Latest news with #StroudValleysArtspace
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Stroud Jazz Festival 2025 to celebrate new historic venue
A historic cultural venue in Stroud will be celebrated through a weekend of jazz. SVA (Stroud Valleys Artspace) has acquired the Brunel Goods Shed and will mark the occasion with the annual Jazz Stroud Festival. This year, the festival will run from May 22 to 25 and will focus exclusively on the newly acquired Goods Shed, "a significant milestone" for Stroud's cultural scene. The festival will begin on Thursday, May 22 with a performance by Unfurl, an ensemble known for its "spontaneous electronic jazz improvisation." Special guests will join the group for an "in-the-round" performance, setting the tone for a dynamic weekend of music. The festival will continue on Friday, May 23 with Bristol's Analogue Lounge, who will bring their "signature blend of open jam sessions, deep vinyl digging, and immersive visuals" to the Goods Shed. Saturday, May 24 will see a colourful community procession through Stroud town centre, led by Brazilian-inspired carnival collective Afon Sistema. This will culminate in a day-long celebration at the Goods Shed, which will also mark the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. The Saturday night headline acts will include Alogte Oho & His Sounds of Joy, known for their "infectious Frafra-Gospel afrofunk" and Afriquoi, whose "fusion of live African instrumentation with UK electronic styles has made them a global underground favourite." They will be joined by Medina DJs for a night of rhythm and celebration. The festival will end on Sunday, May 25 with a full-day reggae session hosted by Poor Man's Friend Sound System & Friends, representing Bristol's rich sound system culture. In the lead-up to the festival, SVA will engage the community through carnival costume workshops and dance classes in partnership with local artists and schools. Open public sessions will be held at the Long Table on May 10 and Lansdown Hall on May 17, offering everyone a chance to take part in the visual spectacle of Saturday's carnival procession. The initiative is supported by GWR Community Fund and Stroud Town Council.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Carnival parade to celebrate Stroud's railway history
A BRAZILIAN carnival group will lead a community procession in Stroud. Afon Sistema will parade through the town centre on Saturday, May 24, arriving at the Goods Shed for a day of music and a celebration of the 200th anniversary of the modern railway. In preparation for the event, Stroud Valleys Artspace (SVA) is coordinating with artists and schools to hold costume-making workshops and dance classes. The public can participate in the workshops at The Long Table and Lansdown Hall, with drop-in sessions on Saturday, May 17, from 11am to 4pm. This carnival initiative is funded by the GWR Community Fund and Stroud Town Council. As SVA prepares to take ownership of the Goods Shed, the carnival is seen not only as a celebration of music but also as a testament to Stroud's strengthening cultural scene and community spirit.
