Visiting Southwell

The 2018 Festival takes place from 22 to 27 August.

For comprehensive, up-to-date information about the town and its facilities please go to the Visit Southwell website.

The site details a range of accommodation options however our own research of accommodation and availability may also be useful.

To find out more about Festival Venues please go here.

What people are saying

"... a community event of an astoundingly high standard"

Hugh Canning

The Sunday Times

2016-08-23T12:36:29+00:00

Hugh Canning

The Sunday Times

"... a community event of an astoundingly high standard"

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/a-community-event-of-an-astoundingly-high-standard/

"Excellent choice of programmes. It was very good to hear live performances from such talented young musicians. Particularly impressed by...

2016-08-23T13:11:27+00:00

"Excellent choice of programmes. It was very good to hear live performances from such talented young musicians. Particularly impressed by the way the Sung Eucharist was not so much a 'performance' as an integral part of the liturgy."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1673/

"Excellent contributions from relatively young, energetic committed professionals. Good choice theme(s) - worked well. State Chamber has intimacy and impact."

2016-08-23T13:12:21+00:00

"Excellent contributions from relatively young, energetic committed professionals. Good choice theme(s) - worked well. State Chamber has intimacy and impact."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1674/

"Exceptional! Many of the performances were beyond words. It was a privilege to be part of this inaugural festival. Well...

2016-08-23T13:12:47+00:00

"Exceptional! Many of the performances were beyond words. It was a privilege to be part of this inaugural festival. Well done to Marcus, the artistes and to the organising committee."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1675/

"Energetic! Good choice of madrigals and music generally. Young performers who enjoyed it as much as the audiences"

2016-08-23T13:14:11+00:00

"Energetic! Good choice of madrigals and music generally. Young performers who enjoyed it as much as the audiences"

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1677/

Latest News

Southwell Music Festival 2018 VideoJune 1, 2018 - 7:30 am
Public booking for the 2018 Southwell Music Festival opens on Monday 4 June (tickets via our Tickets webpage). Ahead of this we’d love to share this new video, recorded and produced by Simon Platts, which gives us a chance to tell everyone about the Festival of which we’re so proud.
Launch Concert SuccessMay 18, 2018 - 10:50 am
Launch Concert Success Thank you to everyone who came to support us at our 2018 Launch Concert in April. A great evening was had by all and it was wonderful to see so many people in attendance. We had our largest audience yet for a launch event with the Nave of Southwell Minster packed with…
2018 Festival Launch – Friday 13th April, 7.30pmApril 6, 2018 - 2:33 pm
It’s that time of year again! We’ve one week to go until the 2018 Festival Launch. Our team has been beavering away for the last few months and we are excited to reveal our plans to you next Friday at Southwell Minster. In addition to announcing the programme and presenting a free concert, the Launch…
Looking Forward to our Fifth Annual FestivalJanuary 1, 2018 - 8:58 am
Happy New Year! We hope 2018 brings you health and happiness and much pleasurable enjoyment of either making or listening to music – not least at the 2018 Southwell Music Festival. It is hard to comprehend that this year’s festival will be our fifth but there it is – in the era of ‘fake news’…
Christmas Music for Southwell and NottinghamDecember 11, 2017 - 8:30 am
Christmas Music for Southwell and Nottingham Southwell Music Festival Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth writes: “I’m very pleased to be writing with this round-up of concerts over the next fortnight. Nottinghamshire audiences are in for a treat! A Christmas Celebration – Friday 22nd December We hope that you are able to join us for our…

What people are saying

"It was lovely to hear fresh young voices in the choir. I thought the quality of the performance was exceptionally good from the orchestra to soloists. The dynamics and interpretation of the Creation was excellent."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:06:06+00:00

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1666/

"Aren't we lucky to have such great venues within easy reach of each other?"

southwell music festival

2016-08-24T08:26:49+00:00

"Aren't we lucky to have such great venues within easy reach of each other?"

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1691/

"Friday in the Old Theatre Deli stage area was a very special night. Thanks for arranging this extra concert."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:06:53+00:00

"Friday in the Old Theatre Deli stage area was a very special night. Thanks for arranging this extra concert."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1667/

"The Minster is an ideal base for the Festival. Great atmosphere and imaginative use of the space. State Chamber ideal for smaller scale recitals. Old Theatre has an enjoyable intimacy."

southwell music festival

2016-08-24T08:27:40+00:00

"The Minster is an ideal base for the Festival. Great atmosphere and imaginative use of the space. State Chamber ideal for smaller scale recitals. Old Theatre has an enjoyable intimacy."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1692/

"We have been privileged to hear an outstanding quality of music. The musicians, singers and soloists have given great pleasure to those who heard them. The whole weekend has been an opportunity to experience a variety of music performance. The standard has been first class."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:07:16+00:00

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1668/

“Anyone who doubted that conductor and Artistic Director Marcus Farnsworth could possibly work such magic again must now feel certain that his supremely high standards of music-making are to be the hallmark of the Southwell Music Festival for the foreseeable future."

southwell music festival

2016-08-29T18:14:55+00:00

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/2016/

"The performances were all outstanding. I doubt if you could hear anything any better anywhere. The programmes were varied and interesting."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:07:41+00:00

"The performances were all outstanding. I doubt if you could hear anything any better anywhere. The programmes were varied and interesting."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1669/

"A good choice of excellent but unusual music in both concerts attended, and excellent standards of performance by both musicians and singers."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:10:41+00:00

"A good choice of excellent but unusual music in both concerts attended, and excellent standards of performance by both musicians and singers."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1671/

"Old Theatre Deli was absolutely spellbinding, intimate and of international quality. Haydn Creation in the Minster was amazing and of such high quality."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:11:06+00:00

"Old Theatre Deli was absolutely spellbinding, intimate and of international quality. Haydn Creation in the Minster was amazing and of such high quality."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1672/

"... a community event of an astoundingly high standard"

Hugh Canning

The Sunday Times

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T12:36:29+00:00

Hugh Canning

The Sunday Times

"... a community event of an astoundingly high standard"

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/a-community-event-of-an-astoundingly-high-standard/

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:11:27+00:00

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1673/

"The eyes of the musical world now need to be directed towards Southwell in August."

William Ruff

Nottingham Post

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T12:37:18+00:00

William Ruff

Nottingham Post

"The eyes of the musical world now need to be directed towards Southwell in August."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/the-eyes-of-the-musical-world-now-need-to-be-directed-towards-southwell-in-august/

"Excellent contributions from relatively young, energetic committed professionals. Good choice theme(s) - worked well. State Chamber has intimacy and impact."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:12:21+00:00

"Excellent contributions from relatively young, energetic committed professionals. Good choice theme(s) - worked well. State Chamber has intimacy and impact."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1674/

"...Southwell can already equal, even surpass, more established festivals."

Hugh Canning

The Sunday Times

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T12:37:56+00:00

Hugh Canning

The Sunday Times

"...Southwell can already equal, even surpass, more established festivals."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/southwell-can-already-equal-even-surpass-more-established-festivals/

"Exceptional! Many of the performances were beyond words. It was a privilege to be part of this inaugural festival. Well done to Marcus, the artistes and to the organising committee."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:12:47+00:00

"Exceptional! Many of the performances were beyond words. It was a privilege to be part of this inaugural festival. Well done to Marcus, the artistes and to the organising committee."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1675/

"The choir and orchestra were excellent. The soloists were inspirational and the interpretation of the music was masterful."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T12:49:49+00:00

"The choir and orchestra were excellent. The soloists were inspirational and the interpretation of the music was masterful."

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1650/

"Energetic! Good choice of madrigals and music generally. Young performers who enjoyed it as much as the audiences"

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T13:14:11+00:00

"Energetic! Good choice of madrigals and music generally. Young performers who enjoyed it as much as the audiences"

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1677/

"I must congratulate you on a faultless programme of events and of apparently seamless planning. I wish we'd been free to attend more events and will do so next year and all future years. Well done indeed!"

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T12:54:46+00:00

I must congratulate you on a faultless programme of events and of apparently seamless planning.

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1658/

"A very special and memorable weekend"

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T15:46:27+00:00

"A very special and memorable weekend"

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1683/

"Some of the best chamber performances I've ever heard - I speak as an experienced classical recording engineer. Wonderfully varied programmes, avoiding some of the 'usual suspects'."

southwell music festival

2016-08-23T12:55:20+00:00

Some of the best chamber performances I've ever heard

http://www.southwellmusicfestival.com/testimonials/1659/