A magical menagerie for debut IF Festival
Fireworks wont be the finale, but rather the fizz that marks the official launch of the inaugural IF Festival of Milton Keynes.
Organisers say that IF has been 'inspired by the unique architectural landscape of the city, the Festival's international, multi-arts programme will include large-scale family events, promenade concerts, theatre, dance, music, sound and visual arts installations in unusual locations such as boulevards, parks, public squares, disused shops and also using the online and digital realm.
The event secured a whopping 462,000 in funding last year, which has been bolstered by serious monetary support making 1 Million for the IF pot.
Tomorrow night master pyrotechnics company The World Famous collaborate with Slovenian musicians Terrafolk to present Full Circle in Campbell Park.
You could call it an illuminating event with plenty of bang!
9.30pm, tickets 10.
The Magical Menagerie will begin a three-week stay in the car park of The Point.
A spectacular carousel of monumental proportions and mythical creatures, visitors will be transported to a world of fantastical oversized creatures,
Better still, the ride takes up to 49 people promising a trip quite unlike any other...
Artichcoke are the company at the helm. Co-Director Nicky Webb said: "All our work is about giving the publicv unforgettable, magical experiences that make them look at their surroundings in a different way.
"Milton Keynes is the perfect location..."
In Campbell Park, The Spiegeltent hosts Karbido: The Table.
Four men, dressed in black sit around a table, but poker isn't the focus here - this table is pure instrumentation, with guitar fretboards, flutes and ultra-sensitive pick-ups. There is a digeridoo too - but no Rolf Harris!
The hour-long concert will see the four 'play the table' as it were, as opposed to playing on it.
Inspiring, acoustic ace.
Catch it tomorrow at 7.30pm or on Saturday at either 2.30pm or 7.30pm.
Tickets are 12.50 and 10.
Or lie back, literally, on the floor of the Church of Christ the Cornerstone and let Dame Evelyn Glennie and Fred Frith take you on a journey of sound and light. If you are booking a floor space, remember the cushion, or you'll be cursing!
Seats at 25, floor tickets 20. The show starts at 11pm.
Back in the Spiegeltent in Campbell Park, Hetain Patel: Ten is the call on Sunday afternoon, from 2pm, bringing a seductively physical performance to the fore with suckering rhythms.
Janeck Schaefer will make use of the old Sainsbury's store in The Food Centre to deliver a sensory superhighway. Want a big installation?
Here you go. Times vary, but it stays with us until the festival close on July 25.
In Station Sqaure, Mirazozo is another sculpture and another UK Premiere...
So, that's a taster of some of the events coming your way - and see our details below for the musical morsels.
With so much happening, IF organisers hope to attract a whopping 150,000 visitors in the coming ten days.
If you attend an event, let us know what you think!
Drop an email to sammy.jones@jpress.co.uk
IF has been organised by The Stables, so its small surprise to find many Stables regulars among the Speigeltent entertainment.
All tickets for comedian Rich Hall have bitten the dust, so if you were thinking of spending Sunday night in his company, you'll need an alternative plan.
Acoustic roots duo Show of Hands will be joined by Miranda Sykes on Monday, at 8pm.
Tickets to catch their music making costs cost 20.
Orkestra Del Sol arrive on Tuesday evening and they will be 'bursting with anarchic humour, wildliy skilful musical arrangements and a roguish sense of theatre.'
Orkestra are live at 8pm.
From 10pm, it's Comedy with inTent.
Twisted, anarchic Pete Firman, Alexis Dubus' character Marcel Lucont - France's premier misanthrope and lover, Vikki Stone's witty parodies and ukulele wielding and the brilliantly acerbic Zoe Lyans are your smile inducers.
If they can't make you break into a face breaking grin, ain't no-one who can...
On Wednesday, a man who usually makes us smile will be teaming up with his pals.
Collectively they will play punk songs. On folk instruments.
You will never have heard the Sex Pistols played this way...unless you've seen The Bad Shepherds - with Ade Edmundson, before, that is.
Also on Wednesday, Frisky & Mannish's School of Pop, from 10pm, in exchange for a crisp tenner.
For the full line-up, you need to hit the web and go to www.ifmiltonkeynes.org
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Weather for Milton Keynes
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: -1 C to 2 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
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Temperature: -0 C to 3 C
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