See programme of shows in Lavenham, between Bury St Edmunds and Sudbury, on next week … plus more concerts in Felixstowe including star tenor Russell Watson
It started as a drive-in music weekend as a traumatised country began tiptoeing back to life after the first and strictest anti-Covid lockdown.
Three years later it has grown into a landmark event on Suffolk’s entertainment calendar bringing five days of concerts to a pop-up theatre in one of the county’s tourist hotspots.
Historic Lavenham August Theatre was born when promoter John Hessenthaler was racking his brains for a way to keep music alive as the pandemic raged on.
In the summer of 2020 he staged a series of drive-in concerts in his home village of Lavenham, between Sudbury and Bury St Edmunds, which is famed for its stunningly-preserved medieval streets and where in previous years he had already begun putting on events in the parish church.
John, who has been in the music business since he ran a mobile disco in the 1970s and now promotes concerts countrywide, said: “It was as a result of Covid and lockdown.
“Once we were coming through that first part there was just nothing going on, nothing to go out to, and one or two companies throughout the country started doing drive-in movies.
“I didn’t really fancy doing that because I had been a music promoter for years and there was nothing much on music-wise.
“And I felt a lot of the movies that were being shown were same old, same old – there’s only so many times you can watch Mamma Mia.
“Living in Lavenham and having promoted Lavenham church concerts for years, I came up with the idea of running a drive-in concert weekend over three nights.
“We put up a stage. People would come in their cars. We would operate it to the current restrictions and people would sit in their cars, or in the picnic area to the left of each car which allowed for the three metres social distancing space.
“Also we provided transmitter headphones so people could sit in their cars if it was raining and listen, or have a picnic if the weather was good. There was also a bar as they came in where they could buy drinks.
“The other thing I did was feature fairly local bands because I felt that with nothing going on and a lot of the groups not touring, and people that used to work with groups falling on hard times, that was the best way.”
The concerts still take place on the same site off Bridge Street Road in Lavenham, but now a covered-in theatre seating 450 people is attached to the village pavilion.
“Then the next year, 2021, the limitations were being eased a bit, so I came up with this idea of putting this big structure up and housing this theatre inside,” said John.
“With the large structure we were able to keep to the restrictions by separating out the seats and allowing the airflow to come through by opening up the side.”
Last year, the sides had to be open for a different reason … it was the height of a heatwave and a welcome draught of fresh air helped cool down the audience and performers.
This year there is a picnic area to one side of the theatre, and an open bar. On site parking is a short walk away and there is disabled parking closer by.
From its modest beginnings the event has kept growing, and some higher profile names are now being booked to appear.
Some of the shows already have a waiting list for tickets.
“That’s encouraging and it does show that after all the ups and downs and hits and misses of the past few years it’s getting back to normal,” said John.
“The whole Covid thing for me and people like me has been an absolute nightmare. When the restrictions came in I had loads and loads of concerts coming up and had to postpone them all.
“It was just a nightmare – notwithstanding the financial situation. I as a commercial promoter got very little help. You had to climb over mountains to get the government help. It was a really hard slog to get anywhere.
“In the leisure business it was particularly hard because it’s a social business and socialising was banned. I remember one guy coming to the drive-in who said he hadn’t been out of his house for months.”
Now John hopes the annual concerts are not only good for him but good for the village. “I hope this is becoming an asset to Lavenham. When people come to the events they use local businesses, stay in hotels in the village, and go to restaurants.
“I still put on concerts in the church and have been doing that for six or seven years. The idea of that was it was a magnificent building and it was pretty easy for me to put them on.
“I also put on concerts all over the country, and I’m doing a lot more in churches and cathedrals.
Recently, I was in the West Country doing three cathedral shows with Russell Watson. It attracts people who wouldn’t normally go into these buildings, and provides them with much-needed income.”
John grew up in Suffolk. “When I left school I worked as a trainee surveyor for the council in Bury St Edmunds. I followed the route of getting qualifications.
“But during that time I started running a mobile disco. And because bookings for weddings and parties weren’t coming in quick enough I used to go and hire village halls in the area.
“It was in the days before nightclubs. Out in the sticks everyone would come for a Saturday night disco. Then I started hiring groups and they would start approaching me.”
As he built up his business he began securing bigger names. “I expanded by putting on Top of the Pops groups all over the place.
He also had some of the straighter-laced citizens of Bury reaching for the smelling salts by bringing Punk rockers The Clash to the Corn Exchange.
“The council rang me up and tried to stop it. There was a big picture in the paper the next week of mess in the Corn Exchange. But it was just different looking people – punks – attending a concert.”
The authorities probably breathed a sigh of relief that his plans to bring the Sex Pistols to Suffolk never materialised, but it was logistics rather than a fear of controversy that stopped him.
Controversy, he says, is good publicity.
Not that the line up for this year’s Historic Lavenham Theatre - which includes the popular vocal quartet G4, and a sound and vision tribute to Fleetwood Mac - is likely to stir up any bad feeling.
This year’s programme ...
Tuesday, August 8
G4
Gates open 5.30pm. Show 7.30pm.
Having exploded into the industry and the public’s hearts back in 2004 on the first series of The X-Factor, G4 continue to mesmerise audiences, year after year, with their unique style and trademark vocal harmonies.
G4 are thrilled to be back on the road in 2023 performing in many towns and cities never yet reached by the band.
Fans new and old are enthralled as they cheer, laugh and cry their way through this masterfully programmed set list that includes classic hits such as Bohemian Rhapsody, Creep, My Way, Circle of Life and Nessun Dorma.
Appearing with them is special guest, Essex-based crossover soprano Nancy May.
Wednesday August 9
Clearwater Creedence Revival
Gates open 6.30pm. Show 8pm.
The band pays tribute to Creedence Clearwater Revival - one of the most iconic rock groups of all time.
The spirit, power and quality of their songs, including Proud Mary, Bad Moon Rising, Have You Ever Seen The Rain, Born on the Bayou, Fortunate Son, Down on the Corner, are powerfully reprised by Clearwater Creedence Revival, along with material from CCR frontman, John Fogerty.
Thursday August 10
The Best in Comedy
Gates open 6pm. Show 7.30pm
The Best in Comedy show for over-18s only returns to The Historic Lavenham August Theatre with a superb line-up featuring the amazing Chris McCausland, Rhys James, Lloyd Griffith and Rachel Fairburn!
Chris McCausland has long been established at the very top of the UK's comedy circuit. He has appeared three times on the BBC's flagship stand-up show Live at the Apollo, and the long running comedy panel show Would I Lie To You?
In November 2021, Chris was seen by millions when he made his debut on the Royal Variety Performance.
Rhys James is an accomplished comedian, writer and actor who you will have seen on Live at the Apollo, Roast Battle, Russell Howard’s Stand Up Central A League of Their Own and as a regular panellist on Mock The Week.
Lloyd Griffith is a comedian, actor, presenter and classically trained singer. You may have seen him most recently in Ted Lasso, It’s A Sin, Infinite, House of Games, Not Going Out & Jonathan Ross’ Comedy Club.
Rachel Fairburn is a comedian from Manchester with five critically acclaimed solo shows under her belt and featured in the ‘40 jokes of the fringe’ by the Daily Telegraph.
She is co-host of the worldwide smash hit podcast All Killa No Filla and her TV credits include Pointless Celebrities, Alan Davies: As Yet Untitled and The Russell Howard Hour.
Friday August 11
Genesis Connected
Gates open 6pm. Show 7.30pm
The tribute band celebrates the music of Genesis and the biggest selling acts connected - Peter Gabriel, Phil Collins and Mike and the Mechanics - and this show has an incredible mix of material, from atmospheric anthems to chart toppers.
It features hits from the late 70s onwards including Turn It On Again, Sledgehammer, In The Air Tonight, Over My Shoulder, Against All Odds, That’s All, Solsbury Hill, You Can’t Hurry Love, The Living Years and many more.
The frontman, Pete Bultitude, is not only an incredibly versatile vocalist, he is also a gifted drummer just like Phil Collins, So expect the show to include the iconic “double drums” element as featured on every Genesis and Phil Collins tour.
Saturday August 12
Fisherman’s Friends
Gates open 6pm. Show 7.30pm
The sea shanty group from Port Isaac, Cornwall, formed in 1995, have have released eight studio albums including their debut, 'Suck'em And Sea' in 2000.
Their latest coincided with the release of the band's biopic feature film—2019's 'Keep Hauling'.
They have headlined many of their own shows and tours across the UK, and have appeared at festivals such as Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk.
Sunday, August 13
Shakatak
Gates open 12pm. Show 1pm
Shakatak have enjoyed a level of success and career longevity which is rarely paralleled in contemporary music but then Shakatak is a particularly unusual group.
Because of the nature of their music their fan base is one that is far reaching while always retaining an “underground” element.
This paradox sees the band, who are known primarily as serious jazz/funk musicians, enjoying both high “cult” status and instant recognition as a household name due to their numerous hit recordings.
The band has performed worldwide with concert dates including the UK, Mexico, Germany, Holland, Azerbaijan, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bulgaria, Slovakia and Japan.
Songbird - the music of Fleetwood Mac
Gates open 6pm. Show 7.30pm
An evening of non-stop hits and classic album tracks from the legendary band that is Fleetwood Mac.
Spend a night paying homage to the much loved and remembered band, including tracks from all Fleetwood Mac’s greatest albums, from ‘Rumours’ and ‘Mirage’ to ‘Tusk’ and ‘Tango in the Night’.
Accompanied by video projections and lighting, Songbird celebrates one of music’s all-time great bands.
For more information and booking go to the website oeplive.com, and click on Historic Lavenham August Theatre 2023, or phone 01256 416384.
Meanwhile in Felixstowe …
Superstar tenor Russell Watson accompanied by world-renowned pianist Mike Moran appears at the Open Air Summer Theatre at the Felixstowe Museum on Saturday August 26.
The four-time Classical Brit Award winner will perform classic songs old and new plus a selection of hits from his illustrious career. Door open 6pm. Show starts 7.30pm.
On Sunday August 27 there is a non-stop rock night with a tribute to AC/DC (B/DC), plus Guns n’ Roses Experience, Pure Jovi (Bon Jovi, and Hotter Than Hell (Kiss). Doors open 6pm. Show at 7.30pm.
On Bank Holiday Monday, August 28 it is the turn of The Post Floyd Dream, a laser spectacular sound and vision tribute to Pink Floyd, with a group of musicians devoted to the iconic band. Doors open 6pm. Show at 7.30pm.
