TOWCESTER MIDSUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023
COMMITTEE REPORT
Objectives
The objectives of the Towcester Midsummer Music Festival are
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The advancement of the arts for public benefit, in participation through the organization and delivery of an annual music festival in the town.
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To further such exclusively charitable purposes for the public benefit, by appointing the trustees absolute discretion, as they shall think fit from time to time, in particular through the making of grants and donations.
Preparation
For the 2023 Festival, it was agreed by the committee that we should only use the Town Hall for the Friday evening events, and invite students from both Primary Schools to perform from 5pm until 7pm, followed by an Evening Coral Concert. In addition, four local Town Centre public houses arranged a variety of musical acts
For the Saturday evening, the Town Hall was again used as the main focus for the Festival, starting at 6.45pm with a performance by the group Young Musicians prior to the official opening by the Town Mayor.
Programme
Friday, 16[th] June Artistes Town Hall Young Musicians The Songbirds Ukrainian Performers Greens Norton Community Choir Towcester Rock School Towcester Mill Craig The Dilemma Saracens Head Hotel Identity Crisis The Plough Dan Smith MLC3 The Band Brave Old Oak Crimson Monkeys Saturday, 17[th] June Town Hall Young Musicians Towcester Studio Band Rock School Lincoln Noel Trio Towcester Mill NN12 Community Choir Torus Nickolas Hawksmoor Primary School Choir Towcester Studio Band Funktionality Brave Old Oak The Band Isabelle
| Watling Street Village | Fascination |
|---|---|
| The Plough | Needles in the Hay |
| Sgt Fury | |
| Saracens Head Hotel | ABBA Stars Live |
| Sunday, 18th June | |
| Towcester Mill | Jenkinson’s Folly |
| Sponne School Musicians | |
| Cadillac | |
| Saracens Head Hotel | Anthony Wolfson |
| Watling Street Village | The Roberts Family Band |
| St Lawrence Church | Songs of Praise |
Prior to the date of the Festival, arrangements were made for stewarding and formal applications made to the police, fire and District Council. The services of the St John Ambulance Service were procured, and confirmation made that the Festival was adequately insured.
Conclusion
It was agreed that attendance at the 2023 Festival had been a record, which might have been due to the increased publicity, the hot weather or an increase in the Town’s population. There as also agreement that the Festival had been a success musically, and in “Bringing the Town together”. The Saturday evening events ended with a grand fireworks display from the nearby Watermeadows.
Financial Report
Financially, the 2023 Festival had been disappointing. Although ticket sales and sponsorship were roughly on target, the anticipated contribution from the public houses had been negligible. Consideration will be given for future years to the introduction of QR codes being made available at every venue. Also, the arranged pub bucket collections by members of the Mayor’s benefiting charities did not take place.
Charitable Donations
The trustees agreed that the sum of £2000 be donated to the Town Mayor’s Charity Fund from the proceed of the 2023 Festival. At the October meeting of the Town Council, cheques were presented to representatives of Renew 169 Wellbeing Café, Towcester Foodbank and The Lighthouse Centre.
David Reed – Chairman James Lynch – Secretary Peter Stratton - Treasurer
TOWCESTER MIDSUMMER MUSIC FESTIVAL 2023 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNT
| INCOME | £ |
|---|---|
| B/fwd | 2723.37 |
| Sponsors | 3325.00 |
| Ticket Sales | 1926.85 |
| Donation | 20.00 |
| Float | 350.00 |
| Bar takings | 887.52 |
| Sundries | 18.41 |
| £9251.15 | |
| EXPENDITURE | |
| Venue Hire | 100.00 |
| Artistes | 1400.00 |
| Fireworks | 1134.00 |
| Web Site | 1087.98 |
| Float | 350.00 |
| Mill Brewery | 450.60 |
| St John |
126.72 |
| TENS | 42.00 |
| Printing | 159.60 |
| £4850.90 | |
| Less Donation | 2000.00 |
| Cash in Bank | £2400.25 |
| TOTAL | £9251.15 |
Peter Stratton ACIB Treasurer