Biggest ever Maiden City Festival will grace the UK City of Culture

CAPTION: Mel Orriss, who is arranging for flute Shaun Daveys Relief of Derry Symphony, leads an early rehearsal of the combined flutes of the Churchill and Hamilton flute bands. The Relief of Derry Symphony will be performed in St Columbs Cathedral 8th & 9th August as part of the Maiden City Festival 2013 UK City of Culture programme. Also performing will be members of the William King Flute Band, Festive Flutes, Marcas OMurchu and singer Doreen Curran.

The Festival opens on 3rd August with a Bluegrass and Folk Weekend, with over a dozen bands playing over two days, including a Saturday evening concert featuring the great sound of the Down & Out Bluegrass Band among others.

There is a strong emphasis on history and drama throughout the week, with the Siege Story being told in St Columb’s Cathedral each day, in a short five-part drama.

There is also a demonstration of Siege guns and cannon at the Memorial Hall, and Siege characters around the Walls telling Siege Tales.

A spokesman for the ABOD said: “For 2013 UK City of Culture we are organising a Trilogy of short plays (Monday 5th to Wednesday 7th) followed by a presentation and discussion, looking at the Presbyterian and Protestant story of Londonderry since the Siege, of migration and movement.

“Our first drama of the week is ‘Kirk Session’ about Presbyterians leaving for the New World in 1715, with Paddy Fitzgerald of the Mellon Centre for Migration Studies as guest speaker.

“There is also a drama for the nineteen century ‘Promised Land’, and a third one ‘Last Supper’ bringing the story up to date with guest speaker Paul Arthur of INCORE.

“We have the 10th Maiden City Scottish Highland Dance Competition on Wednesday 7th at the Memorial Hall.”

Music plays a big part in the Festival.

“Our most ambitious event this 2013 UK City of Culture year is the premiere performance of a new arrangement of Shaun Davey’s Relief of Derry Symphony for flute, bringing together premier flute bands of the City with classical and folk artists,” said the spokesman.

Performances on the 8th and 9th August will be in St Columb’s Cathedral, with the Churchill, Hamilton and William King Memorial flute bands, along with the classical Festive Flutes and Marcas O’Murchu folk flute, with the voice of Doreen Curran.

The ABOD spokesman added: “We continue with our lunchtime programme in nine cafes within and around the Walls – a choice of over 40 performers over five days. New sounds and favourites returning make for a diverse lunchtime Culture Bite menu – links to all the performing bands will be on the website.

“Then there are Tea Dances Monday to Thursday, comic cabaret with William Caufield and late night dancing to Risky Business, a big quiz, late night entertainment in the Memorial Hall, and lots more.”

The final event of the 2013 Maiden City Festival week is the Relief of Londonderry Pageant at Carlisle Roundabout on Saturday 10th August, immediately before the start of the main parade, part of the 324th Annual Commemoration of the Relief of Londonderry.

So it all adds up to a great, colourful, family-friendly festival which should attract more spectators than ever before.