be trialled to encourage car sharing. With house keeping issues complete, we got creative around an exciting project to be launched at Jazz in 2011, perhaps, maybe… no more clues for the moment but watch this space!
We’ve tagged this post with environment, green, greenshoots, jazz, literature, music, science, sustainability on Tuesday 10 August 2010.
3 weeks
3 days ago
Ticket booking for The Times Cheltenham Literature Festival 2010 is now exclusively open to Cheltenham Festivals Members until Sunday 15 August.
Call volumes are very high on this busy first day, and you may experience a wait of some time to book your tickets over the phone. We appreciate your patience, and will answer your call as soon as possible.
Phone line opening hours have been extended to 8am – 10pm Monday and Tuesday, or you may wish to visit the Town Hall in person, which will be open for bookings until 8pm. Alternatively, you may wish to post or fax in your booking form. Priority booking lasts the entire week, and members are able to book their tickets before anyone else until Sunday, 15 August.
Booking is exclusively open to current members today and tomorrow; new membership applications are welcome from Wednesday 11 August.
Members’ brochures will arrive in the post by Saturday, 7 August or
view the brochure online.
Not received yours? Email membership@cheltenhamfestivals.com.
We’ve tagged this post with literature, membership on Monday 9 August 2010.
