July 19, 2022July 19, 2022

Finchcocks Festival a sizzler!

by in Past concerts, Uncategorized
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Finchcocks west elevation with Warren Mailley-Smith introducing a piece on the open-air stage. Audience members fill the lawn on deck chairs, picnic blankets and benches.

What a weekend it was! With the UK breaking top temperatures in the latest heat wave, it has to be said that we were a little worried it would be too hot for an open-air festival this weekend. We were however very lucky, getting our live music events in before peak “scorching” hit.

Open-air concert on back lawn of Finchcocks.

What a weekend it was! With the UK breaking top temperatures in the latest heat wave, it has to be said that we were a little worried it would be too hot for an open-air festival this weekend. We were however very lucky, getting our live music events in before peak “scorching” hit.

Jazz trio comprising of vocalist, double bass and piano under a gazebo.

Saturday started with easy listening, smooth jazz on the lawn. Situated in the walled garden, Finchcocks tutor and pianist extraordinaire David Hall, Programme Director and sultry jazz songstress Jennifer Maslin and the superbly talented James Sunney on double bass played two sets of jazz, blues and bossa nova to an extremely attentive audience nestled around the edge under the shade of the garden’s trees. Pimms flowed freely and the audience even risked the heat to dance to the trio’s last number!

Jazz trio comprising of violinist, double bass and piano under a gazebo.
Bottle of champagne in the foreground with wine glasses. Audience and Finchcocks open-air stage in the background.

Sunday saw the arrival of Chopin & champagne via the inimitable concert pianist Warren Mailley-Smith. Playing under a gazebo so that he didn’t melt and he could actually see the piano keys under the sun’s glare, Warren wowed a blissed out with a concert completely dedicated to Chopin. With bubbles in hand, picnics laid out and a beautiful warm breeze, guests laid back and were transported somewhere heavenly.

Finchcocks west elevation with Warren Mailley-Smith introducing a piece on the open-air stage. Audience members fill the lawn on deck chairs, picnic blankets and benches.

It was wonderful to meet local music lovers, welcome back returning piano course participants – and bring in people from further afield.

Warren Mailley-Smith playing on open-air stage to audience on the back lawn.

We were proud to donate all profits from ticket sales and the bar to musical causes.

£4,416.50 revenue was raised which, after payments to musicians, (wine etc was donated by Finchcocks) will culminate in donations as follows:

Cranbrook School Music Department £3,076.50

Help Musicians £410

Thank you to all who attended, supported, gave (and drank!) so generously.