Maiden City Festival Weblog

As usual, the way funding works, it is uphill from April until now just getting the applications and questionnaires and paperwork sorted. Then there is the programme to build based on success or otherwise.

At this point we are pleased to say we have a full programme, and just still waiting on some final news that will enable us to announce the full programme early next week. 

In the meantime we are able to confirm that we are building on our living history presentations around the walls. Not only do we once again have The Siege Story in St Columbs Cathedral, we also have a new series of Siege Tales from seven characters around the Walls.  Our hugely successful lunchtime Culture Bite menu of lunchtime perfomances from singer/songwriters and solo/duo artists is expanding to three new venues.  There are lots of last year’s performances on our Maiden City Festival YouTube Channel.

Enjoy a lunchtime Culture Bite at venues within and around the historic Walls.

Our Line Dance Extravaganza looks on its way to be another extraordinary success on the opening Saturday night.  Also on the Saturday night, following an afternoon of Bluegrass around the Walls, we have an all female concert lineup of Bluegrass inspired performances in The Junction on Bishop Street.

Thursday night is band night, with the Imperial Corps of Drums from Liverpool bringing the Mersey to the Foyle, and Them Beatles finishing a night of tribute to the sounds of Liverpool.   

There is lot more, but we have to wait another day or so to complete the programme. So for full details, watch this blog or follow us on Facebook.  If you can’t wait go to www.maidencityfestival.com and connect to lots of our micro sites and webspaces created from previous events.

We’ve been busy since the last post.  At the end of November we launched a new mini website containing a Tribute to William Love.  This was a selection of original compositions and arrangements by Londonderry man William Love, who grew up in the Fountain and played in many of the bands around the City.  The Festival was delighted to have the Black Skull Corps of Fife & Drums playing these tunes and more at a a very special concert in the Memorial Hall. More can be found by clicking on this photo’s caption. This was taken when we unveiled a commemorative plaque close to where his home once stood on Wapping Lane.

TRIBUTE TO WILLIAM LOVE

Then, just this past weekend a new site was launched in time for the Anniversary date of 18th December, the Shutting of the Gates, when apprentices closed the gates against soldier’s loyal to King James. The impact of this spontaneous defiance was to lead to the siege of Londonderry 1688-1689, the consequences of which were of European importance. The Festival’s presentation of the Siege Story in St Columb’s Cathedral, itself of great historic significance to Siege times, is a ‘promenade’ style performance as each actor leads us to the next step along the Siege Story. We hope you enjoy, and perhaps even think about coming to see a live performance at the Maiden City Festival 2010.

THE SIEGE STORY

Work continues on the development of the series of microsites around the Maiden City Festival. The Derrys site was launched for Remembrance Sunday. For the Commemoration marking the 321st Anniversary of the Shutting of the Gates in December the Festival will launch The Siege Story, recordings of the five part ‘promenade’ performance of the story of the siege of Londonderry. We are hugely appreciative for the support of the Dean and Chapter of the historic St Columb’s Catherdral for hosting this event.

We’ve uploaded this first part, the story as told by a young apprentice Spike, to provide a taster. To view the complete story visit the Siege Story Micro Site Now

Thanks to Blue Eagle Productions.