Monday, August 30, 2010
Abbeyfest returns for 2010
On the music front, there's a big round of applause for the festival's popular series of free Friday night jazz concerts, and for newcomer Noel McKoy. The free weekend lunchtime jazz features many favourite jazz standards performed by duos, trios and jazz quartets from around London. Come and experience the vibe for yourself and soak up the atmosphere with some of the hottest jazz talent on the scene (from 1-4pm Saturdays and Sundays).
The blues this year (Blues at the Mills) as always runs over the August Bank Holiday Weekend and as well as the free Friday night concert on the bandstand there’s one on the Saturday night as well! Buffalo Bill Smith has put together a stunning line up of bands and performers which this year will see more than 20 gigs - a real treat for all Blues lovers!
A first for Abbeyfest this year, is Colour House Theatre’s exciting night of Soul, Funk, Jazz and Boogie classic grooves and Old School Anthems from the 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s. These promise to be superb evenings of dancing, grooving and singing, brought to you by vinyl crazy DJ Smooth C.
Two chamber concerts have also been programmed (Sunday Evening Music Among Friends).
The Comedy line up (Slaughterville at the Watermill) is extremely strong thanks to Brett Vincent from Underbelly promotions. Here are two from his lineup: Keith Farnan is the latest in a long tradition of great Irish comedians. His first two Edinburgh Shows have already been received with critical acclaim and he’s enjoyed sell out runs in London and Edinburgh. 'If Eddie Izzard had been Irish, he'd surely have turned out a lot like Keith Farnan,' said The Scotsman! Come and see for yourself And then there’s Carl Donnelly. Last year’s Edinburgh Award Best Newcomer nominee Carl returns to Abbeyfest with a show about his rising ‘fame’, how suddenly he has found himself in a strange limbo of no longer being anonymous, but being far from famous.
Theatre this year at Abbeyfest is as impressive as ever, and Artistic Director Mark Marlowe has put together an exciting and vibrant line-up consisting of 16 cracking shows!
Abbeyfest
After the success of last year's open-air Film Short night, this year Abbeyfest is putting on a spectacular line up of six open-air film nights, with a special Gala film night featuring the wonderful musical Moulin Rouge!
The outstanding Kidsfest is set for Monday 30 August, and will be a truly wonderful and memorable day for all the little ones. This is a day where children take centre stage and like last year the whole day is totally free and one most definitely not to be missed!
www.abbeyfest.co.uk
(Article: by Sarah Hodgson, Time and Leisure Magazine