The Festival :: Events
This year's event is even bigger and better than last year and we expect this to attract more people than ever before.
The many varied and exciting events have been finalised and the complete printed programme will soon be available to everyone - it is also available for you to download it now.
Accessibility
The Leytonstone Festival Association aims to make the Festival as accessible as possible and on the Venues page there are notes providing provisional guidance on the each of the various locations.
Links to the programmes for each day:
Sunday 6th; Monday 7th; Tuesday 8th; Wednesday 9th;
Thursday 10th; Friday 11th; Saturday 12th; Sunday 13th
Saturday 5th July 2008
Event: Open Day, featuring stalls, refreshment and music.
Entrance: Free
Event: Leytonstone Muslim Community Centre Family Fun Day
Bouncy castle, running bugee jump, slide, face painting, penalty shoot-out, sisters only zone, and more.
Entrance: Free
Event: Exhibition illustrating local church history
Documents, photos, old records, and wonderful robes from the Holy Trinity vaults.
Entrance: Free
Event: Youthfest
A day of fun for all the family, with live entertainment from local singers, bands, and dancers; a gyroscope; a climbing wall; football and quick cricket; bouncy castles; stalls; face painting; tattoos; and food.
Entrance: Free
Website: www.langthorneyouthfest.org.uk
Event: Kirkdales presents live music with The London Swingfonia featuring Harry Martin.
Find out more >>>
Entrance: Free
Event: Opening Ceremony, with Harry Cohen MP, and the Epping Forest Pipe Band.
Entrance: Free
Event: Exhibition on the campaign to save Wanstead Flats after World War Two
Immediately after World War Two, Wanstead Flats was threatened with development. A spirited local campaign was organised and the proposals were defeated. Eastside Community Heritage and Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society present an exhibition about the issues raised then, linked to a debate on Wednesday 9th July.
Entrance: Free
Event: Ed’s Family Art Trail
Explore the art of St John’s, in a gentle amble through the church and grounds. Families and children especially welcome.
Entrance: Free
Event: Punjabi Music, Poetry & Song
An evening of Punjabi and Sufi poetry, music, and food, presented by Malik Amin, poet and author.
Entrance: Free
Event: Spare Room, Ice and Fire, Actors for Refugees, and the Migrants Resource Centre present ‘Voices of Exile’.
Exiles to the UK share their stories through drama, video, music, and song. Despite pain, loss, and hostility some find hospitality and ways to build new lives. Driven here by war, particularly civil war, violent ethnic and gender conflict and persecution, famine, flood, drought, poverty, and human trafficking, and trying to build new lives in a strange land. What kind of welcome do these peaceful strangers receive? Too often they are rejected and met with fear and suspicion fed by tales of isolated terrorist cells and a few young people killing each other with knives. But some find warmth and hospitality and a chance to tell their story. They can begin to give something back to their new home.
Entrance: Free
Event: Hippo Folk and Roots Club with Barn Dance, featuring Big City Lights.
Entrance: Free
Event: Leytonstone Comedy Club present the brilliant Trevor Lock & Friends.
One of the most distinctive and talented comedians on the comedy circuit, Trevor Lock has been a favourite on the London stand-up circuit and at the Edinburgh Festival where he has also co-written, performed and directed four critically acclaimed comic plays. He also finds time to co-write scripts for television, radio and theatre, as well as periodically disappearing into the jungles of South America.
Entrance: £7 (£5 concessions)
Event: What's Cookin' Special, featuring The Dials.
From the Beatles to the Byrds, from Cash to The Clash, they take a little bit from everyone and mix it all up into an exhilarating musical stew’ - Jerry Jodice, The Great American Music Hour, WRIR 973FM Virginia.
Entrance: Free
Websites: www.whatscookin.co.uk & www.thedials.co.uk
Event: The Bell presents good-time band Bridego Bridge.
Entrance: Free
Sunday 6th July 2008
Event: The Henry Reynolds Gardens Summer Fun Day
Family fun day with stalls, performers, music, and local community organisations! Bring a picnic and enjoy the afternoon in Leytonstone!
Entrance: Free
Event: Exhibition illustrating local church history
Documents, photos, old records, and wonderful robes from the Holy Trinity vaults.
Entrance: Free
Event: Rhythm is Life
A two hour celebration of life through dance, song, and word, featuring the New Horizon Women’s Group.
Entrance: Free
Event: Musica Con Grazia with The Erato Consort
A very special late afternoon of song by this choir from Graz, Austria, in co-operation with local group, The Erato Consort.
Entrance: £3
Websites: www.pnms.co.uk/mcg & www.eratoconsort.co.uk
Event: Salsa Classes & Dancing
This is the best salsa venue in this part of London - modern with a wooden dance floor and easily accessible by road and tube. There are lessons for beginners to intermediates, and then dancing. Very well attended.
Entrance: TBA
Event: Book discussion with authors Sathnam Sanghera & Jacqueline Walker
Sathnam Sanghera talking about his new book, If You Don’t Know Me By Now: A Memoir of Love, Secrets and Lies in Wolverhampton, published by Viking, and joined by Jacqueline Walker talking about her new book, Pilgrim State, published by Sceptre.
Entrance: £3; advance tickets from Newham Bookshop on 0208 552 9993
Websites: www.newhambooks.co.uk; www.sathnam.com; www.pilgrimstate.co.uk
Monday 7th July 2008
Event: Exhibition on the campaign to save Wanstead Flats after World War Two
Immediately after World War Two, Wanstead Flats was threatened with development. A spirited local campaign was organised and the proposals were defeated. Eastside Community Heritage and Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society present an exhibition about the issues raised then, linked to a debate on Wednesday 9th July.
Entrance: Free
Event: The Fallen Heroes Band
A fabulous and highly entertaining six-piece band performing an eclectic mix of party-soul-groove, New Orleans rhythm and blues, and funky street-beat jazz in their own inimitable raw and earthy style. Find out more >>>
Entrance: Free
Event: Playreading Evening
Leytonstone Library Playreading Group presents John Galsworthy’s The Skin Game.
Find out more about the play >>>
Entrance: Free
Event: The Cornelius Cardew Night
The Leytonstone Festival is celebrating his connection with the area by mounting an evening of experimental music and dance that exhibits his influence.
Find out more >>>
Entrance: £3
Tuesday 8th July 2008
Event: Exhibition on the campaign to save Wanstead Flats after World War Two
Immediately after World War Two, Wanstead Flats was threatened with development. A spirited local campaign was organised and the proposals were defeated. Eastside Community Heritage and Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society present an exhibition about the issues raised then, linked to a debate on Wednesday 9th July.
Entrance: Free
Event: Exhibition by St John’s Photo Club
Entrance: Free
Event: Lunchtime talk with Barry David – 'Lets go for our happily ever after'
Local entrepreneur and personality Barry David entertains and inspires.
Entrance: Free
Event: Local playwright and actress Eleanor Bennet presents 'Off Her Trolley'
Local playwright and actress Eleanor Bennet previews her new one-woman show Off Her Trolley before taking it to Edinburgh in the autumn.
For more information follow this link
Entrance: £3
Event: Salsa Classes & Dancing
This is the best salsa venue in this part of London - modern with a wooden dance floor and easily accessible by road and tube. There are lessons for beginners to intermediates, and then dancing. Very well attended.
Entrance: TBA
Event: Leytonstone Film Club present Alfred Hitchcock’s silent film 'The Lodger'
Join the launch of the Leytonstone Film Club with a showing of Alfred Hitchcock’s silent film 'The Lodger', accompanied by musical improvisation from a local musician.
For more information about the film follow this link.
Entrance: TBA
Event: Dance on the Green; a 'Dance and Keep Fit!' session
Entrance: Free
Event: East Side Jazz Club presents Omar Puente & Band
Hailing from Santiago de Cuba, Omar has lived in England since 1997 and teaches at Leeds College of Music and Trinity College of Music, London.
For more infromation follow this link.
Entrance: £5
Wednesday 9th July 2008
Event: Lunchtime talk with Malcolm Cullen – 'The Upminster Tithe Barn'
Museum curator Malcolm Cullen talks about the history of the Upminster Tithe Barn and the surrounding area.
Entrance: Free
Event: Rush Hour Concert with Maud Hodson, cello
Maud Hodson, noted Leytonstone cellist, plays at this Rush Hour Concert together with Louise Jameson, also on cello. Maud will play the 3rd Bach suite, in C major, on a modern cello, and Louise will play the 1st suite, in G major, on a baroque cello.
Entrance: Free
Event: Debate: 'Housing or open space? Wanstead Flats & the "Save the Flats" campaign 1946-47'
Immediately after World War Two, Wanstead Flats was threatened with development. A spirited local campaign was organised and the proposals were defeated. Eastside Community Heritage (ECH) and Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society present an event to debate the issues raised then, which remain as relevant today as before, with development taking place across East London. Join us for some authentic 1940's food and drink, hear the arguments, have your say, and see the Save the Flats exhibition.
For further information contact ECH on 0207 538 4545 or email richard@ech.org.uk.
Entrance: Free
Event: What's Cookin' Special, featuring Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs
The delightful Holly came out of the Medway scene and is a former member of The Headcotees. Although often connected with garage rock, Holly's music is more a mixture of pre-rock electric country blues, folk and less frantic rock and roll. It brings to mind a bourbon soaked honky tonk bar, evenings on a dusty front porch with your faithful hound, cracked hearts and foot stomping good times (review posted on www.visitlondon.com).
Supporting on the night will be Monroe's Revenge, one of Britain's top bluegrass bands.
For more information, follow these links: Holly Golightly & The Brokeoffs; Monroe's Revenge.
Entrance: Free
Event: Jazz Jam with Special Guest, Roger Beaujolais
Roger Beaujolais, the acclaimed vibraphone player, has agreed to help celebrate the completion of another outstanding year at the Jazz Jam which is held every Wednesday at the Loaded Dog. The jam is organized by Joanne Pooley and usually features Phil Mead on the keys.
For more information about the regular Jazz Jam sessions follow this link.
Entrance: Free
Event: Blues Jam with Special Guest Tim Aves, ex-Rockin Armadilllos
For ' The best blues jam this side of Chicago', don't miss this event.
For more about 'The Wednesday Blues Jam' @ The Heathcote follow this link.
Entrance: Free
Thursday 10th July 2008
Event: Lunchtime concert featuring Catherine Jennaway, soprano.
Entrance: Free
Event: Exhibition on the campaign to save Wanstead Flats after World War Two
Immediately after World War Two, Wanstead Flats was threatened with development. A spirited local campaign was organised and the proposals were defeated. Eastside Community Heritage and Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society present an exhibition about the issues raised then, linked to a debate on Wednesday 9th July.
Entrance: Free
Event: Curry & Quiz Night at The Star of India
Entrance: £10, tables of four or six; entrance includes buffet and prizes; for reservations, ring 020 8989 4028
Website: www.starofindiauk.com
Event: Walk organised by The Waltham Forest Open Spaces & Nature Conservation Group. Our walk will link up, and celebrate, the green spaces in the area.
Entrance: Free
Website: www.walthamforestwalks.info
Event: Uncle Rabbit & Ambit Poetry & Prose
Uncle Rabbit play a quirky hybrid of improvised music that blends elements of rock, jazz, and whatever else takes their rhythmic fancy as they perform. Noel Taylor plays clarinet and sax, with Polish guitarist Sebastian Sterkowicz and drummer Steve Rushton. They will be joined later in the evening by their special guest, John Ellis, formerly of The Stranglers. Ambit is a quarterly, 96 page magazine that prints original poetry, short fiction, art and reviews. Ambit was started in 1959 by Martin Bax. Other editors have included J.G. Ballard, Carol Ann Duffy, Michael Foreman, Henry Graham, and Geoff Nicholson. Ambit is published in the UK and read internationally. It is available through subscription and in selected bookshops and libraries worldwide. " Ambit is a surreptitious peek inside a private world. Without it such vital sparks of inspiration could well be lost for ever" – Ralph Steadman
Entrance: £3
Websites: www.myspace.com/unclerabbit; www.ambitmagazine.co.uk
Event: Legendary Tap Dancer Will Gaines
Where there's a Will...there's tap! Jazz tap hoofer Will Gaines returns to the Festival at 80 to dazzle and delight us with those fabulous feet. This is not to be missed. Join us for some cool jazz and hot taps from a legendary dancer.
Entrance: Free
Friday 11th July 2008
Event: Exhibition on the campaign to save Wanstead Flats after World War Two
Immediately after World War Two, Wanstead Flats was threatened with development. A spirited local campaign was organised and the proposals were defeated. Eastside Community Heritage and Leyton and Leytonstone Historical Society present an exhibition about the issues raised then, linked to a debate on Wednesday 9th July.
Entrance: Free
Event: Festival Coffee Morning - A chance to chat about the Festival over a coffee
Entrance: Free
Event: Four Poofs & A Piano
The triumphant return of the Jonathan Ross regulars and Festival favourites, previewing their new show. Find out more >>>
Entrance: £6 (£3 concessions)
Event: 'A Bit of The Other' - A night of poetry and song, featuring Other Theresa, Graham Larkbey, Peter Campbell, and Ros Kane, compered by poet Scott Nell.
"Other" types of poetry and song - witty, irreverent, moving, hard-hitting. No daffodils and everlasting love, but a lot else!
Entrance: Free
Event: Flamenco @ Elche Restaurante de Tapas
"Elche Restaurante de Tapas may sound somewhat exotic a place for Leytonstone, but that's because it's a Spanish restaurant named after the Lady of Elche, an ancient Iberian sculpture. As colourful on the inside as it is on the outside, this charismatic place serves a generous range of good value hot and cold tapas, many of them vegetarian. Specials include crab claws in bread crumbs, and house salad. The best night to go is Friday night when flamboyant flamenco is performed from 8.45pm. Apparently, to really appreciate this ancient Spanish art you must be in an intimate setting with good friends, food and wine. Sounds good to us", (from www.toptable.co.uk).
Entrance: Free, but purchase of drink or meal required
Event: Déjà-Blue
Déjà-Blue formed approximately nine years ago, and have the ability to fuse blues, jazz, swing, funk and rock to create a unique sound. The band has been fortunate enough to play across the south of the UK and further a field. It has graced the same stages as Peter Green, The Yardbirds, The Hamsters, and many more great acts.
Find out more >>>
Entrance: TBA
Event: Classical Indian sitarist Baluji Shrivastav, with tabla player Nafees Irfan
London-based Sitarist Baluji Shrivastav is undoubtedly one of the great musicians to come out of India and for his performance at Leytonstone Library he is teaming up with local tabla player Nafees Irfan. Find out more >>>
Entrance: £6 (£3 concessions)
Event: What's Cookin' Special, featuring Larry Jon Wilson
Back in the mid '70s, Georgia native Larry Jon Wilson was considered by many to be a bona fide member of the country music "Outlaw" movement – alongside Waylon, Willie, and David Allan Coe. Ever the outsider of Nashville's music scene, Larry Jon Wilson was a seventies contemporary of Kris Kristofferson, toured with Townes Van Zandt and released a handful of albums before his career was curtailed by his refusal to compromise his approach or beliefs. Find out more >>>
Entrance: Free with a whipround
Saturday 12th July 2008
Event: Ferndale Area Residents Association (FARA) Photo Exhibition
The exhibition will feature photos taken on the theme "My Leytonstone – things I like/things I dislike".
Entrance: Free
Event: Dancefest in the Pastures
Calling all 13-19 year olds. Come along and try a range of different dance styles or show off your talent. Taster classes for all abilities. Contact Arshed Mahmood on 020 849 61500 and let him know which dance styles you’d like to try. Wear loss fitting clothes and soft shoes. You may like to bring bottled water
Entrance: Free
Event: Freedom Walk – the Black Presence in Leytonstone
Following on from the Freedom Walk in 2007 to remember the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade in Britain, local author and historian Peter Ashan will lead a Freedom Walk focusing on the Black presence in Leytonstone, and struggles to develop a multi-ethnic, multi-faith community
Entrance: Free
Event: Mick Martin Demonstrates Life Drawing
Noted local artist Mick Martin demonstrates life drawing techniques.
Entrance: Free
Event: Open Afternoon with Art Exhibition and Tea & Scones
Come and enjoy the hospitality and artistic endeavours of the Friends.
Entrance: Free
Event: Special Festival Event @ The Nexus Centre
Enjoy Soca dancing, a Karate Demonstration, Gospel singing, and upbeat music.
Entrance: Free
Event: Serenata Clarinet Quartet
The Serenata Clarinet Quartet was formed in January 2005 and named after a favourite piece of clarinet music – Ernesto Cavallini's "Serenata". Find out more >>>
Entrance: Before 6 July, £9 (concessions £6), thereafter £10 (£7).
Tickets include concert, refreshments (strawberries & cream), and drink.
Contact Raymond Draper on 020 8257 2792.
Event: Summer Gospel Explosion - Youth Gospel Concert
The Methodists are renowned for their singing, and we are delighted that the Leytonstone Methodist Church will have their annual concert during the festival.
Download a copy of the event flier here >>>
Entrance: Adults £7; Youth £3.50; Under 5's FREE; Donations welcome
All proceeds go to the Leytonstone Methodist Church Development Project.
Event: The Woodhouse Players present 'Under Milk Wood', a rehearsed reading
The Woodhouse Players are a friendly amateur group based at the Welsh Church Hall in Leytonstone. Over the last year they have put on seven productions, including The Crucible, Twelfth Night, a Christmas pantomime, and an award winning Triple Bill. The group is always open to new members. This year at the Leytonstone Festival they will be performing a rehearsed reading of 'Under Milk Wood' - see their website for more details. At the end of July they will be putting on 'The Merry Wives of Windsor'.
Entrance: £3
Website: www.woodhouseplayers.co.uk
Event: The John Ongom Big Band & Singers
Based in Leytonstone, East London, the band was established in January 2002 by John Ongom to provide a friendly setting in which like minded musicians can enjoy playing big band music. The band’s repertoire consists of classic swing, soul, funk, latin, and vocal numbers as performed by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Peggy Lee, and Aretha Franklin. Find out more >>>
Entrance: Free
Event: News From Nowhere Club presents a talk by Peter Cormack, 'William Morris – not overtaken by history'
Peter Cormack is a world-renowned expert on William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement, and was Keeper of the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow until December 2007.
For more about News From Nowhere follow this link.
Entrance: Free
Event: Vision Opera present 'Cavalleria Rusticana' & Bizet's 'Te Deum'
'We are a community-based opera company from East London whose aim is to include all sectors of the community in the exciting, energetic, fun world of opera. Members of the group pay a subscription to join each production. The purpose of the group is to develop participants’ performance skills, to increase self-esteem and to build confidence, broaden horizons, and provide transferable skills. We believe in inclusion and diversity, and our members range from the age of 5 to 75. We aim to perform productions of the highest standard. We work hard in a positive, supportive, fun environment. Cavalleria Rusticana is a story of love and murder, and Bizet's Te Deum is a rarely performed oratoria which encapsulates all the drama of opera'.
Entrance: Free
Website: www.visionopera.org
Sunday 13th July 2008
Event: Kirkdales presents live music with Scooby, plus DJ
Entrance: Free
Event: Open Afternoon at the Leytonstone Mosque
Leytonstone Masjid invites the people of Leytonstone to visit the local mosque which has an award winning design.
Entrance: Free
Event: What's Cookin' Sunday Picnic
Picnic through the afternoon while you listen to live music featuring King Salami & The Cumberland Three, The Ugly Guys, Walking Wounded, The Midbeats, Graham Larkbey & The Escape Committee and Southern Tenant Folk Union.
Read more about the individual bands by following the links provided above.
Entrance: Free
Website: www.whatscookin.co.uk
Event: Churches Together service celebrating the Leytonstone Festival
Entrance: Free
Event: Salsa Classes & Dancing
This is the best salsa venue in this part of London - modern with a wooden dance floor and easily accessible by road and tube. There are lessons for beginners to intermediates, and then dancing. Very well attended.
Entrance: TBA
Event: End of Festival Party Night with the Molly Brown Band.
Molly Brown generate a warm mixture of "Blazz and Bling" (that's blues, jazz and swing to you and I), and their love and passion for music, combined with a desire to entertain, has delivered a welcoming response from audiences around the globe, since forming in 2003. Find out more >>>
Entrance: Free
July 11
Cancellation
Apologies, but due to illness Vision Opera will not be able to perform 'Cavalleria Rusticana' & Bizet's 'Te Deum' planned for Saturday 12th July @ the Epicentre.
July 10
Cancellation
Unfortunately the Woodhouse Players presentation of 'Under Milk Wood', planned for Saturday 12th July, has had to be cancelled.
Apologies if you were hoping to attend.
July 9
Cancellations
We regret to announce, due to unforeseen circumstances, that today's Lunchtime talk with Malcolm Cullen @ The Epicentre has been cancelled and also the Special Festival Event @ The Nexus Centre, due to take place on Saturday 12th July.
We sincerely apologise if either of these were events you had planned to attend.
