Severn Vale Art Trail Opens Saturday 2 May 2009

Click here for Full list of Venues and Artists participating in the 2009 Art Trail, May 2nd to 10th.

Super star Rick Wakeman found time between engagements in Chile and a spectacular at Hampton Court to stay on in the Armstrong Hall to chat with his fans. Reviewer Mike Harris (standing right) wrote:

What an entertaining last night of the Festival it proved to be. From his opening rendition of "Monkey On A Stick", the very first piece he performed in public, at the age of five, which lasted all of 15 seconds, through to his own arrangement of "Eleanor Rigby" in the style of Prokofiev, his mastery of the keyboard was evident for all to enjoy. Other musical highlights included the very moving "Children Of Chernobyl", a composition written to complement the Norman Wisdom film raising awareness of the radiation impact on Ukrainian children resulting from the nuclear power plant disaster in 1986, and various nursery rhymes in the style of Mozart, Debussy and our very own Les Dawson. Audience participation was also required to contribute bird sounds to accompany "Birdman Of Alcatraz". Rick's encore piece, "The Jig," achieved its aim to send us home with a smile on our face. What also brought a smile to many faces was Rick's obvious enthusiasm to spend time after the performance talking to the many fans that had brought various books and albums to be autographed or just wanted to thank him for a great night's entertainment.

John Sergeant spent over 30 year as a reporter for the BBC covering conflicts all over the world before taking the post of political editor with ITN.

He has returned to light entertainment recently appearing in Have I got News for You, Room 101, and The News Quiz. His latest venture, and unlikely stardom, on Strictly Come Dancing received massive press coverage as the nation warmed to his charm and his integrity when he withdrew in favour of more accomplished dancers.

After the show at the Armstrong Hall he was happy to sign copies of his book and chat to fans about the his experiences fronting the News and resigning from "Strictly" with his dignity intact.

Design and Technology

This year's Festival activities for young people include a Design and Technology project based on Doctor Who, culminating in a spectacular exhibition in the former carpet shop in St Mary Shopping Centre. TAF are very grateful to St Mary Centre for providing the exhibition space.

The primary school children's Doctor Who Exhibition can be viewed in the shop window from April 14th to April 26th and on Saturday 18th April a Tardis will emerge from 10.00am to 2.00pm built by 7 to 11 year olds.

Read the last three TAF Newsletters online:

Newsletter No. 12   November 2008
Newsletter No. 11   February 2008
Newsletter No. 10   November 2007

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John Sergeant and Rick Wakeman delight sell-out audiences at the 40th anniversary Festival

Thornbury Arts Festival committee is delighted with the success of the 40th Festival in 2009. From the opening night with John Sergeant's revealing snippets about almost all politicians of the last 30 years not to mention a few "Strictly" secrets, through to the last night's bravura performance from the remarkably normal and very cool Rick Wakeman, the evenings were crammed with serious entertainment top-flight music and drama and the well attended lunchtime events were among the best ever heard in Thornbury.