Shropshire Star

Church Stretton comes alive with music

The Stretton hills were today alive with the sound of music for a town's second Musicfest.

Published
Church Stretton School pupils ready for Musicfest. Front: Jamie Herbert and Kate Wright, 14. Back: Meg Chandler, 16, Dylan Topton, 11, Billy Blackwell and Fynn Gillions 15.

Venues all across Church Stretton were hosting music, dance and workshops from more than 50 different bands, ensembles and solo performers in a day-long celebration.

Spearheaded by staff and pupils at Church Stretton School among others, the Musicfest was first staged last year when performers young and old took to a stage in the town's Rectory Field, while Church Stretton's two churches, parish centre, club house and town council hall were also filled with local musicians and groups.

This time around the Rectory Field stage has been relocated indoors to Church Stretton School's own theatre, but organisers hope the day will go with just as much of a swing.

Jim Mould, head of music at Church Stretton school, and one of the organisers, said: "We hope that everyone will continue to support this volunteer-organised festival who have been working very hard for months to organise this for the benefit of the community."

The day was kicking off this morning with Ludlow Concert Band in the Square, an organ recital in St Laurence's Church, a 'gentle' flute and guitar concert in the United Reformed Church and drumming demonstration by Taiko West in the Silvester Horne Institute.

Student group Broken Years were opening the school theatre stage, with singers, songwriters, bands and soloists from the school filling out a day-long programme. Headliners Nadir, a student rock band were also playing a mix of covers and their own songs.

Meanwhile the Silvester Horne Institute was hosting everything from charleston and belly dancers to hand bell ringers, and St Laurence's Church and the United Reformed Church has a varied mix including blues, bluegrass, saxophone, choral singing and even African drumming.