News Everyone invited to join in the Maidstone Summer Series of fun
Tomorrow - Saturday 20 July between 10am and 2pm sees the first of six weeks of free entertainment Maidstone Summer Series in the Town Centre.
Everyone is invited to join the Mayor of Maidstone, Cllr John Perry and enjoy the performances and kick off the series of free weekend entertainment.
Maidstone Borough Council is working in partnership with Cohesion Plus to bring street performances to the town when it will come alive every weekend for six weeks this summer. A host of performers and musicians will take to the streets providing free entertainment on Saturdays and a series of jazz and brass bands performing on the Bandstand in Brenchley Gardens on Sundays.
Mayor of Maidstone Cllr John Perry said:
“I am delighted to be invited along to the first of the Maidstone Summer Series events.“The Summer Series promises to bring the town to life each Saturday with a variety of street performers, many usually seen in Covent Garden. They will entertain crowds in the town centre for free, with jugglers, magicians, acrobats and wonderful music from local bands and musicians. I am so proud of the town and these events are a perfect opportunity for other people to enjoy all it has to offer.”
MBC and Cohesion Plus will start the Saturday performances in Jubilee Square and other locations around the town centre.
The fun starts this Saturday 20 July in Jubilee Square when there will be performances from singer, Tamara Tracey at 10am, magic and comedy from Sergio Barros at 10.40am, with Tom Balmont performing circus skills and comedy at 11.20am. Then again on Week Street, Tamara will be singing at 11.45am and again at 1.25pm, Sergio Barros with magic and comedy at 12.25pm and circus skills and comedy from Tom Balmont at 12.55pm.
On Sunday everyone can head to Brenchley Gardens to sit back, relax in the stunning park and listen to jazz and brass bands free of charge. They start on Sunday 21 July and run until Sunday 1 September between 3pm - 5pm on the Victorian Bandstand set in the heart of the town centre. Deckchairs will be available for use during the concerts and are offered on a first come first served basis.
The Sunday Bandstand concerts are produced by Kent Arts and Wellbeing, on behalf of the Council. Everyone is welcome to enjoy the free entertainment which starts this Sunday 21 July with East Peckham Silver Band.
Saturday entertainment:
Crowds will be wowed on Saturday 27 July as Spikey Will performs on a bed of nails, with acrobatics from Juma Kuba and music from Jason Allen.
On Saturday 3 August sword swallower Heavy Metal Pete will be entertaining visitors in the town centre along with Richard Filby, juggler and rola bola with music from Dirk Wickenden and Tanga Pase Trio.
Fantastic street dancer Lorand Karbula will perform on Saturday 10 August, along with juggler Young Harvey and music by Summer Salter.
A brilliant original puppet show on Saturday 17 August will be performed by Richard Hadley, with The Chaplin Show and music from Ebonie G.
The summer series finishes on Saturday 24 August with The Tom Show circus and comedy performances and juggler Nick Malinowski. A fabulous ABBA duo will be providing the music.
Sunday Bandstand concerts:
Sunday 21 July – East Peckham Silver Band - Friendly and thriving Silver band, boasts the title of the oldest surviving village band in Kent.
Sunday 28 July – Invicta Jazz Orchestra – Playing jazz classics and modern pop and rock hits, a jazzy big band sound with classics by Glenn Miller and Count Basie, Miles Davis and Maynard Ferguson.
Sunday 4 August – Marconi Brass - the Rochester-based band plays an extensive repertoire in a wide range of musical styles.
Sunday 11 August – Gravesend Borough Band - a community concert band of around 30 players of all ages. The musical repertoire includes selections and themes from shows and films, and popular light music.
Sunday 18 August – Sevenoaks & Tonbridge Concert Band - a symphonic wind band with music including original works to arrangements of orchestral pieces, musical theatre and film scores, traditional military band items and light music of various styles.
Sunday 25 August – Mainly Sax – five-piece jazz quartet playing wonderful jazz standards.
Sunday 1 September – Jon Hamilton Big Band - regular instrumentalists and vocalists with music from a huge range of styles, from the classics to relative unknowns.
Please note performance times or locations may vary.
Entry to all of the events is completely free of charge. Full details can be found in the ‘What’s On’ listings on the Visit Maidstone website: www.visitmaidstone.com