Bythams Music

Bytham Music organises a number of musical events supporting artists and music in the area to benefit the community.

Originally the group organised The Bythams Music Festival held at the beautiful Willoughby Arms every year with two stages, a beer festival and hog roast.  The last Music Festival at the Willoughby Arms took place in 2011.

Since 2012 the group has concentrated on working the Castle Bytham Midsummer Fair Committee and arranges live music in Castle Bytham over the weekend of the Fair.  Bands have played on the ‘Main Stage’ on St Martins Field and on the ‘Garden Stage’ behind the Castle Inn.

For further information visit the Bythams Music website, follow them on Facebook or contact …

Patrick Candler 01780 410435 / 07876 806646
John Turner 01780 410555
Stephen King 01780 411261
Simon Blunt 01780 411027

Web: www.bythamsmusic.co.uk

N E W S

Castle Bytham Midsummer Festival (from Glenside News June 2015 : 30/08/15 : MG)

Following the success of 2014, Bythams Music is teaming up with the Castle Bytham Midsummer Fair  Committee to put on another music feast for this years Festival – our very own Castle Rock!!

Reliving the spirit of the 1960’s, but also with our own interpretation of those wild and far out sounds, we are now pleased to be able to present the final line up …

Saturday 20 June 2015

To start the Festival weekend we have some brilliant local bands playing on the Meadow Stage at St Martins Field … some of these you may have already seen before which is always great, but in true serendipitous style, there are others of whom you have never heard, but then fall in love with …

15.00 : Arc Nation
16.30 : Fully Loaded
18.00 : Bianca and the Top Cats
19.30 : The Fedz
21.00 : Blues Volcano

We will also have some fantastic festival foods and a real ale bar which should help make everyone get into the groove on what should be a magical midsummer night!

Sunday 21 June

A full day’s programme will again be organised on two stages …

Main Stage St Martin’s Field

10.30 : Dance Academy (Swinstead)
11.00 : The Bythams Primary School
11.30 : Rutland Big Band
12.45 : Paspatou
13.45 : Rutland Big Band
14.45 : The Tin Pigeons
16.00 : Premier Cru

Garden Stage, Castle Inn

13.00 : Open Mike Sessions
15.00 : Lil Ian Goodsman
16.00 : Lexie Green Band

A whole lotta bands and solo performers and all for free!  What a line up – who needs Glastonbury!

And don’t forget we now have our huge marquee which means that bands and audience can all be under cover, heaven forbid, it should rain! And if it is boiling hot, let us pray, then we can all be in the shade.  Either way, everyone wins!

All timings are subject to change.  Further details about the bands and the line-up will be in our special souvenir programme which will be available just before the Festival.

We are always looking for folks to come and help us put on the Festival so if you have a few hours spare before or over the weekend, do come and join in the fun.

Patrick Candler
Chairman, Bythams Music
07876 806646

…………………………………………………………………….

Little Bytham Music Festival – Saturday 27 August 2011 (edited from Glenside News December 2011 : 06/12/11 : MG)

We know the summer is well behind us, but there is still time for some reflections on our event last August.  And we have to face the facts, that despite some excellent organisation and  significant improvement in our advanced publicity, on the day itself, things dd not work out the way we had planned.  It might have been the weather, the Bank Holiday weekend, a whole host of festivals elsewhere in the country or an unfamiliar line up that did not quite cut the mustard – but for whatever the reason, we were unable to attract the audience we had hoped, which was something of a disappointment.

However, though we did not cover our costs on the day, as we have a committment to support local good causes, we have dug into our reserves to make the following donations …

All four local churches £50 each (total £200)
St John Ambulance £50
Lincs Air Ambulance £100

We would also like say many thanks to the Willoughby for hosting the festival, to all those who did attend and we hope you enjoyed what you heard.  We would also like to thank all those who gave up their time to help put on the event.  We do appreciate the support you have given us.

In the light of our experiences this year, Bythams Music is reviewing what festivals and events it cab organise and support in 2012.  We know we are going to have to do things differently in the future and to help us, if anyone is keen to help with music/event organisation, do please contact us …

Patrick Candler 01780 410435
John Turner 01780 410555
Stephen King 01780 411261
Simon Blunt 01780 411027

Little Bytham Celestial Candles Concert 2012 (edited from Glenside News December 2011 : 06/12/11 : MG)

As a start, and following the brilliant success of Celestial Candles and Ceilidh last March, we are already planning another eclectic evening for 10 March 2012.  Once again, this will  be a classical and choral evening in a beautiful candle-lit historic church – all those who attended last year will know what a special amosphere was created.

We are delighted to confirm the details of the evening which will start at 7.30pm …
Sacred Music with the Stamford Singers
Traditional Dances with Tourdion
Gentle, soothing flute music with Jonathan Aughton and friends

The event will have a free entry though we will be asing for donations towards the Little Bytham Church.  Refreshments, nibbles and wine will be served.

AGM (edited from Glenside News May 2011 : 09/05/11 : MG)

The Annual General meeting of Bythams Music will take place on Monday 23 May 2011, at 8.00pm, in the Willoughby Arms, Little Bytham.  All are welcome to come along and hear what we have achieved during 2010 and our plans for 2011.  We are also keen for all music lovers to help out as volunteers.  So whether you play, sing or are good at publicity, event organisation, can run a bar or food stall, we would like to hear from you.

Celestial Candles and Ceilidh (edited from Glenside News May 2011 : 09/05/11 : MG)

From Jan Revell, originally appeared in the Stamford Mercury …

Very recently (March 26th 2011) Bythams Music in conjunction with The Church of St Medard and St Gildard brought a feast of musical entertainment to the fortunate residents of Little Bytham and surrounding villages.  Celestial Candles, a concert of music with a Celtic flavour, was inspired by Rev. Sue Evans, who introduced us to the delights of the amazing children’s Choir of St Wulfram’s Church, Grantham led by Dr Tim Williams.  The choir held a packed church spellbound for over an hour, including two superbly orchestrated audience participation moments.  Then, to appreciative applause, the children moved across to the Village Hall for supper and their own ceilidh.

Meanwhile the concert in the church continued with songs from talented local vocalists and a recorder trio to keep the flow of Celtic music going, whilst the audience was refreshed with wine and tea.

The second half of the concert allowed us to meet Jonathan Aughton with his Flute Choir from Stamford High School.  These talented flautists entertained us with duets, solos and group performances, with music ranging from Bach to Little Red Monkey, the Irish Washerwoman to Faure.  They were all truly brilliant.  The church event was a free entry, but raised £250 in donations as a contribution towards new robes for the choir, for which they are extremely grateful.

It was a wonderful concert from beginning to end and the audience left the Church uplifted and inspired.  But then many of us moved over to Little Bytham Village Hall to enjoy a superb buffet laid on by some hard-working members of Little Bytham PCC, followed by an enjoyable couple of hours of ceilidh dancing to music from members of Castle Band.

From Sheila Jones …

Little Bytham Church was transformed for the concert.  The seating was re-arranged, the chancel was lit by candles and the church was full.  The evening began with the St Wulfram’s Children’s Choir – lovely singing and their young and very talented music director [Ed … Tim Williams] managed to get the audience singing too!  This gave the choir a little rest (and giggles) during their great performance.  Then we had our lovely singers ‘on stage’ singing beautifully – such talent.  Our local recorder trio played Scottish tunes during the refreshment interval, pleasant background music, and then we were back to our seats for the flute choir.  I thought these young ladies (and Jonathon) were outstanding – very professional.  A superb evening, most enjoyable.  Well done Bythams Music, Rev. Sue Evans , P.C.C. and everyone who brought this evening together.

Bythams Music Festival (edited from Glenside News Feb 2011 : 06/02/11 : MG)

For its 4th year the Willoughby event will be returning to its “regular” slot of the August Bank Holiday weekend. We will soon be inviting bands to play at the festival, so if you have any favourite or hidden gems that you would love to see, drop us a line via the Bythams Music or Willoughby Arms websites.

Music at the Fair (edited from Glenside News Feb 2011 : 06/02/11 : MG)

Building on last years début event, Simon, Sue and Patrick are planning for something very special to help celebrate the Midsummer Fair.  Despite all efforts, the event remains a closely guarded secret at this stage.  However all suggestions are that a wealth of local talent will be on hand to showcase their music  throughout the weekend.

Celestial Candles and Ceilidh (edited from Glenside News Feb 2011 : 06/02/11 : MG)

This will be a brand new addition to the Bythams Music calendar for 2011 takes place on Saturday 26 March, between 6pm and 10.30pm, and what a début this is shaping up to be! Our very own Reverend Sue Evans has helped to put together an eclectic mix of choral, instrumental and organ music to be shared in St Medard’s Church for the early part of the evening.  This will be followed by a Ceilidh (and of course some suitable refreshments!) in Little Bytham Village Hall afterwards.

Added : 06/02/11 : MG
Last Updated : 30/08/15 : MG