Chorlton Arts Festival returns this week promising ten days of music, visual arts, comedy and performance in over forty venues across Chorlton-cum-Hardy.
The Festival is in its 14th year, and with over 130 events, 80 per cent free of charge, organisers are hoping to attract record audiences and beat last year’s attendance figure of 20,000 plus.
Highlights for 2014 include a special visual arts commission, Ascent, featuring bespoke artworks created by seven artists, including John Powell-Jones, Aliyah Hussain and Anna Beam, and displayed in public spaces around the south Manchester suburb.
Over the first weekend, Stella Grundy will perform her theatre piece The Rise And Fall Of A Northern Star in the intimate setting of a hotel room in the Spread Eagle.
The Arts Council England-funded project Word On The Street sees renowned Mancunian poet Mike Garry work with Chorlton Park Primary School and Chorlton High School pupils to write poems for an interactive poetry trail delivered by Manchester’s BREAD art.
On 17 May, 11am-4.30pm, the popular Arts & Craft Market returns to St Clement’s Church.
The Festival encompasses the third Chorlton Weekender on Bank Holiday weekend (22–25 May, doors 7.30pm), featuring the best emerging talent and special guests in unique venues. CAF organisers programme the headliners so music fans can experience them all, and a limited number of Weekender
Weekender acts include “guitarist’s guitarist” (Sunday Times) John Smith in St Ninian’s Church on 22 May; on 23 May, a special gig in St Ninian’s from Liam Frost, who recently sold out The Deaf Institute, plus support Bird To Beast, and Paper Aeroplanes plus support Bells In The Birches at St Clement’s Church; The Family Rain in St Clement’s on 24 May and, on 25 May, a rare chance to hear Lisbee Stainton’s “sweet folk-pop voice” (Mojo), plus Heath Common, Carol Grimes and The Lincoln 72s.
Musical performances of all genres take place throughout the Festival from Chorlton Introducing on 17 May at the South West Cricket Club, showcasing some of the best up-and-coming local talent, to former frontman of The Durutti Column Vini Reilly playing live as well as in conversation with Dave Haslam, 21 May in St Ninian’s.
Festival Director Ella Byford says: “We’re delighted to be presenting such a diverse and unique programme for CAF 2014, from site-specific theatre in hotel rooms to cutting- edge musicians performing in unique venues across Chorlton. With over 130 events, the majority free of charge, there’s something for everyone, so get involved this May!”
Chorlton Arts Festival 16th-25th May
For more information http://www.chorltonartsfestival.com
