Week 1 : 4th-8th June
Main events have an event number (EN) which corresponds with the event number on the booking form. Fringe events are free.
| Wednesday 4 June | 7.00pm Northgate Brewery £10.00 | EN1 |
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THE WADWORTH BREWERY TOUR
An opportunity to see how the elixir is hand-made in Devizes and to savour the latest brew. Numbers limited to 20 - so hurry.
| Wednesday 4 June | 7.30pm Isola Bella Restaurant £12.00 | EN2 |
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CAFÉ SCI with Professor Alan Winfield: Intelligent Robots: Current reality and future possibilities
Café Scientific or Café Sci is a country-wide cultural innovation, with over 200 discussion points providing an opportunity for anyone to discuss scientific themes with like minded people in an informal environment. Tonight's speaker is Professor Alan Winfield of the University of the West of England, who conducts research in mobile robotics.
He is committed to the widest possible dissemination of research and ideas in science, engineering and technology and believes that robots provide us with a wonderful vehicle for public engagement. Actually he would argue that intelligent robots will become ubiquitous in the near future and we need to start a dialogue now about the ethical and moral questions that will arise. The evening will start with a talk of about 25 minutes and, following a break for the buffet, the opportunity for a wide ranging discussion.
(price includes hot and cold antipasti buffet and a glass of wine)
Sponsored by Mark Wilkinson Furniture Ltd
| Wednesday 4 June | 8.00pm Town Hall £10.00 | EN3 |
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MITCH BENN
Launched at Edinburgh in 1994, the career of this highly sought after comedian and songwriter has hurtled swiftly to the dizzy heights of frequent appearances on BBC's The One Show. Mitch has played Glastonbury every year since he won the Best New Comic award there in 1995 and can be seen and heard on television, radio and stage. Mitch morphed briefly into a Pseudopodic Creature in BBC Radio 4's Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy in 2005, writes songs for Channel 4's Bremner, Bird and Fortune and has recently been possessed by the spirit of Elvis on The Steve Wright Show on Radio 2.
Sponsored by Greg Pullen & Partners
Estate Agents & Chartered Surveyors
| Thursday 5 June | 8.00pm Town Hall £10.00 | EN4 |
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THOMAS GOULD violin JOHN REID piano
Born in 1983, Thomas began violin lessons at the age of three. Graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in 2006 he has given recitals with John Reid in the Purcell Room, Bridgewater Hall, Wigmore Hall and St George's Bristol. As a concerto soloist he has performed with orchestras in England and abroad. He plays a violin made by Gennaro Gagliano in 1754. John read music at Cambridge before taking up a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music where he was awarded the Queen's Commendation for excellence. Other awards include the Kathleen Ferrier accompaniment prize and the Gerald Moore Award.
SCHUBERT Rondo brillant in B minor, D.895DIETRICH/SCHUMANN/BRAHMS FAE Sonata
Interval
SCHUMANN Phantasiestücke, Op.73
SCHUBERT Fantasy in C, D.934
The Frei-aber-Einsam ('FAE'), or 'free but lonely' sonata was written for Clara Schumann by her three admirers - Schumann, Dietrich and Brahms.
Festival Fringe
| Thursday 5 June | 9.00pm The Lamb Inn | FREE |
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STEVE TILSTON
Steve Tilston is an artist of stylistic versatility and consummate musicality as well as an outstanding guitarist. He now celebrates his thirty five year career as one the leading singer/songwriters on the UK folk scene.
Sponsored by The Lamb Inn
| Friday 6 June | 8.00pm Town Hall £15.00 | EN5 |
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RUBY TURNER
STEVE LOUDON & STEVE PAYNE
Ruby Turner on stage 9.45pm
Steve Loudon and Steve Payne on stage 8.15pm
Ruby Turner is one of the country's top Soul and R&B divas and Devizes Festival is one of a select number of gigs which she is headlining with her own band prior to a tour with Jools Holland. Born in Jamaica, she moved to the UK when she was nine. Her major break came in the mid 1980s when she was asked to join Culture Club at the height of their stardom. With hits such as 'I'd Rather Go Blind' and 'It's Gonna be Alright' she topped the American R&B charts, no mean feat for a British artist.
Her live performances have brought her great critical acclaim and her stage persona has wooed audiences all over the world. Opening tonight's show are Steve Loudon and Steve Payne, two of the West Country's most accomplished musicians.
Please note that there will be very limited seating for this event.
Sponsored by Wansbroughs 
| Saturday 7 June | 12.00 noon St John’s Church £6.00 | EN6 |
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ORGAN RECITAL - CHRIS TOTNEY
Chris Totney, who took up the organ at the age of twelve, became an Associate of the Royal College of Organists in 2001. After a degree in music he gained the RCO's Choral Conducting Diploma and spent two years as Organ Scholar of Durham Cathedral. He is now Assistant Director of Music at Dauntsey's School as well as the Assistant Organist of Edington Music Festival. His programme will include works by Bach and Buxtehude, as well as a musical journey through Holy Week to Easter.
| Saturday 7 June | 8.00pm Town Hall £14.00 | EN7 |
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BRIAN SEWELL: Adventures of an Art Critic
If you want a masterly summing up of the History of Art, laced with a scorching critique of the work of the Arts Council and the lack of arts funding, by a man who knows and loves real quality when he sees it, then tonight's reflective talk will provide just that. Brian Sewell was Art Critic for the Evening Standard for over 20 years and he talks with great passion about everything from his fondness of classic cars to his great love, the art and architecture of Turkey. He has a sharp wit, an entertaining delivery and comes with a guarantee to break every PC taboo - and you'll have an opportunity to ask him questions after the talk.
Sponsored by Rosemundy Cottage Bed & Breakfast 
Festival Fringe
| Saturday 7 June | 10.00pm Cellar Bar The Bear Hotel | FREE |
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JIM HART and IVO NEAME
Vibes player Jim Hart is one of the young talents on the UK jazz scene, receiving a British Jazz Award last year. He is a member of the New Jazz Couriers and also leads his own band Gemini. Jim and Ivo Neame, who plays saxophone and keyboard, were acclaimed at last year’s London Jazz Festival.
Sponsored by The Bear Hotel 
| Sunday 8 June | 7.00pm The Bell by the Green | FREE |
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ROCK - ACOUSTIC OPEN NIGHT
Tonight's new event provides an opportunity for aspiring musicians to have their 15 minutes of fame. We provide a small PA and the platform for solo performers, duos or acoustic groups to perform a 15 minute set. Just turn up at 6pm to book a slot during the evening. First come first served. There will also be a chance to hear two of the region's
established young singer/songwriters.
Still in his early 30s, Jon Amor from Devizes is a veteran of the music scene and a founder member of blues rock legend The Hoax. At 25 Al O'Kane has a fresh approach to song writing and is a stalwart of the West Country music scene, having already supported the likes of Kevin Ayres and members of Inspiral Carpets.
In association with Sheer Music Sponsored by Wilsons Solicitors, Salisbury
| Sunday 8 June | 8.00pm St Mary’s Church £10.00 | EN8 |
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MUSIC FOR AWHILE
directed by Margaret Faultless
THE HARMONY OF NATIONS
A musical tour around Europe by this group of international soloists who come together for another Festival appearance. The strings and oboes and bassoon are joined by Kate Semmens (soprano) and Steven Devine (harpsichord) for a feast of baroque music.
Handel |
The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba | |
Vivaldi |
motet Nulla in Mundo Pax Sincera | soloist Kate Semmens |
Bach |
Harpsichord concerto BWW 1054 | soloist Steven Devine |
Bach |
First orchestral suite | |
Rebel |
Les Caracteres de la Danse | |
Purcell |
Suite from King Arthur |
Music for Awhile is committed to supporting charitable causes and through the generous sponsorship of the Cecil King Memorial Foundation the proceeds from ticket sales will go towards the repair of St. John's Church, Devizes.
Sponsored by the Cecil King Memorial Foundation
