“The ethos of the festival is to involve local musicians from the wider Saintfield community”, says festival organiser Edward Craig, “and ensuring that there truly is something for everyone.”
There will be music classes for Toddlers, a Come-try-an-instrument fun afternoon for Primary School children at which some of our local primary school music groups will perform. There will also be a Singer-Songwriter Demo-Doctor held for Post-Primary children (aged 11 to 18) who wish to submit their songs and be given some advice by local musicians in broadcasting, composition and from the management side of the music industry.
The main event for all to enjoy will be a concert on Saturday afternoon in the AYC Hall on the Main Street called ‘Clap When You Know It’. Here you will hear all the great classical hits alongside some easy listening and even some great popular tunes from The Beatles to Adele … and all performed by the youthful Scála Strings, and local-musical-supremos Richard Douglas (Flute) and Nuala Murray (Voice). All this will be in a very relaxed environment for all the family – a far cry from many of the more ‘stuffy’ venues some may associate with Classical Chamber Music! If that were not enough, everyone is encouraged to call up to 2nd Saintfield Presbyterian Church and have a go on the King of Instruments; their magnificent Phoenix Pipe organ with demonstrations being given by the organ builder, Stephen Hamill.
The bars and cafés too will have much to offer with an Open-Mic in Saints Café on Friday night while you enjoy a coffee and a great supper music club on Saturday evening. Norr and Brown’s Tea Room at 1a Todd’s Hill will serve Afternoon Tea on Saturday afternoon as beautiful music wafts through the rooms. The Rosie Bar will have a night of Easy Listening Jazz on Friday evening with the superb Jazz of Fiona Trotter. There will be music on both Friday and Saturday in The White Horse with the toe-tapping Lonesome George, an Irish Traditional Group, playing Saturday evening. The Rowallane Inn will also have their usual feast of great music in the bar on both Friday, Stevie Johns, and Saturday evening, Just Adam.
The Festival opens with an informal reception on Friday evening at 7.30pm in 2nd Saintfield Church Hall Reception Area to which everyone is welcome. There will be some musical items and light refreshments with an opportunity to discover all that lies ahead over the weekend. The reception will last around 45 minutes and it will be a valuable way of showing your support for the Music Festival.
The Musicians of Saintfield, working with the Saintfield Development Association, is grateful to Down District Council who are supporting the events and almost everything is Free with any voluntary donations welcome to help cover the costs of staging Saintfield’s very own Music Festival.
You can find out more details by ‘liking’ the SaintfieldHarfest page on Facebook or by emailing musiciansofsaintfield@gmail.com
Friday 24 October
Opening Festival Reception, 7.30pm 2nd Presbyterian Church Hall
Come and enjoy some light refreshments as you discover a little of what this year’s festival has in store. Hear some fabulous musicians and meet some of the performers. Don’t miss this as you start to feel part of our musical weekend.
www.secondsaintfield.org.uk
Open-Mic @ Saints, open late
Love Food? Love Music? Love Saints… Enjoy the musically friendly ambience of Saints Café which will be open throughout the day. But as the daylight fades, Kevin will set up his trusty microphone and welcome all who feel inspired to entertain us.
Night Time Jazz The Rosie Bar, 8.30pm
Have you ever entered through the unassuming front door of The Rosie Bar? Make tonight the night and discover a wonderful space be- yond the bar with a welcoming, friendly atmosphere as you enjoy some easy listening music to help you unwind at the end of another busy week. Fiona Trotter will be there to set your feet tapping and we’re sure you’ll be humming along before you know it.
Music Nights at The Rowallane Inn
The regular Friday night slot of live music in this lively bar. Tonight they host Stevie Johns so be sure to call in.
www.facebook.com/TheRowallaneInn
Live Music at the White Horse
The White Horse welcomes you to call by and enjoy some live music until late.
musiciansofsaintfield@gmail.com
Saturday 25 October
Toddlers’ Music Time, 10am 2nd Presbyterian Church Hall
Following the success of last year’s Toddlers’ Music Time, we invite mums and dads to bring their little ones (up to 4 years of age) to a morning of fun through music. Booking is essential for this event with a maximum of 10 children. To enquire or make a booking please email us. This session will be skillfully led by the lovely Charlotte King who has many years of experience running similar music sessions.
*STOP PRESS*
As there has been great interest in this last year and already this year, Charlotte has agreed to start a regular Toddlers’ Music Time from November. You can contact her personally. www.facebook.com/CharlotteKingMusic
Come And Play, 2pm to 4pm Academy Primary School
An event for Primary School Children to try out a variety of musical instruments under the enthusiastic guidance of David Preston. This was a very popular event last year and this year there will also be short musical perform- ances by children from local primary schools.
Afternoon Tea at No.1 Todd’s Hill
Enjoy a soothing hour sipping tea and nibbling on Ann’s delightful treats as the music wafts through the rooms beside the decadent Norr & Brown Chocolate Room. Booking is essential, available at the Tea Room.
www.norrandbrown.co.uk
Singer Songwriter Demo-Doc, 3pm Academy Primary School
School students, aged 11 to 18 who write and perform their own songs, are invited to submit mp3 demo recordings of their songs via our email address. At this event a panel of experts from various areas of the Music Industry will be on hand to offer support and advice as we listen to each new song. The panel consists of John Toal (BBC Radio Ulster) Mark Gordon ( and Sharon Young (Blackbird Blue). All are welcome to attend this event and the best song of the day will be offered a broadcast on BBC Radio Ulster. Please note that all entries must be submitted by email before Saturday 18 October.
Classic Tunes: Clap When You Know It! AYC Hall, 3pm
Come and enjoy the world’s best loved tunes – Classical to Coldplay, Mozart to Metallica with La Scála Strings, Flautist Richard Douglas and the sublime voice of Nuala Murray. The chief aim is the relaxed atmosphere – children are particularly welcome and they wont be ssh’d! There will be tasty refreshments and an op- portunity to chat with the performers. Warn- ing – this is not a regular Classical Recital: be prepared to enjoy yourself!
www.scalastrings.co.uk
The King Of Instruments, 2pm to 4pm 2nd Presbyterian Church
Call in to the church and have a go on their Phoenix Pipe Organ. Meet Stephen, the organ builder, and listen as he demonstrates this mightiest of instruments.
www.phoenix-ni.org
Supper at Saints, 7.30pm
The second opportunity to enjoy the craic and ceòl of Saints Café. Booking is essential for this event where you will enjoy the tastiest of treats, both gastronomically and musically. More information and reservations available at the café.
www.facebook.com/SaintsCafeAndDeli
Music Nights at The Rowallane Inn
The regular Saturday night slot of live music in the Rowallane Inn. Tonight they play host to Just Adam.
Traditional Irish Folk Music Session The White Horse
The White Horse welcomes you to enjoy some Traditional Irish Music this evening. Tapping out the tunes will be the magnificent four-piece Lonesome George.
www.whitehorsesaintfield.com
For further details on any of the events including booking a slot for the Toddlers’ Music Time or sending a demo song for the Demo-Doc, please email
musiciansofsaintifeld@gmail.com
Most of the events are free for everyone to enjoy. A voluntary donation for the festival events would be appreciated at any of the events.
HarFest is kindly sponsored by Down District Council and supported by the Saintfield Development Association. It exists to encourage musicians and music-making in our village. All musicians and music lovers are welcome to play a part and shape future musical events.
www.facebook.com/saintfieldharfest