UPDATED FOR 2023: Lichfield Festival 2023: The Highlights

Lichfield Festival (6th-16th July) has pulled out all the stops to bring a host of fabulous artists and exciting events to the city this summer.

Naturally, there’s music of all kinds, from folk, jazz, musical theatre, classical, world and gospel, to theatre, literary events, community and family performances. We’ve picked out a few highlights to whet your appetite.

The First Night in Lichfield Cathedral features Britain’s Got Talent 2022 stars, the London Community Gospel Choir.

‘Britain’s favourite choir’ (as they’ve been dubbed in the media) have sung at the FA Cup Final, Live 8 and Glastonbury and collaborated with Madonna, Sam Smith and Paul McCartney.

For a feelgood night out, this is definitely not to be missed!

Among headline artists appearing against the stunning backdrop of Lichfield Cathedral are ’first lady of folk’ singer-songwriter Kate Rusby (image: Morten Fog) and multi-award-winning performing artist, composer and producer Nitin Sawhney CBE whose composing credits include Mowgli for Netflix and the BBC’s epic Human Planet series.

New to Lichfield is Broadway star Melissa Errico, hailed for her silken voice and engaging stage presence. 

Expect classics from Rodgers & Hart, Lerner & Loewe, Michel Legrand and Stephen Sondheim, with a stunning quartet from Ronnie Scott’s, led by Festival Associate Artist (and Ronnie’s Artistic Director) pianist James Pearson.

Pearson is back with violinist and vocalist Lizzie Ball to celebrate the songwriting genius of Carole King, Joni Mitchell and the late, great, Burt Bacharach; and actor/writer (and former Emmerdale star), Richard Shelton’s Sinatra: RAW shows why he is now a headline name in the US jazz scene and one of the most renowned performers of Sinatra’s work. 

The Festival is a time to explore and discover something new. 

You could be transported by the mesmerising chant, music and dance of the Tibetan Monks of the Tashi Lhunpo Monastery, take in the infectious joy of Kabantu’s folk music from around the globe, or explore the relationship between fashion icon Coco Chanel and composer Igor Stravinsky.

A mini-season ‘It’s a Drag’ features vocalist Jessica Walker in a cross-dressing musical tour through the decades and mezzo soprano Polly Leech who sings operatic ‘trouser roles’, while the Lord Chamberlain’s Men (image: Jack Offord) perform Romeo and Juliet on the Cathedral Lawn as it would have been seen in the Bard’s day – in the open air, with an all-male cast and Elizabethan costume, music and dance.

There’s nothing quite like the sight – and sound – of a full symphony orchestra in Lichfield Cathedral and, this year, the BBC National Orchestra of Wales return as Associate Artists to play Sibelius's popular and exciting Symphony No 5.

Also in the Cathedral are the atmospheric sounds of leading baroque violinist Rachel Podger, and late evening ‘Bach by Candlelight’ presented by Festival Patron Julian Lloyd Webber and performed by his international cellist wife, Jiaxin Lloyd Webber.

Finally, head to Beacon Park at 10pm on Saturday 15 July as the spectacular free Festival Fireworks light up the sky. What a way to round off another fabulous Lichfield Festival!

More festival highlights

The 2023 Lichfield Festival runs from July 6th to 16th. You can find details of this year's programme, and book tickets, at https://lichfieldfestival.org/

Thank you to the team from the festival for putting this blog together.