Free live entertainment - Cheltenham Food + Drink Week

About

Get your dancing shoes on and enjoy a variety of FREE live musical entertainment, pop-up street performances and intimate acoustic sessions across the town, whilst you wine and dine with your family and friends during Cheltenham Food & Drink Week.

From Friday 22 to Sunday 24, the buzzing Brewery Quarter will host free live music, pop-up performances, silent disco and a family fun day.

On Saturday, roaming childrens entertainers will delight families on Regent Street whilst they dine at any of the independent foodie gems. And Montpellier Courtyard will soundtrack the Saturday and Sunday with acoustic, jazz and instrumental ensembles.

Full programme below, all timings are approximate.

FRIDAY 22 SEPTEMBER - BAND NIGHT

LOCATION - THE BREWERY QUARTER

Crispin: 17:00 - 18:00

Crispin made his debut appearance at The Brewery Quarter’s Summer Jam and has since graced the main stage of Lakefest amongst several other festivals this year.  New to the scene Crispin is an exciting new singer songwriter who is destined for success.  Come and see him before he gets too famous!

Takin’ Names: 18:30 - 19:30

Takin’ Names are a rock trio from Cheltenham bringing the Rock, Blues and Soul covers (with added spice) to the party.

The Bridge: 20:00 - 21:15

Party band The Bridge have been entertaining crowds around Cheltenham, the UK and beyond since 2001.  They play with an energy that always engages the crowd, and a mix of music and showmanship that keeps everyone happy.

 

SATURDAY 23 SEPTEMBER - LIVE POP MUSIC PERFORMANCES + SILENT DISCO

LOCATION - THE BREWERY QUARTER

RIVES: 12:00 - 13:30

RIVES is a duo comprised of Chris Smee and Ryan Nicklin. Both talented musicians and songwriters in their own right, the pair have joined forces to create RIVES; storytellers of emotional experience. Each song reveals another step in a well-worn journey, from heartbreak to recovery, through moments that are all too familiar.  Rives weave delicate soundscapes to moreish riffs, creating the melodic bridge between London Grammar and The 1975. For nostalgic nights, through windows of wonder, and for the lost wanting to know how they feel.

Saint Senara: 14:00 - 15:20

Returning to The Brewery Quarter for the third time, Cheltenham based singer-songwriter duo Saint Senara sing spellbinding songs spanning blues-inspired rock to delicate acoustic numbers with dark twists.

Tala: 16:00 - 17:00

Gorgeous singer Tala will take you right back to the disco funk era, singing a range of popular disco music from the 60’s to present day.

Silent Disco: 18:00 - 20:00

Get ready for a Brewery Quarter first with a silent disco!  If you’ve never experienced a silent disco, this is a must – for participants and spectators alike!  Watch the DJ has they spin party tunes whilst the party goers enjoy the music from headphones.  Singing along is highly encouraged!

 

SATURDAY 23 - FREE FAMILY FUN DAY 

LOCATION - REGENT STREET

Ultra Tall Juggling Chefs & Sweet Treat Stilt Walkers: 10:00 - 16:00

Join our unique stiltwalking chefs (see image above) and sweet treat stilt walkers, who will delight crowds with their juggling skills. 

Balloon Modeller: 11:00 - 15:00

Bring along your kids to be wowed by our expert balloon modeller. Choose from a sword, flower, heart or wand balloon and more.

 

SATURDAY 23 - ACOUSTIC LIVE MUSIC 

LOCATION - MONTPELLIER COURTYARD, MONTPELLIER 

Ben Vickers: 12:00 - 14:00

A chilled mix of acoustic guitar and vocal genres. Bringing in influences from country and folk.

Yeti’s Breakfast: 14:00 - 16:00

A Cheltenham-based songwriting duo, whom delight in blending various styles, including folk, pop, rock, blues and more. The duo’s close vocal harmonies and multi-instrumentalism make for a unique live experience through well-known covers and original songs. Yeti’s Breakfast’s debut album is due out everywhere in Autumn 2023. 

 

SUNDAY 24 - FREE FAMILY FUN DAY

LOCATION - THE BREWERY QUARTER 

The Music Man: 12:00 - 16:00

A true Cheltenham Legend, join the Music Man on an interactive journey of singing, dancing and playing music.  Great for all ages and any ability, The Music Man will entertain visitors during several sessions throughout the afternoon. (See image above).

Philipe the Chef: 14:00 - 18:00

Watch out!  Phillipe the Totally Crazy chef is about!  Full of mischief and wisecracks, Phillipe will roaming around and giving anyone and everyone who will listen his culinary tips…whether or not they make any sense!

 

SUNDAY 24 - INSTRUMENTAL  LIVE MUSIC 

LOCATION - MONTPELLIER COURTYARD, MONTPELLIER 

Mark Harmer: 12:00 - 14:00

A Cheltenham harpist who performs as a soloist as well as in partnership with singers and bands in the UK and beyond. He has played live on Radio Three, his music has appeared in several films, and he created music for mothers and babies in a year-long project at Gloucester Royal Hospital. The harp always creates a wonderful atmosphere and he will be delighting Food and Drink week visitors with his arrangements of folk tunes from England, Ireland, Sweden, Wales, Catalonia, Brittany and Venezuela.

Piano Hedgehog: 14:00 - 16:15

Piano Hedgehog (aka. Rob) is a classically-trained pianist and full time musician. A music graduate and diploma-level pianist and organist, Rob now specialises in performing his own arrangements of pop/rock material, but always with a definite classical twist. Performance is at the heart of what Rob does, but is expanded to include recording-based work and compositional projects. He recently completed an ambient collection of piano arrangements of 14 beautiful songs, which feature on his Footprints CD, which is available from Rob and from pianohedgehog.com/store.