Women in Arts and Music at WAMfest Felixstowe
WAMFest, the Felixstowe-centric festival celebrating women in the arts will take place on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 September 2022 at a range of venues across the town. The two-day event will include a diverse programme of performance and art both free and ticketed, and bookings can now be made.
The line-up includes solo and group performers, choirs, visual artists and authors with a focus on providing a platform for women in the arts and music.
Festival events will take place at venues including The Grosvenor Inn, La Vida, Felixstowe’s newest nightspot, Beach Street, the Orwell Hotel and the Triangle.
Live music and an art exhibition are planned for Saturday, 10 September. The Grosvenor Inn will host Aimee Iris, Elly Tree and local up-and-coming young singer Ruby Ambrose.
Art at the Beach, a new visual arts festival involving more than 40 artists, will take place at Beach Street from 10am until 4pm.
The action will remain at Beach Street for that night’s launch party featuring headliner Big Mama Funk with support from singer songwriters Gabby Rivers and Lydia Angelica. This extravaganza is at La Vida, the town’s newest nightspot, and promises exciting entertainment at a venue which promises to be spectacularly different and exciting.
Sunday’s programme starts at The Orwell Hotel with popular local choir Felixstowe Harmonies who will set the stage for a day of varied performance, literature and theatre. Our literary events include a crime author panel featuring Ruth Dugdall and Jemma Wayne in conversation about why crime is so compelling. Later in the day historical authors Elske Howeler and Gill Blanchard will be elaborating on writing the past and historical research.
In addition, two skilled local actors Jayne Lindill and Helen Clarke will perform a piece of theatre they have specially created for WAMfest – ‘Yours Truly’, also at The Orwell.
Music lovers can enjoy the beautiful tones of Belinda Gillett in concert at the Orwell Hotel before internationally acclaimed coloratura Soprano Christina Johnston takes centre stage with a selection of light opera and musical theatre, supported by close harmony singers Stellar Acappella. An all-day ticket for all events at the Orwell Hotel is offered at very reasonable price.
Our free outdoor event includes the Ipswich Reggae Choir, the Dennis Lowe Theatre Group and rising young stars Annabelle Taylor and Katie Mitton at The Triangle in the centre of town.
As well as Art at the Beach, there will also be an exhibition at 142 Gallery in Hamilton Road, and, subject to support, a new mural near Great Eastern Square by celebrated artist Catalina Carvajal, who is also responsible for WAMfest’s beautiful flyers and artwork.
The festival finale will be an evening of Suffolk songbirds and a night of musical joy at the Two Sisters Arts centre in Trimley. Join young vintage harmony singers the Three Chordettes, rising star Grace Calver and the popular stunning singer songwriter Brooke Telling who will bring this celebration of the creativity of women to a close.
“The WAMfest team’s mission is to support female musicians, performers, visual artists and authors by giving them a platform to present their work at live events,” said organiser Laura Locke.
“We were spurred on by the great success of the first event in September 2021, being voted third in Suffolk in a popularity poll by the East Anglian Festival Network, and we ran a slightly smaller event in March this year, to mark International Women’s Day.
“Women are traditionally under-represented at music and arts festivals. This community event will continue to support them, and the town, and we can’t wait to welcome more than 100 performers who have become part of the WAMfest family.”
If you would like to support the festival in any way, including volunteering at the events, promotion activities or providing sponsorship for the mural in the town centre, please contact the WAMfest team through the website www.wamfestfelixstowe.art, the first port of call for all that you need to know, and follow the links online to book your tickets.
Grateful thanks go to Felixstowe Town Council for their continued support of this the first women’s festival in the town.
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Contact: Lauralocke222@gmail.com