Week 2 : 8th-14th June

Major General PATRICK CORDINGLY
The Use of Force: do we really understand the consequences?

Retired Desert Rat, Major General Patrick Cordingly commanded 12,000 men in 7th Armoured Brigade in the Gulf War and was awarded the DSO for his leadership and bravery. Having also seen service in Cyprus, Libya, Germany and Canada as well as in the Gulf, Patrick is now a regular military commentator on the BBC and speaker on a range of subjects which include leadership during periods of tension, high intensity conflict, decision making and team briefing.

There will be an opportunity for a Q & A session after the talk.

Sponsored by Cross Manufacturing

LUNCHTIME CONCERT: LOLA TOURSONOVA

Born in Russia in 1979, Lola studied in her native Moscow and later at the Guildhall and the Royal Academy of Music. As a pianist she gave recitals in Russia, Austria and the UK but more recently has changed musical direction from piano to voice. She sang at the Hyde Park Jubilee Celebrations and has appeared at Queen Elizabeth Hall, as a guest artist at Covent Garden and in Russia, Germany and Italy. Her informal programme for Devizes will include music from Tchaikovsky through to Joplin.
Lola appears under the auspices of Live Music Now!

Free tea and coffee will be served from 12.30pm to 12.50pm

Sponsored by Operaluna

WADWORTH BREWERY TOUR

Another opportunity to see the century-old process that produces the famous brews and to sample them.
Limited to 20

THE TONY KOFI QUARTET
Plays the music of Thelonious Monk

One of the UK’s most talented jazz composers and saxophonists, Tony Kofi bridges the heavyweight American tradition of jazz and European individuality. A graduate of the world-famous Berklee College of Music, he was also a member of the enormously successful British group Jazz Warriors, led by Courtney Pine. His group has developed a powerful rapport playing imaginative interpretations of the music of Thelonious Monk - one of the truly original voices in jazz with a talent for catchy melodies. Playing with Tony are Jonathan Gee (piano), Ben Hazleton (bass) and Winston Clifford (drums). This promises to be one of the most exciting jazz concerts we have held at the Festival.

‘Superb ensemble playing’ The Independent

BATTLE OF THE BANDS

This contest is now firmly established as a part of the Festival and heats start on Sunday 3rd May and culminate in tonight’s final. The heats will take place at The Cavalier and entry is £1.00 per band. The final will be between 5 or 6 bands, the winner receiving a £200 voucher from Madcap Music.

Headlining tonight is Birmingham band the Calories. Calories formed in summer 2008 but John, Tom and Pete have been recording and playing together in various bands and bedroom projects since their early teens. More a band of brothers than bandmates, they collectively write, play and sing the songs which will pound through your head for days.

In conjunction with Sheer Music

IRISH FOLK MUSIC
MAIRE NI CHATHASAIGH and CHRIS NEWMAN

Maire Ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman produce music of fire and brilliance on harp and guitar respectively. Maire was voted ‘Irish Traditional Musician of the Year’ in 2001 and last year Chris was voted ‘Male Musician of the Year’ by Live Ireland Folk Awards. Their performances, though rooted in the Irish tradition, incorporate a blend of folk, hot jazz, bluegrass and baroque, coupled with Maire’s beautiful vocals. Separately, they are two of the finest exponents of their individual instruments you will hear. Together, the result is pure magic.

‘If Maire wasn’t around, Irish harping would be so much the poorer: her work restores
the harp to its true voice.’
The Irish Times

Sponsored by David Owen & Co.

SOPHIE HANNAH

Since her last visit to Devizes Festival eight years ago award winning poet Sophie Hannah has added ‘successful author of psychological thrillers’ to her CV.

Author of five collections of poems, her latest ‘Pessimism for Beginners’ was shortlisted for the 2007 TS Eliot Award. Sophie will be reading and discussing her poems as well as talking about her novels.

‘A poet of immense resource, witty and heartbreaking by turns’
Times Literary Supplement

Sponsored by Annie’s Catering & Devizes Books

MIKRON THEATRE: TALES FROM THE THAMES

For the first time in Mikron Theatre Company’s 38 years of touring the waterways we will bathe ourselves in Britain’s foremost stretch of water. From three men and Montmorency on a boat to the dipping docklands cranes at Churchill’s funeral, from the lighters to the Thames slippers, from Henley to the Isle of Dogs, all history is there; all Britain’s life. Toad, Ratty and Mole make way for Itchington, Gert and Roly our trio of brave misfits as they make their way up the Thames in 2009. Mr. Itchington Scratchit and Miss Gert Oarswell and Master Roly Rollox will entertain us all with their tales from the riverbank.

Sponsored by Rosemundy Cottage Bed & Breakfast

MUSIC FOR AWHILE directed by Margaret Faultless
LONDON: HAVEN AND PARADISE OF FOREIGN MUSICIAN

Music For Awhile makes its ever-popular appearance at the Festival. Mid 18th Century London was an exciting city for musicians - a melting pot for locals and visiting celebrities, none more so than Handel (born 250 years ago this year). Tonight we recreate a recital which took place during the interval of an opera performance in 1753. Handel, along with his illustrious colleagues Hellendaal, Lanzetti and Catarina Galli, presented a programme of songs and virtuoso sonatas in the fashionable Italian style. For a truly historical experience, come along to discover more.

Music for Awhile is committed to supporting charitable causes and through the generous sponsorship of the Cecil King Foundation the proceeds from ticket sales will go to the repair of St John’s Church, Devizes.

Sponsored by the Cecil King Memorial Foundation