What to Do; Weekend Roundup for 24th-27th June

Okay, here we go for our weekend rodeo roundup, for those who it’s too much energy to scroll our event calendar for. No time for links, I’m a busy bee, find the links on the aforementioned event calendar, forcing you scrolling, and also updates as they come bounding in…..

Build-up to the weekend….

Another week of Devizes Arts Festival events prior to the finale at the weekend. Wednesday 22nd sees the Darius Brubeck Quartet at the Corn Exchange. Meanwhile, local legend Nick Harper showcases Phantastes at Marlborough Town Hall, there’s The Carpenters Story at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, and many will start making their way to Glastonbury, hopefully not relying on the railway.

Thursday’s Devizes Arts Festival offering is Liz Grand at The Merchant Suite with a frank, humorous and revealing monologue about Shakespeare and Hathaway’s bed. While over at the Wharf Theatre there’s the opening night of the family play, The World under the Wood, directed by Helen Langford, where I hope to meet a talking tree and report back my findings. This one will close Saturday night, and is ideal for everyone aged six plus.

Electric Ladies of the 80s at The Wyvern Theatre, Swindon, Thursday, YouTube weekly That Pedal Show comes to The Tree House, Frome, with Andy Timmons, and Playgroup Open Mic sessions at The Bell, Bath, takes us neatly to Friday.

Friday

The 24^th day of June is a Friday, and you’ll find Finley Trusler at The Condado Lounge, while Radio 4 cop-comedian Alfie Moore presents his stand-up show at the Corn Exchange Devizes, as part of the Arts Festival. On comedy, there’s a stage show of Keeping Up Appearances at Neeld, Chippenham, running over the weekend.

Band of Pilgrims with Sour Apple in support at The Pump, Trowbridge, Death is a Girl at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon and Alex Rex & Mighty One at The Tree House, Frome.

Marlborough Town FC have an open mic night, and psychic medium Craig Morris is at Swindon Arts Centre, Monastries & Creek & Chasing Dolls at The Vic, but if in Swindon, I recommend the Ruzz Guitar Trio at The Rolleston Arms, obviously!

Oh yeah, and Simply Red play Longleat, if you want to cough up a small fortune and be charged extra for a seat; camping chairs are not allowed at these gigs, go figure. Taste my deckchair Hucknall!

Saturday

Anyways, Saturday 25^th June, is MantonFest Day, yay! Get your ticket, hope to see you there at this brilliantly professionally organised yet exceptionally welcoming festival near Marlborough, got to be highlight of the weekend. Firstly though, I’ve got to nip over to Trowbridge’s Carnival Fair in the town park, lots going on there, see the poster.

Bromham Carnival’s Teddy Bear Trail starts Saturday, and continues Sunday, with the theme ‘Someone Beginning with B.’ Forty-plus teddies around the village, created and generously sponsored by local businesses and individuals. See how many you can guess, and enjoy a walk round their beautiful village at the same time.

The wonderful Swindon Hub has their Monthly Craft Market, and the Spotlight Rooms hosts a Mamma Mia & More Dinner Dance. Elsewhere in Swindon, check Down & Dirty at The Queen’s Tap, Myra DuBois at Swindon Arts Centre, Italia Conti Newbury at The Wyvern Theatre or A Night At The Opera at the Old Town Gardens Bowl.

Let’s get the 49 to Devizes then, I know you want to! Because Devizes Arts Festival has an afternoon Organ Recital by Claudia Grinnell at St Johns Church, followed by their grand finale, a Celtic party night with a band called Absolute at the Corn Exchange.

Spoiled for choice again you are though, The Sarah C Ryan Band comes highly recommended by yours truly, and they play The Southgate. Over in the Sham, the monthly Melksham Rock n Roll Club have Shane & The Korrados.

Life in Mono come to Trowbridge Town Hall, and with one our fav Bath indie-pop bands, Longcoats in support, it’s guaranteed to be great. Marty’s Fake Family at Stallards, Biaritz at The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon, and Siren at The Rose & Crown, Warminster; all good, good stuff.

Sunday

Come on back to Devizes Sunday, and find Vince Bell and Tamsin Quin live at The Southgate, but don’t forget, The FullTone pre-festival warm up at the Town Hall, presents Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons, or Riding Lights Theatre Company comes to St Marys with a play called My Place.

Heading slightly westwards to the Owl Lodge near Lacock, and the exclusive Wiltshire Blues and Soul Club celebrate their first anniversary with what they do best, a jam; happy anniversary, guys! Oh, and watch out for the Lacock Road Races while you’re there!

To end our weekend with a blowout, Below the Salt play The Three Horseshoes, Bradford-on-Avon

Aftermath

A quiet week follows, at the moment, but you should be browsing July on our calendar, and looking to grab up tickets for Devizes Musical Theatre’s Musical Fortunes at the Wharf on Thursday and Friday, and I’m delighted to say the Devizes LGBTQ+ group has sold out Thursday’s Drag Queen Bingo Night at the Exchange already; that is fantastic guys, well done!

That’s all folks, have a great weekend.

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