Festival 2008

Building on previous successes, the talented team behind Goodrich Music has announced an exciting weekend of music and festivity in Goodrich from Friday 4th to Sunday the 6th of July 2008. All in all they hope there is something to suit every taste in the lively, varied and interesting programme. From the very best in rock to big band music, gentle jazz and folk dancing with attitude, Goodrich Music are looking to host a weekend of fun with a special feel good factor for everyone.

The weekend begins on July 4th with a Friday evening session in Goodrich Village Hall featuring the Dandelion Killers. Starting to make it big around the country, the Dandelion Killers originate in Goodrich and this will be their first gig in their home village. They will be supported by another talented up and coming Goodrich band – The Mirror Kissers – and the evening promises to be a celebration of the very best of original rock talent. Admission for those aged 12 and over is by ticket only at a price of £2.00.

Saturday the 5th of July promises to be a great day. The afternoon (from 3:00 to 6:00pm) is dedicated to the official opening of the Goodrich Greenspace Project and an opportunity for all the village and friends to enjoy this newly provided amenity and listen to, among others, the music of the Lydbrook Silver Band, while also enjoying refreshments and a pig roast.

At 7:00pm the festivities continue with an early evening concert in Goodrich Village Hall featuring the talented musicianship of the Monmouth Big Band. This eighteen strong band is led by Simon Tolley and provide rich arrangements in true big swing band style.

The finale for Saturday is a late evening folk dance / ceilidh with attitude and an opportunity for everyone to jig till they drop. Pass the Buck are one of the South of England’s foremost electric ceilidh bands and are leading the music, aided by guitar, bass and drums ‘on loan’ from the well known local band Twisted Blues. They bring a caller to help everyone join in and enjoy the fun and frolics. Tickets for the whole of the evening include a ploughman’s supper and are priced at £4.00 for adults and £2.00 for children.

As if that wasn’t enough, the music continues into Sunday 6th July from 12:30pm with an opportunity to relax, chill out, and enjoy gentle jazz with a lunchtime drink at Ye Hostelrie Hotel. Twisted Jazz, featuring Simon Tolley on saxophone, Ray Whittaker on keyboards, Andy Herbert on Bass and Tom Richardson on guitar, are leading this afternoon of musical delights that also features the vocal skills of Matthew Constance and EJ Martin.

This weekend has been made possible through the activities in fund raising that Goodrich Music carried out in 2007. The highly successful ‘Grease is the Word’ evening that took place in December 2007 has enabled all these events to be heavily subsidised. The tickets for the Friday session and the Saturday concert and dance in the village hall will be on sale in Jolley’s of Goodrich from Monday 19th May.