Fest to host Radio 4 and Showaddywaddy (From Knutsford Guardian)

Fest to host Radio 4 and Showaddywaddy

11:20am Sunday 9th September 2012 in News By James Wilson

TICKETS for the sixth Goostrey annual music and arts festival, have gone on sale.

Organisers have said Goosfest ‘12 will be the most ambitious to date with no fewer than 24 events at 11 different venues between 4 and 14 October.

Highlights of the programme include jazz singer Jacqui Dankworth, seventies rock group Showaddywaddy, a recording of BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? an audience with Nicholas Parsons and Miriam Margolyes in a one-woman show called Dickens’ Women.

Other events include: an organ recital by Nigel Ogden; a stand up comedy evening; a big band night featuring Wychcraft and a folk concert with Harvey Andrews as well as photography, rag rugging and willow weaving workshops.

There will also be a family history for beginners session, rock music concert performed by the pupils of Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School and a cafe scientifique lecture by Professor Suzanne Schwarz called ‘James Irving: A Liverpool Slave Ship Surgeon and Captain’.

One of the organisers Bill Ollier said: “All tickets for all Goosfest, which is a very ambitious project for a village the size of Goostrey, are now on sale.

“Over the past six years we have created a very special festival which we hope caters for newcomers as well as the growing band of ‘Goosfesters’ who support so many of the events.

“Tickets for the big shows Showaddywaddy, which will take place at Clonter Opera, and Jacqui Dankworth, at Cranage Hall, have been on sale for a while.

“We are extremely thrilled to have Jacqui Dankworth perform at Goosfest this year. Jacqui Dankworth is recognised as being one of the classiest acts in British jazz singing.

“Her acclaimed recordings are stylistically diverse, incorporating elements of folk, blues and many other musical forms that have demonstrated her superb skills as an eclectic songwriter. This is perhaps understandable given her parents are jazz legends, Johnny Dankworth and Cleo Laine.”

Information about every event and ticket prices can be found at the new easy to navigate website goosfest.com.

l Tickets for all events are available from the box office on 01477 535584.