Epworth Music Day hits the right note

The streets were alive with the sound of music for a mind-boggling 80 hours as Epworth held its annual Music Festival.
Epworth Music festival 2018Epworth Music festival 2018
Epworth Music festival 2018

Organisers said the annual music day even eclipsed last year’s successful event.

Co-director of Epworth Music Festival, Peter Barnard, said: “I had thought that Epworth Music Day 2017 had been special, and now I know just how special it was. Last year we gave those who were at Epworth Music Day 2017 so much fun that they bought into what we had created. And they wanted it again, yes they wanted more please! And yesterday, here in Epworth at Epworth Music Day 2018 they turned out to have their fun repeated. And they brought their friends, family and neighbours – just as we’d asked. So, I’m very pleased and proud of what we have brought to this community. And what an awesome day it was.”

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He added: “We want to thank all the performers who took part yesterday, all the venues, all the spectators and listeners, all the sponsors and funders, all the stewards and all my Epworth Music committee members. Most of all I’d like to thank my fellow director, Kate Billmore. It was her idea and my idea to create this wonderful celebration of live music in North Lincolnshire, and we’re so proud of how fabulously it ran.”

He said they we’re not going to make Epworth Music Day into something it is not, but they would continue to hold it in the centre of the village and outdoors; a free to all event.

And they will be promoting and celebrating the power of live music next year. A real community event, put on by the community for the community. Next year it is on Saturday June 22. Peter urged people to Add it to their diaries and spread the word! If you want to play at it, contact [email protected] email address.

One of the many spectators in Epworth on Saturday said: “A huge thank you to the organisers for yet another wonderful Music Day. It is a brilliant event and brings the community together in the best possible way. The format is perfect, we are already looking forward to the next one in 2019.”

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Cath Fordham, of Epworth Old Rectory, said the rectory opened it’s doors to yet another successful community event.

At 10 am on a beautiful sunny morning the first entertainers of Epworth Music day struck up with their instruments and kicked the event off to a great start. From then until 4-30 pm the entertainers and their audiences kept coming along and enjoying the glorious sun in the beauty of the main lawn and garden with the fantastic backdrop of the grade 1 listed building that is the Old Rectory.

Whole families sat in the gardens enjoying all the music from a selection of singers, musicians, choirs and bands, as well as the grounds and the home made refreshments, which were all made and served by the band of volunteers. All this while the house was still open to the public and running as normal, with the added advantage that visitors unexpectedly got to enjoy the music all around the town.

She added: “We were very pleased to hear from visitors that they believed our gardens were the best venue of all the ones used.

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“A very special visitor arrived on the day as well, one very brave gentleman who was once one of our volunteers, although he sadly cannot do it now. Flight Lieutenant Johnathan Knott (retired) cycled in wearing his warrior games shirt from his recent sporting victories in Colorado, in which event he won two silver medals for England in the recumbent cycling classes. Congratulations go to Jon, and our thanks for donating the greenhouse we now have tomatoes and cucumbers growing in.

“Our next big event in the grounds will be a performance of Romeo and Juliet, by Handlebards, a touring group of professional actors, whom we had last year performing Midsummer Nights Dream. Again it will be a community event with ticket holders being invited to bring their picnics along early and enjoy the gardens until the play begins. Tickets are available online at the Handlebards website and numbers will be limited so book early if you want to join in the fun.

“Next year will be a big year for the Old Rectory as it is the 350th anniversary of Susanna Wesley’s birth and we are already planning a whole year of celebrations. Keep an eye out on our website and facebook pages for all the news.

If you would like to join us as a volunteer do contact Gillian on 01427 872268 – we’d love to meet you and welcome you into our team.”

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