The Chester Arts Fair – Festival 2014

The Chester Arts Fair returns in 2014, showcasing some of the world’s most renowned artists – taking place at the fantastic Chester Racecourse venue. Past events have seen over 5000 visitors make their way to experience the phenomenal array of contemporary art over the course of an atmospheric autumn weekend in the height of November.

chester art fair

Image: flickr.com/burnaway

The standard of art on show at this event will be of extremely high quality, as previous years have welcomed work by Kelly Darlington (winner of UK’s best-selling published artist) as well as world famous sculptor Nick Elphick who was commissioned to sculpt the Olympians and the Queen for the Diamond Jubilee. The fair in the past has enjoyed a range of visual art, photography, sculpture, ceramics, glass work and much more that will, while upcoming fairs look to improve and build upon past success. More information will be revealed as the fair approaches, so keep a look out for further details.

chesterraces

Chester Racecourse function rooms play host to the arts fair.
Image: flickr.com/dm3photography

Chester Arts Fair hosts a range of international contemporary art including some of the most exciting work today. The fair will display a fantastic array of art, while offering a range of other interesting activities and entertainment including talks, commissions, film projects, presentations and viewings that will ensure that artists and visitors are able to interact with one another to engage the city in arts and culture, which will help form the path to the 2017 aim of gaining Chester the status of ‘City of Culture’.

A number of works are sold in a Charity Art Auction in support of Claire House Children’s Hospice as well as Chester Arts Foundation that supports Art across the educational sector where schools, colleges and universities reap benefits to move forward with their art projects and development.

The fair for 2014 is still under planning, however it worth remembering to stay ‘in the loop’ when it comes to finding out more and attending this event that always delivers. Hundreds of paintings, sculpture, glass, ceramics and original prints – all shown in a friendly and relaxed environment ensures that there is most definitely something for everyone!

Visitors to the area that don’t want to miss out on this fantastic event can check out the fantastic range of accommodation in Chester that come in a variety of types, so there is something suitable for everyone.

Event: November 2014

Chester Rocks Line Up Announced

Dizzee RascalThe much awaited billing for the massive Chester Rocks has finally been announced with the names on the list being more eclectic than they’ve ever been before.

Mercury Prize winning rapper Dizzee Rascal is the headlining act and he’s sure to bring his raucous energy to proceedings during the event which takes place from the 6th of June to the 8th of June. You may know Dizzee from the hit single ‘Bonkers’ as well as some of his earlier work including ‘Fix Up, Look Sharp’.

Also announced, the indie kings Razorlight will be attending Chester Racecourse and will no doubt relish belting out some of the anthems. The controversial Johnny Borrell fronts the band and will delight in bringing classics such as ‘America’ and ‘Somewhere Else’ to the buoyant crowd – if you haven’t heard of the latter then you’re missing out on one of the essential songs of the noughties!

Another supporting act are the pop rockers The Hoosiers who might be best known for their hits ‘Worried About Ray’ and ‘Goodbye Mr. A’ during the indie invasion last decade. The Feeling offer a much more mellow sound and they’ll also be playing at Chester Rocks this June: check ‘Fill My Little Word’ if you need to refresh your memory on this London based band.

Pop fans of the 90’s and 00’s will go wild for the line-up on Sunday the 8th of June as 5ive, 911, Eternal and A1 have been billed to take part in a summer party. Look no further for your fix of cheesy nostalgia than this perfect way to wrap up 2014’s occasion.

Organisers are aiming to beat last year’s attendance of  20000 when the likes of Jessie J and The Wanted performed. Event organiser Lynsey Jones said: “The line-up this year has a broader appeal than ever before and we’re also delighted to be showcasing local talent. We hope to see another record breaking attendance over the three days.”

Tickets for Chester Rocks 2014 will be available from Friday at 9pm and can be bought from www.chester-rocks.com from £28.50.

“Dizzee ’13” by www.flickr.com/photos/mayeesherr

License: creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0

Chester Real Ale Festival 2013

Nothing brings people together quite like a glass of cold beer in beautiful surroundings Chester Real Ale Festivalwhich is exactly what the organisers of the Chester Real Ale Festival had in mind when they brought together this fine showcase.

Northern ale has no equal as any connoisseur and its exactly that kind of person who have their produce on tap for your enjoyment this October in beautiful Chester. If it’s a light, refreshing taste you’re after than any number of refined lagers will be available for you. Should you fancy a heady, strong tipple then there’s going to be plenty of choice from over 65 delicious drinks at The Guildhall.

The Guildhall is a gorgeous venue that can fit hundreds of people at once and as it used to be an active church, you couldn’t ask for a more idyllic location to hold any event.

Channelling the spirit of a bygone era when it was only rurally brewed ale you could find on tap at pubs, the CAMRA organisation have collaborated to bring together a head mix of all things hops. There are over 50 beers from local vendors available at a selection of pubs across Chester and 15 ciders to also sample, highlighting how varied and quietly successful the selection is.

There’s also plenty of food to enjoy across the venue with some truly delicious local produce to perfectly accompany your drink. Find the perfect partner to that Nine Standards Gold Standard or sip your New Plassey’s Dragon Breath after a hearty meal.

Don’t expect a just lad’s sort of event though as families are welcome with soft drinks available for the young ones throughout. Release that family rivalry with a round of pub games and a prize-laden tombola – who knows what you could win!

With this and much more to get involved with in Chester this month, it looks like this amazing town has a lot going for it still in 2013!

Chester Arts Festival 2013

A rich and cultured city, Chester is known for its beautiful surroundings and the gorgeous chester arts festival 2013art the people who reside there create. With such inspiration everywhere you look, it’s little wonder that last year’s very first Chester Arts Festival was held to celebrate the local and national wonders. This year, it looks to be improving even further with some high-class names in attendance.

Quite possibly the marquee master of the arts is Sir Peter Blake: the genius responsible for The Beatle’s famous Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover. In it, some of the most famous names in the world ranging from Marilyn Monroe to Karl Marx are displayed in a congregation and has gone on to be one of the most iconic art sleeves of all time. Blake’s work is regularly found in the Tate Gallery which serves to show what a powerhouse he is.

Not to be shown up as the biggest name on the roster is Kerry Darlington, a Rhyl born artist whose works are as broad and recognised as anyone’s in the country. So much so in fact that she was awarded  the title of “Best-Selling Published Artist” by respected galleries all over Britain .Further cementing her reputation, Darlington is known as the world’s first resin artist and specialises in texture and acrylics also.

More brilliant displays are expected from the likes of the beloved sculptor Nick Elphick, the man responsible for sculpting the Queen for her jubilee. British talents Antony Gormley and Michael Bennett shore up the bill and with the inclusion of international names such as Patricia Pastore and Ramses Marzouk, the fantastic festival has a worldwide feel to it.

Laura O’Hare, the event director, had this to say: “Chester Art Fair is built on a wide range of corporate and public partnerships and we are looking forward to working with these organisations to grow the event. We are in talks with local education providers and companies to see how they can get involved in Chester Arts Fair 2013.” This is an example of the festival’s importance to the community with charity also playing a part. Several works will be sold to help the Claire House Children’s Hospice and other brilliant foundations which help the young in the art realm.

With this and much more to look forward to, this year’s festival looks to hold a lot of interest to connoisseurs and newcomers alike.

Chester Literature Festival 2013

Chester Literature Festival

There are few festivals that celebrate literature quite like the annual event held in Chester and after the barnstorming success of 2012; it’s no surprise that it’s making its mark again this autumn.

This year, the reputation of the flourishing has attracted some big names and the billing is one not to be sniffed at. The famous names range from every genre imaginable, evidencing the recent lure of the two-week long event.  Possibly the most prestigious name is Derek Jacobi, the legendary Shakespearian actor known for his love of all things literary who will be holding a special evening event talking about his life and career – not be missed. Tim Vine is also on-hand to guide you through his Bumper Book of Silliness whilst Richard Bacon also delights an avid crowd by talking about tweeting his mother amongst other things on Thursday evening.

Chester Literature Festival

Tim Vine

Chester Literature Festival

Celebrity events are not purely the name of game here however with plenty of workshops held by established names in literature for your interest. Brush up on your skills with the likes of Luke Wright, David Lloyd and Ian McMillian & Tony Husband eager to show you their style.

Lunchtime performances take in the spirit of drama which range from the classic to avant-garde. Intimate readings are showcased by the likes of Joy Winkler who is an excitable and determined performer, eager to convey every paragraph and full stop as was intended when she put pen to paper. Another inspirational talk comes in the form of David Lloyd’s self-effacing yarn on his trouble with employment. Stifle a grin as he hilariously guides you through his latest exploits and reads from his book, Seven Streets. Other readings come from the likes of Paul Morley, Patrick Barlow, Fay Weldon, Clive James and many, many more.

The local community also features prominently at this year’s festival with the local university’s lecturers having a chance to talk over the few days. This represents a great chance for anyone interested in further education to sample what their future could hold.

Set aside the middle of October in your diary for a trip to Chester to experience an un-missable occasion from the 13th to 27th.

“Book Reading” by moonpointer 1 and “Untitled” by @paulbailey licenses available here.

Creamfields Music Festival

creamfieldsCreamfield music festival returns to Daresbury, Cheshire on the August Bank Holiday weekend of Friday 23rd, Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th 2013.

Make some noise for undoubtedly one of the world’s biggest and most impressive music festivals that the world has to offer. Holding the reputation for being one of the most impressive outdoor music festivals, the dance festival sets out to provide the clubbing experience in a large outdoor arena, which has now become one of the most renowned and popular open air electronic festivals in the world.

The festival always lives up to its reputation and anticipation, with consistent world-class lineups, with hot and top DJs, an unbeatable atmosphere and combination of stages, venues and arenas. This years event will be huge. You can expect some spectacular sets from:

The Prodigy, Avicii, Tiesto, David Guetta, Steve Angello, Sebastian Ingrosso, Above & Beyond, Eric Prydz, Knife Party, Paul van Dyk, Groove Armada, Pete Tong, Annie Mac, Richie Hawtin, Loco Dice, Sub Focus, Afrojack, Alesso, Marco Carola, Ferry Corsten, Eddie Halliwell, Laidback Luke, Steve Aoki, Hardwell, Nicky Romero, NERVO, Solomun, AlunaGeorge, Madeon, Sasha, Julio Bashmore, Maceo Plex, Eats Everything, Baauer, Jackmaster, Redlight and Maya Jane Coles.

Creamfields has even won awards, when put up against famous festivals such as Glastonbury, Reading and V Festival, whereby it won the ‘Best Festival’ award during the Music Week Awards.

If electronic music is your ‘thing’ or if you just fancy a big blowout, Creamfield is most definitely for you.

Accommodation

There are camping tickets, as well as day tickets that are available right now. For hotel accommodation in Chester, you can find a huge array of different types, suited to different budgets. If you aren’t into camping, there are plenty of other options outside of the Creamfields Festival.

CarFest North 2013

CarFest NorthOulton Park Race Circuit in Cheshire is set to be the venue for this year’s CarFest North 2013, with the event taking place from 2nd to 4th August.

A former stately home which will be 60 years old in 2013, Oulton Park’s combination of stunning scenery and spectacular racing make it one of the most picturesque and best loved race circuits in the country, for both the drivers and spectators.

This venue brings a plethora of excitement, giving you the experience to enjoy watching some of the world’s greatest cars charging around the race track. There will also be many opportunities to get inside these cars to take a look, as well as enjoy live music, relax in front of the arena and much more fun activities that will ensure you have an amazing time at the festival.

The festival will see cars race around the track, along with a car auction, music, food, family activity, accommodation and much more. For those that make the trip from further afield, Cheshire is known for its wealth of places to stay on short breaks and holidays, so getting yourself checked into a hotel or guesthouse is highly recommended!

The CarFest North 2013 festival will see 3 evenings full of great music, with the liked of Texas, Jamie Cullum, The Feeling and Bellowhead all set to be present showing off their talent.

There are a limited number of Friday 2nd August CarFest North only, as the tickets have been “hotter than hotcakes”. There is camping facilities for those that wish to camp out at the festival, making it perfect for anyone after a weekend away without paying for a hotel room.

What’s on in North Wales this weekend?

Chester Rocks

2013 sees one of Chester Rocks’ hottest line ups to date with stunning acts ‘The Wanted’ performing on the 15th of June with special guests Union J, and Jessie J will be performing on the 16th of June, with special guests Lawson.

These fantastic acts will be performing right on Chester Racecourse, one of the finest and renowned outdoor music venues there is.

Jessie J is taking the music scene by storm and just announced she had a special ‘treat’ lined up to for comic relief. Meanwhile The Wanted have just been awarded the ‘People’s Choice Award’ in the USA.

Chief Executive Richard Thomas announced the line up with “Everyone at the racecourse is really excited to be hosting Chester Rocks again, this is a fantastic event for Chester and the North west to have; The Wanted and Jessie J on two consecutive days is amazing, I have no doubt that demand for tickets will be very high and attract attention from across the UK.”

The event is set to be a massive spectacle of music and fun, you definitely don’t want to miss out on Chester Rocks and see these 4 incredible acts.

If you arent local to the area there’s a variety of accomodation in the area to make full use of

Chester Music Festival

The MBNA Chester music festival is uniquely created, produced and performed by leading international soloists and chamber musicians. The Incredible and charismatic Giovanni a Guzzo leads the festival.

picture by http://www.flickr.com/photos/34053291@N05/

The festival is made entirely by the musicians themselves, leading it to be called “The Musicians’ Festival”.

The Festival features performances such as the Handel Coronation Anthems, Benjamin Britten, Britain Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings, Martin Roscoe, Craig Ogden, Cerys Matthews, Sophie Rosa, Ksenija Sidorova on the accordion, Tina May, and so much more!Tina May, a gifted lyricist, consummate vocalist and dazzling entertainer will be bringing to life the music of Edith Piaf, France’s most beloved entertainer, national icon and musical legend. Tina May creates unbelievable atmosphere with her beautiful voice and enthralling stage presence.

Bringing the festival to a close is the absolutely incredible Ensemble Deva; Giovanni Guzzo leading, Mirijam Contzen, Sophie Rosa and Sophie Mather on Violin. There’s also Richard Williamson and Kay Stephen on Viola. To top it off, Hannah Roberts and Mikhail Nemstov playing the cello.

A collection of the finest musicians in the area to present an absolutely breathtaking concert that you are not likely to forget in a hurry.

This festival brings quality music to enjoy over June, and with a season ticket you can enjoy all the great sounds of Ensemble DEVA for only £75, that’s 50% off what you would pay to go and see them all individually! You also get a year’s membership, which is normally worth £35!

Without a doubt, if you are in the areas then you definitely need to see one or two concerts; it would be a travesty if you were to miss out on such a rare collection of talent. Chester music festival is a treat for the ears and the mind, an unforgettable time to be had

Chester Rocks 2013

music festival

flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Chester Rock Festival 2013 boasts one the hottest line-ups of any UK festival this year, with some of the countries biggest stars ready to showcase their talent and wow the audiences in Chester.

The likes of The Wanted, Jessie J, Lawson, Amelia Lily and Union J are all set to be performing across the weekend of 15th – 16th June at the Chester Racecourse – which is a spectacular outdoor music venue.

The Chester Racecourse Chief Executive Richard Thomas said when announcing the line-up…

‘Everyone at the racecourse is really excited to be hosting Chester Rocks again. This is a fantastic event for Chester and the North West and to have The Wanted and Jessie J on two consecutive days is amazing – I have no doubt that demand for tickets will be very high and attract attention across the UK.’

Further announcements about additions to the event will be made via the Chester Rocks website. Tickets are available for different days, the whole weekend and special packages, so check out the website for information.

Don’t miss your chance to see these great acts at this fantastic venue this year on Saturday 15th – Sunday 16th June.