2015 Prescot Festival: Closing Weekend Approaches

The Prescot Festival’s opening weekend saw over 100 singers gather to perform a moving choral work by the newly knighted Sir Karl Jenkins.

The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace was written on the eve of the new millennium and dedicated to victims of the Kosovo crisis. Some audience members shed tears at Saturday night’s concert.

The arts and music festival—now in its second decade—opened Friday with the Bentley Operatic Society singing songs from those most witty and talented gentlemen of the Victorian theatre, Gilbert and Sullivan.

Sunday afternoon saw the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall’s Dave Nicholas, now Britain’s only remaining resident cinema organist, take to the organ of Prescot Parish Church.

The octogenarian offered a nostalgic programme of songs from the shows, dance hall classics and tunes from both world wars.

One eager fan brought along one of Dave’s albums, which he autographed in 1972, and had it signed again, 43 years on (pictured).

Festival Closing Weekend, 26-28 June

The 10-day festival continues until Sunday 28 June. World no. 4-ranking brass band Foden’s are back in town for ‘Brass & BBQ’ on Saturday night, and South Liverpool Orchestra perform this year’s Proms-style Festival Finale, with guest soloist Hannah Mackenzie playing Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto.

Other highlights throughout the week include schools competitions, a screening of the 1996 film Brassed Off with fish-and-chip supper, and an evening with the Chilled Lemons Jazz Quartet.

“Once again we’re overwhelmed with the stellar talent on show at the festival,” said Dr Robert Howard. “We look forward to a crescendo of quality entertainment as we build towards the finale of another inspiring year.”

The full Prescot Festival programme is online at www.prescotfestival.co.uk. Tickets are available in person from Poco Coffee at 30 Eccleston Street, Prescot, by phone to Ticketweb on 08444 771 000, or via the website.

(Top photo: Alan Humphreys)

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