By Geoff Fisher 
Cawston will be filled with music throughout June as the village’s month‑long festival returns with concerts, workshops and community events across several venues.
St Agnes’ church will once again be at the heart of the programme, hosting performances by the Cawston Community Choir, local organist Dr John Carnelley and acclaimed East Anglian folk artist Georgia Shackleton.
The festival also features singalong sessions, church services, workshops, a disco and a music‑themed quiz night, with additional gatherings taking place in the village hall.
“Last year’s inaugural music festival was such great fun that we decided to do it all over again,” said Cawston vicar Revd Andrew Whitehead. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to concentrate our efforts and fill the village with music for a few weeks.”
Headline performer Georgia Shackleton appears as part of her tour for From the Floorboards, blending new material with traditional East Anglian songs and stories. Joined by guitarist Aaren Bennett, she weaves together her own songwriting with historic pieces inspired by Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition and the region’s maritime heritage.
The Cawston Community Choir, formed after the Covid‑19 lockdowns to encourage local singing, will present a varied programme with guest performers. The choir rehearses weekly in Cawston Parish Church.
Dr John Carnelley, former organist and head of academic music at Dulwich College, brings a programme of well‑known organ works. His distinguished career includes performances at many of the UK’s leading cathedrals as well as recitals across Europe and the USA. Now based in Matlaske, he continues to perform and write about music, and currently serves as president of the Norfolk Organists’ Association.
Full details of events, venues and ticket links are available at www.cawstonmusic.org.uk
The festival is co‑ordinated by the village church and raises funds for the local groups and venues involved.
Above: The Shackleton Trio. Photo: cawstonmusic.org.uk