A POPULAR music festival returns to its original date for the first time since the pandemic. 

The 2022 Ulverston International Music Festival, returns from 1 – 8 June with a packed programme to delight music lovers and celebrate the Queen's Jubilee.

The Festival’s artistic director Anthony Hewitt explains said: “It’s exciting to be back with a programme of musical contrasts.

"From the reflective to the celebratory. The British theme is of course inspired by the Platinum Jubilee, but also the 150th anniversary of one of our greatest composers, Ralph Vaughan Williams."

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The Mail: MUSIC: Festival Artistic Director, Anthony Hewitt MUSIC: Festival Artistic Director, Anthony Hewitt

The Queen’s Coronation is the catalyst for a British-themed Choral Concert: Jubilation at Ulverston Parish Church on Thursday, June 2, featuring music from the ceremony plus favourites British composers Elgar and Britten.

Ulverston’s Jubilee celebrations on Saturday 4 June is when the Festival makes it’s debut on the town’s cobbles with a series of free street performances including sets from local singer/songwriter Patsy Gillam and myself on piano.

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Anthony said: "It’s going to be a packed day that shows off the eclectic nature of the Festival, with Meet The Author: Kim Moore, where the local poet and trumpeter will enlighten us with insights into her new book ‘What The Trumpet Taught Me’, before we finish the day with a rousing performance from Brighouse and Rastrick Band to celebrate the great, British, brass tradition."

The Mail: EVENTS: Top BrassEVENTS: Top Brass

To ‘bring us down to earth’ there will be two concerts, Bach to Bach on Thursday, June 2 and Baroque at Bardsea on Sunday, June 5 in the Holy Trinity Church.

Anthony said: "Afterwards, guests are invited to join author-adventurer Kate Rawles for a post-concert 'walk-talk' down to Bardsea beach as she recounts tales from her extreme solo cycling and discusses the effects of climate change during her travels through South America."

In a contrast to those intimate concerts, Ulverston will play host to English Touring Opera and their production of the most popular of operas, La bohème on Thursday, June 3, which will surely herald the return of a really 'big night' at The Coro.  

Tickets for the festival can be purchased on the website