Thaxted Festival
- Credit: Michael Bailie
Essex Life s pick of the top events across the county this month, from the return of live music and theatre to film, book and food festivals
Words: Julian Read & Victoria Purcell
1. Jazz on a Summer Evening at RHS Hyde Hall
June 26
The Rotary Club of Wickford has hosted this musical event for 32 years to help raise vital funds for St Luke’s Hospice in Basildon. As part of RHS Hyde Hall, Hyde Hall Live (June 25-27) celebrates opening up after lockdown. Enjoy the Sunshine Kings Jazz band in the open-air environment with your picnic. From 6.15pm.The Hyde Hall Live line up also includes The Bluejays on Friday June 25 and Lord Toffingham on Sunday June 27.
Essex author Tom King will take part in Essex Book Festival 2021
- Credit: courtesy Essex Book Festival
Essex Book Festival 2021 has got the go ahead for this summer, running from June 6 until August 29 as a hybrid festival with both in-person and digital events
The programme, themed Words Matter, will feature some 200 speakers taking part in 100 events at 40 venues across Essex, from Jaywick Martello Tower to Talliston House & Gardens and Canvey Heights.
The digital launch event is not to be missed. We Need To Talk About Essex Girls will see three feisty and fearless women from Essex, Sarah Perry, Syd Moore and Sadie Hasler, will dismantle stereotypes and reshape expectations in a candid and comic discussion.
Published:
5:38 PM January 28, 2021
Ros Green, director of the Essex Book Festival, with author Sarah Perry. The pair will be discussing Essex Girls at the launch of the 2021 Festival in June
- Credit: Nick Ilott Photography
The world may be still trapped in lockdown but some festivals are working hard to ensure that life goes on.
The Essex Book Festival has announced that contingency planning has meant that the event can go ahead as planned – online if necessary.
Unlike previous years, the Festival will run for three months with digital events taking place in June, followed by physical events in July and August, all made Covid-secure through outdoor settings and large indoor venues where social distancing is possible.