Festival owned by Huey Morgan to ‘bring the music back’ to Marlborough

A new festival will ‘bring the music back’ to a city after the loss of its long-running jazz festival.

The Marlborough Festival, which runs from July 12-14, is a three-day community event featuring music, theatre, comedy, puppetry and food-based activities, as well as workshops and talks.

Fronted by ex-Fun Lovin’ Criminals frontman Huey Morgan, the multi-venue festival will host a huge line-up of western acts, including those supported by BBC Introducing.

Co-founders Sandra Bhadit and Luke Jackson said they wanted to celebrate the area’s wealth of local talent and “boost the high street”.

“There is something really special about this town,” Ms Bhadit said.

“You can travel miles and miles outside of Marlborough and people have heard about it and know about it.”

Along with Mr Jackson, she “set up this plan to bring the music back” to the Wiltshire town after the loss of the Marlborough Jazz Festival, which closed in 2016 after 30 years.

Ms Bhadit explained that the new festival, which has been three years in the planning, aims to support existing businesses and infrastructure to keep carbon footprints and costs down, “as well as bringing festival goers right into the heart of the city”.

Mr Jackson said he also hoped the event would “bring a boost to the high street”, with local businesses also planning their own fringe events over the weekend.

As well as music, the festival will celebrate the history of the City of Dolls with two shows, and food will be provided by Michelin-starred chef Josh Eggleton and Masterchef winner Thomas Frake.

Jackson added that Huey Morgan, who lives nearby in Frome, will perform the day after playing a sold-out show at London’s Alexandra Palace.

“There is something for everyone,” Ms Bhadit added.

“It’s a really conscious effort to make sure we’re making the most of the talent in the area.”

The festival is ticketed, but many shows are free entry, she explained, adding that she is “trying out” a variety of offerings to “see what works.”

“All we need now is for the community to embrace it and support it going forward.”

The inaugural Marlborough Festival takes place from July 12-14 at various venues across the city.