Music festival bands heading back to Brewood

There may not be a Brewood Music Festival this year but music lovers in the Staffordshire village needn't fear missing out.

The festival proper is held every two years, with the next one due in 2012, but due to unprecedented demand the festival committee is putting on a small series of concerts over the next few months, to drum up support and help raise funds.

From jazz to rock, folk to classical, there's something for everyone, said a festival spokesman.

"Maybe you missed one of the bands or you just loved a particular act and want to see them again. Either way, you'll be delighted to hear that we have listened to your requests and are putting on a series of concerts at the Jubilee Hall, bringing back some of those acts that you have asked us about," he said.

First up on Saturday May 21 is Barbara and All That Jazz, a highly acclaimed band drawn from all over the Midlands, who played at the village's Bridge pub during last year's festival.

On Saturday May 28, two local bands will take to the stage. They are Stafford-based rock covers band Dark Horses and original blues/rock and covers band Under The Circumstances.

On June 3 the focus turns to folk and acoustic music, with no fewer than three acts – Bedlam, Jamie Davey and Whalebone from Bridgnorth.

These three events all take place at the Jubilee Hall, in Bargate Street, Brewood. The doors will open each evening at 7.30pm and the acts will start promptly. Tickets are £5 per event and available from The Swan pub (01902 850330) and The Mess Restaurant (01902 851694) in the village. All events are for over-16s only as the venue is licensed.

A month later there is an evening of Champagne and classics at Chillington Hall just outside the village on Wednesday July 6.

Courtesy of Mr and Mrs John Giffard, the event will feature soprano Hannah Medlam and pianist Jean-Michel Dayez, performing a wide range of music including pieces by Rachmaninov, Listz, Satie, Poulenc, J.Strauss, Ravel, Chopin, Britten, Kurt Weill, Richard Tauber and Glenn Miller.

The evening will start with Champagne and canapés at 7pm with the concert beginning at 7.30pm. There will be an interval during which Champagne will again be served.

Only 100 tickets are available at £30 each and are strictly limited to two per person. This is a formal occasion and the dress code is black tie. Tickets are available only from The Mess Restaurant in Brewood.

For further information visit brewoodmusicfestival.co.uk