The historic market town of
Stony Stratford is a main focus for musicians and live music in the
South Midlands / East Anglia:
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Normally there will be two live performances per week
at the Fox and Hounds (Thursday and Saturday) |
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Musicians and music lovers meet every Sunday for the Vaults
Bar Folk Workshop |
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At least three other local venues support live music. |
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There are two major music festivals per year: |
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Folk on the Green, arguably the most successful free festival in the country |
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Stony Live!, a music and events festival held over a week in June |
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In addition, live music is an integral part of the Town Fair and
the 'Switching on The Christmas Lights' celebrations every year.
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Of the festivals Stony Live is the longest in duration, starting on a Saturday and continuing for nine consecutive days.
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Local bands who play primarily at private functions
get to play in public. |
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Novice bands get an outing in a friendly atmosphere, with vastly experienced musicians
around to supply advice and comment.
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'Big names' you would normally have to travel to major venues to see appear in local
pubs or halls.
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And that is just the music. To it can be added all manner of activities from a 'Young
Pavement Artists Competition', through workshops by professional artists to outings
of the Wargamers Club.
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During a typical Stony Live:
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At the weekend there will be live music during the day and in the evening; on weekdays in the evening only. |
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Interspaced with the music will be other events: art, plays, a town walk, street
market.... |
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Plus the concerts and 'festivals within the Festival': jazz , country, Indie
music, and the Town Barndance in the Market Square for everyone to let their hair
down. |
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Not to forget the Dancers, Mummers and local artists who all contibute.... |
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For STONY LIVE! 2005 there were:
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37 musical events in 9 venues, not including the assorted musicians
who grabbed a pitch and jammed together while the Market was on. |
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Clog and Morris Dancers, and the local Mummers troupe. |
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A Town Walk guided by a well known local historian
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A play enacted in the library |
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A painting workshop by an internationally known artist |
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A Fair with market stalls, dance troups, and street musicians |
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