Chester Mystery Plays

26/06/2008 till 19/07/2008
Location: Cathedral Green

Where you can see ....

Acrobats, Magicians, Jugglers, Fire Eaters, Stilt-Walkers, Dancers, Samba Bands, Actors, Musicians & Fireworks in a spectacular festival of the greatest stories ever told?

Chester Mystery Plays

A truly spectacular, dynamic theatrical experience, guaranteed to enrapture, astound and delight!  

To book tickets please call 01244 304618

• Telephone: 01244 304618
• Web site

Chester Town Crier at The Cross

01/05/2008 till 31/08/2008
Location: The Cross, Chester City Centre

PLEASE NOTE THE TOWN CRIER IS NOT AT THE CROSS SUNDAYS AND MONDAYS

• Telephone: 01244 311736
• Time: 12 noon

Spencer John Derry Exhibition

05/07/2008 till 07/08/2008
Location: Bluecoat Bookshop, City Walls, Chester

In July 2008, Spencer John Derry will exhibit his latest collection of landscape paintings at the Bluecoat bookshop in Chester.

Derry produced most of his paintings in summer of 2007. His work is characterised by the use of primarily acrylic to produce landscapes in black and white. The paintings here are places that the artist has been to and enjoyed; Crosby, Staithes. Robin Hoods Bay (Town), Tyfan's Adam and Eve.

Derry, ex-surrealist - fantasy turned landscape/portraiture UK artist last held a solo show at Castle Park Arts Centre, Frodsham, Vale Royal in March 2004. This  forthcoming show will be Derry's tenth solo art show in 10 years.

Derry entered many group art shows in the early 2000s; including St Georges Hall, Liverpool Academy of Arts, Blakemere Crafts Centre and Blacksheep Gallery.

The Chester shop is on the City Walls at the top of the steps on Northgate Street, just inside the North Gate and overlooking the Shropshire Union Canal. Bluecoat Books, Chester

• Email
• Time: 9.30-5.30 Monday-Saturday 11.00-4.30 Sunday

Cholmondeley Castle Garden

21/03/2008 till 28/09/2008
Location: Cholmondeley Castle, Malpas, Cheshire SY14 8AH

Extensive ornamental gardens dominated by romantic Gothic Revival Castle
Beautiful Temple Water Garden
Rose Garden and many mixed borders
Lakeside walk with picnic site and children's play area
Private Chapel in the park
Gift shop and Tea Room
Plants for sale

Group visits by pre-arrangement only 

• Contact: The Secretary
• Telephone: 01829 720383
• Cost: Adults £5.00 Children £2.00

Crowded House - Summer Pops!

09/07/2008 till 09/07/2008
Location: Echo Arena Liverpool

• Telephone: 0844 8000 400
• Web site

Chester Races

11/07/2008 till 11/07/2008
Location: Chester Racecourse

Evening Meeting

• Telephone: 01244 304600
• Email
• Web site

Car Boot Sale

13/07/2008 till 13/07/2008
Location: Countess of Chester Hospital

Car Boot Sale (licensed by Chester City Council)

No New Goods

No Plants

No Food

No Counterfeit Goods

No Large Vans

• Telephone: 01244 366240
• Time: 6.00am - 1.00pm
• Cost: £8 per space

Rotary Club Charity Raft Race

13/07/2008 till 13/07/2008
Location: River Dee, Chester

The Rotary Club's charity fundraiser is themed on James Bond this year and prizes will be given for the best interpretation of the 007 theme.

The main beneficiary of the event is Age Concern in Chester.

Sponsored by Bell Developments Ltd and Urenco of Capenhurst, the organisers are inviting entries from works or office teams, pub teams or individual teams.

Competitors must build a raft and compete over about 400 metres of the river from the Meadows to the Old Dee Bridge.

Please e-mail for further information.

• Email
• Time: 10.45 am

Magical History Tour

20/11/2007 till 01/09/2009
Location: Merseyside Maritime Museum

A major exhibition documenting the history of liverpool

• Telephone: 0151 478 4499
• Time: 10am- 5pm
• Cost: free

Middlewich Transport Festival

19/07/2008 till 20/07/2008
Location: Middlewich

Displays - Exhibits - Parades

Classic Cars & Bikes

in association with Congleton Bear Town Classic Car Club

&

Kings Motor Cycle Club of Middlewich

plus a

Variety of Vintage Transport

• Contact: Dave Thompson
• Telephone: 01606 833434
• Email
• Web site

Rare Breeds Weekend

19/07/2008 till 20/07/2008
Location: Tatton Park, Knutsford, Cheshire

Tatton’s Home Farm prides itself on its reputation as a Rare Breed working farm.  A home for Leicester Longwool sheep, Red Poll cattle, Tamworth pigs and Clydesdale horses, in 2007 the Farm received accreditation from the Rare Breed Survival Trust for its dedication to conserving Rare Breed stock.  

The Farm celebrates these special breeds and its first accredited year with the Rare Breeds Weekend on Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th July.  

The weekend features fascinating talks about the special breeds and opportunities to meet a number of famous Farm characters and very special new arrivals.  These include Tatton Tabitha, who was born to Blossom the Clydesdale horse in May.  This beautiful foal is much loved by our visitors and revels in all the attention.  Another new girl is Tatton Ursula, a gorgeous russet coloured Red Poll calf born to Rosie in May-. Tallulah, the Tamworth pig and her last litter will also be looking out for visitors.

A pair of Leicester Longwools will also be pleased to meet ewe!  Tatton Harriet and Tatton Henry are the very first Leicester Longwool lambs born at the Farm.  Sired by Lennie (so named because of his Lennie Kravitz inspired ‘dreads’) the lambs have fabulous curly fleeces and lovely temperaments.  

Parkentry £4.50 per car

• Telephone: 01625 374400
• Time: 12 - 5pm (last entry 4pm)
• Cost: Adult £4 Child £2 Family £10 (up to 3 child
• Web site

Firework Concert Spectacular

19/07/2008 till 19/07/2008
Location: Cholmondeley Castle

Fireworks concert and Garden party

Finish the day in rousing form at the Fireworks concert at Cholmondeley Castle.  Favourite arias are presented alongside much-loved traditional works and the grand finale will be  accompanied, as ever, by a stunning firework display

• Telephone: Box Office: 0870 4000877
• Time: Gates 2pm Concert 6.30pm
• Web site

Artist in Residence talk

19/07/2008 till 19/07/2008
Location: Grosvenor Museum

Our artist in residence John Harle de-mystifies the secrets of composing music and performing it in a way that has a resonance for all of us in our own lives and work.  At the heart of the Showcase John will compose and perform a new piece on the spot and show us how it's done.

• Time: 5.00pm
• Cost: Tickets free
• Web site

Festival Hub @ Bollicini's

19/07/2008 till 19/07/2008
Location: Bollicini, Rufus Court

Come and join festival goers at the after hours Festival Hub at Bollicini's, Rufus Court, just steps from Chester Cathedral.  It's open until late every night.

For details of festival lunch and pre-concert dinner deals, contact the website to join the e-mail list.

• Cost: Tickets free
• Web site

Musical Walk on the Walls

19/07/2008 till 19/07/2008
Location: Meet at Festival Hub @ Bollicini

Ease in to the Festival with our unique  musical walk of Chester's walls, rows and history.  Starting at the Town Hall, this surprising walk will reveal Chester's musical heritage in spiritual and carousing song.  Come along for the ride!

• Telephone: 01244 320722
• Time: 11.00am and 1.00pm
• Cost: Tickets free - maximum spaces 15
• Web site

Saxophone Masterclass

19/07/2008 till 19/07/2008
Location: King's School, Chester

As an educationalist John Harle is passionate about bringing his instrument to as many people as possible and encouraging young saxophonists to develop a life-long passion in music.  He has published several books and besides guest-teaching all over the world is a Professor at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.

The price of the Adult ticket is refundable if a ticket for the John Harle evening concert (22 July) is purchased also.

• Time: 11.00am - 1.00pm
• Cost: Children free, Adults £5.00
• Web site

Vocalise

21/07/2008 till 21/07/2008
Location: Wesley Methodist Church, Chester

Guy Johnston, cello and Kathryn Stott, pianist

Igor Stravinsky
Suite Italienne

Frank Bridge
Cello Sonata

Benjamin Britten
Cello Sonata

Sergei Rachmaninov
Vocalise

Frederic Chopin
Polonaise Op.3

Dazzling and exhilarating duo, pianist Kathryn Stott and cellist Guy Johnston will delight and inspire audiences in this programme that explores heartstoppingly beautiful melodic lines.  The melodic 'singing line' found in Rachmaninov's haunting Vocalise and the lyrical Suite Italienne by Stravinsky through to the refined and introspective melody of Britten's Cello Sonata is perfectly suited to Guy Johnston's playing.

"(Stott) plays wonderfully, allowing her music fluidity and space;her virtuoso outpourings are formidable."  Daily Telegraph

"Guy Johnston, an impressive blend of technical mastery and expressive depth..the intensity of his playing was matched by (his) lyricism" The Glasgow Herald

• Cost: Tickets £17.50
• Web site

Adrian Ward and Simon Lepper

21/07/2008 till 21/07/2008
Location: St Mary's Centre, Chester

Adrian Ward, tenor and Simon Lepper, piano

Franz Schubert Songs

Benjamin Britten songs

Robert Schumann
Dichterliebe

Brilliant young tenor Adrian Ward will perform a powerful programme of major works from the tenor repertoire.  This must-hear performer is winner of the prestigious 2008 Royal Over-Seas League vocal prize and has impressed both audiences and critics alike.  He is supported by accompanist Simon Lepper.

"Adrian Ward, possessor of a beautifully natural timbre ... amongst the finest I have heard." Musical Opinion 

• Cost: Tickets £8.00
• Web site

RHS Flower Show

23/07/2008 till 27/07/2008
Location: Tatton Park

To book tickets call 0870 247 1223

• Telephone: 0870 247 1223
• Web site

Flaming Heart

23/07/2008 till 23/07/2008
Location: Chester Cathedral

I Fagiolini Ensemble

Flaming Heart - the music of Claudio Monteverdi

Early music megastars I Fagiolini bring their trademark flair and style once again to the music of Monteverdi.  Flaming Heart draws together many aspects of Monteverdi's secular works on a theme of war and love performed in a stunning semi-dramatised performance.

This solo-voice ensemble, specialising in Renaissance and contemporary music bring their passionate performance to the magnificent Chester Cathedral and is not to be missed.

"the audience is made to feel that it is actually inside the music: stung by the biting discords, caressed by the velvety sonority of the consolatory consonances, haunted by the anguished chromatic lines, astonished by the sudden darts of harmonic daring, invigorated by the syncopated dance rhythms, and finally overwhelmed by the intensity of these miniature dramas."  The Times

• Cost: Tickets £23, £20, £18, £12
• Web site

Sally Pryce

23/07/2008 till 23/07/2008
Location: St John the Baptist Church, Chester

Sally Pryce, harp

Gabriel Faure
Impromptu

Marius Flothius
Pour le Tombeau d'Orphee

Louis Spohr
Fantaisie, Op.35

Huw Watkins
Suite for Harp (2006)

Claude Debussy
Two Preludes: Des pas sur la neige, Bruyeres

Bedrich Smetana, trans Trnecek
The Moldau

Sally Pryce show-cases her prodigious abilities in a programme of music taken from French repertoire, a recent work by Huw Watkins, and Smetana's The Moldau.  Much in demand at concert venues throughout the UK Pryce is one of the country's most talented harpists.

"Pryce was unquestionably impressive" The Guardian

• Cost: Tickets £8.00
• Web site

Equivox

25/07/2008 till 25/07/2008
Location: St Mary's Centre, Chester

Rob Buckland, saxophone and Simone Rebello, percussion

Christobal de Morales
(15th Century arr. RB) Parce mihi Domine

Akira Yuyama
Divertimento

Barry Cockcroft
Ku-Ku

Sheila Chandrah/Steve Coe
Speaking in Tongues

Andy Scott
Nemesis (II & III)

Pat Metheny (arr. RB)
Letter from Home

Trad. (Arr. Equivox)
The Playfair Steps

Chick Corea
Spain

International soloists Rob Buckland and Simone Rebello perform with breathtaking virtuosity and energy and present a mix of original and arranged pieces with a particular emphasis on jazz inspired works.  Each piece will leap sparkling off the page - they have to be heard to be believed! 

• Cost: Tickets £8.00
• Web site

Earthlight

25/07/2008 till 25/07/2008
Location: Chester Cathedral

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vasily Petrenko
Soloist: Garry Magee, baritone Chester Festival Chorus

Ralph Vaughan Williams
Tallis Fantasia

John Harle
Earthlight (premiere - commissioned by the Chester Summer Music Festival)

Claude Debussy
Prelude a L'apres midi d'un Faune

Sergei Rachmaninov
Spring Cantata

The Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the UK's pre-eminent orchestras and taking them to the very top is their charismatic chief conductor Vasily Petrenko.  In a dynamic conclusion to this year's Chester Summer Music Festival Petrenko conducts a tantalizing programme centring around two major choral works, Rachmaninov's Spring Cantata and a first performance of Earthlight, a work specially commissioned by the Festival from Artist in Residence John Harle.  Both works richly explore the journey from darkness to light, from destruction to peace.  These pieces are complemented by the tranquility of Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia and Debussy's Prelude. This will be an unmissable evening.    

• Cost: Tickets £32, £28, £23, £14
• Web site

Car Boot Sale

27/07/2008 till 27/07/2008
Location: Countess of Chester Hospital

Car Boot Sale (licensed by Chester City Council)

No New Goods

No Plants

No Food

No Counterfeit Goods

No Large Vans

• Telephone: 01244 366240
• Time: 6.00am - 1.00pm
• Cost: £8 per space