Back and raring to go

Buxton Military Tattoo - 2010. www.buxtontattoo.org.uk

In 8 months time Buxton Festival Fringe 2011 will be coming to an end. Blimey! We'd better dig up the last artichokes, prepare the compost heaps, oil the shears and concentrate on matters artistic.

No one sits around waiting for news to appear on this Blog so you should know much of the following - but let's establish a few facts shall we?
 

1] The Buxton Opera Festival 2011 runs from Saturday 9 July - Wednesday 27 July. Among the operas are Donizetti's Maria di Rohan and Handel's Saul. The literature festival will include Roy Hattersley talking about David Lloyd George we gather. Keep up-to-date at www.buxtonfestival.co.uk
 

2] The Buxton Festival Fringe has slightly different dates - Wednesday 6 July to Sunday 24 July. We have a re-designed web site in response to customer feedback. It looks more like the printed programme in style and we hope people find it even easier to use. You know where to find it: www.buxtonfringe.org.uk
 

3] The Fringe 2011 officially opens for bookings on December 1st - but intending entrants can be making plans. Indeed one entrant has done more than that: one of last year's big successes was the Military Tattoo. Well it's back - bigger and better. It sold out in double quick time last year so avoid disappointment in 2011 by booking now. There will be two shows - both on Saturday 9 July; the first at 2.00pm and the second at 6.00pm. Tickets from the Opera House or from the Tattoo organisers. Go to www.buxtontattoo.org.uk for full details.
 

4] Fringe 2011 will be in all the usual venues - The Pauper's Pit in the Old Hall will be in use again. (There is always some anxiety that the re-development of the Crescent may have knock on effects). Buxton's shiniest new venue - the Pavilion Arts Centre - might also be hosting some events; let's keep our fingers crossed and hope that this can happen.
 

5] While you are waiting for the second Fringe 2011 entry there is plenty you could be doing in and around town. Consider the following:

• Graham Clark the legendary jazz violinist is playing every Thursday at the New Inn on the Market Place - starting at 9pm. He'll be joined by a top pianist and no doubt some mates will be passing by. Check out Graham's website www.grahamviolin.com
• Club Acoustic - Buxton's premier regular live music gig is moving to The Sun Inn - just south of the Market Place. Things start there at 9pm on Wednesday 24 November (and every second and fourth Wednesday thereafter). It's very snug in The Sun so don't leave it until too late.
• If film is your cup of tea then there are things being screened at a number of venues across the High Peak (four venues in Buxton plus Whaley Bridge, Chinley, New Mills and Glossop). Go to www.buxtonfilm.org.uk to check the detailed listings.

We understand that the Art Trail - which was a huge success in 2010 - won't be back until 2012. The organisers say that the event is so demanding of their time that they wouldn't have time to produce art to exhibit on an annual basis. So it will be biennial. However, you will be able to keep track of what some of the artists are up to at the Art Trail website which should go live soon.

by Keith Savage - Published 20/11/2010