Lets make some music (From Free Press Series)

Lets make some music

For three days and nights in June pubs and gardens in the village of Raglan come alive with the sound of everything from contemporary rock to classical music.

The annual festival is an all-inclusive affair, with an event for every taste and an opportunity for anyone who plays to perform.

Even the organising committee, including the Baptist chapel's 'Rocking Rev', have formed a band which features at one of the venues.

There's an educational angle too, with lessons for local schoolchildren on any instrument they chose - including drums, keyboards and electric guitar - at workshops run by professional musicians.

But this year there's an added 'ingredient', a one-off concert by two world-famous rock stars, which is attracting interest from as far afield as Sweden, Germany and Spain.

The idea for an annual music festival was developed by a group of friends who took part in 'jamming' sessions at a local pub and discovered that a number of their neighbours played instruments too.

Sixty people from the village ended up performing at the first festival last summer, while dozens more got involved in everything from poster-painting and publicity to stewarding, co-ordinating workshops and providing refreshments for the musicians.

Among the organisers is marketing consultant (and saxophonist!) Charles Fountain. "It all began when John Tribe returned here from Scotland and suggested introducing music to the village," he explained. "A few of us started playing blues in the local pubs and were surprised by the number of people who came along saying they played or used to play an instrument themselves. I discovered, for example, that the chap living opposite me plays trumpet, another near neighbour plays trombone and the hairdresser down the road plays piano and keyboards! "We decided to organise a mini-festival over one weekend in June, with live music in some of the pubs that would appeal to everyone from five to 85. "It proved a huge success - and the second festival's going to be bigger and better, featuring everything from contemporary rock performed by The Bitchpups to handbell-ringing by The Millennium Chimes! "We've persuaded local people with decent-sized gardens to open them up for various classical and choral events. We're also organising jam sessions in the pubs where local musicians are welcome to join in."

One of the main events on Saturday will be 'The Messiah from Scratch' at Raglan parish church. "Basically it's a chance for members of the audience to take part, led by the Cambrensis Choir, with a rehearsal in the afternoon, followed by the performance in the evening." In contrast, Saturday is also 'Legends Night' at The Beaufort Arms. It just happens that rock star Geoff Downes lives in the village and was keen to get involved in the festival from the outset.

Geoff found early fame as co-founder of The Buggles before replacing Rick Wakeman in Yes. He first worked with John Wetton (King Crimson, UK, Family, Wishbone Ash, Roxy Music and Uriah Heap) when they became founder members of Asia, whose debut album was the world's best selling album of 1982.

Now, 25 years and tens of millions of record sales on, they're back together in a new collaboration with the highly-acclaimed album Icon.

Joined by guitarist John Mitchell (Kino/Arena) and Jadis drummer Steve Christie, the band will be appearing in Raglan on Saturday, June 10, for a one-off concert, performing hits from Asia and Icon.

News of the concert has prompted 'hits' on the festival web-site from fans all over Europe.

"It was great last year to see a six-year-old being taught by a world famous musician like Geoff at one of the workshops," said Charles. "In all we provided 100 free music lessons and a number of children have taken up those instruments as a result. That's what it's all about."

During the run up to last year's event the organisers, including Charles, decided to form a band called The Committee, which they've since renamed The Jonny Quick Band after their young vocalist, who's a professional singer.

As well as Charles and Jonny the line-up includes Doug Hepburn (drums), Matthew Height (guitar) and the Rev Robert Atkins (bass).

Robert is minister of Raglan's Baptist church, where the band rehearses every Thursday evening.

Born in Abertillery and a former French teacher, he moved into the village three years ago after living for 13 years in France, where he worked with the homeless and with international students.

Robert not only plays with The Jonny Quick Band and in various local orchestras. He and his wife Catherine also make up the singing duo Frost at Midnight, which performs folk-based music inspired by the likes of Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell but mainly written by themselves.

The Jonny Quick Band performs at regular charity gigs around the county. The next, on May 5, is in aid of 'Send a Cow to Africa' - "although actually we're aiming to send an entire farmyard!" said Robert.

Where other festivals bring in well-known performers from hundreds of miles away and pay them a small fortune to draw in the public, the organisers of Raglan festival prefer to provide a showcase for local talent, with a role for everyone in its organisation and a chance to enjoy the fruits of their labour free or for a nominal fee. It's a formula which seems to give a 21st century meaning to the old-fashioned notion of community spirit...

For further information log onto: www.raglan-festival.org