The Hurst Festival are delighted to have a close relationship with other festivals in the area. Please see details below of other festivals happening locally throughout the year.
Cuckfield
CUCKFIELD MUSIC FESTIVAL: from 11 – 19 June starts with Harveys Brass, ends with Kingfisher Chorale and has Jazz (Mingus Underground Octet), baroque, opera and more in between. There’s a strong focus on young musicians including BBC finalists, Guildhall and Royal School of Music graduates. The youngest performer is 13 year-old Aglea Carvalho-Dubost who will be performing Saint-Saens Cello Concerto No 1 as soloist in a Symphony Concert on Saturday 18th. With an Open mic night, a ‘Band of Dads’ and a concert performed by students from two local senior schools it’s a very inclusive and appealing programme details of which can be found together with a sign-up for regular news online.
Website: www.cuckfieldmusicfest.co.uk.
Elderflower Fields
27-30th May. Join our 10th birthday celebrations, a fantastic wild weekend of music, sport, art, performance and non-stop festival fun at the countryside setting of Pippingford Park in the Ashdown Forest. Designed especially for families with younger children, Elderflower Fields provides plenty of space to camp under the stars for an unforgettable wild adventure. The award winning Elderflower Fields adventure offers some of the finest local artisan food and drink whilst showcasing a spectacular line-up of performers from Sussex and beyond. Partnering with a host of experts in sports, arts and nature, families are invited to try new things together in a safe and nurturing environment.
Website: https://south.elderflowerfields.co.uk/
Mayfield
The Mayfield Festival of Music and the Arts, incorporating the Tunbridge Wells International Music Competition, is a biennial festival that is held in even numbered years in the beautiful and historic village of Mayfield in East Sussex. The festival predominantly features classical music performed to a high standard and often attracts artists of international calibre. However, other musical genres and art forms are also represented. The Artistic Director of the Festival is the renowned conductor and composer Jeremy Summerly, known for his work with the Oxford Camerata and for his role as Director of Music at St. Luke’s, Chelsea.
Website: https://mayfieldfestival.co.uk/
Peasemarsh
The Peasmarsh Chamber Music Festival will take place from 23 to 26 June, with concerts in Peasmarsh, Rye and Winchelsea. Our guests include a superlative roster of world class artists. Joining Artistic Directors violinist Anthony Marwood and cellist Richard Lester will be renowned accordion player James Crabb, the wonderful violinist Magnus Johnston and celebrated Heath Quartet. Award-winning Dutch pianist Hannes Minaar and the brilliant young 12Ensemble complete the roster. We will also be offering music workshops in five local schools, building on over 15 years of educational partnerships. Full festival programme and brochure available online.
Website: www.peasmarshfestival.co.uk
Arundel
The annual Arundel Festival of the Arts, now in its 44th year, celebrates the full range of the arts in our historic town. Festival Committee chair, Sharon Blaikie says, “Our unique 10-day Festival, entirely run by volunteers, brings together residents, community groups, local businesses, event organisers and attractions to stage uplifting, accessible events for the whole community.”
From a music festival to family fun at Arundel Lido, dragon boats to duck racing, street food and street entertainment to markets and musical entertainment… There is something for everyone. During the Festival you can also enjoy the Arundel Gallery Trail, the Theatre Trail, and Shakespeare at the Castle. The 2022 Arundel Festival – 19th to 29th August.
Website: www.arundelfestival.co.uk
Brighton Early Music Festival (BREMF)
Formed in 2022, Brighton Early Music Festival (known as BREMF) is the south of England’s largest festival of music written before 1800. The Festival has built a reputation for lively and inspired programming, often exploring connections with different art forms and using performance formats and spaces that challenge preconceptions of early music.
The majority of BREMF’s events take place as part of an annual festival in October/November, but increasingly the Festival also organises events at other times of year such as an outdoor Midsummer season and Christmas concerts. Outside of the festival BREMF runs three choirs, organises participatory workshops and takes live music into Sussex schools.
Website: www.bremf.org.uk
Steyning
We are a local Festival bringing a fortnight of diverse, high quality programmed events to Steyning. We will showcase Local, National and International Talent. The Festival is a Community Festival; run by the community, with and for the community. We incorporate a Quality Artistic Festival at our core with a complementary and supportive programme of events. The genres cover Theatre, Music, Visual Arts, Walks & Tours, Literature and Talks, and Community Events.
Website: www.steyningfestival.co.uk
Rye
Rye Arts Festival hosts a diverse range of events including bestselling author talks, classical music, folk, blues and jazz concerts, theatre, films, walks & tours, art exhibitions, plus an innovative Digital Fringe and an outreach programme for children and young people. New this year is a partnership with the City Music Foundation, a London based charity that supports and mentors talented professional musicians in the early stages of their careers. In addition to evening classical concerts there are 4 lunchtime concerts in at a reduced ticket price. Headline sponsors are the NFU Mutual Ashford Tenterden and Whitfield branch.
Lewes Festival of Song
Lewes Festival of Song celebrates art-song from its inception to the present day. Our aim is to present thought-provoking programmes of this rich and beautiful genre, performed by inspiring musicians. The festival is an annual event, usually in the first weekend of July, in St. Anne’s Church, Lewes, and we have just completed our sixth season.
Performers are the young and highly talented on the brink of their careers, and established professionals, and we include local musicians where possible. We feature diverse chamber ensembles and à cappella choirs as well as the more usual mix of singers with piano. We have commissioned new work and feature local composers.