Brighton Early Music Festival

Exciting plans for 2023 under the theme of New Horizons

Brighton Early Music Festival is planning a busy year of events in 2023, all featuring music of the past presented in a way that’s relevant to 2023 audiences. Whilst many ‘standard’ classical events focus heavily on music from the 18th and 19th centuries written to be performed in a concert hall, early music covers 1,000 years of music and encompasses music written for convents, churches, pubs or to be played at home, as well as concert works.

The 2023 programme under the theme of New Horizons includes a summer mini-Festival with workshops, performances and a ceilidh; and a major autumn Festival featuring the best early music performers from around the UK and Europe. Highlights include Secret Byrd, a new immersive performance by The Gesualdo Six and Fretwork to celebrate the 400th anniversary of William Byrd; Fieri Consort and Musica Secreta performing music by female composers of the past; a programme of medieval enigmas from Italian ensemble La Fonte Musica; and the BREMF Players and Singers presenting a baroque programme for choir, orchestra and soloists.

Diary dates: Friday 30th June & Saturday 1st July –BREMF in the Park.

Late September/early October – pre-festival events including workshops and family concerts and Thursday 12th to Sunday 28th October – BREMF Autumn Festival 2023.

www.bremf.org.uk for full details.

Broadstairs Folk Week

Folk Music by the Sea

11th to 18th August

Broadstairs will welcome hundreds of musicians and dancers and thousands of visitors to the town at the height of the summer season. With its own festival campsite in the town, it’s possible to have a full-on festival experience within reach of sandy beaches.

In 2023, the headliners represent the best of Folk, Americana and Roots music. Seth Lakeman is one of the most successful English musicians of his generation. Lady Maisery is “the most exquisite vocal harmony work on the English folk scene”, according to The Guardian. Home Service features John Tams. The Festival’s Patron Tim Edey invites fellow musicians to join him in a special concert, celebrating all things guitar. The main concert venue is the town’s Baptist Centre where you can also catch Granny’s Attic, The Jeremiahs, The Often Herd, Angeline Morrison and many more.

There’s a full programme of dances and ceilidhs in the town’s Sarah Thorne Theatre, featuring dance workshops and other venues for special shows, including Music Hall, Girl Talk, Gypsy Songs, and a Folk Club with opportunities for everyone to sing a song or strum a tune.

There are around 400 events crammed into one week – including workshops for all abilities in music. Young musicians can join in with the Band in a Weekend project. There is the everpopular official free pub gig programme and at the bandstand the free Hobby Horse Club attracts hundreds of families who participate in games, singing and dancing with Clarence the Dragon and the festival mascots, the Hooden Horses.

The festival campsite is within walking distance of the town and venues, although there is a free minibus service into town too. It’s a great way of having a holiday by the beach with all the entertainment thrown in! Visit www.broadstairsfolkweek.org.uk for more details and how to book.

Broadstairs Folk Week – top: Ranagri; inset: Katie Spencer, photo by Will Killen opp top: His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts – Lewes BaroqueFest opp bottom: Bernardi Music Group and String Academy at Shipley Parish Church – Shipley Arts Festival