IT’S ALL about home-grown entertainment as Cornwall’s biggest and best community festival reaches its climax.
Around 150 acts – a new record – are taking to the stage and streets as part of the Golowan Festival in Penzance.
There’ll also be dozens of volunteers, hundreds of schoolchildren and thousands of visitors as everyone gears up for Mazey Day this Saturday.
Preparations have been under way all year for what the organisers call a “massive home production”.
In the face of big funding cuts from Cornwall Council, local businesses have stepped forward to support the event, while Penzance Town Council has again dedicated huge resources to make it happen.
Andy Hazlehurst, from the Golowan committee, said: “Golowan isn’t put on by us; it’s put on by the whole town. Without our local volunteers and the resources of local people we could never do it.
“At least a quarter of the population of Penzance must be involved, from their kids parading through the streets to the musicians, the people making banners or boats or the volunteers.
“It should be something the town’s proud of. It’s a big home production. I don’t think you’d find that same response anywhere else. It’s something that makes Golowan unique.”
More than ever this year, the entertainment line-up is filled with local talent, with more on the programme for young performers and audience members.
Tonight, you can enjoy an evening of Cornish Tales at the Acorn Theatre with Will Coleman of Brave Tales and Pol Hodge and Bert Biscoe of Dew Vardh, while in Sound nightclub, Cornish bands the People’s String Foundation and Flats And Sharps take to the stage.
On Friday, the excellent Cornish musician Tim Boulton leads a performance at the Exchange, while Sound showcases the final of a songwriting project sponsored by the National Trust, with songs inspired by the west Cornwall landscape.
On Mazey Day, the Greenmarket will be transformed into Folk Festival Square, while at the Humphry Davy statue there’ll be music from young groups, including Humphry Davy School, Mounts Bay Academy, Penwith Youth Wind Band and the West Cornwall Concert Band.
“Golowan’s a great supporter of home-grown talent,” said Mr Hazlehurst. “Every night of the week there’s something related to Cornwall, particularly Cornish folk music and storytelling. More and more of the programme this year has been given over to talent in Cornwall.”
Source: http://www.thisiscornwall.co.uk/s-festival-people/story-16425765-detail/story.html
Other posts from this source: The Cornishman
