PRIZE-WINNING novelists and award-winning musicians are among the line up at this year’s Kenilworth Arts Festival.
The third festival takes place at venues across the town from September 20 to 29.
MOBO award-winning pianist Zoe Rahman, Man Booker Prize nominated author Donal Ryan, and Great British Bake Off finalist Ruby Tandoh are among the line up at the festival taking place at venues across the town from September 20 to 29.
The festival gets cooking with an appearance from food writer Tandoh who will be talking about her latest book Eat Up! at Talisman Theatre, which celebrates the fun and pleasure of food, and arms readers against expensive fad diets and food crazes.
Music events include a trio of concerts at the newly renovated St John’s Church beginning with Rahman, who is followed by appearances from Elbow approved Californian singer-songwriter Jesca Hoop, and Bon Iver associate S. Carey whose growing fan base includes Taylor Swift.
Kenilworth Castle’s Tudor Stables will welcome acoustic duo Josienne Clarke and Ben Walker, and multi-instrumentalist Erland Cooper will perform at St Nicholas’ Church.
A new addition to the festival programme this year is a weekend of literary events at Priory Theatre.
Authors taking to the stage will include Kamila Shamsie, the winner of this year’s Women’s Prize For Fiction for Home Fire; best-selling children’s author Kiran Millwood Hargrave; and Fiona Mozley, whose debut novel Elmet was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2017.
Also present will be Irish writer Ryan, whose From A Low And Quiet Sea is nominated for this year’s the Man Booker Prize – his second nomination following a listing for 2013’s The Spinning Heart. He will be in conversation with Birmingham-born Kit de Waal, whose third novel, The Trick To Time, was long-listed for the Women’s Prize For Fiction 2018.
The weekend will also feature a book launch for Sarah Moss’ Ghost Walk, as well as a number of other panel discussions and showcase events.
Other highlights include an art and craft market in Abbey End family theatre from Bristol-based Wardrobe Ensemble, and poets from Birmingham-based Verve Poetry Press.
Festival creative director Lewis Smith said: “At the heart of Kenilworth Arts Festival is a desire to celebrate high quality, original work within the contemporary arts.
“I’m very proud of this year’s line-up, which features four Man Booker prize nominated novelists, plus a dazzling array of internationally-acclaimed musicians, writers, and visual artists from around the UK and beyond.
“With over 30 events taking place during the festival – including a range of fantastic family activities – this year’s programme is our biggest and best yet. It promises to be a very special ten days.”
Visit www.kenilworthartsfestival.co.uk for full programme details and tickets.
