Photos: Shipston Proms serves up a musical treat

The program ran from June 10 to Saturday June 25 and kicked off with a launch event featuring Uncle Funk’s Disco Inferno at Townsend Hall.

A Shipston Introducing competition was organized by El Café, with the winner of the single/duo category being Teresa Brookes with her Taiko drums. The group category was won by The Weekend Warriors, a group that unites generations, with Gilly Harris, 13, playing drums, Joseph Noble, 12, on bass and Louis Cummings, 12, on keyboards and singing with dads. Ben Cummings, trumpeter and David Noble, guitar.

The two then had the chance to kick off the final night of the Proms on Saturday.

Headliners were Rick Parfitt Jnr and the RPJ Band – Rick is the son of the late Status Quo singer/songwriter Rick Parfitt.

He posted on Facebook his thanks to the organizers and the crowd: “A brutal few days covering many miles, sleeping very little and giving every ounce of energy to each performance… but when a series of concerts ends like this. ..so worth it!Thank you Shipston Proms for making the headlines for the RPJ band…you guys were just amazing!

The sentiment was clearly mutual, with comments on the Proms Facebook page showing they had weathered a storm.

The Shapes, a nine-piece band from Oxford and From Dusk ‘Til Dawn, a five-piece classic rock band from Newbury, also added to the buzz for the big night.

But there had been a buzz throughout, with other musical highlights including blues and American guitarist and singer Greg Brice at the Halford Bridge Inn, The Elastic Band live at the Lion, Tredington and musicians of varying styles in different places.

Adding to the mix were a familiar favourite, Mrs Porter’s Chamberpot Pouri, the local Primary Schools Concert and the Young Musicians Concert at St Martin’s Church, Barcheston.

There were two open mic nights, Shipston Town Band and the Songs from the Shows night at Townsend Hall conducted by Helen Porter, and hosted by Tim Porter, with an ensemble cast of singers of all ages – and more.