Saturday 20th May 2023
Aquadrome Main Stage
11:15 Berry Lane Dance Classes
Berry Lane Dance Classes established since 2000, fun classes with a Show every other year, teaching RAD ballet and ISTD tap to children & adults. Classes are run during the week - leaflets are being handed round with details to get in touch - please contact the Principal Julie Noble for more details on email jules.jules@ntlworld.com or ring 01923 492854
http://www.dancingclasses.biz (search Berry Lane Dance Classes)
11:30 CK Theatre School
CK Theatre School is an established and successful theatre school offering dance and drama classes for children and young people aged 3 - 18 in Chorleywood and Gerrards Cross. With classes including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern and Contemporary dance as well as group drama classes and LAMDA tuition, there really is something for everyone at CKTS. Our next annual production is 'The Wizard of Oz' taking place at The Elgiva Theatre in October half term. It's a great time to join and be a part of this exciting show.
12:00 Festival Opening Ceremony
- The Chair and Leader of Three Rivers District Council www.threerivers.gov.uk
- Andrea Fraser, Chair of Batchworth Community Council
- Ros Daniels, Director for London and the South East Canal & River Trust www.canalrivertrust.org.uk
- David Montague, Chairman of Rickmansworth Waterways Trust www.rwt.org.uk
12:15 Blag Youth Theatre - Drama and singing classes for kids from 7-17
Blag Youth Theatre was established in 1997 and offers weekly classes in drama, singing and, LAMDA exams in Public speaking and Acting , also 1-2-1 coaching for drama school entry, and audition preparation.
Blag’s ethos demonstrates its dedication to encouraging well rounded, creative, enthusiastic children with the confidence to take centre stage and always have something to say. All abilities are welcome and all are encouraged and given their chance to shine.
The highlight of Blag's year is their Two Week Summer Project. For full details visit their website.
12:50 Love to Dance - over 50s dance group
Love to Dance is a dance class for over 50s. We aim to increase physical activity, reduce social isolation and improve the health and wellbeing of over 50’s in our local community. You will learn a variety of dance styles across the year.
13:40 Metatrons - Deliciously fuzzy Indie rock from Hitchin
We are The Metatrons, a fuzzy riot-pop band from Hitchin in the UK. We've been described as "Delectable skewed fuzz-pop". Another nice reviewer said "think Blondie meets Sonic Youth via My Bloody Valentine...sharp pop over a scorched earth backing..." We've also been called "a thunderous slice of majestic pop" - as you can probably imagine all these things please us.
So what and who are we? We are Polly, who sings and plays the piano, Rico who plays the bass guitar, Simon who plays the guitar and Steve who goes bang bang on the drums.
We have four albums - "Lumination", which will be released on June 16th 2023, "Deconstruction" (2020), "Patterns of Chaos" (2016) and "Between Planets" (2011)
https://www.themetatrons.co.uk/
14:35 Glass Minds - 6 piece Alt-Rock
Making a name on the live music scene, UK alt-rock 6-piece GLASSMINDS are driven by powerful drums and a commanding bass. The band’s multi-layered sound balances soaring riffs with lilting melodies to create soundscapes that expose laid bare, emotive lyrics. Bringing a raw energy that’s rocked venues across London including the famed Camden Assembly, and arriving on the 2022 summer festival scene, the band have now released their debut EP ‘Influx’. Harnessing the power of Surge together with the vulnerable beauty of Swimming In Yourself, ‘Influx’ is just an introduction to GLASSMINDS.
15:40 Kick Pistol - St Alban's based alternative rock band
From St. Albans, Hertfordshire, Kick Pistol are a 5-piece alternative rock band, playing original music inspired by the likes of Radiohead and The Cure.
https://www.kickpistol.com/
16:45 Tumblewood – Country & Americana | Classics & Originals
Tumblewood is a band playing Americana, alt-country and country rock. The band's line-up features male and female lead vocals and harmonies, accompanied by guitar, mandolin, fiddle, bass and drums. Top class musicianship combines with a slick stage act from highly-experienced performers. The wide-ranging repertoire features original country rock tracks along with covers of artists as diverse as Willie Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Mary Chapin Carpenter, through to Lady A, The Dixie Chicks, Tom Petty, Richard Thompson, Keith Urban and The Traveling Wilburys.
Evening at the Aquadrome - Hosted by DJ Jarley
18:00 Coley - Back again... Performing upbeat covers to get you singing
https://facebook.com/musicbycoley
19:10 Pump Handle Blues - Band Blues, jazz and rock
We are a seven/eight-piece band (more, if you count the pump) resident in London specialising in the toe-tapping end of the musical repertoire. We cover blues, jazz and chart songs according to what captivates the audience, and we play at parties, conferences, weddings and festivals, as well as in music venues for no special reason apart from having fun.
The Pumphandle Blues Band got together in 2014, founded by local guitarist Dave Conway and keyboardist Colin Sutherland, and plays a mix of jazz, rock and blues numbers. It was a great pleasure to play at the festival and 2022, and we look forward to helping you tap your feet today.
http://www.pumphandleband.co.uk/
20:20 Shame and Scandal SKA - Reggae and ska covers band
21:30 Four Horseman - Rock/pop overs
The Four Horsemen have been together since 2016 and are made up of Brad - vocals / guitar, Geoff vocals / guitar, Dan - bass and Ed - drums. We pride ourselves on playing great foot-tapping classics with a sense of passion and fun. With a growing reputation among venues local to Rickmansworth, we played on the main stage at the canal festival in 2022 and at Croxfest the year before.
http://fourhorsemengroup.co.uk
Close 22.30
Aquadrome Beer Tent Stage
13:20 Chris Lawley & Friends - Traditional Folk
14:10 & 15:15 Rollin’ K.J. Foley - the one man Rockabilly blue machine
16:20 & 17:35 Axel La Courte - Instrumental wild, gypsy blues
Axel is an alternative gypsy rock guitarist. He seem to live life very easy and open minded. Everything in him expresses rock and roll. As if he wants to say "don't get stuck in a machine, system or idea" just have fun and enjoy the time we are here. Don't forget to play around, you live once. This is just my impression. This is what he reminded me off. His guitar play is very suprising and full of that "I don't give a ****" energy. It's in perfect balance with his technique and creativity. Jamming with guys like Axel is definitely a privilege.
18:50, 20.00 and 21.10 The Antipoet and Friends - spoken word & songs, not for the faint hearted (Parental Advisory)
Festival favourites return to host their own evening in the beer tent.
A wry blend of anarchocynisism and comic observation. Funny and clever, apparently. A tad naughty after 9pm
Close 22.30
Sunday 21st May 2023
Aquadrome Main Stage
11.20 Collective Dance - Local Performing Arts School
Collective is an established Performing arts school founded by Debra Hemmings in 1989. Since the founding of collective we have been developing performers with diversity, dynamics and discipline, bringing the best out of young performers in the Rickmansworth and Northwood area, which has earned us an established and recognised name. Since the opening of collective classes have developed and we now offer classes in over 12 different styles of dance & Drama; all taught by a qualified team teachers, who are both are professional and caring. We are very conscientious of keeping up to date with the current styles and trends, our teachers continue to attend Seminars and Courses in order to give the best training possible. which is shown through our shows, performances and exam results – which are always of a high standard, of which we are very proud.
11:45 Beyond Performing Arts
Beyond Performing Arts is an innovative and exciting performing arts school founded by Jimmy Essex and Francesca Lyons. Beyond offers an experience like no other with industry professional teachers delivering first hand insight into the world of performing arts. Teachers credits include Hollyoaks, X-Factor, Britain’s got Talent, and various international cruise ships to name a few! As well as regular classes, Beyond offers West End/TV acting workshops throughout the year led by cast members of the West end’s leading shows and some of the biggest names in television.
Since opening, the school has seen a great amount of success and word of mouth spread fast about the fun, high energy and current classes Beyond has to offer. Classes start from ages 4 and above in acting, singing and dancing and all levels are welcome.
If you haven’t already heard enough, Francesca and Jimmy invite you for a free trial day where you can come and experience all Beyond has to offer for yourself.
12.15 KSD Street Dance - Northwood based Kids street dance group​
KSD are fun and energetic street dance classes for children
We run pay as you go classes every Saturday at Emmanuel church hall , Northwood Middlesex
Infants 4-7 years - 9.15-10.15
Juniors 8-12 years - 10.30-11.30
Seniors 13 plus 11.45-12.45
https://www.instagram.com/kingschoolofdance/?hl=en
12:50 Kings Langley Community Choir - Acappella Choir
Kings Langley Community Choir has repertoire which ranges across all forms of popular music - traditional, international, folk, pop, etc. - all sung with a strong blend of harmonies, and which appeals to all ages.
13.25 Barraca Flamenca - Local Flamenco dance students
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14:15 Lou's Sextet - Experienced band playing mainstream jazz, swing, Latin & blues
We started as a sextet, but with the addition of a second horn and a great vocalist, we are now eight − but keep the name! We play a variety of music - Swing, Mainstream Jazz, Latin, Blues, Jump Jive and numbers with a more funky vibe.
Whether you require a mellow, swinging background for something like a reception, or an upbeat, lively performance for a pub, party or function, we can adapt to the mood of the event. Our experienced musicians and wide repertoire see to that.
Presentation is very important to us, and we are well rehearsed, dress up and 'put on a show'. We like the band to be a unit, musically and as a group of friends and think our enjoyment comes through in our music.
We play at parties, anniversaries, weddings, charity events, supper dances, pubs, street parties as well as specialist jazz venues.
15:10 Indie Choir- Belting out indie bangers since 2017
Indie Choir is a free community choir based in Harrow, just down the road. We have sung nearly 400 different songs together over the past five-and-counting years: everything from Kinks to Kaisers to Killers, from Bowie to Blur to Bastille, from The Vaccines to The Cure, from REM to TMBG to PWEI to MGMT - and many, many more.
We rehearse at the glorious Trinity Bar, the home of live music in Harrow. If you've enjoyed watching us and would like to see us again, or would like to come and sing with us, please contact Brett via the email and Facebook links on our website.
16:10 Swanvesta Social Club - 9 piece anglo-cuban band
The Swanvesta Social Club are the Uks number one anglo cuban party band and have played festivals up and down the country from Lakefest to Rhythms of the world alongside artists such as Fairport Convention, Paul Young, Midge Ure and The Kaiser Chiefs. They Play both their own material and unique latin versions of familiar songs with plenty of horns and percussion. In 2019 their version of Sia's Cheap Thrills was a viral hit on youtube. They have released 3 CDs all available on itunes and were recently described by Kim Wilde as a “fantastic fun band.” They are delighted to be back at lovely Rickmansworth Festival.
Close 17:30
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Festival
The festival takes place on the third weekend of May each year, and celebrates our canals, our community, and the environment.
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Learning at the lock
Our education programme for primary school children
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Around Batchworth
The Canal Centre is the hub of our education work and our information centre.
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The Roger
A truly historic boat, and our main heritage and educational asset.
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Document Library