A new music festival will launch next week, which organsier Clare Norburn hopes will put her “often overlooked” suburb on the map.

The talented musician and singer has created the five-day Stroud Green Festival with the help of volunteers after coming up with the idea five months ago when she discovered Holy Trinity Church had its own harpsichord.

She has gathered together some of the country’s most talented musicians, many of whom live locally, and the programme will feature a haunting Medieval chant by candlelight, 15th Century harp music, flute and guitar pieces for a summer‘s afternoon, lively songs and dances from Spain and Mexico, and a celebration of 17th Century London‘s greatest composer, Henry Purcell.

The graduate of The London College of Music says: “There is real local talent and we‘ve had an amazing response so far with people booking and saying they know people who might want to take part next year.

“People are very excited to have something in Stroud Green because we get lots in Crouch End, but we are a bit overlooked here so it‘s nice to celebrate the community.“

Although the church can only hold 200 people, Clare says she hopes to make it an annual event that will rival the success of the Brighton Early Music Festival, which she co-founded and is now attended by 6,000 people and broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.

Holy Trinity Church, Granville Road, Stroud Green, July 2-6. Details: holytrinitystroudgreen.org.uk/stroud-green-festival

Here are some of the events on offer:

Enfield Independent:

Recorder workshop with Roselyn Maynard and Danielle Jalowiecka (pictured) followed by a free concert. Saturday, July 5, 10am to 1pm.

 

Enfield Independent:

Niamh Cusack will play medieval abbess, Hildegard von Bingen in a performance combining Clare Norburn’s script, the abbess’ chants and medieval music from ensemble The Telling. Friday, July 4, 8pm.

 

Enfield Independent:

Guitarist James Woodrow (pictured) and flutist Nancy Ruffer will give a concert of music by Dieupart, Ravel, Debussy, Villa-Lobos and Ibert. Sunday, July 6, 3.30pm.

 

Enfield Independent:

Baroque ensemble Spiritato will perform The Humours of the Age featuring music by Henry Purcell, Biber, Finger, D Purcell and Bononcini. Thursday, July 3.