Aldeburgh Festival Extra! invites the whole community – locals and visitors alike – to enjoy a different take on the Aldeburgh Festival across its 17 days from 13 – 29 June.
The Aldeburgh Festival programme is enhanced with additional events including Allan Clayton’s sound installation at Iken Church; Red House Recitals from Ben Goldscheider, Huw Watkins and Martin Jones; an exploration of how music shapes grief with Music To Die For; and an Orford Church organ recital by Francesca Massey.
The much-loved Pumphouse returns to the Aldeburgh Festival and is a place to enjoy local live music, hang out with friends, and soak up the charming venue in its riverside setting. Each Friday and Saturday night there’s specially curated events including a ceilidh, indie, folk and jazz nights, fresh new music, and a silent disco. Come for the whole evening and combine upbeat music with delicious food and drink provided by partners The Suffolk. There are also family events every Saturday afternoon.
Festival Extra! culminates on the final Festival Saturday on 28 June with the Big Day Out, a day of free music, participation, and surprises in the Festival’s home town with something for everyone. Inspired by the thread of folk that runs through this year’s Aldeburgh Festival, the programme features music and words, pop-ups, two Come & Play events, new work, discoveries, fine food and drink, and unexpected surprises. At the heart of the programme is a strand of free musical and arts activities that everyone can enjoy. The whole family can catch a
ceilidh, crafting, workshops, and pop-up performances around the town – while at Fishers Gin Distillery there’s free live music all afternoon. Anyone who plays a recorder or a brass instrument might like to take part in Come & Play events – and anyone who doesn’t play can still come and enjoy the performances. Plus, there’s a folk-singing workshop for the whole family with Wise Woman, Julia Blackburn reading poetry with our friends at Aldeburgh Bookshop, and more.
Andrew Comben, Chief Executive, Britten Pears Arts commented, ‘We are really excited to present Aldeburgh Festival Extra! in a range of venues across Aldeburgh throughout the Festival, and offering opportunities for the whole community to come together. I am particularly looking forward to the return of the much-loved The Pumphouse every Friday and Saturday throughout the Festival, and the Big Day Out promises everything from family activities, a chance to get involved, music, food and hopefully some sunshine! We really hope to see you in Aldeburgh in June.’
Detailed Programme Information
Aldeburgh Festival Additions
– Allan Clayton: Cycle for Declamation: Clayton’s rendition of Priaulx Rainier’s Cycle for Declamation is a sound installation in Iken Church throughout the Festival. The work was commissioned by tenor Peter Pears and sets three of Donne’s Meditations from his Devotions upon Emergent Occasions. The music, which lasts around 10 minutes, will be accessible via a “press to listen” option, allowing visitors to play the recording at their convenience. There will be no preset timings for playback (13 – 29 June, 12 – 5pm, Iken Church, free).
– Music To Die For: Dr Hazel Harrison and Phillipa Anders, in the company of pianist George Fu, discover how music shapes grief, processes emotions and offers comfort, helping us navigate loss and honour memories (14 June, 2pm, The Library, The Red House).
– Catherine Ennis Memorial Recital: Francesca Massey: Organist Francesca Massey gives a recital with music by Mozart, Bach, and Cecelia McDowall in the annual Catherine Ennis Memorial Recital in Orford Church. The concert commemorates the late Catherine Ennis, former president of the Royal College of Organists and director of music at the Church of St Lawrence Jewry, London (17 June, 11am, Orford Church).
– Red House Recital: Ben Goldscheider and Huw Watkins: Hear the first performance of Sometimes, written by Brian Elias for Goldscheider and dedicated to him. The Red House Library recital also includes Poulenc’s haunting Elegie and Beethoven’s virtuosic Horn Sonata (23 June, 11am, Library, The Red House).
– Stevie Wishart: The Foliate Bosses: The composer and hurdy-gurdy player Stevie Wishart gives a live performance of her new work, commissioned to accompany Julian Perry’s major exhibition, The Foliate Bosses. The piece is grounded in Saint Hildegard’s O Euchari, which has heavily influenced the work of both artists (23 June, 4.30pm & 5.30pm, Building 7, Snape Maltings).
– Red House Recital: Martin Jones: An intimate piano recital featuring world premieres of works by Elisabeth Lutyens alongside Debussy and Grainger (25 June, 11am & 2pm, Library, The Red House). – Film: Zemlya: A screening at The Riverside cinema in Woodbridge of the Ukrainian film Earth (Zemlya) with live improvisation from silent-film pianist Daan van den Hurk (27 June, 7pm, The Riverside Cinema, Woodridge).
The Pumphouse
– Indie Pop: Immerse yourself in heartfelt melodies, wistful indie pop, and captivating folk/pop tunes with this night of local bands and songwriters featuring Tendertwin, Holocene, Pyramid Park and Millie Kirkpatrick (13 June, 6 – 10.30pm, The Pumphouse, 44 Park Road, Aldeburgh).
– Tiny Magic Orchestra: Created and presented by Charly Jolly and two musicians from Britten Sinfonia, this interactive performance is the perfect introduction to classical music for children and their adults and will transport audiences on a magical journey through music, imagination, and play. The performance is suitable for all ages and designed especially for children aged 4 to 8 (14 June, 3pm, The Pumphouse, Aldeburgh).
– Alternative Folk: Rich harmonies, evocative sounds and introspective melodies combine at this night of indie-folk, Americana, and rock. Enjoy heartfelt performances from Roswell, Kathleen Frances, Lottie Gray, and Retro Firefly (14 June, 6 – 10.30pm, The Pumphouse, Aldeburgh).
– Jazz Soul: Expect horn sections, jazz chords, psychedelic melodies, and soulful singing with performances from House of EL, Bonuru and Ralph Taylor in a night of jazz and soul at The Pumphouse (20 June, 7.30 – 11pm, The Pumphouse).
– Puffling Percy: Featuring live music and puppetry, Puffing Percy is an uplifting tale for children aged 4–11 about overcoming fear and finding true friendship. With original music by Harriette Ashcroft (Mrs H and the Singalong Band) and magical puppetry, this enchanting new children’s show, produced by Puffling Productions and Norwich Puppet Theatre, is a delightful experience for the whole family (21 June, 3pm, The Pumphouse).
– Ceilidh: Dance the night away to Ceilidh Tree’s band featuring fiddle, accordion, and guitar, plus their welcoming caller who will make it easy and fun for everyone (21 June, 7.30 – 11pm, The Pumphouse). – The Zawose Queens: Pendo and Leah Zawose, daughters of the legendary Dr. Hukwe Zawose, showcase the rich polyrhythms and polyphonic singing of the Wagogo people from Tanzania’s Dodoma region. This marks the first time that women from this famous musical family take their place as lead vocalists and performer, bringing the spirit and fire of East African music to life (27 June, 6.30 – 11pm, The Pumphouse).
– Family Folk Singing: Folk band Wise Woman invites you to immerse yourself in the world of myths and legends in this all-ages Family Folk Singing experience. Enjoy fun warm-up games, vocal exercises, and the joy of singing in harmony as you learn new easy-to-pick-up folk songs. The workshop concludes with a relaxed performance of original music by Wise Woman, where you can choose either to sit back and enjoy or to take part and sing along (12.30pm & 2pm). Plus, enjoy mythical-themed crafts and colouring activities in the marquee – perfect for all ages (11am – 4pm).
– Youth Open Mic: An invitation to young musicians under 18 to take to the Pumphouse Stage! In your 5- minute spot, bring a song or piece of music you’ve created or learned to share with an enthusiastic Festival home crowd (3.30pm, The Pumphouse).
– Folk: Wise Woman’s dynamic folk-pop and Finn Collinson’s cutting-edge English folk music (28 June, 5.45 – 8pm, The Pumphouse).
– Silent Disco: Celebrate the end of the Big Day Out at The Pumphouse Silent Disco. With three channels to choose from – cheesy hits, classic favourites, and club anthems – you’ll always find the perfect beat (28 June, 8 – 11pm, The Pumphouse).
The Big Day Out, Aldeburgh, 28 June
Around the Town
– Family Ceilidh: Join Ceilidh Tree for a fun hour of family-friendly dancing suitable for ages 8 and above (21 June, 11am, Jubilee Hall).
– Britten’s Aldeburgh: Miles Biggs’ film is a setting of Britten’s Four Sea Interludes and Passacaglia from Peter Grimes and draws upon the varying moods and shapes of the North Sea in Aldeburgh, and the human activities that take place against its backdrop in ‘The Borough’ (Archive Foyer, The Red House, on loop 11am – 5pm).
– Come & Play with Onyx Brass: Brass players of all ages and abilities are invited to bring their instruments to come and play Rossini’s William Tell Overture and Duke Ellington’s C Jam Blues on Aldeburgh Beach with Onyx Brass. The session will end with a massed open-air performance on the beach (28 June, 1.30pm, Aldeburgh Beach, free but booking required).
– Michaelangelo Sonnets: A talk by Shirley Smith and Dr Anna Bristow on Michelangelo’s Sonnets, dedicated to Tommaso de Cavalieri, the man he loved and accompanied by a series of passionate drawings. Britten’s Seven Sonnets of Michelangelo was the first complete song cycle written for Peter Pears, the man he loved. This talk looks at the drawings in conjunction with excerpts from Michelangelo’s letters to Cavalieri and a reading of some of the sonnets in English and Italian (28 June, 2pm, Library, the Red House).
– Come and Play Recorder: Recorder players of all ages and abilities are invited to come and take part in this workshop, led by Rebecca Austen-Brown (28 June, 3pm, Jubilee Hall).
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– Julia Blackburn Reading: Join Suffolk-based author Julia Blackburn as we tread in the footprints of the ancients at Bawsdey with a reading from her book Time Song and hear a comical tale from her book Threads (28 June, 5pm, Aldeburgh Bookshop).
Big Day Our Street Performers
Come and see local musicians light up two iconic locations by the beach, at RNLI Lifeboat Station and the Moot Hall
– Kitty-May: Folk-pop singer-songwriter Kitty May is inspired by nature and the nighttime (11.30am). – Fickle Folk: The three musicians of Fickle Folk from East Suffolk weave beloved folk favourites with Celtic vibes and the occasional jazz groove: folk with an infectious twist (12.30pm).
– Maple Ward: With a voice that carries the weight of experience beyond her years, Maple Ward crafts songs that delve into the depths of human emotion. Maple’s debut EP, ‘Power to Grow’, showcases her honest storytelling and acoustic folk sound (1.30pm).
– Steven Lay: A music producer, singer/songwriter, performer, recording, mixing and mastering engineer, Stephen Lay also curates and mentors. He’s based on the outskirts of Orford, nestled alongside Tunstall Forest in his own small and perfectly formed studio, Lodge Studio (2.30pm).
– Robin Torbitt: His music is broadly influenced in a love for 1970s folk. In 2024 Robin Torbitt was winner of the Milkmaid Songwriting competition with his song ‘Aurora’ (3.30pm).
Big Day Out Fishers Gin Stage
– The Brawlers: The folk music collective is based locally in Trimley St Martin and kickstarts the activity on the Fishers Gin Stage (12pm)
– Lottie Gray: Weaving moody, emotive tales with poppy, upbeat tracks, Louise Gray creates an immersive sonic landscape grounded in authenticity and honesty (1pm).
– Charlie Law: He sings about his adventures in camper vans, canal boats and starting a family. Charlie Law writes songs with community groups in Suffolk and has supported Frank Turner at The Roundhouse (2pm).
– Ralph Taylor: Selected as one of Angelle Joseph’s BBC Introducing Ones to Watch for 2025, Ralph Taylor’s performances feature folk-influenced arrangements, harmonies & lyricism (3pm). – alightlefton: An upbeat and light-hearted original duo from Clacton on Sea, recently showcased at the Montreux Jazz Cafe in London and featured on 6 Music by Tom Robinson (4pm).
– Fen Song: A ballad of the Fen: a beautiful, haunting sequence of poetry and folk music inspired by the East Anglian landscape, combining the words of the late Clare Crossman with songs by award-winning singer-songwriter Penni McLaren Walker (5pm).
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