It’s that time of year when we start to think about summer musical evenings and here in the Sherwood Forest area we have plenty from which to choose . Warthog Promotions have been providing live music in the village of Lowdham for over 10 years. This year’s programme includes concerts by Los Pacaminos (6^th May) and Fairport Convention (1^st June). Full details can be found on their website www.warthogpromotions.com

Over three consecutive nights in June, Sherwood Pines Forest Park is playing host to Jake Bugg, Paul Heaton & Jacqui Abbott and Guy Garvey.

Jake Bugg kicks off the musical extravaganza on 23^rd June. In 2012, at 18, he was the youngest British male artist to have a debut album enter the UK charts at number 1. Tickets are on sale at £36 plus booking fee. www.forestry.gov.uk/music or you can buy tickets in person from the Tourist Information Centre in Rufford Country Park for £38.50 including booking fee.

Fri 24^th June sees former Beautiful South members Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott performing songs from their latest album ‘Wisdom, Laughter and Lines’ along with classic tracks from Beautiful South and The Housemartins. Tickets are on sale at £32.50 plus booking fee from the Forestry Commission website or in person from the Tourist Information Centre at £35.00 incl. booking fee.

Elbow frontman Guy Garvey will be performing on Saturday 25^th June. After nearly 25 years with Elbow, Guy Garvey has released his debut solo album, ‘Courting the Squall’ which includes lead single ‘Angela’s Eyes’. Tickets are now on sale from the Forestry Commission at £36.00 plus booking fee or again in person from the Tourist Information Centre at £38.50 including booking fee.

From the 9^th to the 12^th of June the town of Southwell is home to the ‘Gate to Southwell Festival’. Here you will find something for everyone with 3 stages for live music, open mic sessions, workshops for all ages, street theatre, crafts and trade stalls and much more. Acts performing include Hayseed Dixie, The Tea Cups, Meaghan Blanchard and Sam Kelly & the Lost Boys.  For booking and full details see www.gtsf.uk

Thoresby Park is the new venue for the Flashback Festival and this year there are three nights of fantastic music. Headlining the concert on Friday 19^th August is Lulu. She will be joined by Al McKay’s Earth Wind & Fire, Imagination, the Bay City Rollers featuring Les McKeown and Clem Curtis & The Foundations. On Saturday 20^th August you can dance the night away to the sounds of Billy Ocean, Bananarama, Nick Heyward and many more. Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra will be on stage on Sunday 21^st August. His special guests include Chris Difford, Ruby Turner, Beth Rowley and Louise Marshall. Tickets are available from www.theflashbackfestival.com

The sounds of brass bands will fill the air on various summer Sundays in Rufford Country Park. Come along to the park, sit back and relax with the Harworth Brass Band on 12^th June. The Hucknall & Linby Mining Community Brass will be playing on 17^th July and on 14^th August it’s the Worksop Miners Welfare Band. These concerts are free with just a £3 car park charge for Rufford. www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/ruffordcp

If you require any further details of these concerts or any other information please contact our office on 01623 824545.