Announcement, Local events, Midsummer Fair, Midsummer Festival, News

Covid Cancellation

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The Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival Committee has decided to cancel this year’s Festival which was due to be held on June 20/21 2020.

By now you will know the reasons why,  in these very uncertain times, the day-by-day societal changes made in response to the Covid-19 pandemic mean that it is most unlikely that large social gatherings will be allowed in mid June and indeed, beyond. This is all very sad and frustrating, but in the circumstances it is the right decision.

When the current emergency passes over, it is hoped that there may be some form of village event later this year, but as yet, there are no details. To what extent Bythams Music might be involved in this is unknown.

That said, we can now look further ahead to 2021 and a Festival is planned for June, though we cannot confirm the exact dates.

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Midsummer Festival 2019: BM takes a break

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The Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival will be taking place on June 22nd/23rd 2019, but Bythams Music will not be organising the musical and arts activities. After more than 10 years of putting on some great gigs in Castle Bytham and Little Bytham, we have decided to take a break this year as we neither have the staffing, resources nor time to do what we would like to do. If Michael Eavis can take a year’s break at Glastonbury, then there is no reason why we cannot do the same – though on a slightly smaller scale!

We realise that this will be a disappointment to the many bands who have played for us in the past and would like to do so again (or, indeed, those who have yet to play for us for the first time). We are also sorry that we are not able to provide for the many hundreds of music lovers who have enjoyed the ambience and atmosphere of our past Festivals.

NEW BAND CONTACT DETAILS

However, all is not lost, as the Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival Committee has decided to put on the music this year, so any band or performer that is interested in playing should contact  cbmidsummerfestival@gmail.com in the first instance. Or drop by the Festival Facebook page and leave a message there.

We’ll be back!

Bythams Music plans to be back in action for 2020, so we will keep you all up to date as and when we are putting out our usual “Call for bands”.

Announcement, Midsummer Festival, News

Festival site taking shape!

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Meadow site in preparation; site of "Fishponds Stage" in foreground
Meadow site in preparation; site of “Fishponds Stage” in centre foreground (the earthworks of the medieval fishponds are in the middle distance on the right).
Important delivery...
Important delivery…
CBMFBar2018
CBMF Bar 2018: 25 beers racked in record time, awaiting their cooling jackets.

We seem to be (dare I say!) slightly ahead of schedule with setting up the meadow for the Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival this year. The weather forecast for this weekend looks good – not quite so hot and blisteringly sunny as last year, which is probably a good thing, but still pleasantly warm and slightly breezy. And most importantly, 25 barrels of ale were delivered and installed yesterday evening…
…so you shouldn’t go thirsty, even if it does turn really hot! (And yes, we’ll also have six ciders and some token lagers, wine, including prosecco, and soft drinks for the kiddies and other abstainers as well!)

Announcement, Midsummer Festival, News

Full online 2018 programme now live

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Screen Shot 2018-06-16 at 23.11.34The interactive version of the music programme for CB2018 is now live on our Midsummer Festival 2018 page, with biographies and photos of all the artists appearing on both stages on June 23rd and 24th. There’s an alphabetical list of who’s on and when; there are links to their websites, Facebook pages, sound recordings and YouTube clips where available, so you can check out the whole fantastic running order and decide who you want to hear. The only problem, as with any good festival, is going to be choosing between stages!

If you’d like to print off a hard copy to peruse at your leisure, you can download it here by clicking on the images below (but be aware that it is wider than A4, so you’ll either need an A3 printer, or you’ll have to print it out at a reduced size).

Printed programmes should be available in the village and elsewhere by midweek, in time for the Festival weekend.

CBMFProg2018Finished

 

CBMFProg2018Finished2

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2018 Midsummer Festival line-up announced

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Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival 2018

We present a feast of great music for all tastes – our biggest and best festival line-up yet, with new acts aplenty and some old favourites too.

This year, reflecting the Midsummer Festival’s overall ‘Country Capers’ theme, there’s a folky, bluesy, country, rootsy flavour to the weekend’s musical mix.

The real ale bar

Plus our amazing beer festival, which this year features 24 real ales, 7 lagers and 10 ciders, as well as a prosecco bar and a Pimms tent! The excellent food options include our perennially popular barbecue and the Village Veggie, a recent introduction that has also gone down well with those just looking for an alternative to regular barbie fare.

Among the performers appearing on our 2 stages on St Martin’s Meadow on Saturday 23 June (1.30–11pm) are:

  • The Band From County Hell
  • Centre Excuse
  • Don’t Forget Rupert
  • Paul Galloway
  • Ian Goodsman
  • The House of Ghosts
  • Listen Like Thieves
  • The Malingerers
  • North End
  • Ock’n’Dough
  • Will Purdue
  • Jon Rogers’ Linesmen
  • The Ruby Doos
  • Uninvited Guests
  • The Zarakan Blues Band

On Sunday 24 June (when the historic village holds its main street market, with all the usual stalls and a wide range of entertainments) there will be performances on our St Martin’s Meadow stages between 10am and 5pm by performers including

  • Brotherhoods Roundabout
  • Bythams School Choir
  • Vikki Clayton
  • EAGA Gospel Choir (as seen on Britain’s Got Talent)
  • The Full Moon Drummers (drumming workshop)
  • The Fox and The Pirate
  • Homity
  • Inferno
  • Kenneth J Nash
  • The Settlers
  • Swinstead Dance Academy
  • Pembroke Tenneson
  • Pennyless
  • W45

There will also be live music in the village’s two pubs, the village hall and a concert in the church by local choir Village Voices.

Further bands and performers are yet to be announced, so watch this space. Acts and timings are still subject to confirmation. Detailed listings will be given on our website and in a souvenir programme available just before the event.

We are always looking for folks to come and help us put on the festival so if you have a few hours spare before or over the week-end, do come and join in the fun.

For further information contact Patrick Candler, Chairman, Bythams Music, 07876 806646.

Announcement, Call for bands, Midsummer Festival, News

Call for Bands & Musicians for 23-24 June 2018

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Bythams Midsummer Festival 2018 wants to hear from YOU!

Yes, it’s that time of year again, when we invite musicians and singers to play at Castle Bytham’s free annual music festival over the weekend of 23–24 June 2018. We welcome a broad range of musical styles ­– from bands to solo acoustic performers – and are keen to encourage new and young performers.

This unique two-day midsummer event, a highlight of the local music calendar, has an enviable reputation. Featuring musical acts from near and far, it has all the creative energy you would expect from a far larger festival of arts.

St Martin's Meadow main arena (with Marquee Stage in centre)
St Martin’s Meadow main arena (Marquee Stage in centre)

In the fantastic scenic setting of St Martin’s Meadow (lying at the foot of the Norman castle mound), our large Marquee Stage (fully covered, for performers and a large audience) is now successfully joined within the same arena by an “Acoustic” stage. Full sound rigs, operated by experienced sound engineers, and lighting are provided.

We estimate attendance at 3,000­–4,000 over the weekend, with up to 750 people in St Martin’s Meadow at peak times.

Be part of the Bythams Midsummer Festival experience

The music will alternate between two stages (from approx. 2.00pm–10.30pm on Saturday 23 June* and approx. 11.30am–6.00pm on Sunday 24 June*), with sets lasting 25–60 minutes. Sunday’s music programme is an integral part of the long-established Castle Bytham Midsummer Fair, with its famous street market and many other entertainments woven throughout the centre of the village.

The main Marquee Stage, set within a large marquee and wider outdoor arena, plays to audiences of 400–500 people and can accommodate acts as diverse as big bands and dance troupes, school choirs and rock groups.

Providing a more intimate setting, ideal for solo acts, duos or trios, the open-air Acoustic Stage is itself covered. And as in previous years, there may be opportunities for performances at venues elsewhere in the historic village.

Performers love to play at this friendly festival

Bythams Midsummer Festival is run entirely by volunteers; proceeds support local charities and good causes. We hope that performers will support our ethos, but modest fees and expenses are negotiable; we also provide you with refreshments on the day.

We also promise a great sound system, an appreciative audience, a write-up in our professionally designed colour souvenir programme, the chance to promote your work and sell CDs and other merchandise, but above all, the opportunity to be part of this unique event.

If you would like to join us for the 2018 Bythams Midsummer Festival, we’d love to hear from you. Get in touch via our Contact Page

*actual times to be confirmed nearer the date

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Announcement, Midsummer Festival, News

Extra attractions join the 2017 festival lineup

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We’re delighted to confirm some extra names to add to the already impressive list of performers for this year’s Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival.

ChloeLorentzenIn line with our ethos of encouraging young and emerging talent, on Saturday we are especially pleased that Rutland Radio will be introducing young Stamford singer-songwriter Chloe Lorentzen on our Marquee Stage at 2pm. A remarkably precocious talent, Chloe won the 2017 Youth Music Showcase at the Peterborough Music Festival. Though only 12, she has already released her first CD, “Beneath Safer Skies” (left), with all proceeds going to War Child UK. It includes her award- winning song, “Circus Clown”. Recently Chloe starred as Annie at Stamford Corn Exchange.

Additions to Sunday’s bill include a set from talented classical guitarist Harry Carter, who is already a familiar face at Bythams Music events, both as a performer and sound engineer. Yet despite only being 18 years old, Harry, with a decade’s experience in performing classical guitar, has recently completed his grade 8 and started to focus on his musical diploma. He has performed in many different venues across the county, from large concerts to small private dinner parties including the Peterborough Mayor’s farewell
ball. With a modern interpretation on classical Spanish guitar, he always puts his own spin on a piece.

Finally, to round off Sunday’s performances on the Marquee Stage in style, we are excited to announce the reunion of Flash! Their funky guitarist Bob Wells may be familiar to you from his appearances with Bianca & the TopCats, but here he rejoins two friends from West London to play classics from the era of glam rock – T Rex, Bowie, Thin Lizzy, Hawkwind, the Quo… the finishing touch to another excellent weekend of music for all tastes!

For full details of the programme, regularly updated as more information becomes available, go to our Midsummer Festival 2017 listing page.

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Announcement, Midsummer Fair, Midsummer Festival, News

2017 Midsummer Festival line-up announced

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CASTLE BYTHAM
MIDSUMMER FESTIVAL
17 & 18 JUNE 2017
MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENTS

Bythams Music is delighted to announce the first bands and performers booked for this year’s festival. Even bigger and better than ever, this musical and artistic feast is all part of the wider weekend Midsummer Festival programme.

Saturday June 17: 1.30pm – 11pm

To start the festival weekend we have a range of excellent local bands and solo artistes playing on the main Meadow Stage and also the Green (acoustic) stage at St Martin’s Field. Some you may have seen before, which is always great, but in true serendipitous spirit, there will be others who you won’t have heard of but are guaranteed to fall in love with….

_MG_5867_edit_LowResOn the Marquee stage:
The Tin Pigeons (left),
Uninvited Guests,
Jon Rogers’ Linesmen,
Will Purdue Band,
Los Cojones

_MG_5482_edit_LowResOn the Green stage:
Oakleas Rise,
Diamond Dac and Cap Gordy,
CJ Hatt,
David Lacey and Pembroke Tenneson (left)

Sunday June 18: 10.00am – 5.00pm

Screen Shot 2015-05-11 at 13.41.29On the Marquee Stage:
Rutland Big Band,
Ruby Doos,
Bythams School,
Swinstead Dance Academy

 

On the Green stage:
Sophie Hurst
and more acts to be announced.

We’ve got you covered!
And don’t forget, we now have our huge marquee, which means that bands and audience can all be under cover if, heaven forbid, it should rain! And if it is boiling hot (fingers crossed!) then we can all be in the shade. Either way, everyone wins!

Living history
Away from the main meadow site, and in keeping with the weekend’s medieval theme (primarily on Sunday), we will also have a wonderful array of historical re-enactors, including an alchemist, a bodger, touring theatre, a magician, archery, falconry, a coracle demonstration, lots of children’s activities and parade – and our very own knight in shining armour.

Hurdy gurdyAppropriate musical accompaniment will be by Tourdion, who will perform in the streets, entertaining visitors to the village’s ever-popular fair and street market on Sunday. In the village hall and two pubs – the Castle Inn and Fox and Hounds – the Lincolnshire Poachers will be performing. In the church, Village Voices, a local choir, will be singing their interpretations of medieval songs and music.

Watch this space!
Further bands and performers are still to be announced, so watch this space. Further details about the bands and the line-up will be in our special souvenir programme, which will be available just before the Festival. All timings are subject to change.

Can you help?
We are always looking for folks to come and help us put on the festival, so if you have a few hours spare before or over the weekend, do come and join in the fun.

Rutland Radio LogoBythams Music is very grateful to Rutland Radio for promoting this year’s music programme.

The Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival 2017 is being supported by the Big Lottery Fund through its Celebrate! programme:

Lottery "Celebrate!" logo

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…live music events for the Bythams