Mitcheldean Festival

 One of the best things about having a Festival in Mitcheldean is that the countryside is within walking distance — literally! And what better way to enjoy a summer Sunday than to sing along the Gloucestershire Way?

 First, a cooked breakfast is available at the White Horse in Mitcheldean between 10 am and 12 noon @ £6.95 per head — please call / text Andy on 07772 053778 or e-mail folkwalk@mitcheldeanfestival.fod.uk by SUNDAY 15^TH JULY to book your brekkie (veggie option available).

 At 12 we will then set off on a circular tour of around seven miles, visiting several establishments with time for refreshments and a few songs. Each stop has its own theme for music and poetry:

• First Stop will be the Co-op, Mitcheldean to get sandwiches and drinks etc. for lunch under the oak tree or whenever we feel hungry
• Under our usual oak tree with a view towards the Severn — themes are Animals and Rivers
• The Yew Tree, Longhope — Faith and the Forest (a drink stop only this year due to the pressure of other bookings at the pub)
• The Farmer’s Boy, Longhope — Countryside, Farming
• The White Horse, Mitcheldean — Horses, Colours
• The Jolter Press, Mitcheldean — CIDER!
• The Brewery Tap, Mitcheldean — BEER!

…and the ice creams at the Farmer’s Boy are well worth sampling!

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 Dogs are welcome as you can see — if you don’t want the breakfast you can just turn up for 12 at the White Horse, but advance notice of numbers would be helpful (call / text 07772 053778 or e-mail folkwalk@mitcheldeanfestival.fod.uk) — see you there!

Mitcheldean Festival welcomes buskers. This year, in addition to our usual “Busk Stops” around the village we are providing a “Buskers’ Base” in the Brewery Tap where buskers can both perform and store their belongings.

Busk Stops are located in the following places (just look for the Busk Stop signs):

• On the field with the fete
• Outside Townsend House
• Between the White Horse and the town hall
• Outside the doctors’ surgery
• Outside the church
• In the Brewery tap itself

A small PA will be provided in the Brewery tap and buskers are encouraged to perform into the evening. Please respect your fellow buskers and take it in turns to perform.

Have you ever wanted to (or tried to) sing a song, read a poem or show a party piece to an audience, but found that fear got in the way or it went horribly wrong? Maybe you lost your nerve, or had stage fright? Maybe you felt you would be judged and  heard those negative voices in your head screaming failure, or that you simply aren’t good enough; somebody may have even told you this!

You are definitely not alone.

The Chocolate Drop-in seeks to provide a safe, friendly and non-judgemental environment for sharing your experiences, a place to perform (if you wish) and of course chocolate!

Tracey will tell you a little about her own nerve-racking experiences and if shes feeling brave, will happily share a song and a wee bit of guitar playing. She is still terribly frightened but has been told it “adds to her performances” in the local Folk Clubs, open mics and beyond. She believes there is no such thing as “bad” singing, poetry or prose; it is an expression from within, like painting.

Bring your voice, instrument and/or experiences for some fun and see what unfolds.

Find her in the cosy, and private area of the Lady Chapel in the Church between 11 o’clock and mid-day on Saturday 21st july.

All ages and abilities welcome; children to be accompanied by an adult.