Cheltenham Racecourse

Virtually Wychwood Festival!

Virtually Wychwood Festival 2020 – Free Entry

Dear Wychwooders,

Well this is a sad and a happy day. We should by rights be partying on our opening evening of Wychwood 2020 in this glorious sunshine, but we know we are unable to this year.

So, I’m very excited to say that many of our Wychwood family, our workshop practitioners, authors and artists have kindly given of their time for us to give you a Virtual Wychwood Festival offering tomorrow, .

And I’m very exited to say, as with the real thing next year, The Divine Comedy will be headlining tomorrow night!

Below is a list of timings as close as we can get it for now – please do bear with us tomorrow if we have any technical issues, we’re quite new to this!

We will be live streaming from our YouTube channel, and we’ll also be live on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, so you can interact with us there.

You can also share memories, videos, video shout-outs you’d like to feature tomorrow; if we have space at: memories@wychwoodfestival.com

Time:Event:
3:00pmWelcome to Virtually Wychwood with Sam Shrouder
3:10pm

Workshop – Steve Kaos

Wonderfully gifted circus performer and instructor – we’re lucky to have Steve Kaos of Circus Kaos to teach us a few tips and tricks.

3:18pm

Show – Colin Dymond

Fabulous comedy ventriloquist Colin might just bring Elvis the Dog or Snot the Dragon to Virtually Wychwood. Anything could happen – come and join in the fun.

3:30pm

Storybox – Phillip Ardagh

Prize-winning author Philip Ardagh has written over 100 books. He will be joining us at Virtually Wychwood to feature his book Tim Little's Little Time Left and frankly, Wychwood wouldn’t be Wychwood without him!

3:45pm

Storybox – Tracey Corderoy

Beloved children’s writer Tracey Corderoy will be joining us at Virtually Wychwood to feature her book Impossible, just one of over 45 books published since 2010.

4:00pm

Storybox – Ali Sparkes

Prolific children's author and winner of Blue Peter Book of the Year, Ali will be joining us at Virtually Wychwood to feature her book Night Forever.

4:20pm

Storybox – Tony De Saulles

Tony De Saulles is a British Illustrator and winner of the Blue Peter Prize for Best Book with Facts for his contribution to the best-selling Horrible Science series.

4:35pm

Storybox – Gareth P Jones

Since Lockdown Gareth’s been working on the #DragonDetective series and other projects, including a musical collaboration with other authors to support bookshops. He will be joining Virtually Wychwood to feature his book Dragon Detective: Catnapped.

4:50pm

Storybox – Our Authors cover Lovely Day

As those of you who have been to Wychwood before will know, our authors are pretty nifty musicians too, usually performing together at the festival.

5:00pm

Show – Comic Sans Script

Resident comedy group at the Playhouse Theatre, Cheltenham, these guys specialise in improvised comedy - their ‘totally made up on the spot’ shows are guaranteed to bring laughter to everyone!

5:18pm

Show – Goldie Fiasco

The Hostess with the Mostest! Experienced, Goldie has been likened to Joan Simms from Carry On fame! Enjoy a spot of comedy with our new addition this year.

5:20pm

Workshop – Darn it! Workshops

Turn an old t-shirt into a fantastic Macrame Plant Hanger! Learn how to cut t-shirts to make a versatile and strong yarn that will hold your plants for years with simple knots.

5:30pm

Workshop – African Sambistas

Offering a 15 minute blast of West African dance moves, in the hope of bringing some much needed festival vibes into your living rooms and straight into your faces!

5:45pm

Workshop – Alex Cooke

Alex has run workshops at Wychwood for many years. Join her as she shares with you papermaking arts and crafts.

5:55pm

Show – Thomas Trilby

AKA Jem, our workshop programmer's alter-ego (who has never performed at Wychwood!) Have your juggling balls at the ready. Thomas Trilby is here with an amazing workshop to help you perfect your circus skills.

6:00pm

Workshop – The Collins Sisters

Join two dancing sisters ready to get you moving! What will they be teaching today? A bit of disco? Some line dancing moves? Come and have some fun – for all the family.

6:18pm

Art Workshop – Gemma Hastilow

Illustrator extraordinaire from Winchcombe, Gemma will show us how to make our pictures really come to life!

6:30pm

Wychwood FM Stage – HUNI

Songs with a philosophical spin on the ideas of growing up in the modern age. Influences include Bombay Bicycle Club, Catfish and the Bottlemen, Peace and The 1975.

6:45pm

Wychwood FM Stage – Gina Larner

Singer/songwriter from Brighton whose country/pop/folk influences shine out of her original songs. Described as ‘bewitching’ and ‘intoxicating’.

7:00pm

Wychwood FM Stage – Fix A

With multiple influences, from soul to blues, this duo perform both covers and own originals and are well-known in and around the Cheltenham area.

7:15pm

Wychwood FM Stage – Wrapped in Cheese

This four piece band from Cheltenham play singalong crowd pleasers with an authentic rock infusion, whether it’s 80’s classic Holding Out For A Hero or modern hits like Fireflys by Owl City.

7:30pm

Wychwood FM Stage – Santia

Santia started writing and performing from a young age. Now, with a vintage style comparable to Fleetwood Mac, she offers mature and spellbinding performances of original songs.

8:00pm

Dave’s Stage – Folk On

Like a brand new pair of slippers, there's something exciting yet entirely familiar about Folk On's music. Get ready to laugh, cry (perhaps?) and join in with a good old-fashioned village sing-along.

8:10pm

Dave’s Stage – Demi Marriner

Armed with a head full of ideas and a collection of incredible jackets, Demi Marriner is a songwriter for our time. Demi’s passion and emotion is so contagious and her voice so powerful, you’ll be captivated from the start.

8:30pm

Dave’s Stage – Thrill Collins

Skiffle-pop stars and Wychwood Festie favourites, Thrill Collins will be performing their spectacular medleys of epic pop songs arranged in their inimitable style.

8:40pm

Dave’s Stage – Mr B Gentlemen Rhymer

A YouTube sensation, singing about cricket, pipe smoking and high society. He’s even rapped for Jeremy Paxman on Newsnight. If you’ve never experienced gentlemanly steampunk hip-hop, this will show you what he’s all about!

9:00pm

Dave’s Stage – The Christians

Forgotten Town and Ideal World sound just as great as in the late 80s when The Christians erupted onto the music scene. Enjoy songs which will bring back pure happiness and nostalgia.

9:15pm

Dave’s Stage – Merry Hell

Joyful, uplifting folk-rock from the multi-award winning Merry Hell. With 5 albums to choose from, they bring energy and passion and a message of hope for troubled times.

9:35pm

Dave’s Stage – The Divine Comedy

So excited about joining Neil Hannon for original ballads of the likes of National Express, Our Mutual Friend and A Lady of a Certain Age. He’s got ‘Thirty Years of The Divine Comedy’ to choose from (Album out later in the summer). We can’t wait.

10:00pm

Dance Stage – DJ John Leather

John's been DJing for over a decade now – you'll hear an iconic eclectic blend of disco/funk/soul and guilty pleasures on a journey through some of the finest movie sounds.

The event is totally free, if you are able to contribute any way to our Crowdfunder campaign, we’d be most appreciative!

Head to Crowdfunder page

That’s it for now, one more sleep until Virtually Wychwood!

With Best wishes,

Graeme & The Wychwood Festival Team


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