The annual ten-day Frome Festival, starting the first Friday in July, is Somerset’s largest community festival, with more than 160 events held at various venues in and around the town. The Frome Festival was conceived by Martin Bax and the inaugural event was held in 2000. He continues to organise the event assisted by many local volunteers. Frome has drawn independent spirits for centuries and its outstanding non-conformist architecture provides the backdrop for an electric festival programme. The festival programme offers something for everyone and entertainment for all, from classical music to jazz, folk to indie, literature and drama, film, dance, workshops and free events. For ten days, the town brims with artistic endeavour, attracting performers from all over the world.
2005 / 2006 Festival Events
In 2005, Van Morrison played to three thousand in the grounds of a stately home. Steeleye Span reformed specially and more than two hundred players and singers performed Elgar’s masterpiece, The Dream of Gerontius, at the festival’s annual Summer School. 2006 welcomed Paul Merton, television’s undisputed king of understatement and one of the quickest improviser on the club circuit today. That’s just the icing on the cake; the sixth Frome Festival also included Tony Benn, Roy Bailey, The Troggs, Barry Cryer, Miles Kington, Peter Donohoe, The Mangledwurzels, Rory McLeod and John Tams.
