Cowbridge Music Festival
Various venues, Cowbridge
Fri 7-Sat 22 Sept
Since it was founded in 2010, Cowbridge Music Festival has brought the very finest acts in classical, jazz and folk music to the residents of this market town. With artists and musicians hailing not only from Wales but across Europe, the festival’s events take place in several venues across Cowbridge, from its medieval church to its quaint pubs.
Highlights this year include The Cloths Of Heaven (Sun 16), an evening celebrating two of Wales’s most influential female composers, Morfydd Owen (1891-1918) and Dilys Elwyn Edwards (1918-2012). There’s Eastern European folk music from Balkan O’Clock (Wed 12), and a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons alongside an Argentinian version, composed by Astor Piazzolla (Fri 7). For jazz fans, there’s an appearance from one of Britain’s foremost jazz vocalists, Jacqui Dankworth (Sat 22), plus Welsh trombonist Gareth Roberts paying tribute to Duke Ellington (Sat 15).
But perhaps the most high-profile guest on the bill is Montenegro’s Miloš Karadaglić (Fri 21), the star classical guitarist who performs a selection of Italian baroque, Spanish fandangos, and his celebrated arrangements of Beatles songs. Alongside the live music, the festival also has a Community Outreach Programme, which brings workshops and concerts to five local schools, providing the opportunity for children to experience top quality classical music.
Tickets: £10-£17 per event/kids £1 or free. Info: www.cowbridgemusicfestival.co.uk (SP)