Latest News

Festival goes with a swing

Posted 12/08/07
The 2007 Alnwick International Music Festival was again a huge success with crowds pcking into the Market Place to watch traditional folk performers from all over the world. The organisers extended their thanks to everyone who came along to enjoy the spectacle, all those who helped throughout the week and the event sponsors and backers. The festival, which ran from Saturday, August 4, to Saturday, August 11, 2007, welcomed groups from Poland, Turkey, Mauritius, Italy, Latvia, Greece, Slovenia and Argentina.

Late lift for line-up

Posted 05/07/07
A HUGE boost has been handed to the Alnwick International Music Festival with the late addition of an "excellent" new group.

With just days to go before the event starts, festival organisers have secured Argentinian dance band Baller El Cimarron.

And it appears that El Cimarron is a huge coup for Alnwick festival fans with the group boasting an impressive CV.

Having tangoed in each continent of the world – most recently in Europe at festivals in Spain and France – the group has represented Argentina at the highest level.
For full story, see Northumberland Gazette, click here.

Shock blow to music festival

Posted 05/07/07
A DEVASTATING blow has been dealt to the organisers of the Alnwick Music Festival – Svitanok are not coming. The Ukrainian group, labelled as the most popular group to ever perform at the festival, revealed that it can not appear at this summer's event after its government ordered members to perform elsewhere.

The shock news has also punctured the committee's campaign to help fund Svitanok's trip and comes as a huge blow after the staggering success of the sponsorship bid (see story below).

For full story, see Northumberland Gazette, click here.

Alnwick pitches in to help Svitanok

Posted 28/06/07
THE attempt to bring one of the most popular bands to this year's Alnwick Music Festival has been a great success so far.

The campaign to ensure that Ukranian band Svitanok can appear at the August event has been met with so much enthusiasm that in just seven days the Gazette has been handed £1,200 of sponsorship.

Don Watson, festival treasurer, said: "The festival organisers are delighted with the response to the appeal for donations to assist with the cost of visas for Svitanok.

"We knew that the people of Alnwick had taken these kids to their hearts, and this has been confirmed by the generous donations that have been received since the article in last week's Gazette."

It means that the £1,200 raised so far is just £300 short of the half-way total, giving real hope that Svitanok, one of the most popular ever bands at the festival, can secure a place at the event.

The reason for donations has been echoed by all of the sponsors so far.

Rosemary McHugh, from Belford, said: "I think it's fantatsic for the group to travel and see a new culture. Plus, I think they are brilliant and the festival's great."

David Johnston labelled the festival as "the delight of the year".

Les Rayner, from Lesbury, whose wife is of Ukranian descent, added: "We saw Svitanok in 2004. They were absolutely brilliant and very authentic to Ukranian culture. We think the music festival is excellent."

This response has overwhelmed Evgen Dossenko, art director of Svitanok. From the group's base in Kiev, he said: "We cannot find the appropriate words to express our appreciation for helping us. From our side we promise to do everything we can to be able to come to England this year.

"Visiting your festival was one of the greatest experiences we have ever had, so we do not want to miss our chance to arrive again."

The sponsorship campaign was launched last week by the festival committee after it was revealed that the appearance of Svitanok had been thrown into doubt after it was discovered that they could not afford the increasing cost of their visas. See below.

For full story, see Northumberland Gazette, click here.

Help bring our friends back to the festival
Posted 21/06/07
A BID has been launched to ensure one of the most popular acts seen at the Alnwick Music Festival can return for this year's event.

The appearance of Svitanok – a group from Ukraine which last appeared at the festival in 2004 – at the 2007 event has been thrown into doubt after it emerged the group would need to apply for permit-free employment visas at a cost of £99 each - a rise in cost of £60 over last year.

Don Watson, festival treasurer, said: "It is not clear whether Svitanok, which is probably the most popular group ever to appear at the Alnwick Festival, will be able to make it."

The £99-each burden is a huge ask for the popular Eastern European performers, who are not only all amateurs but live in a country where the average monthly wage is just £50.

To lose one of the festival's best acts would be a massive blow to the event. So the committee has launched a bid for individuals or companies to sponsor a group member. It is asking for £60 to make up the shortfall for each performer, and sponsors will get a pair of tickets to an exclusive concert by Svitanok at the Alnwick Playhouse during music festival week and get to meet the performer they have funded.

Come to Alnwick International Music Festival ... and let the world come to you.