Bradford Roots festival features over 50 acts

The three-day festival takes place from Janhuary 18-20 and is now bigger and brighter than ever with a new Friday launch night event.

The centre will come alive with performances from more than 50 musical acts celebrating the very best in local talent.

With nearly 30 acts making their Bradford Roots debut, and another 20 familiar faces, there will be plenty of incredible live music to discover, including folk, rock, jazz and blues.

Visitors can also take part in creative workshops, family activities, dance and even card reading.

The festival will be once again catered by Hartley Farm Shop and Kitchen, as well including fine craft ales from Box Steam Brewery.

This year, festival proceeds will go to Dorothy House Hospice, as well as Wiltshire Music Centre Trust and WMC’s resident Zone Club for learning disabled young adults.

Festival founders, Lisa and Chris Samuel, said: “Who’d have thought in 2013 that Bradford Roots would become such an exciting annual festival?

“We’re immensely proud of everyone who’s ever been involved, in whatever way - it shows that community spirit and music are alive and kicking in Bradford on Avon.”This year, the Festival begins with a new launch night event on the Friday evening, when three brand new acts will kick off the festivities with performances live in the Wiltshire Music Centre bar.

Featuring new-wave acoustic jazz duo Lewis & Dav, who draw on influences from Led Zeppelin to Snarky Puppy to create their funky hooks; loop pedal artist Alex Taylor with his unique fusion of nu-folk, electronica and soul and finally the bombastic New Orleans brass of Bath-based Horning Glory.

Saturday sees Kusanganisa, a transcultural collective of international and local artists including local saxophonist Nick Sorensen, return to the Festival after their 2017 debut to fill the Main Stage for an exuberant musical experience, while Trowbridge based singer-songwriter Daisy Chapman offers dark musical stories told through her powerful voice, dramatic piano and luscious violin.

Chloe Tyghe’s Wiltshire Music Centre roots run deep as the Wiltshire Youth Jazz Orchestra alum joins forces with Catalan singer Guillem Mitchel for an atmospheric collaboration showcasing songs off her new album, while Holt-based band Hazir lend the Main Stage a Turkish twist later in the afternoon.

Other stages will feature the likes of Somerset-based Sharon Lazibyrd, whose national reputation is built upon her original and ethereal folk; Glastonbury Festival veterans and Clare Balding’s favourites The Portraits unify the Golden Gudgeon Stage with their upbeat and catchy tunes

Sunday brings yet more talented local artists to the fore, with The Porbeagles presenting songs with incisive social commentary set to toe-tapping tunes, Bradford on Avon native Georgia Lewis showcasing her energetic folk music on the Wild and Woolley Stage and Bristol’s RockPipes lending a distinctly Scottish feel to proceedings.

As well as enjoying the great music, there are plenty of ways for audiences to take part, including with the ever-popular Wassail, crafting and poetry workshops, card readings, a gin bar and the return of the Artisan Fair where local creatives showcase their work from ceramics to woodcraft.

This year, the Festival launches Wiltshire Music Centre’s Spring Summer 2019 season which includes welcome return performances by jazz legend Clare Teal, the bombastic Bollywood Brass Band and Jyotsna Srikanth and the ever-popular Doric String Quartet in their new line-up.

Three exciting residencies begin to take root with the new Young Quartet in Residence the Marmen Quartet, star percussionist Adriano Adewale and the awe-inspiring jazz pianist Derek Paravicini all performing throughout the season.

The festival runs from 7.30pm on Friday, January 18, 11am to 11pm on Saturday, January 19 and from 11am to 4pm on Sunday, January 20.

To book tickets, call the Wiltshire Music Centre Box Office on 01225 860 100 or visit www.wiltshiremusic.org.uk