Exciting 2017 Shipston Proms headlined by Laurence Jones

Laurence Jones in concert

The Shipston Proms committee is excited to announce that the 19^th Shipston Proms, held between 16^th June to 1^st July 2017, will be headlined on the Last Night by local award winning blues sensation Laurence Jones.

Jones, who lives in Shipston-on-Stour, has won the prestigious British Blues Award - Young Artist of the Year for the last three years, as well as Guitarist of the Year for 2016. With his new line-up for 2017 his appearance will be part of a UK & European tour, with a new album due later this year.

As Jones commented "It is an honour to be asked to headline the last night of the Shipston proms in my hometown. For me personally it’s going to be a very special show, it's going to be my chance to give something back to the people of Shipston who have supported me from the very start of my career. "

"From when I first started performing the classical guitar in the churches of Shipston at the ages of 9, till playing in the local pubs with my first band when I was 15. The band and I are going to rock Shipston proms 2017 in style & we’re going to make sure it's a Proms never to forget."

The new for 2017 band line-up is: Laurence Jones (Vocals/Guitar),  Phil Wilson (Drums), Greg Smith (Bass) and Bennett Holland (Keyboards).

The Proms will launch on 16^th June in the Townsend Hall with an evening headlined by the ABBA Inferno tribute band and supported by Vinyl Daze with their Bluesy rock funk based

repertoire.

The event line-up will also include the Shipston Proms Fame Contest on 17^th June, with the two winners from the evening appearing on the main stage on the last night in the town square.

With the events tagline of “Music for All” the event includes music from classical, through jazz and folk to rock.

Jupitronz in concert

Events to watch out include the Shipston High School Summer Concert, arranged and managed by Head of Music David Hunt, Primary Schools Concert, Stratford Festival Orchestra, Shipston Town Band, Mrs Porter’s Chamberpot Pourri, Stratford Folk Club comes to Shipston, Soul Traders, Songs from the Shows and the Young Musicians Concert in Barcheston.

This is on top of open-mic nights, visiting international acts and the popular mid Saturday Cafes and Pubs trails, with lots of local bands playing.

The Last Night of the Proms on 1^st July will feature the Fame Contest winners (band and solo/duet) along with Rock covers band Too Fat to Kidnap, energetic new wave Jüpitronz and headlined with the Laurence Jones Band.

For more information about the 16 day event please go to www.shipstonproms.org

Photos by Chris Roberts/WiderViewPhoto PR

Excited crowds enjoy Goin’ Local Street Party in Shipston

Barney Porter from Wired

 The 18^th edition of the Shipston Proms finished with a night in the Shipston market square with a line-up of local bands. This included Jon Wright’s rock band Balboa, Shipston Proms Fame contest winner in the solo/duet category 16 year old Savannah, 9 piece Funk band Kinky Farnham fronted by Tom Threadgill and 6 piece WIRED with their rock/blues sound led by Mark Jervis and Barney Porter.

The last night was MC’ed by Shipston Proms chair Tim Porter

Mayor Ronnie Murphy with Tim Porter

and included the Proms Grand Draw raffle with the winning tickets pulled by Shipston Mayor Counsellor Ronnie Murphy.

The locals, and not so locals (even one couple from Melbourne, Australia!), packed the square enjoying some especially prepared Proms ales from Hook Norton Brewery and pulled pork and stuffing baps from the Paddock Farm Butchery. The stage lighting and sound was provided by Codex, the stage trailer by Wixey’s transport and ambulance cover from Tolan Events, Coventry.

The whole evening was sponsored by Brailes based Translyft Lifting Technologies (with owner George Scholes appearing twice on the Proms programme with his band 3^rd Dimension).

The second week of the Shipston Proms featured great performances from singer songwriter Andrew

Kinky Farnham

Duhon, a lunchtime organ recital at St. Edmunds church by Charles Matthews, an Open Mic night at the Black Horse with lots of local musicians queuing up to play (including 17 year old singer/guitarist Ben Bryan) and another excellent Young Musicians concert at St. Martin’s church, Barcheston (with musical direction from Helen Porter).

At the Tredington Fayre on Saturday afternoon, which was part of the Shipston Proms, we had music

The Soul Traders

from Shanade, the Soul Traders (with Proms committee member Charlotte Haines on vocals with her brother) and Jabba Cartel.

On the night before the Goin’ Local Street Party we had an evening of Songs from the Shows featuring Stratford-upon-Avon based Soprano Victoria Wilson (trained at the Birmingham Conservatoire), with songs from My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Oh Kay! There was also a great Moulin Rouge duet from brother and sister act Charlotte Haines and Jamie Wright, with the Elephant Love Melody. This was pulled together and managed (with piano duties on the night) by Helen Porter. This was as well as a lot of local talent of all ages who performed a variety of show songs.

George Scholes with 3rd Dimension

Later that evening we had the excellent 3 piece band 3^rd Dimension (Georg Scholes – vocal & guitar, Laura Furnell – vocals and Jez Walker – percussion and vocals playing at a packed and lively George Inn in Lower Brailes.

We also had the first Folkin’ Friday group performing at the Cherington Arms to give a wide selection of music.

This coming week the award winning, and Shipston resident, blues guitarist Laurence Jones will be running a musical workshop at Shipston High School, with support from Proms committee.

After a well-earned rest the Shipston Proms committee will initially have its post event review before looking at the dates for 2017 event. We as always are looking for additional committee members to run this exciting 16 day event, and interested people should email shipstonproms@gmail.com