Countdown to ninth festival

May 11, 2007, 10:09 am

All across North Devon preparations continue in earnest for what promises to be the most eclectic Festival yet. With less than a month to go until the start of the ninth North Devon Festival large numbers of people are dedicating time and effort towards making it a huge success.

Festival opening weekend includes so many good things it’s always easy to choose highlights but let’s not ignore the rest of the events happening in towns and villages throughout the region. Just about every one of the Festival days boasts a highlight, some Festival regulars as well as a number of new events.

The Festival kicks off with a concert at the Queen’s Theatre from the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band (1st June) and continues with world-class acts; master of blues Eric Bibb (2nd June) and world music superstar Baaba Maal (3rd June).

The weekend also sees the Festival staging a unique outdoor event, ColourDome, a mesmerizing, multi-coloured inflatable structure of linked chambers and tunnels which will be installed on Castle Green, Barnstaple on 2nd & 3rd June. Walking through the structure is a magical experience and at the centre there is a transparent dome where musicians will perform; Michael Ormiston, leading exponent of Mongolian overtone singing, (2nd June) and contemporary jazz improvisers perform with computer musicians to create a new world of sound (3rd June). To take part in this unique event all you need do is come along to Castle Green with a desire to have fun.

Other events happening across the region include:

Art exhibitions talks and workshops at a variety of locations from Appledore to Torrington to Barnstaple; a real taste of Devon life in Horwood, walk the trail and discover how a plague of scarecrows moves in on a Devon village.

Music plays the Blues in venues in Ilfracombe, Buckland Brewer and South Molton.

Local artist Amy Newton launches her long awaited second album Which Hand at the Landmark Theatre with marketing help from a group of second year North Devon College Travel and Tourism students.

For the energetic there’s the Family Climbing Festival at The Mill, South Molton. Take the whole family for a fun climbing taster session.

Energy to watch rather than spend is released in the Smash Boyz Performance Project, being held in a former industrial unit on the Roundswell Estate, Barnstaple, transformed by the Music Technology Department of the North Devon College,

The Factory, or if you feel like taking to the water Watersports fun for all is on offer at Upper Tamar lake, Have a Go at sailing, canoeing or windsurfing. West Buckland School hosts the North Devon Sports & Classic Car Run and Family Fun Day on Sunday, June 3 and in the evening Festival goers can party on the MS Oldenburg with a Sunset Cruise from Bideford Quay along the river Torridge enjoying live jazz music.

A full programme of events is now available and to register for your copy simply contact the North Devon Festival Box Office on 01271 32 42 42 or visit the website at www.northdevonfestival.org.

This article was taken: North Devon Gazette.