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Icon June 7, 2011 - 13:17 Icon - 1 comment

Golowan Music Festival Events in Penzance Previewed

Tags: Benbow, Golowan, Love Riot, Penzance, Sound Nightclub
Area: 
Penzance

From rock to reggae, classical, folk, hip hop and ska, this year’s Golowan Festival promises an exciting mix of musical styles. Up-and-coming bands, young musicians and old favourites will be performing at a number of different venues around Penzance over nine days from 18th to 26th June. The festival, an annual event supported by Penzance Town Council and Cornwall Council, has something for everyone this year.

Golowan Festival Director Andy Hazlehurst says, “This year, Golowan Festival has a real home-grown flavour.  We’re bringing the cream of Cornish talent to the streets of Penzance making a real community festival that celebrates our local creativity.  There are plenty of free events, including street entertainment, and ticket prices this year are lower than ever so everyone can join in.”

Sound Nightclub in Branwell’s Mill is the hub of Golowan’s music week with a varied line-up of acts.  The night before Golowan, catch hip hop stars Mystro, Dr Syntax, Genesis Elijah with DJ Louis J. The traditional Golowan Ceilidh gets the festival going on the 18th with local band Smash the Windows alongside callers Helen Musser from Ros Keltek Cornish Dancers and Alan Collins from the Golowan Band. Thursday 23rd is Rock Night with live music from Sinpusher, Devils Creek and The Tracy Story Band. Lost in Space perform their raw mix of blues and funk, ska and jazz at Sound on Saturday 25th and, bringing the festival to an end on the 26th, there’s reggae with Kernow Vibrations and Rudi’s Message.

All through Golowan Festival week the bar downstairs at the Acorn Theatre is open in the evenings for a range of music events including The Mighty Pigshed, a jam session and open mic. Penzance Arts Club is hosting an alternative cabaret and review evening with Barbed Choir in aid of Kernow Positive Support on Sunday 19th and The Ritz returns with Love Riot on Mazey Day.

The Admiral Benbow has the best of contemporary folk with female harmony singers Bryony and St Ives’ Alistair Brown on Wednesday 24th. On the same day, St Mary’s Church organist Nigel Wicken performs Bach at the church in a free lunchtime concert.  The Bach theme is picked up by acclaimed musician Tim Boulton in a series of three concerts at The Exchange Gallery in aid of Cornwall Music Therapy Trust. On Tuesday 21st Tim Boulton performs an evening of Basically Bach with Penzance Youth String Orchestra; on Thursday 23rd he accompanies Shallal Dance Company and Nigel Wicken in a unique blend of dance and music; and on Friday 24th he returns with Tim Boulton and Friends, alongside Phil Montgomery-Smith, Barbara Degener, Abendmusik and soprano Elizabeth Scott.

Young people get the chance to showcase their talents at this year’s Golowan Festival.  In addition to performing at The Exchange, Penzance Youth String Orchestra is at St Mary’s Church on Monday 20th alongside Penzance String Orchestra. To commemorate thirty years since the loss of the Penlee Lifeboat and to raise funds for the RNLI, children from six local primary schools with the Male Voice Choirs of Newlyn and Mousehole will perform the Mousehole Cat story in a choral evening at Chapel Street Methodist Church on Wednesday 22nd. The concert has nine songs by Paul Burrell and narration by Humphry Davy drama students.  Finally, don’t miss the chance to hang out at the Music Zone in Penlee Park, a free young people’s music event that takes place on the afternoon of Sunday 26th.

As usual with Golowan there are plenty of street entertainers performing around the town. On St John’s Eve, Thursday 23rd, Chapel Street is closed and the evening’s festivities get underway from 7pm with a busking competition where up to twelve local up-and-coming bands will compete for a prize of free studio time donated by Humphry Davy School. On Mazey Day, Greenmarket car park becomes Festival Square, with music and dance including Tros and Treys, Hamer & Isaac’s Gypsy Swing Band, Chucklefoot and Tribal Moon, alongside Food Glorous Food – food and refreshments served all day by local producers.

On the 25th and 26th the streets of Penzance will become a stage for performers including Bagas Degol, Samba Celtica, Quijda, Kemyst, Celtic Fiddlers, Trelawney Singers, GR8, Big Dance Company, Cape Cornwall Singers, Humphry Davy School, Penzance Youth Wind Band, West Cornwall Concert Band and many more!

For more details about events, times and ticket information at Golowan Festival, go to www.golowan.org.

Comments
Simon June 7, 2011 - 14:35

golowan actually looks pretty decent this year.. good to see Love Riot and Dynamite getting invovled as well as the traditional stuff. cant wait for mazey day! :)

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