Even more money raised for local charities
Organisers of Bures Music Festival which ran for five days from 3 to 7 July last week revealed that the festival has raised more money than ever for local charities.
The not-for-profit festival packed the marquee on Bures Recreation ground as festival goers were treated to music genres spanning rock to pop, ska to soul, as well as jazz, choral and blues.
Although final figures are not yet in, the festival’s organisers say that they are on track to top last year’s £9,000 raised for local charities, including St Mary’s Hospice in Colchester and Ferriers Barn in Bures.
Highlights of this year’s festival included saxophonist-to-the-stars Snake Davis on Thursday; Eddie and the Hotrods on Friday; Absolute Bowie on Saturday and a line-up of the best local bands on Sunday.
The festival also featured B-Fest Young Musicians Competition on Saturday afternoon – a popular showcase for talented performers aged between nine and 18 years old. This year’s B-Fest winners, Colchester rock outfit The Vera Lones, were awarded a slot on Sunday’s line up; and last year’s winner, 14-year-old Rhys Butterworth-Bowman, treated the crowd to an extensive acoustic set during the competition interval.
Organiser Tom Moore said: “It was great to see so many people enjoying the weekend. We promised a bigger and better festival this year with more music, stalls and entertainment for kids and – thanks to the sunshine as well – we attracted a bigger crowd, meaning we can donate more money for charity. We’re so grateful to everyone that has supported us this year and promise to be back in 2014 with another five days of quality festival entertainment.”
Highlights
- Musicology kicked off the festival in Bures church on Wednesday evening with a set of feel-good numbers by artists from Abba to Ivor Novello.
- Snake Davis – the world’s most sought-after saxophonist (who has played with George Michael, Take That and Tom Jones) – rounded up an excellent jazz line-up on Thursday’s jazz night.
- Bluesmen Ben Smith and The Struck Bats from Colchester warmed up the marquee on Friday’s blues night ready for energetic headliners Eddie and the Hotrods.
- Absolute Bowie had the crowd demanding encores after performing a stunning set of David Bowie’s greatest hits from Space Oddity to Let’s Dance, Hunky Dory to Heroes.
- Colchester singer/songwriter Ady Johnson closed the festival on Sunday with a beautiful set from his nationally acclaimed album Tell The Worry Dolls.
- Sunday saw a great line-up of local bands from Sudbury and Colchester including Sudbury ska and reggae group Two Steps Twice and acoustic hip-hop group The Story Boys. Other bands from East Anglia included soul group The Blue Meteors and the Vincent Lapie Trio who performed an eclectic set of bossa nova and chanson francaise numbers.
- Children were entertained with craft activities, face painting and a bouncy castle.
- Delicious cream teas and home-made cakes were served by Noah’s Ark Nursery Group from Bures. Other food on offer at the festival included a delicious hog roast and fish and chips alongside a licensed bar.
