PRESS RELEASE for immediate release May 2025
Music continues to play a major part in Buxton Fringe, with events touching on all aspects of the medium and featuring a host of talented performers.
There are classical singers such as award-winning soprano Katy Allan, with songs from Mozart to Calamity Jane, and Katja Ebrigens, featuring Bizet, Schubert and Disney. Singer-songwriters like folk star Judy Dunlop and award-winning Hannah Brine (also performing at Buxton International Festival) showcase their latest albums, there is a celebration of forgotten favourites and fabulous flops of British musical theatre from award-winning Robert Hazle & Helena Northcote, and there is relaxing jazz, pop and blues from duo Take Two.
Classical music is presented on a bigger scale with concerts from High Peak Orchestra, performing Rimsky-Korsakov, Walton and Richard Strauss, award-winning Cheshire Chamber Collective exploring American influences including Gershwin and Charles Griffes, and Mr Simpson's Little Consort, with a concert at Eyam Parish Church suggested by the gardens of Versailles.
KEMS Contemporary Ensemble presents works by Phil Cashian, John Cage, Eleanor Alberga, Paul Burnell, Robert Howard, Mark Hendriks and Howard Jones; Manchester Recorder Orchestra mixes contemporary with Prokofiev and Verdi, while Polydolci play recorders of different sizes and pitches, viol and keyboard with music from the 15th century to the present day. Orugoru combine piano, wind and percussion instruments in a sparkling sound-world and award-winning Fringe regulars Partita play Renaissance and Baroque music for voice, lute, vihuela, baroque guitar, harpsichord, cello and recorder. Meanwhile there is a chance for local musicians to join award-winning Sheffield Music Academy in a performance of Benjamin Britten's The Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra.
Burbage Band (Buxton) presents an evening of magical music from stage and screen, and the High Peak Big Band performs favourites of the ballroom and musical theatre and exciting arrangements of contemporary compositions. Basin Street Jazz & Blues take audiences on an intimate time-travelling planetary voyage featuring the velvety vocals of Jules M Scott, and Gifts From Crows Trio brings new music and a surprise or two.
Amongst the folk and blues-flavoured music on offer there is Macclesfield-based original folk band Midnight + The Patio Chairs. Internationally acclaimed songwriter-pianist Bob Hall and his partner Hilary Blythe combine homespun folk songs and blues, old-time country and gospel. There are new shows from folk star singer-songwriter Chris Milner-Journeyman and singer-songwriter multi-instrumentalist Peter Buxton, while Charlie Moritz performs tracks from his third album. Folk-Americana artist Chloe Jones presents an intimate acoustic evening of heartfelt storytelling and the Joe Bayliss duo provide thought-provoking songs, soothing melodies and imaginative metaphors.
There are solo piano recitals from Adrian Lord (with music from his new album, Mosaic) and Jonathan Ellis (performing Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and Debussy) plus solo guitar concerts from award-winning Jonathan Prag (playing Bach and Gershwin), and Ed Billingham, with music by Leo Bouwer, Barrios and Rodrigo.
The always uplifting sound of choral singing is brought to the Fringe by Buxton Community Choir, with a programme capturing the seasons, the return of Chapel-en-le-Frith Ladies Choir, and the Ordsall Acappella Singers, with a repertoire that ranges from classical to classic rock, upbeat pop and lullabies, traditional and newly composed pieces. Meanwhile Blends interpret well-known songs from the Eighties, Nineties and Noughties in a new, three-piece harmony sound.
Rock and pop are represented by three-piece psychedelic band, Up-Psychled, showcasing American Garage and Psychedelia inspired by the 1960s’ British Invasion. Will Hawthorne and Dave Goodway will use reel-to-reel recorders, tape loops, samples and live overdubbing on original songs performed alongside recreations of classics. Finally 1960s’ pop star Dave Berry reminisces over an eventful six-decade career, including the hits The Crying Game and Little Things.
ARKangel combines violin, guitar, vocals and spoken word to chart the history of the blues from the brutality of slavery to a challenging new life in Harlem. Darren Poyzer and Trisha Plant join forces for musical adventures, angsty anthems, sharp banter, and spinning yarns. One-time GP and an accomplished pianist, Dr Stuart Bootle combines musical covers with mirthful medical anecdotes, and popular duo Fred Up take another irreverent look back through TV themes of yesteryear.
Fringe Marketing Officer Stephanie Billen says: “Whatever your tastes, there are tunes for everyone at this year’s Fringe. Taken in combination with Buxton International Festival’s rich programme, it is an incredible offering for music lovers this July!”
The Fringe wishes to thank High Peak Borough Council, its Fringe Friends and the town’s many Fringe supporters and venues.
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