Stafford Music Festival is back, bigger and better than ever!

Stafford Music Festival is returning for it’s 12^th year from 11^th – 25^th May, bringing a variety of music to suit all tastes from classical to jazz, folk and blues, choral and big bands.

The Gatehouse Theatre and The MET Studio have a jam packed schedule of exciting performances as part of this event.



Ewan McLennan



Kicking off the musical festivities will be Ewan McLennan on Saturday11^th May, in the MET Studio. The folk singer is already having a superb year, as he was most recently awarded Best Male Singer at the Spiral Earth Awards 2013. Tickets for his performance are just £10.

Following on will be Martin Carthy, performing in the Gatehouse Theatre on Thursday 16^th  May. For more than 40 years Martin Carthy has been one of folk music's greatest innovators, one of its best loved, most enthusiastic and, at times, most quietly

controversial of figures. His skill, stage presence and natural charm have won him many admirers, not only from within the folk scene, but also far beyond it. Tickets are available at £15 / £13 concessions.

Manchester Camerata return for the finale of their 40^th anniversary season on Friday 17^th May. Conducting the concert will be Music Director, Gábor Takács-Nagy whose engaging style of presentation has endeared him to audiences in Stafford since he took up post in 2011. He will be joined by Camerata’s magnetic young leader, Giovanni Guzzo, for Beethoven’s Violin Concerto, whose recent performance of the Four Seasons in Stafford played to a sell-out audience. The second half will be Beethoven Symphony no.2, written at a time of great personal turmoil for the composer yet remarkably the symphony has an incredible joy and vigour, with a typically uplifting finale. Tickets are £15 / £13 concessions, with a limited number of tickets available at £5 for under 26s and £3 for under 18s.



Manchester Camerata

Carpenters fans can celebrate the legacy of Karen Carpenter with Voice of The Heart on May 18^th, starring local performer Rachel Dean. This stunning two hour show in the Gatehouse Theatre will recreate some of the most loved hits of The Carpenters. Tickets are £19 / £18 concessions.

The MET Studio will come to life with an evening of stunning Spanish music from guitar virtuoso El Moreno on Thursday 23^rd May. His performance will blend classical, Latin-American and flamenco styles and tickets are £11 / £9 concessions.



Saturday 25^th May sees a busy day for The MET Studio with two performances from Jackie Oates at 3pm and 8pm. The singer is a phenomenon in the exploding folk-pop scene in the UK today.  Originally a member of The Mercury-nominated The Unthanks (then Rachel Unthank & The Winterset), Jackie Oates has since carved out an astonishing solo career which has made her a name to conjure with in folk music circles, in demand for work with other artists, cosmetics stores, collaborative projects, and even the subject of pop-art! Tickets are £15 / £13 concessions.



Jackie Oates

Ending the celebrations will be Richard Digance on Saturday 25^th May in the Gatehouse Theatre. Richard Digance is not just a singer/guitarist, and not merely one of the country’s most celebrated comedy entertainers, he is also a one man creative industry, whose achievements are acknowledged around the world. A BAFTA nominated performer, a world acclaimed poet, an author and an artist. Truly an evening not to be missed, with tickets just £16.50

Other venues taking part in the Music Festival include Joxer Brady's, The Swan Hotel and Ye Olde Rose and Crown. We can't wait!

Stafford Music Festival website

See the full line up on our website