NEXT year?s popular Tavistock Music Festival looks set to be bigger and better than ever ? with the launch of a new support group and prestigious new patron. The festival, held on the May Bank Holiday, will next year span ten days over two weekends and include new events, such as an arts exhibition. Christopher Kirwin, of Tavistock Forward, which promotes the festival, said he was delighted to announce that Andrew, Duke of Bedford, has agreed to be the new patron of the event. Mr Kirwin said: ?The Duke will take on the role until his son, the new marquis, is old enough to take over. ?He and the family have always been very keen to maintain their links with Tavistock and they feel patronage of the festival is a good way of doing it. ?We are pleased at the family?s involvement ? it certainly gives the event a certain cachet.? And tonight (Thursday) a new support group is being launched to ensure the festival can continue on a firm financial basis. The Friends of Tavistock Music and Arts Festival is being inaugurated at Alder Farm in Lewdown and the group will hold regular events to boost income to the festival. Mr Kirwin said: ?For the first three years of the festival we had £6,000 a year from the TAVI group, via the RDA. ?Last year, I managed to get a lot of people to put money in and we just managed to balance the books, apart from a small shortfall which was kindly made up by Henrietta, the Dowager Duchess of Bedford.? Mr Kirwin said if a guaranteed annual income could be generated by the Friends, acts could be booked well in advance. He said: ?This year we were not able to sign contracts until about February and as a result, people who wanted to come got other bookings. ?I want Simon Ible, our artistic director, to be able to be signing contracts in October for next May, so we can get good people and the right price nice and early.? Mr Kirwin said some festival events were already well under way ? a piece of music has been written by Andrew Wilson, musical director at Kelly College, for children?s choirs, and the rock concert which was so successful this year is already being prepared. It is hoped this year?s festival will include folk music, poetry and drama in addition to the classical, jazz, brass band and choral events, to make the event a genuine music and arts festival. Mr Kirwin said: ?Each event we have held has been bigger and better every year. The first year it was over four days with six events ? this year it was five days and 12 events in six different venues and next year it will be spread over ten days. ?It is now fully established and next year will be our fifth year which is something to celebrate ? it?s also achieved its aim of livening up what many traders had said was a somewhat dead weekend in the calendar. And of course, music is now happening in lots of directions in Tavistock, which has to be a good thing.? John Taylor, chairman of Tavistock Forward, said: ?The Friends group is a wonderful initiative, which should enable the festival to expand and cater to an even wider range of tastes ? I am delighted at the move.? Annual membership to the Friends of Tavistock Music and Arts Festival is being offered at £100 per couple, £60 single ? life memberships are also on offer. The festival committee is also looking for individual and corporate sponsors for next year?s event.
