Hi everyone,
Wow-how the summer has just flown by and now we-re building up to the grand finale, join us on bank holiday Monday in Maryport for Bombs Per Minute, an unforgettable extravaganza of sound, light and fire from the much awaited return of European masters of percussion Les Commandos Percu (remember Garden of Delights 2003?). The spectacular performance takes place in Maryport harbour from 8:30pm on Monday 30 August and is FREE!
If you can-t make it to Maryport though, there is another chance to see Les Commandos Percu as they open this year-s Mintfest on Thursday 2nd September at Westmorland County Showground. Entry is just £2 on the door (under 11s free) Parking is free. Doors open at 7:30pm with a performance at 8:30pm of -Adrift- from Ulverston based Sound Intervention. Bombs Per Minute will start at 9pm. We then roll straight into a mind boggling weekend of shows and performances popping up all over Kendal. You can download the programme in advance from www.lakesalive.org and plan your whole weekend now.
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Mintfest - Highlights
On Friday evening we have an exciting and edgy medley of music, dance and circus from Catalonian company Atempo Circ in Abbot Hall Park at 8:30pm, (Get there for 8pm for another chance to see Adrift) . Compagnie Luc Amoros (France) fuse remarkable visual art and music on a giant scaffold canvas with their dynamic and fresh performance -Page Blanche- in Abbot Hall Courtyard at 9:30pm. You can catch Atempo again on Saturday and Luc Amoros Saturday and Sunday.
Alternatively Sufi: Zen - a Made in the Lakes 2010 commission, which premiered at Furness Abbey in April returns to Cumbria for Mintfest following a tour of UK festivals. South Asian dance company Akademi bring this meditative and intimate dance theatre experience to Fletcher Park at 8:30pm. Followed by a return to Mintfest from Dutch company Tuig with the UK premiere of their new visual spectacle Schraapzucht. Both shows are also repeated on Saturday and Sunday.
Ponten Pie (Catalonia, Spain) present their 'gourmet' show Copacabana at K Village on Friday and Saturday 5:30pm and 10pm and Sunday 1pm and 6pm. Tickets are £6 (£4 concessions) and are available from the Brewery Box Office www.breweryarts.co.uk - see www.lakesalive.org for further details. Audience is limited to 60 people per show.
A walk in the woods is a nature trail with a twist, presented by Frolicked. We begin at the Brewery Arts Centre and take a 60 minute leisurely walk hoping to catch a glimpse of some rare and unknown species lurking in the woods - you-ll have to keep your wits about you! Tickets £2 (£1 concession) from Brewery Box Office www.breweryarts.co.uk . Various times, please see the programme.
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Mintfest - On the Streets
Mintfest on the Streets has grown, and this year takes over Kendal town centre on both Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th September. A vast array of the best of British and international street performers will keep you inspired and amused throughout the festival daytimes. You can see a full A-Z of performers in the programme, download a copy at www.lakesalive.org
On Sunday, people from Kendal, Cumbria and beyond will present the finale of Mintfest 2010, with an uplifting and celebratory parade of dance, drumming and singing. Edun Ara - Bloco de Carnaval draws on the African heritage of Brazil and Cuba with a parade through the streets of Kendal beginning at 4:30pm at the Library and finishing on the Mintgarden stage at the Brewery Arts Centre at approx 5:30pm. One Voice Music will also be running dance, singing and drumming workshops from 3-5th September in the build up to the parade, visit www.lakesalive.org for full details.
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Mintgarden and Mintroom
This years Mintgarden at the Brewery Arts Centre offers a mix of music and much more, with a programme running from 5pm-10pm on Saturday and then 2pm-6pm on Sunday. On both days is a charming and quirky puppet show for families from Le Ballet du Montreur (France), in which the audience become the puppeteers. On Saturday evening there's music from the 10 piece Riot Jazz Brass Band, plus the aforementioned Mr & Mrs quiz, followed by a blend of Balkan and Klezmer tunes from the Balkanics Band. On Sunday Mundo Jazz teach us peace and harmony through music and the Guns of Navarone will get everyone dancing to traditional Jamaican Ska before the stage is taken for an uplifting finale of Brazilian/Cuban singing, dancing and drumming by all the participants of Edun Ara.
Mintfest Cabaret nights are also back in the Mintroom with the best in contemporary variety comedy and live music, brought to us by Cabaret Heaven. Different acts on Friday night and Saturday night from 10pm, a live DJ set from Robin Walker with dancing and bar until 01:30am. Tickets £6 (£4) from the Brewery Box Office www.breweryarts.co.uk
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The Wedding
If you came to Mintfest last year then you may remember that Big Rory, our very tall Scottish friend and his girlfriend Morag got engaged? Well they are back in town (along with their wayward hound Ochie) and this year they-re getting married - and YOU are invited! There will be stag and hen parties in unsuspecting Kendal pubs on Friday, wedding shopping in the town centre , Westmorland shopping centre and K Village, plus a rendition of cult 80s quiz show Mr & Mrs at the Brewery on Saturday. Then of course, the wedding ceremony, which takes place in Abbot Hall Park, followed by full blown wedding party reception at the Town Hall on Sunday. Well that-s the plan anyway! Again all the details are in the programme www.lakesalive.org, all free, except The Wedding Party on Sunday, Tickets £8 (£6) from the Brewery Box Office www.breweryarts.co.uk
We look forward to seeing you in Kendal next weekend, enjoy the rest of summer!
best wishes
Jeremy and Chloe