Lichfield Festival returns with star-studded line-up
Organisers of Lichfield Festival have confirmed that the popular event will return this summer, with a star-studded line-up.
Last year's edition of the festival could not go ahead, due to Covid restrictions.
Singers Mica Paris and Eddi Reader, impressionist turned pianist Alistair McGowan, Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen will lead the line-up at this year 's Lichfield Festival in July.
From 8 to 18 July there will be an eclectic programme of ballet, cabaret, symphony orchestras, steel pans, family fun, chamber music, live cooking, story-telling, drama and laugh-out-loud comedy.
The annual event brings thousands of visitors to the beautiful cathedral city and is a cornerstone in the region 's cultural calendar.
“We 're thrilled to be back with the 39th Lichfield Festival this July - a year later than envisaged - with a typically exciting range of superb artists to bring the joy of live performance back to the city, ” said Lichfield Festival director, Damian Thantrey.
“With distancing and regulations expected still to be in place, things will be a little different this summer, with shorter event times and repeated performances, particularly those in the smaller venues.
“There will also be a number of outdoor events making the most of the glorious summer weather (we hope) and some of Lichfield 's beautiful and verdant outdoor spaces.
“We 're looking forward to joining artists and audiences alike, immersing ourselves in eleven days of fabulous entertainment and culture. ”
The festival opens on Thursday, 8 July with Ballet Cymru performing a brand new version of the classic ballet Giselle in the spectacular setting of Lichfield Cathedral.
The Cathedral is the centrepiece of festival activities and this year plays host to some amazing vocalists who top the line-up, including the undisputed British Queen of Soul Mica Paris, and Brit-award winning folk singer/songwriter Eddi Reader, widely considered Scotland 's greatest living female voice.
Other highlights in Lichfield Cathedral include fiery flamenco with guitar and Spanish dance duo Xuefei Yang and Maria Vega, a slimmed down BBC National Orchestra of Wales, now in the third year of their residency, and vocal group I Fagiolini with a concert of music ancient and modern inspired by the environment and TS Eliot 's The Waste Land.
The programme continues with a series of spectacularly talented young artists in recital, Notting Hill Carnival favourites The Metronomes Steel Orchestra performing al fresco at Swinfen Hall, Jonathan Gee 's jazz Quartet Re-imagining The Beatles and a return visit by world music and folk group Kabantu.
General booking for the festival opens on 11 May with priority booking for Lichfield Festival Friends from 27 April.
Contact the box office on 01543 306271 or visit www.lichfieldfestival.org for more details.
Pictured: Lichfield Cathedral will again be the centrepiece of the festival's activities