Horsham Community Festival 2008

The next Horsham Community Festival will take place on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th September 2008. We would hope to coincide this with the grand opening of the 'Community & Folk Arts centre' in the Old Town Hall, although we would wish to have the project fully operational for some time before then.

All artist booking enquiries, general enquiries and offers of help to Martin on 07704 454002

The Horsham Community Festival will run every other year, alternate with
other events such as:

FORUMFEST Saturday 23rd June 2007
(Part of Horsham Music Week 2007 - Friday 22nd June - Sunday 1st July 2007)

Organised in conjunction with Horsham District Council, Horsham District Live Music Alliance and Acoustic Sussex the Blue Flash Music Trust presents :

10.30 am The Coalhole Quartet

The Coalhole Quartet start the day with their superb mix of jazz, blues and swing. Drift away on timeless classics such as 'Summertime'; sing along with those popular ballads and swing numbers; or dance to the up-tempo rhythm and blues.

The quartet consists of Bill playing double bass, Helen on tenor saxophone, John playing guitar and Kathrine providing vocals.

The Coalhole Quartet can be contacted by calling 07989 952304 or 07841
700341, or by e-mailing coalhole@tiscali.co.uk

11.30 am Martin Jeremiah & Ellen Bateson

Martin and Ellen will be playing a selection of songs from the 'Sounds of History' show, which was highly acclaimed at the Brighton Fringe Festival last year along with some other self-penned material.

Ellen Bateson is 'Jill of all trades' on bass guitar, recorders and harmony vocals.

Martin has been described as "fast emerging as one of Britain's finest meaningful songwriters" and last year he made the 'Top 20' in the solo writer category at the British Academy of Composers and Songwriter's sponsored by Apple.

Check out www.rwgrecords.com for further details

12.30 pm Off the Cuff featuring Louise

Take a trip down memory lane with some fabulous covers from this local band. With 'big' songs such as Joni Mitchell's 'Big Yellow Taxi' you won't be able to stop yourself joining in.

Singer Louise Hurdman is a local Shepherd known for her many musical talents (pictured here playing to a captive audience), so she will be pitching in with a few instruments along the way.

The rest of the band, also providing some self-penned material, are Will Lewis-vocal/guitar; Paul Harrison-keyboards; John Barber-vocal/ bass/guitar and Trevor Hultquist-drums.

1.30 pm Ain't Misbehavin'

Phil Gravett, Danny Gahill and Don Newport and will be taking everybody aback with a selection of tunes and songs from the 20's, 30's and 40's, as well as original compositions, on Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar, 5-string Orchestral Double Bass & Drums. With inspiration from old time string band and blues players, Phil, Danny and Don "Ain't Misbehavin'"!

2.30 pm Julie Roberts and Gary Holder

'Julie Roberts is a fabulous singer.......really brilliant.....' said BBC Radio 3 music presenter, Claire Martin - and she's right! Julie Roberts is behind the dark smoky voice who loves to sing timeless classics from folk to the blues. Julie also plays guitar and is accompanied with aplomb by Gary Holder on double bass. Their original interpretations include songs by Nina Simone, Tracey Chapman, Tom Waites and Billy Joel.

Julie and Gary played live on BBC Southern Counties & Meridian Radio earlier this year. They have also played a number of festivals recently. Julie and Gary's new CD 'Don't Tell Me to Stop' comes out this summer. More info. at www.julierobertsmusic.co.uk

3.30 pm The Okee Dokee Band

With a unique blend of self penned masterpieces, rocked up folk songs and pounding rhythms comes this, colourful, odd bunch of local characters with a good time sound. Masters of the 'Zob Stick', these guys will definitely entertain you. Search for them on 'You tube' and check out their recent local performance featuring the now nationally famous "Dancing Dad". Okee dokee, okee dokey, let's rock!

Plus headline act from Acoustic Sussex:

4.30 pm Whizz Jones featuring Simeon Jones

A true British folk and blues legend and virtuoso guitarist - what more is
there to be said?

Charlie Rose

Entertainment will also be provided in between performances by 14 year old Charlie Rose who will be playing various pieces and contemporary songs on piano.

2006 Horsham Community Festival

The Horsham Community festival took place on Sunday 3rd September 2006. It was a free, funpacked festival with loads of musicians plus a selection of dancers, street performers and exhibitions.

The festival took over Horsham for the day with music and events at the Town Hall, Market Square, Bandstand (Carfax) and Forum.

Thanks to everyone who helped make this festival a huge success.

About The Horsham Community Festival
by Martin Jeremiah

Hello, and welcome to the very first Horsham Community Festival.

I went to an agricultural festival in Seddlescombe a couple of months ago and marvelled at how a tiny village in Sussex could be hosting an event on such a scale. It occurred to me that it must have all started with an idea. Somebody simply woke up one day in the village and said to themselves: "Let's organise a festival".

Just one month ago, a group of people in Horsham had a similar, but crazy idea to organise and stage a festival within a month! As we discussed the possibilities more widely, people rightly pointed out that organising such an event would normally take a year and to do it in a month would probably be a world record. They could well be right!

However, Horsham is probably one of the few towns in the world where resident's artistic talent combines with a sense of community in a way that makes such a spectacular challenge possible. And it is thanks to this community, with everyone pulling and working together, giving their time and energy without hesitation, that this has been possible.

In this respect, there are far too many volunteers to thank, but suffice to say, they are all heroes. Similarly, it would not have been possible to stage such an event without the support of official bodies such as the emergency services and Horsham District Council, assisting with things like publicity, licensing and selling tickets through the Tourist Information Centre. In that essential mix, we also have a first rate community based local newspaper in the West Sussex County Times. And last, but by no means least, there is you - the local traders and residents that reward everybody's efforts by supporting the event on the big day itself. Everyone's a winner!

On behalf of the Trust, I wish you all a very, very enjoyable day!

Martin Jeremiah
Festival Project Manager - Horsham Community Festival

F or and on behalf of the Blue Flash Music Trust
Registered charity no. 1102732

P.S. Plans for next year's festival are already in discussion and with more time to organise, even more acts and variety is intended. If you would like to get involved in staging the festival next year, please get in touch with us, or speak to one of our officials at the Blue Flash Music Trust stand on the day.

About the Blue Flash Music Trust

In 1923, Captain R.C.G. Middleton, MC, and officers of the Royal Sussex Regiment formed the Blue Flash Association, which gave rise to the Blue Flash Company and the Blue Flash Cinemas. The regiment took the name Blue Flash from the blue shoulder flash on the uniform. In 2002, the name was resurrected when the Blue Flash Music Trust was formed, having gained permission from the regiment for the use of the name. Blue Flash has always had musical and charitable connections and this is how the story goes…..

The Blue Flash Association built two theatres to provide work for unemployed musicians after the First World War, one of which was the Capitol Theatre in Horsham, the other, a theatre in Shoreham. Before its demolition in 1983, the Capitol Theatre projected films from the rear of the screen which gave room for a large orchestra pit so the bandsmen could accompany stage performances or silent films. The work of the Blue Flash Association spread right across the Sussex area until commercial forces took over. For a short time however, the Blue Flash Association did great work, though sadly, for the most part, it has been forgotten.

In 2002, The Blue Flash Music Trust was formed by a group of Horsham residents to restore those musical, artistic and charitable connections to the area. The Trust was delighted to welcome Julian Lloyd Webber as its patron in 2004 and since then, has gone from strength to strength, culminating in the staging of this first Horsham Community Festival in 2006.

Your Support

As with all charities, fund-raising is of significant importance and staging events such as this festival requires a great deal of funding. We are extremely grateful to those who have already supported this event either by sponsorship, advertising, donating or just simply volunteering their time and energy free of charge. However, we do need more and there are lots of ways you can do this. Make a donation on the day in one of our collection boxes/buckets at the venues or visit the Trust's stand to gift aid your donation. Make a purchase from the Trust's stand (all money raised from sales will be given to the charity). Speak to one of our officials about supporting the festival next year with offers of help, sponsorship or advertising.