The 18th Shipston Proms starts on Friday 17th June 2016. The annual 2-week festival is unusual in that it embraces music of all genres from classical thru folk and blues to heavy rock, and gives musicians of all ages and backgrounds a chance to be part of it.
This year's Proms start with a big Launch Party Night with DUKE – a beatbox band who play at festivals up and down the country, local 2015 Fame Contest winning local band Brixton Alley, and local DJ Dirty Harry all performing in the Townsend Hall on the 17th June.
As the band DUKE commented on performing this year “Since our performance (last year) we have fans from Shipston-on-Stour contacting us every week asking when we'll be back, well, WE'RE BACK and we couldn't more excited!!! We have been invited to play at the Launch night of this year's Proms and we can't wait to see everyone from last year! Hold on to your pants, it's going to be a big one!! Much love... The DUKE boys!”
The Fame Contest, on Saturday 18th June in the Townsend Hall, is a must for aspiring local musicians to enter, with the winners of solo/duet & bands categories getting an opportunity to play on the main stage on the Proms last night.
Classical music includes The Orchestra of The Swan, the Shipston Town Brass Band, and Young Musicians night at St. Martin’s church Barcheston, world music comes from Leamington Spa based community samba band Sambassadors of Groove and folk with Stratford Folk Club coming into town.
As usual, the power of music will be celebrated in schools, halls, and pubs in the town and surrounding villages with events every day over the period. The fortnight finishes with the now legendary free concert in the town square with a Totally Locally theme with the two Fame Contest category winners then two legendary local bands Kinky Farnham and Wired to finish off the night in style!.
