So the final line up has been confirmed. Click on the images below and you can download a PDF to your computer.
Each year people ask, “What is Feltonbury about”? And where do the donations go?
They go to ‘The Plot’, the ‘Community Allotment and Shed in Felton and Thirston’ located on Recreation Lane, which was established 5 years ago to create a local space where residents – young and old, regardless of health, impairments or disability – could contribute to community cohesion through inter-generational gardening activity. Essential costs such as liability insurance and site purchases are required – so we created ‘Feltonbury’ as a fund-raising initiative.
Examples of what ‘The Plot’ is doing include using last year’s donations to add easy-access footpaths, provide secure tool storage and a composting toilet – essential in encouraging Felton and Thirston’s youngest (and not so!) residents to join in the delights of planting their own seeds and watching them grow.
This year’s event, in addition to the known artists and musicians, we are introducing new features to keep the annual Music and Arts ‘Festival-In-A-Day’ up to date.
Established acts and performers, such as KEVI's Youth Jazz Band, rock group ‘Parker’s Band’ and ‘Swap the Dog’, who play a range of folk tunes and Americana, all return alongside other ‘Feltonbury’ regulars of ‘Sing-A-Long-A-Sound-Of-Music’, Mad Hattie and the Eclectic Guitarist, a jazz duo opening the ‘Great American Song Book’, Andy Craig, ‘All Blown Out’, Tom O'Donnell, a valued folk singer/composer/guitarist and Lydia (together with Alastair), …..and others more make their welcome return to Feltonbury.
Newcomers, including ‘Cows Lying Down’, a Newcastle-based five piece band playing original pop-rocky-folky tunes, ‘Here2Day’ and ‘Traced’, Blyth-based groups playing contemporary acoustic-style ‘standards’,all of whom have heard and want to perform, mean that the event is growing and maturing.
The hugely successful ‘Arts Trail’ directly complements the music with local artists opening their homes for viewings throughout the village, in St Michael’s Church and in Gallery 45 (which will host both musicians and artists). The ‘Art Trail’ venues run 'side-by-side' with the music and the dedicated 'trail map' provides excellent directions to the various arts and music venues.
The first 'on-line' planning meeting was held earlier this month confirming that the proven format of previous years and various feedback comments will be added to 'Feltonbury2019'.
Slots are staring to fill in the timetable - get in touch soon if you want to be involved.
As in previous years we are planning several venues
a) The Bridge
b) Felton Village Hall
c) Gallery 45 (indoors)
d) Gallery 45 Courtyard
e) Gallery 45 'Long Room'
f) The Old Bank and, this year
g) in a 'bell-tent venue' on 'The Plot' - the Community Allotment space. The Foxes Den is a new venue and we will also discuss the best way to use the Northumberland Arms - inside and/or outside.
'The Bridge' is an ideal focal point in the village and there have had great performances there in the rain, wind - and most effectively in the hot sunshine. The Gallery45 Courtyard is a great venue as is the Long Room directly above it- but we will make sure that there is no clash of music schedules.
We have high expectations of 'The Plot' - but it is going to need some effort to make it what we are after. All of the outdoor venues are heavily dependent on good weather but, as in previous years, we will have wet-weather alternatives in place for each outdoor venue as a 'back-up' plan.
The ‘Stag Head Beer Tent’ in Gallery 45 Courtyard proved to be a significant success and will be repeated; however, minor amendments will be introduced to ensure that all musical performances get a ‘fair hearing’ - i.e. we won't have conflict between the Long Room and the Courtyard - and we will endeavour to make sure that Courtyard performers are listened to.
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It’s official - Feltonbury 2019 is happening!
Saturday 22nd June, 2019 is the date and the planning process gets underway. The event has become a village social landmark in the space of a very short period of time - and we intend keeping improving the quality of the day's activities. Each year we have had a different focus and this year is no change - whilst simultaneously retaining the popular 'favourites' in their known slots.
As in previous years there are several existing and new venues:
a) The Bridge
b) Northumberland Arms and it's car park
c) Felton Village Hall
d) Gallery 45 (indoors)
e) Gallery 45 Courtyard
f) The Old Bank
g) On 'The Plot' - the Community Allotment space, in a 'bell-tent venue'
'The Bridge' is an ideal focal point in the village and there have had great performances there in the rain, wind - and most effectively in the hot sunshine. The Gallery45 Courtyard is a great venue as is the Long Room directly above it. We had high expectations of 'The Plot' last year - and they were fulfilled with an over-subscribed yoga session. All of the outdoor venues are heavily dependent on good weather but, as in previous years, we will have wet-weather alternatives in place for each outdoor venue as a 'back-up' plan.
The ‘Stag Head Beer Tent’ and the 'Prosecco Van' in Gallery 45's Courtyard proved to be a significant success and will be repeated; however, minor amendments will be introduced to ensure that musical performances get a ‘fair hearing’.
The outline plan for the evening in the village hall is a 'Battle of the Bands' event. This event normally takes place in Alnwick Playhouse but because of refurbishment the Duchess High School has accepted our offer to host the vent in the village hall. This will attract a number of extremely proficient youngsters to compete for the title - with street-busking and venue performance as an integral part of the competition. The intention of this event for the local community is to increase the youth representation into the event as well as encouraging the community's young musicians and artists to participate.
Provisional arrangements have also been put into place for 'Prism' - a Pink Floyd Tribute Band - to perform in the village on the preceding night as a ticketed event. The band and the venue haven't been finalised as yet but will advise as soon as it is known. Also, the Village Hall is now licensed so alcohol can be sold; again that’s something that we are working on.
Here is last years programme which will give an idea on what, where and when went on.
2019 - The schedule for this year is below.
Slots are booked in single/multiple 15 minute slots. So, set the 'ball rolling' by having a look at your options.
Side by side with the music venues is an 'arts trail' - and there is added interest already. The spreadsheet template now includes a one-hour musical 'lunch break' for everyone to 'take a break' and to enable musicians to visit artists venues - who will take a similar, but differently timed 'lunch break'.
The 'We Burn' 'flash-mob' choir was a tremendous success in 2018 - and now the majority know what it is about it can become bigger and more confident. The 'venue' leaflet was also a great success and helped people negotiate the village to be in the right place at the right time.
Download the preliminary 'Feltonbury2019' Poster and please share as you feel appropriate.
Feltonbury is expanding - we are keen not to make it too big - but there is scope to make better use of what we have already. Lessons are learnt each year and we are incorporating those into this year's planning.
Everyone is most welcome to join the Feltonbury2019 community. Our strapline is 'No Mud, No Queues, No Tailbacks, No Talent' (How wrong that is - especially the latter!). If you want or know someone who wants to perform, display - and most importantly be a 'helper' - then please let us know and we will add you/them to the growing database. Email Neal Skelton at nealskelton@btinternet.com
Feltonbury2019 updates will be posted here on the website and on Facebook www.facebook.com/Feltonbury. Everything is up for discussion, so contact us by email or via Facebook.