Line-up for Steyning Festival announced!

Steyning Festival is back 26th May - 9th June 2018 with a phenomenal line-up of musicians, performers, writers, artists, craft makers, dancers and historians. PLUS: the Big Top is back... but even bigger inside!
Amongst the headline acts are Barry Cryer and Colin Sell, staples of I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, legendary jazz bassist Herbie Flowers, Peep Show’s Robert Webb, and Soul II Soul's Jazzie B.
Other big names include Julia Donaldson, Baroness Floella Benjamin, Sir Malcolm Rifkind, and Simon Nye, responsible for many successful TV shows, including the hugely popular The Durrells.

There is something for everyone at this year's Festival:

Children and families: Join in a Community Fun Day on Bank Holiday Monday (this year re-located to the Cuthman Field and Big Top!) with lots of fun activities and a singalong with Bugsy Malone; plus, join in a range of other community event for all ages. Hear from children's authors – like Julia Donaldson – and join in a range of community events over half-term, including a pirate adventure!

Music lovers: Catering for all tastes, we have jazz bassist Herbie Flowers; Soul II Soul's Jazzie B; Bounder & Cad; a concert celebrating the centenary of Leonard Bernstein; a massive ukulele jamming session; plus Live Lounge celebrates 10 years!

Culture seekers: Sir Anthony Seldon is talking about the impact of artificial intelligence; Professor Andrew Coates looks for life on Mars; award-winning journalist John Pilkington ponders what's next for Russia and Europe; and consultant radiologist Malcolm Johnston explores the science of music.

Literary buffs: There’s a wealth of writing talent, including Robert Webb, Salley Vickers, Sarah Dunant, Amanda Craig and Sarah Gristwood. Simon Brett and Elly Griffiths are the judges at a Short Stories Awards Dinner; and Mark Billingham, Sarah Hilary, Erin Kelly and William Shaw make an excellent panel of crime writers.

Dance fans: We have a specially commissioned piece by two Ballet Rambert trained dancers; A Breakin' Convention with graffiti and street funk; and the Young Dancer of the Year competition.

VOLUNTEER: Be part of the biggest volunteer run festival - Visit our website!

BECOME A FRIEND! Tickets will go on sale to Friends on Tuesday 17th April and to the public on Friday 20th April. 
£15 Individual - £20 Family. If you would like to become a Friend, please visit our website.

Steyning Garden Revolution - Saturday 26th May
The Chelsea Flower Show may be ending today but The Steyning Festival is just beginning! Following on from the Community Parade, we have an afternoon of garden themed activities for all ages, whether you have green fingers or not! Children can plant up containers to decorate the festival area or sow a sunflower seed and see how tall it grows in their garden - there will be a prize for the tallest. You can seek advice from various plant and design experts or you can ask a question and pick up useful tips from the Gardeners' Question Time panel. There will be local nurseries with plants to sell and a chance for you to donate any spare plants to the Festival plant stall. All this, and more, in the festive atmosphere of the Big Top and surrounding field, with music, food and a bar in case you are wilting! Keep your fingers crossed for a sunny day.

The Raz Up and Vintage/Classic Car Day - Saturday 2nd June
Free - with suggested donation of £3 pp or £5 per family to help cover costs.

Oh yes - here they go again. Voted 2016's most popular beer and wine event at The Steyning Festival, the rag bag collective of musicians, wordsmiths, artists and newly realised vintage and classic car fans that are known as the Raz Up return. The Raz Up has now established itself to be the place to see musical talent right here on your doorstep. Now in it's fourth year and resident once again at the Norfolk Arms the Razzers will be fan-faring their way down to the Big Top to celebrate their ongoing music collaborations.

Unleaded, unplugged and trying to be under control, this year we've combined with more local musicians and some cool Vintage and Classic Car collectors to give you a day of bacchanalian fun. The beer will be flowing, the wine pouring, the music will fill your hearts and minds with the wondrous wonders of local legends, young and old. New this year is the Kids Raz - the chance to see our up-and-coming young talent curated by the folk from the Raz. Put the date in your diary and come and see what was the popular Festival choice for the whole family. You don’t want to miss this one. The Festival Bar and Cafe will be open all day and there will be an exciting range of independent food vendors on Cuthman Field.

All vintage/classic cars (and costumes!) welcome. Free entry. For more information and to book a free parking spot, please contact Antonia Boulsien: antoniamg@hotmail.com 07850 617505 Disabled Access Available 

Julia Donaldson Tells Tales - Saturday 2nd June
Join our very own, award-winning children’s author Julia Donaldson with a company including her guitar-playing husband Malcolm, and the Gruffalo, for an hour of dramatized stories and songs with plenty of audience participation. After the show, Julia will be signing books on sale at the event. Suitable for 5+.

Soul II Soul DJ Set with Jazzie B - Friday 8th June
Trevor Beresford Romeo OBE, known as Jazzie B, is a DJ and music producer. He is a founding member of the musical group Soul II Soul. He is mainly credited for producing and vocal dialogue. In 1990, Soul II Soul picked up two Grammys. Jazzie was given the keys to seven cities in the U.S., including Los Angeles, California and New York. Jazzie B has not only produced for Soul II Soul, but he has also produced and remixed tracks for The Fine Young Cannibals, Incognito, Maxi Priest, James Brown and Kym Mazelle.

The Unusual Adventures of Robin Hood - Wednesday 6th June
In conjunction with The Friends of Steyning Primary School. Free for children 3 and under if child can sit on adult lap. Will Robin Hood and his band of hapless halfwits be able to outwit the dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham? Will the Maid Marian be cunning enough to save the day? Come along and find out in this hour long, fun packed show, which guarantees to make you laugh. The show is perfect for those between 3 and 11 years old. Entertainment provided by the Hobgoblin Theatre Company. Book your tickets, don’t miss out.

Art in the Park - Sunday 27th May
Inspired by Nick Sharratt's 'Draw Along', we continue with an afternoon of arts and crafts suitable for all ages. So access your inner Leonardo or Tracy Emin and become an artist for the afternoon. Use the easels and drawing materials provided by Steyning Arts (courtesy of Seawhites of Brighton) to draw a model who will pose for you, or anything else that takes your fancy in the landscape. Contribute to a community mural which will then decorate the Big Top for the rest of the festival. Children can create a collage of landmarks of Steyning using different techniques inspired by Kandinsky. If your face is your canvas, let Lisa turn it into a work of art. All this, and more, plus some roving entertainers and an afternoon of music provided by Southdown Funk and the Cheer Up Mollys. The Festival bar and cafe will be open and a wide range of food will be available all day.

Fantastic Literature Events!
Chris Riddell, Robert Webb, John Torode, Salley Vickers, Sarah Dunant, Julia Donaldson