The Festival will get off to a lively start with street entertainment. Events will include the Calnevalistas, Calne’s community Samba band, and by popular demand the Chippenham Morris Men, who will start dancing just after 11am.

Mark Wylie, Calne’s Town Crier, with bell and full regalia, will announce the Festival to the good people of Calne at 11am.

The organ at the Church of St Mary the Virgin was donated by Henry George Harris and built by Peter Conacher in 1908. In 2008 the British Institute of Organ Studies awarded it a certificate Grade II as being an instrument of importance to the national heritage. This is a rare opportunity to play the organ with the help of the church organist, David Bevan. Anybody who is interested should book a 20-minute slot with David. If they wish, attendees can make a donation to the upkeep of the organ.

Tel: 01249 814013,
email: d.bevan981@btinternet.com.

This community art workshop will be led by local artist Rachel Blake and is in conjunction with ‘ The Big Draw’ which is a national event. Information slips are available from Calne Information Centre. Model boats will be constructed which will then be raced on the River Marden from the Co-op car park to the under-road tunnel near to the library. All materials will be provided. Children should be picked up by an adult at 1200 to be taken to the starting point of the Boat Race.
Sponsored by the Festival Art Fund

David Bevan is the organist of the Parish Church of St Mary the Virgin. He will play works by English, American, French and German composers to demonstrate the power and range of the church’s 4-manual Conacher organ. Most of the works will be well known, but one or two will be unusual but equally enjoyable pieces. There will be some light-hearted items to balance the performance.

Following on from their successful sell-out performance of Brahms Requiem in April, Calne Choral are proud to be opening the Calne Music and Arts Festival week with a concert featuring a selection of choral favourites; Handel’s ‘Zadok the Priest’, Vivaldi’s ‘Gloria’ and the Rutter ‘Requiem’, in which popular local singer Gwendolen Martin will be providing the soprano solo.

Under the baton of Philip Springate, the choir has gone from strength to strength and it is widely agreed that they are improving with each performance they give, so this should be one event not to miss!

The What 4’s have been playing together for over 5 years and this four piece covers band really put the fun back into live music. With their exciting and toe tapping renditions of songs old and new they have proven to be the perfect band for all occasions. The What 4’s are a must for any occasion.