All Saints’ Arts Festival will celebrate creativity of its musicians

Taking place at the parish church in Victoria Terrace, Leamington, the event will run from Friday June 17 to Sunday June 19 with proceeds going to church funds and future events at the venue.

A jazz dinner dance, featuring classic 1950s songs from The Gators Swing Band on Saturday June 18 from 7.30pm, is among the main features of the event.

The dance is sponsored by Coventry-based qualifications provider Oxford Cambridge and RSA (OCR) and supported by butchers Aubrey Allen and Cana Wines.

Jacqui Guthrie, the dinner dance organiser, said: “We are absolutely delighted that OCR is supporting the Jazz Dinner Dance.

“As a charitable organisation we rely on the generosity of companies like OCR to help us make the event a success.

“Their support means a great deal to us.

“We also couldn’t have asked for more helpful companies than Aubrey Allen and Cana Wines to work with, they have all gone the extra mile to help us organise things.

“What makes it so great is that they have a superb reputation locally for good quality wines.

“Their help will really make the evening a success, we can’t wait.”

Professional guitarist Steve Walwyn will perform an electric and acoustic rhythm and blues set at the church on the Sunday from 8.30pm.

Mr Walwyn, who lives in Leamington joined, the band Dr Feelgood in 1989 and has built a fine reputation as a musician.

His family have strong connections with All Saints’ church, with his daughter being head chorister and his wife a member of the Friends of All Saints Music.

Mr Walwyn, who formed the band Steve Walwyn and Friends especially for the festival, said: “It’s shaping up to be a great event - the church does a lot of good work in the community and I’m very glad I can help out this way.

“It’s great that this is a family event for me as well as a way to support the local community.”

Mr Walwyn’s set will provide the finale for the festival, which starts with an art exhibition and will complement the Leamington Peace Festival in the Pump Room Gardens.

The Rev Christopher Wilson, priest-in-charge at the church, said: “The church has long been a wonderful space for performing all sorts of music and it is fantastic for us to be able to host talented contemporary artists like Steve.

“We are particularly pleased he is performing because of his close links with the church.

“We hope this festival, which runs alongside the Peace Festival, will bring people into this amazing building to take part in a real celebration of creativity.

Tickets for the dinner dance cost £39.50. For tickets and more information about the festival visit www.allsaintsartsfestival.org