For the first time ever the Gladfest Fringe is coming to Gladfest and we can’t wait! We’re making the spirit of Gladfest free for everyone, with an outdoor space featuring musicians, storytellers, arts and crafts, food and drink and more - it’ll be a whole lot of fun for the whole family.
Most of what goes on at Gladfest is literary – it’s a literary festival after all - but this year we’re holding nothing back and playing host to live music, theatre, open mic sessions, and everything in between!
We want everyone to get involved this summer, that’s why we’ve got a tonne of interactive events going on like drawing at the library (intimate conversations with inanimate objects) with the incredible Georgina Rambton; a poetry open mic night compered by one of our most popular former Writers in Residence, Ian Parks; and for the young and young at heart there will be a comic crafting tent going on all weekend right next to the main tent. We’ve even got a QR treasure hunting session!
Like most great festivals music isn’t far from the main event, and we've got some great acts signed up to play throughout the weekend like blues guitarist and singer Chester Weiss, singer-songwriter Laura Wilson, and the Chester Venus Voices and Chester Bach Singers choirs! We’re welcoming all styles, and with more names yet to be confirmed there’s guaranteed to be even more to get stuck into.
And of course we’ll have delicious food and drink provided by our onsite culinary superstars Food for Thought - they’ll be serving up all the Gladstone guest favourites, as well as some special treats just for the weekend!
Find the full timetable of what's happening here.
In all the Gladfest Fringe promises to be a wonderful weekend full of music, food and friends, and you can’t beat the price at free entry. So come down on Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of September from 10am for a thrilling first at Gladstone’s Library.
By Alex Locke, Intern
Finally if you’re a musician, poet or any kind of performer reading this wishing you could get involved don’t worry, you can! Just contact Jane Jones on 01244 532350 or [email protected]. Gladfest audiences are always open, interested and engaged, so it’s the perfect place to showcase your talent.