Wymondham Music Festival Norfolk 2014 Success

The 19th Wymondham Music Festival Fortnight drew to a close on Sunday, July 6 with a special Family Finale featuring Norwich favourites, The He Hews. 

Building on the success of previous years, a vast range of music was enjoyed during the festival by all ages, from a rain spattered Teddy Bears’ Picnic, to the Balkan sounds of Arhai, the Baroque mastery of London Telemann Collegium and the beautiful voice of singer-songwriter Edwina Hayes.

Dixiemix, Wymondham Music Festival Jazz Picnic. Photograph Anna Meek

The Jazz Picnic, which featured Dixiemix at their homecoming gig following their stadium tour supporting Rod Stewart, was enjoyed by 1100 people who braved an early downpour. Pasadena Roof Orchestra played to a sell-out crowd at Central Hall and Norfolk bluegrass exponents, Feral Mouth, also packed them in.

Around the World Through Music and Dance, a new innovation this year, which launched Festival Fortnight, was enjoyed by an audience of more than 300. The open-air event, located at the west end of the Abbey grounds, showcased the African rhythms of Sokoshumba, Indian classical and Bollywood dance, Strictly Flamenco and the Eastern European music of Moxy Garbanzo.

Sokoshumba - Around the World Through Music and Dance. Photograph Anna Meek.

“Around the World was a great success”, said Richard Elliott, Festival Chairman, “bringing old and young together to enjoy colourful dance and a wonderful mix of musical styles on a sunny Wymondham morning.”

“We have had some superb concerts in the Abbey. London Telemann Collegium is an outstanding Baroque group. The Abbey setting was perfect for their authentic Baroque instruments. We also enjoyed the versatility of Bella Tromba, the vitality of cellist Joy Lisney, the humour and musicianship of The Goldman Ensemble, the exceptional talent of John Law and Iain Ballamy, as well as a very well attended lunchtime recital programme and our special Wymondham young musicians concert.”            

London Telemann Collegium, Wymondham Abbey. Photograph Anna Meek

Doug and Pat Dale, from Doncaster, stumbled on the second week of Festival Fortnight during their holiday last year. They enjoyed themselves so much that they immediately booked to return for the whole of Festival Fortnight 2014 and brought four friends.

Doug and Pat said: “We discovered the festival by chance. There’s nothing like this where we live. We stayed at Rose Cottage Caravan & Camping Site at Wicklewood and before we went home last year, we checked the dates for the 2014 festival and booked the whole fortnight. We also arranged for four friends to join us. We have had a great time and were lucky enough to get tickets for Pasadena Roof Orchestra, just before the concert sold out!”

Richard Elliott added: “I have met Doug and Pat and their friends several times at events. It makes it all worthwhile to get this type of support. Let’s hope they bring even more friends in 2015! As well as serving the local community, we are very keen to extend our reach and get more of a travelling audience.”

Feral Mouth, Central Hall Wymondham. Photograph Anna Meek

“I would particularly like to thank all of our volunteers who give thousands of hours in the run up to and during Festival Fortnight, along with our patrons, sponsors and supporters who play a vital role in making it possible to stage such a diverse programme of music. We’ll take a well-earned breather before planning for the 2015 Festival begins in earnest in August.”