Heatwave on its way, I’m led to believe; it’s the first full week of July, here’s what we’ve found to do in and around Wiltshire, unless you know of something we missed? Details and links HERE… let’s go out to play….
Ongoing is the opportunity to have a nose around artist’s studios, yes, it’s the marvellous Marlborough Open Studios time, running until 24th July. On Wednesday Macbeth at the Rondo Theatre, as we mentioned last week, with a couple of Devizes actors in! The New Forest Folk Festival kicks off Wednesday too.

There’s an exciting 2-hour trip through hundreds of years of Irish dance and music at The Wyvern, Swindon on Thursday 7th, called Rhythm of The Dance, and that’s all I’ve got for Thursday!
Rest of the weekend, however, you’re spoiled rotten, Readipop Festival and Cornbury Festival start Friday 8th July. Closer to home, Devizes Good Afternoon Choir and Pewsey Belles Ladies Choir meet at Devizes School for a Fundraising Concert. Angela Jones plays The Wellington, Marlborough, there’s a silent disco at The Neeld, and Once Upon a Musical is performed at St Peters, Chippenham. Melksham Assembly Hall has December ’63: O What a Night!
And what a night it will be if you like your folk, but tickets have sold out now for Fly Yeti Fly, with Tamsin Quin in support at The Pump, Trowbridge. Black Rose at The Vic, Swindon, or a Steve Harley Acoustic Band at The Wyvern. But all tribute act eyes on the Legends Festival at Lydiard Park, happening Friday and Saturday, where tribute acts come thick and fast, including Queen, Take That, Robbie Williams, Oasis and Madness; I can tell you’re interested! Ah, and breathe, Kris Barras Band play The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

Saturday 9th is carnival day, in Bath, look out for our favourite rappers, The Scribes, on 13:45, and, of course, it’s carnival day here in Devizes too. What to do in Devizes for after carnival? Well, Noah’s Ark has a fundraiser summer after party at the Conservative Club, promising DJs and live music, the Pelican promises a “Caribbean Karaoke,” the Truzzy Boys play The Three Crowns, Ben Borrill is at the Southgate, and there’s even the return of Vinyl Realm’s Vinyl Listening Session at Devizes Literary Club.
Editor’s Choice

But editor’s choice for this week has to be over a few hills yonder, The Crown at Bishops Cannings, host their debut festival, CrownFest on Saturday. There’s a great line-up here, but hurry up to grab your tickets. Everyone’s favourite teacher, N/SH kicks off the mini-fest at 11:45, followed by Becca Maule, Pete Lamb’s Heartbeats, George Wilding, Paradox, Isobel Thatcher, Illingworth, Humdinger and a Queen tribute Queen Real Magic headline at 9pm. I hope to be there, but don’t let that put you off, you only have to talk to me if you want to!
Elsewhere, they’ll be racing to the stones at Avebury, on a scarecrow trail at Cepen Park South, Chippenham, which is running until 17th, while there’s a Family Fun Day with the Shire Horses at The Pheasant.
In Trowbridge it’s ParkFest, Active Trowbridge have their Active Festival, and Mickelson with Concrete Prairie in support at Trowbridge Town Hall.
Dolly Parton: the rags to rhinestones story at Melksham Assembly Hall.
We Are Unsupervised plays The Lamb, Marlborough, and the Merchants House has an Ask The Expert session on How Does Your Garden Grow? I can answer that, with lots of damn weeds, that’s how!
If in Swindon, the wonderful mod band Peloton are at The Vic, Julie Scott’s Dance Academy at The Wyvern, and The Tom Petty Legacy at Swindon Arts Centre. Wilko Johnson at The Cheese & Grain, Frome.

On Sunday 10th, Nursteed Community Centre in Devizes has a craft fair in aid of Julia’s House from 10-2pm, and find the brilliant Essex-based country rock outfit, Jamie Williams & The Roots Collective at The Southgate.
It’s Chippenham Town Band’s 30th Anniversary, and they have a concert, as well as the Band Stand Concert in John Coles Park, and a Little Pickles Markets at Sheldon School, Chippenham.
Sunday and it’s Marlborough Academy of Dance and Drama this time at The Wyvern, Swindon.
That’s your weekend wrapped up, if you survive all that you are truly punk rock, maybe check out Stiff Little Fingers playing the Cheese & Grain on Monday 11th. Other than Ray Cooper playing Marlborough Folk Roots, the following week is a tad slow so far. I’m sure we’ll find something, because here’s the thing, our event calendar is constantly updating, so do not take this as comprehensive and keep up-to-date here.

Things to be thinking about breaking out your wallet for in the near future, though, looks a little something like this…. Devizes Beer Festival, obviously, got a great local lineup there, and that’s on 23rd July. The Salsa night at The Muck & Dundar, next Friday 15th, The second My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad at the Old Town Bowl, Swindon on Saturday 16th as well as Market Lavington’s Vintage Meet festival. Devizes Scooter rally the following weekend, along with the Soap Girls at the Vic that Saturday too, bound to sell out fast that one.


Not to mention, Full-Tone Festival in Devizes, naturally. It may not be till August but it’ll be here before you know it; don’t get left behind! Have a great week, might see you at CrownFest, if they let me out of here?!







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