HF Festival 2005 kicks off on 2 April

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Festival 2005 starts on Saturday 2 April with a range of entertainment and activities – many of them free - for all the family.

The fortnight-long annual Hammersmith & Fulham Festival - which runs from Saturday, 2 April - Sunday, 17 April - offers music, sports, arts, cultural and children’s events for residents and visitors to the borough. Now in its third successful year, the festival is run by the council in partnership with local entertainment venues, football clubs and community organisations.

Highlights include:
· A night of comedy hosted by BBC London at Hammersmith Town Hall on 16 April with big name comedians, including Richard Blackwood, Felix Dexter and John Maloney, which will raise money for Comic Relief
· A special concert by Eddi Reader, the voice of the hugely successful Fairground Attraction, on 17 April with reduced price tickets for borough residents
· Other musical attractions include a concert by Fulham Symphony Orchestra on 2 April and a packed programme of gigs at the Bluejay Lounge and Ginglik, both in Shepherds Bush, with reduced price tickets for borough residents
· Environment open day with family activities at Wormwood Scrubs nature reserve on 2 April
· A vintage fashion fair at Hammersmith Town Hall on 10 April
· A borough-wide art exhibition being launched on 14 April
· Two weeks of arts and other activities at the Masbro Centre, in W14
· A Mini-Olympics in Hurlingham Park, Fulham, on 9 April with sports events for up to 200 children and free football match tickets on offer. Look out for other free match ticket offers in the festival programme.

Cllr Andrew Slaughter, leader of the council, said: “Festival 2005 will be a fantastic celebration of arts, sports and community events for borough residents and visitors. Local people of all ages can enjoy performances at the borough’s entertainment venues, see a range of exhibitions or take part in a tea dance, children’s performance workshops or a Mini-Olympics sports event for children and young people. I would like to thank the council staff, performers and volunteers who are giving their time and energy to make this year’s festival possible. We are also grateful to Chelsea, Fulham and QPR football clubs for sponsoring free match tickets and to our other venues, community organisations and partners for their support.”

Festival organisers, who include volunteers from Hammersmith & Fulham Volunteer Development Agency, have announced the programme:
10.00am – 2.30pm, 2 April – Environment open day at Wormwood Scrubs nature reserve – Farm animals, guided walks, displays by wood sculptors, face-painting. Organised with Groundwork West London and based around Old Oak Community Centre and the Scrubs - FREE
7.30pm, 2 April – Concert by Fulham Symphony Orchestra – Performance of music by Prokofiev and Shostakovich at Fulham Town Hall - £7; £5 concessions, pay on the door
2.00 - 6.00pm, 2 April – Unity through music at the Bluejay Lounge, 184 Uxbridge Road, W12 – Performances by local children and young people. Parents and residents invited to attend. 020 8222 6597 – FREE
4 - 15 April – Masbro Centre, Masbro Road, W14 – Daily art exhibition (9.30am – 9.00pm weekdays only, except Saturday 9 April). 020 7605 0800 – FREE
2 – 17 April – The 1908 Olympic Games in White City – Exhibition at Hammersmith Library - Borough archivist Jane Kimber will be giving a talk about the 1908 Games and the exhibition at 2.30pm on 13 April at Hammersmith Town Hall
2 - 9 April – Hippity Hop – Oily Cart at the Lyric Hammersmith – A hip-hop show for under fours. £8; £6 children (concessions and special offers available). 08700 500 511; www.lyric.co.uk
2 – 16 April – Aurelia’s Oratorio at the Lyric Hammersmith – A dazzling display of stage illusion for children and adults. £12 - £20 (concessions from £6 and special offers available). 08700 500 511; www.lyric.co.uk
3.30pm, 3 April – The Melting Pot, Hammersmith Town Hall – African, Irish, Indian, Caribbean and English dancing come together in a spectacular celebration of the borough’s diversity - £5 or £10 family ticket. 07956 805977 or 0777 3804907
10am, 3 April – Cycle ride from Furnivall Gardens, W6 – Short ride to Chiswick Community School car boot sale and nearby farmers market. 07789 095 748 – FREE (small entrance fee for boot fair)
9.30am – 5.00pm, 4 - 7 April – Masbro youth sports tournament, Masbro Centre, W14 – Football, pools and table tennis competitions for children and young people with 21 great prizes to be won, including mini-iPods. 020 7605 0800 - FREE
4 – 6 April – Music and theatre workshops for children, Music House for Children, Bush Hall, W12 – Subsidies for borough residents; limited places. 020 8932 2652.
2.15 - 3.30pm, 4 April – Deep sea themed children’s story and crafts, Sands End Library – For children aged four to eight. 020 8753 3885 – FREE
7.30pm, 4 April – Blues Brothers night at the Bluejay Lounge, W12 – Eight-piece band; audience invited to put on hats and dark glasses (provided). Tickets: £10; £5 for borough residents. 020 8222 6597
5 April – Spring themed story and craft events in libraries – For children aged five to ten at Hammersmith Library from 2.00 – 4.00pm (020 8753 3825) and Askew Road Library from 2.15 – 3.30pm (020 8753 3863) - FREE
7.00pm, 5 April – Open mic competition at the Bluejay Lounge, W12 – Chance for local artists to perform - £3. 020 8222 6597
6 – 17 April – Mammals at the Bush Theatre, W12 – 70 free tickets for borough residents on selected nights from 9 – 16 April. 020 7610 4224; boxoffice@bushtheatre.co.uk (quote ‘Festival 2005 offer’)
2.15 – 3.30pm, 7 April – Spring themed story and craft session, Shepherds Bush Library – For children aged five to ten. 020 8753 3853 – FREE
8.00pm, 7 April – Grace at Bush Hall, W12 – Concert by exciting Shepherds Bush-based band. £9, £15 for two. 020 8222 6933 or 08700 600 100
12.00noon – 5.30pm, 8 April – Hats Around the World - White City after-school centre – a fun day out with children from after-school centres parading hats they have made. Easter egg hunt, salsa dancing, climbing wall, steel band, face-painting and games for invited children and parents.
7.00pm, 8 April – African jazz at Bluejay Lounge, W12 - £10; £5 for borough residents. 020 8222 6597
11.00am – 4.30pm, 9 April – Open Day at the Masbro Centre, W14 – Mini-bazaar, children’s art, health and fitness, pottery workshops and ceramics sale, computer classes, samba dancers. 020 7605 0800 – FREE
9.30am – 2.00pm, 9 April – Mini-Olympics at Hurlingham Park, SW6 – About 200 children taking part in football, rugby, basketball, athletics and tennis tournaments. Medals and free tickets for Chelsea FC matches to be won. 020 7736 1504 – FREE
8.00pm, 9 April – Ceroc Dance, Hammersmith Town Hall – 07733 408796; www.ceroc.com
10.00am – 5.00pm, 10 April – Vintage fashion and accessories fair – Hammersmith Town Hall - Over 100 exhibitors with an array of vintage clothes, handbags, linen, embroidery, shoes, hats, textiles, beads, trimmings, fashion magazines and jewellery for sale. Visited by many at the forefront of fashion. £10 at 10.00am; £3.50 other times
1.00pm, 10 April – Cycle Ride from Furnivall Gardens, W6, to Richmond Park with picnic - 07789 095 748 – FREE
3.00pm, 10 April – One million library visitors prize draw at Fulham Library – Winners of the library service’s prize draw and invited guests will celebrate hitting one million visitors for 2004-5; a fines amnesty on overdue items is also running in libraries throughout the festival.
6.00pm, 13 April – Launch of borough’s arts strategy at Lyric Hammersmith – For invited guests
7.00pm, 13 April – Soul and funk night at the Bluejay Lounge, W12 – Live band and DJs. £10; £5 for borough residents. 020 8222 6597
12.30pm, 14 April - Tea Dance at Hammersmith Town Hall – Dance demo, bucks fizz and cakes. Invited guests - FREE
14 – 24 April – Borough Open Exhibition, Bhavan Centre gallery, Castletown Road, W14 – 020 7381 3086 – FREE
10.00am – 3.00pm, 16 April – Open day at Sands End Community Centre, SW6 – Children’s sports and storytelling activities; adult education taster sessions; free video and DVD loans. 020 7736 1724 – FREE
11am & 1.00pm, 16 April – The Jumblies, Lyric Hammersmith – Delightful performance of Edward Lear’s nonsense poem for children aged three to six. £8; £6 children (concessions and special offers available). 08700 500 511; www.lyric.co.uk
16 April – Fulham v Manchester City – Fulham FC have donated 250 free tickets for children.
8.00pm, 16 April – BBC London Comedy Night, Hammersmith Town Hall – A night of top level comedy, featuring Richard Blackwood, Felix Dexter and John Maloney. Proceeds to Comic Relief. £12.
2.00 – 4.00pm, 16 April – Taxi Pata Pata African Arts and Music - Workshop for children. Edward Woods Community Centre, Norland Road, W11 – FREE
7.00 – 10.00pm, 16 April – Family Reunion – multicultural celebration at Edward Woods Community Centre – With Taxi Pata Pata celebrating the borough’s cosmopolitan culture across the generations - FREE
1.00pm, 17 April – Wildlife Photographic Cycle Safari from Furnivall Gardens, W6 – Bring a camera and picnic and explore the creatures and plants of west London. 07789 095 748 – FREE
8.00pm, 17 April – Eddi Reader at Shepherds Bush Empire – The voice of the hugely successful Fairground Attraction performs old and new songs. Her most recent release is a lyrical selection of the songs of Robert Burns, recorded with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. £15; £10 for borough residents (phone 020 8753 2017 for password). 0870 771 2000; www.ticketweb.co.uk.
For more details pick up a festival programme in libraries and council buildings or visit www.lbhf.gov.uk/fesitval. Festival 2005 is sponsored by the Hammersmith Broadway and West 12 shopping centres.

 

March 13, 2005