Elgar's Forgotten Songs
2024-12-08 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London) | The Firs, Elgar's Birthplace Museum, Crown East Lane, Lower Broadheath, WR2 6RH
Elgar wrote many songs throughout his career. Many of them are hardly known today, but they are all of great beauty and interest, and we are showcasing some of the finest of them in our concert which will feature soprano Valerie Sherlock and bass/baritone Kieran Sherlock.
Providing a narrative which will once again place each song in the context of Elgar’s life, the talk will demonstrate that the intriguing thing about Elgar’s songs is that in every case he chose the words very carefully to reflect the events of his own life, his relationships and his mood. Therefore they must always be regarded as autobiographical and Richard Westwood-Brookes’s talk will highlight this.
The concert/talk is being staged thanks to the very generous sponsorship of The Elgar Society.
This talk will take place on Sunday 8 December 2024 at 11am and 2pm. With just 60 tickets available per recital, this will not be an event to miss.
This event is free, but normal admission charges apply for the venue. Booking is essential.

A Victorian Christmas
2024-12-08 14:30 - 15:00 | Coach House Theatre, WR14 3HA
Opera Worcester Presents
A Victorian Christmas
Let us gather by the fireside with candles twinkling to cheer our way and be entertained with songs, carols and tales from Victorian times.
Sunday 8 December 2:30pm
Musical Direction by Sue Black
Piano Accompaniment by Joy Reeve
Tickets: Adult £15/ Child £5
includes mulled wine and mince pies

Kate Rusby - Winter Light Tour
2024-12-08 19:00 - 19:30 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
An evening of beautiful music from the ‘first lady of folk’.
Kate Rusby rounds off 2024 in style with her annual, and much anticipated, Christmas tour. Full of warmth, sparkles and her unique festive music featuring songs from her latest charting Christmas album ‘Light Years’ 2023 and a selection from her ever-popular previous six Christmas albums.

An Amarylli Christmas
2024-12-10 13:00 - 14:00 | Great Malvern Priory, WR14 2AY
Revel in the spirit of Christmas past with Amarylli’s feast of carols and festive delights from the 12th – 18th century.
Admission is free with a retiring collection.
Please join us for tea and mince pies after the concert!
Musicians: Hannah Grove (soprano, harp, recorder) and Elizabeth Pallett (lute, gittern, cittern, guitar, vihuela).

Cushion Concert with The Foldhouse Band
2024-12-13 19:00 - 21:00 | The Fold, Bransford, Worcester, WR6 5JB, United Kingdom
Join us for an enchanting Cushion Concert in the Carthouse at The Fold, Bransford, where music, meditation, and joy come together in perfect harmony.
The event features Awantika Dubey, David Balen, JuliLa and William Tooby.
Ensure that you bring a cushion to sit on for a comfortable, cosy experience (chairs are available for those who would like one).
Entry to this event is by donation.
Doors open at 6.30pm for 7pm – 9.30pm.
Follow the website link for more information.

Malvern Male Voice Choir: Celebrating Christmas with Heather Patterson
2024-12-14 14:30 - 15:30, 2024-12-14 17:00 - 18:00, 2024-12-14 19:30 - 20:30 | Coach House Theatre, WR14 3HA
Sit down and relax for an hour at the Coach House Theatre as Malvern Male Voice Choir offers its take on getting ready for the festive season. Their full-blooded sound will allow you to revel in the joy and fun of Christmas, with one or two moments to stop and reflect in this busy month. Music old and new will journey into the many traditions and stories of Christmas, both the serious and the light-hearted.
Joining Malvern Male Voice Choir for the first time is Heather Patterson, soprano. Born and bred in County Durham, she trained as a singer of all styles of music. Now resident in Worcester, she entertains audiences from the very young to the not-so-young with her captivating voice, charm and enthusiasm for bringing you the very best of the sounds of Christmas.
Performance times
Saturday 14 December 2024, 2.30pm
Saturday 14 December 2024, 5pm
Saturday 14 December 2024, 7.30pm

Roving Crows
2024-12-14 20:00 - 22:30 | West Malvern Social Club, West Malvern Road, WR14 4AY
Roving Crows are an Irish folk-rock band based in Herefordshire & Worcestershire. The Crows are a must-see live act, with their mix of fiery fiddle-playing and conscious lyrics alongside driving drums and bass. The band was formed 15 years ago, with the current line-up having played together since 2019. The group has toured tirelessly across the UK, as well as in Australia, France and the Netherlands.
Their passion and energy on stage is infectious, never failing to deliver a great time with their vibrant live show! Their music pushes the boundaries of the Irish Folk genre and their jumping jigs and reels will get you dancing whilst their enquiring and provocative lyrics will make you think.
The band members are Paul O’Neill (guitar and lead vocals), Caitlin Barrett (fiddle and vocals), Laurence Aldridge (drums and vocals) and Jim Smith (bass and vocals).
Doors open at 7.30pm, then music starts at 8pm.
Tickets
£14.09 including booking fee – available online at Ticketsource

The Samples & The Tights - Double Header Punk Show
2024-12-14 20:30 - 23:30 | OCC, 4 Church Street, Malvern, WR14 2AY, United Kingdom
Originally formed in 1978, and influenced by the first wave of UK punk bands, The Samples gigged up and down the country between 1979 and 1986, playing with bands including The Fall, Blitz, Vice Squad, Discharge and many of the UK82 punk bands.
Even though the band’s ‘last’ gig was in 1986, they never officially split up! Wind forward to late 2019 – The Samples announce that their long hiatus is finally over; the ‘project’ was back on….but no-one had planned for a worldwide pandemic! The band suffered a major setback in 2021 when singer Sean ‘Badger’ Taylor sadly passed away. Paz and Dave, the remaining members of the original band, with Sean’s blessing, decided to carry on with Paz taking on vocal duties. Now a three-piece, The Samples have returned to regular gigging, including an appearance at Rebellion in 2022 (they are returning in 2024), a return to The 100 Club in London supporting old label mates Peter and The Test Tube Babies and Red Alert, and their very first gig outside of the UK in Paris.
The Tights played several gigs in London during the late ’70s, including Dingwalls and The Marquee Club (at its original location on Wardour Street). During this period the band planned to move to London but split-up soon after they arrived. However, they kept in touch and continued collaborating on several unrelated projects.
Nearly 30 years later, in 2004, The Tights played a reunion gig at Drummonds in Worcester. Following this the band felt there was unfinished business as far as gigging and recording went.
TV, Work & Bed was recorded and engineered by Garry Low at Glow Studios in Malvern 2006, and mixed by Simon Duckworth at Simon Says Studios, London. Two of the tracks, No Life and I Can’t Sing (about what you are) were written back in 1977 but were not released at the time.
Don’t miss this chance to hear two punk bands at the OCC, Malvern.
Tickets: £10

Christmas Concert with Malvern Chase Brass Band
2024-12-15 15:00 - 16:30 | Christ Church, Avenue Road, Malvern, WR14 3BG
Enjoy carols and seasonal music with Malvern Chase Brass Band’s Christmas concert at Christ Church.
Admission is free and refreshments will be available.
A collection will be made for local charity Heartstart Malvern and Christ Church expenses.

Organ Recital at Great Malvern Priory
2024-12-17 18:30 - 20:30 | Great Malvern Priory, WR14 2AY
Great Malvern Priory’s 2024 season of organ recitals gets underway on Saturday 11 May and runs until Tuesday 17 December. It will see performances from a range of visiting organists, as well as the Priory’s own Piers Maxim.
Programme for 2024
Saturday 11 May, 12pm
Peter King, Organist Emeritus, Bath Abbey
Saturday 1 June, 11am (lecture) / 12pm (recital)
Andrew McCrea, in partnership with Worcestershire Organists’ Association
Monday 26 August, 12pm
Carleton Etherington, Tewkesbury Abbey
Saturday 26 October, 12pm
Keith Hearnshaw, Concert organist
Saturday 9 November, 2pm (lecture recital)
James Lancelot, in partnership with The Elgar Society
Tuesday 17 December, 6.30pm
Piers Maxim, Great Malvern Priory
La Nativite du Seigneur by Messiaen
Entry to all recitals is free (retiring collection).

Family Christmas Concert
2024-12-19 18:45 - 20:00 | Great Witley Village Hall, Worcester Road, Great Witley, WR6 6HR
An informal concert of carols, songs and readings for all ages to enjoy, followed by hot mulled wine and mince pies.
All welcome – free entry (retiring collection for charity).

West Gallery Choir: Vital Spark
2024-12-19 19:00 - 21:30 | Little Malvern Priory, Little Malvern, Malvern, WR14 4JN
The local West Gallery Choir brings a selection of Christmas music to Little Malvern this December, featuring traditional 18th/19th century carols and hymns.
Retiring collection in aid of Malvern Hills Foodbank.

The Hills Singers: Christmas In Song
2024-12-20 17:00 - 18:00 | The Lyttelton Well Hall, 6 Church Street, Malvern, WR14 2AY
As Christmas approaches, enjoy a warm spiced drink and mince pies, listening to beautiful carols old and new.
Admission free (there will be a retiring collection).

Festive Christmas Music with the Jenny Lind Singers
2024-12-21 15:00 - 16:30 | Great Malvern Priory, WR14 2AY
The Jenny Lind Singers will be joined by harpist Nia Evans for this free concert at Great Malvern Priory.
Music will include Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ and Elgar’s ‘The Snow’, as well as traditional and contemporary Christmas carols.
Admission is free and refreshments will be available. Donations are gratefully received.

Carols for All with Malvern Festival Chorus
2024-12-28 15:00 - 17:00 | Great Malvern Priory, WR14 2AY
A charity Carol Concert with Malvern Festival Chorus, conducted by Jonathan Brown. Everybody is welcome for this joyous occasion when the audience is encouraged to sing along with selected carols.
Collection will be in aid of local charity Acorns Children’s Hospice.
Entrance: £3 on the door

CBSO: Viennese New Year
2025-01-04 19:30 - 21:30 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stephen Bell and featuring soprano Francesca Chiejina, returns to Malvern Theatres to bring the glitz and glamour of Vienna to Worcestershire.
This is the perfect pick-me-up for a Saturday evening in early January, offering the sparkle of Vienna right here in Malvern. There’s undoubtedly something incredibly romantic and truly joyful about elegant waltzes, playful polkas and light-hearted operetta. So join the CBSO to celebrate and allow them to whirl you into a new year feeling romanced, revitalised and ready for 2025.
Programme to include
Strauss Gypsy Baron March
Strauss Ich liebe dich Op.37, No.2
Lehár Land of Smiles Overture
Strauss Elyen A Magyar Polka
Strauss Beim Schlafengehen
Korngold Straussiana
Lehár Gold and Silver
Waltzes Binge Fair Frou Frou
Lehár Meine Lippen, Sie küssen so heiß
Strauss Romance No.1 in D minor
Strauss The Blue Danube Waltz

Ric & Vo Live
2025-01-10 19:30 - 21:30 | St James’ Church (Welland), Drake Street, Welland, WR13 6LP
This ultra-talented duo has been performing regularly in Welland since 2017, during which time they have become firm favourites in the village, and every concert is memorable.
Ric Sanders, a brilliant fiddle player, has performed with The Albion Band, Soft Machine and his own band, the Ric Sanders Trio. However, he is better known as the new boy in Fairport Convention, which he joined in 1985.
Vo Fletcher (guitar) teams up with Ric as they play anything from Roots to Jazz and Blues, giving them both the opportunity to have some great musical fun together. Vo has also had a long career, playing with such musicians as Nigel Kennedy and Dave Swarbrick, as well as being a third of the Ric Sanders Trio!
Doors open at 6.45pm, with music starting at 7.30pm.
Tickets: £15 + booking fee – available online at Ticketsource

Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra: New Year Family Favourites
2025-01-11 14:30 - 16:30 | Number 8, 8 High Street, Pershore, WR10 1BG
Join Worcester Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Dan Watson and led by Graham Longfils, at Number 8 in Pershore for New Year Family Favourites.
Programme
Prokofiev Peter and the Wolf
Grieg Peer Gynt Suite No 1
Rossini Overture: William Tell
Strauss Pizzicato Polka & Radetzky March
Tickets
£15 (under 16s: free) – sold out (look out for further Worcestershire Philharmonic Orchestra concerts later in 2025)

Madness, Melancholy and Magic
2025-01-11 18:00 - 19:30 | Hellens, Much Marcle, HR8 2LY
Join harpsichordist Julian Perkins and violinist Peter Sheppard Skærved for an engaging performance featuring works by Corelli and Handel, concluding with Tartini’s infamous Devil’s Trill sonata.
Julian Perkins brings a dynamic and adventurous spirit to all his music-making. Based here in the UK and of dual British-Italian citizenship, he enjoys a busy and varied international career as a conductor/director, chamber musician and solo keyboard player. Dubbed “The Indiana Jones of Early Music” by BBC Radio 3, and described as having “demonic intensity” (BBC Music Magazine Recording of the Month).
Peter Sheppard Skærved is a Grammy-nominated recording artist, with over one hundred critically acclaimed albums to his name and is internationally renowned for performances of a vast range of solo repertoire. His ‘Knowledge Exchange Violin’ project brings together museums and institutions across the globe to collaborate on films, events, performances, recordings and exhibitions to explore the interrelationship between music, art and the environment.
Bar and doors open at 5.30pm, with performance commencing at 6pm
Tickets: £20 (students and carers free) – available to book online

The Johnny Cash Roadshow – ‘20th Anniversary’ Tour
2025-01-17 19:45 - 21:30 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
‘Clive captures my grandfather just as he was,’ said Caitlin Crowell, granddaughter of Johnny Cash.
The Johnny Cash Roadshow is heading into its 20th year on the road and stronger than ever! A fast-paced, energetic, constantly evolving show that’s now the longest running and most critically acclaimed show across the UK and Europe.

Into The Groove - The Ultimate Tribute to Madonna
2025-01-18 19:45 - 22:00 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
Join us for an incredible night, as we cherish the love and celebrate the incredible career of the best-selling female artist of all time, Madonna!
This energetic, dazzling, colourful production recreates the highlights from her breath-taking live tours, making for the ultimate concert night out!
Featuring all of Madonna’s greatest hits including Holiday, Like a Prayer, Papa Don’t Preach, Material Girl, Vogue, Music and Hung Up, plus many, many more!
So don’t go for second best, put your love to the test and Get into the Groove!

Malvern Concert Club: Pavel Haas Quartet
2025-01-19 15:00 - 17:00 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
Renowned across the globe for its richness of timbre, infectious passion and intuitive rapport, the Pavel Haas Quartet is firmly established as one of the world’s foremost chamber ensembles. It performs at the world’s most prestigious venues, including Wigmore Hall, London; Philharmonie and Konzerthaus, Berlin; Musikverein, Vienna; Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg; Concertgebouw and Muziekgebouw, Amsterdam; Tonhalle, Zürich; Théâtre de la Ville, Paris; Accademia di Santa Cecilia, Rome; BOZAR, Brussels; NCPA, Beijing; LG Arts Centre, Seoul; and Carnegie Hall, New York. In the 2023-24 season, the Quartet returns to Wigmore Hall, Rudolfinum Prague, Teatro La Fenice, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Göteborgs Konserthus, National Concert Hall Dublin, Muziekgebouw Amsterdam and Philharmonie Luxembourg.
Artists
Veronika Jarůšková violin
Marek Zwiebel violin
Šimon Truszka viola
Peter Jarůšek cello
Programme
Dvorak Cypresses
Martinů String Quartet No.5
Smetana From my life
Photo © Petra Hajska

Armonico: Supersize Polyphony 2
2025-01-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
The critically-acclaimed Supersize Polyphony programme of choral music on a colossal scale made Armonico Consort famous across the British Isles. Back with even more daring and adventurous staging in 20 – 40, and even 60 different voice parts, Armonico Consort will once again sing 360 degrees around the audience, totally immersing them in their sound!
In a brand new programme, Armonico features many newly discovered works, the majority of which are rarely performed and some never recorded. This concert will also include two world premieres by Hollywood composer (and co-founder of Armonico’s education outreach) David Buckley. If you loved the first instalment of Supersize Polyphony, you simply cannot miss this concert. As an extra treat, they will bring you Tallis’s Spem in Alium – surely the perfect way to kick off the new year!

Jazz Nights: The Pancake Band
2025-01-24 19:30 - 21:30 | Regal Tenbury Wells, 49 Teme Street, Tenbury Wells WR15 8AE
Join us in the Regal Studio for an evening of jazz from The Pancake Band featuring, amongst others, Stuart Goodhew on piano, Stuart Spiers on saxophone and Peter Cabara on bass.
The Pancake Band was established eight years ago and its repertoire consists of mainly original compositions by the pianist Stuart Goodhew. His genius musical mind creates a colourful palette of compositions including standard swing, Latin and funk. Just close your eyes, relax and listen out for hints of influence from jazz giants including Bill Evans and Herbie Hancock. It’s all supported by an excellent band that will keep you moving, tapping your foot or smiling all the time.

The Met: Live in HD - Aida
2025-01-25 17:30 - 21:00 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
A new production of Verdi’s Aida, live from The Met.
American soprano Angel Blue headlines as the Ethiopian princess torn between love and country in this new production of Verdi’s opera by Michael Mayer that brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded tombs of ancient Egypt with intricate projections and dazzling animations.
Romanian-Hungarian mezzo-soprano Judit Kutasi also stars as Aida’s rival, Amneris, alongside Polish tenor Piotr Beczała as the soldier Radamès — completing the greatest love triangle in the world of opera.
Met Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin takes the podium to conduct the performance on 25 January 2025, which will be broadcast live from the Metropolitan Opera in New York to cinemas worldwide.
Running time: approximately 3hrs 40mins

The Retros
2025-01-25 19:30 - 22:30 | Malvern Cube, WR14 2YF
Put on your dancing shoes!
Suckley musician Paul Aitken is hosting a party night at The Cube, Malvern on Saturday 25 January 2025 with his band The Retros. Paul has been performing all his life, with his first professional engagement being with a very young Sir Simon Rattle! He had a Top 40 hit single with The Banned (titled Little Girl) during the Punk/New Wave era and has appeared on Top of the Pops and Never Mind the Buzzcocks, having previously worked with an embryonic Dire Straits. He also co-wrote and recorded numerous tracks for BBC Children’s TV’s Take Hart and Hartbeat and Captain Zep during the 1980s with songwriting partner David Owen Smith.
The Retros have been entertaining audiences at big parties and corporate events all over the country for more than 30 years, playing solid gold hits, from every decade, that get everyone on their feet. The band has three albums available on Cherry Red Records (which co-incidentally also originated in Malvern!).
The band’s line-up has been refreshed and debuted on the bandstand in Malvern’s Priory Park playing a rock and blues set as part of the Music in the Park summer concert series. The other three band members, Dik Cadbury, Steve Degutis and Tony Meacock, have equally impressive musical CVs, working with Mike d’Abo, The Manfreds, Decameron and Steve Hackett (Genesis). Both Paul and Dik were educated in Malvern and have very strong family ties with the town.
It promises to be a great night, with the bar open from 7pm and some interesting guests, including an emerging local talent, Harry Graydon, and Gogo
Dancers from Worcester University.
For more information, contact Paul on 07966 282550 or email fabmusic@theretros.co.uk.
Tickets
£18/£15 (early bird)/£10 (student) – available from Malvern Tourist Information Centre, the Malvern Cube website and directly from Paul on 07966 282550

Rob Lamberti Presents Perfectly George
2025-01-25 19:45 - 21:30 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
Featuring the incredible voice of Rob Lamberti, who featured on the BBC’s ‘Even Better Than the Real Thing’ in 2017, this show has wowed audiences around the country and across Europe and lifted them to their feet. In a dynamic show that tactfully and appropriately celebrates the career of one of the most gifted performers of a generation, Lamberti sings hits from Wham! all the way through to the diverse eras of George’s hugely successful solo career, including classics like ‘Careless Whisper’, ‘Faith’, ‘I’m Your Man’, ‘Club Tropicana’ and so many more.

American Four Tops
2025-01-30 19:45 - 21:30 | Malvern Theatres, WR14 3HB
Direct from the United States, Soul Satisfaction’s American Four Tops show has been travelling the world to bring all the sweet soul music and the Motown magic to their audiences.
With powerful vocals, splendid harmonies and the high-stepping dance routines, you will be taken on a journey through all the hits of the Four Tops: Reach Out, Baby I Need Your Loving, Walk Away Renee, Same Old Song, Loco in Acalpulco, Standing In the Shadow and Bernadette, along with other classic hits from the golden era!
