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ARTS – CANTERBURY FESTIVAL EXCLUSIVE 035
WE’RE REALLY EXCITED TO GET
JACK SAVORETTI FOR THIS YEAR’S FESTIVAL, AND PERHAPS EVEN MORE SO WITH LAURA MVULA – SHE’S SUCH A CREDIBLE ARTIST
and recording a new album,” refl ects the singer, who says she was very heartened to receive support from chart star Sam Smith, who recently tweeted a screen shot of one of her tracks, Show Me Love. “The Dreaming Room was a very honest album, and at the time I was still trying to make sense of all that had happened since my debut.
“But it was magical to have been able to play with such a musician as Nile Rodgers of Chic on my single, Overcome. I actually sent the demo track to Prince to get his opinion, and he said how much he wanted to play on it – so much so he actually went and recorded his own version,” she recalls of the album. Despite its strength, it did not receive the same level of promotional backing as her fi rst work, and it failed to match its commercial success. Sadly for Laura, the situation led to
her record label passing on retaining her contract.
“I think weirdly, being dropped by Sony actually helped me, as it meant a lot of record companies were then asking about what I was doing.
“But it was amazing to have won the Ivor Novello – I had wondered if someone had been paid off for that. But then I just thought, yes, I actually do deserve it, this album is fi re,” laughs the singer, who adds that she feels privileged to have had the opportunities she has enjoyed. Now in her early 30’s, she’s taking things in her stride and the future does indeed look bright after gaining a new record deal with Stormzy and Ed Sheeran’s label, Atlantic. “I’m excited that I have that kind of
engine power behind me with the new deal, so I think this next record is actually going to be massive and give me room to do what I need to do,” asserts Laura with a renewed sense of self-belief. Watch this space indeed for something very special as she makes her Canterbury Festival debut.
A truly diverse international festival
An eclectic mix of leading music acts, theatre, comedy, talks and arts performances will ensure this year’s Canterbury Festival is one to remember. From the likes of chart-topping pop
troubadour Jack Savoretti, fast-rising country duo Ward Thomas, Paul Young’s Los Pacaminos, Juan De Marcos’ Afro- Cuban All Stars, through to a stunning opening from The Sixteen choir and orchestra performing Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 performed in the cathedral nave, there’s something for everyone. One of the festival favourites, Australian circus act Casus, will be returning to perform in the evocative Spiegeltent which will form a memorable backdrop for two weeks of performances, including shows by local schoolchildren. As Festival director Rosie Turner (top)
explained, it’s been a truly rewarding experience watching the event become
stronger and more diverse. There have been a number of logistical challenges, and this year is no exception with no Arts Council funding (which has previously been around £200,000), and an incident of fraud committed against the festival trust. 2019’s event has had an unusually testing build-up. However, it’s very much a case of “the show must go on” and as Rosie explains, there’s been a fabulous team involved in running the festival, including technical and support staff at its numerous venues around the city. “We’re really excited to get Jack
Savoretti for this year’s festival, and perhaps even more so with Laura Mvula – she’s such a credible artist. “I turned 60 this year and this is now year 16 for me – there’s always something more to be done with it. I think the loyalty of the audience really makes it special, which has been quite extraordinary. “We are always seeking to extend and diversify our audience, but at the heart of that audience are a group of people who will take risks with us in supporting new initiatives such as the Spiegeltent and who come to events because we tell them that they shouldn’t miss them,” explained the director, who added that it is only fi tting that such an inspiring city as Canterbury should play host to an event celebrating the best of local and international arts talent.
• Laura Mvula plays the Marlowe Theatre on Wednesday 23rd October. Tickets £29-£42 at
marlowetheatre.com. For the full festival programme, visit
canterburyfestival.co.uk
© Jason Dodd Photography
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