As regular visitors to Heathfield’s Anglo/French Market on August Bank Holiday Monday will be aware, the event has developed over the years to include six hours of entertainment for various tastes as well as the many stalls there are to keep you occupied. The day is organised by a small committee, for no gain (financial or otherwise), but the money needed to stage the event is raised by the stallholders renting space and the advertisers supporting the printed free guide available in advance or on the day. Householders and businesses also provide electricity for the stage etc. (as well as getting woken up at 6am by the stage being erected!) and we are always most grateful to the Union Church and State Hall (Kings Church) for allowing us the use of their premises for some of the entertainment and facilities.
So, here is a run-down of what you could see on the day, from our childrens’ entertainers/magic, through jazz, duos, choir, zumba and three groups. And, as always, we are grateful to PPL/PRS for the charitable music licence. Please note that, due to circumstances beyond our control, times may vary on the day but, remember, it is all free!
Welcoming you from 10.00, in front of the stage in Station Road as you arrive, will be the ever popular Sussex Stompers Jazz Band. They will also be appearing in the Union Church at 11.15. Should you be interested in booking this band for an event, or the marching version known as the Expedient Brass Band, then trumpet player Richard Boswell is the man to contact at sussexstompers@btinternet.com or 01825 830219.
Making their first appearance at this event, at 10.30 three very talented local youngsters, The Tannens, take to the stage. They have quite a fan club locally and should you wish to book them then the number to ring is 07511 003365.
Also at 10.30 the childrens’ entertainment starts in the State Hall. These are half-hour sessions and Marco the Magician sets the ball rolling. His website is www.marcosmagic.co.uk or telephone 01435 864124. Although we call it childrens’ entertainment, it keeps rather bigger kids amused as well! The Noakes Coffee Shop will also be open and have some tables in the hall so that you can keep an eye on the youngsters as you down whichever variation of coffee you prefer.
As previously mentioned, at 11.15 the jazz fans shuffle along to the relative calm of the Union Church for another helping of the Sussex Stompers Jazz Band. Some of the regulars love to dance along to them as they play.
At 11.30 Andy Bosco will be starting a half-hour of entertainment in the State Hall for the children. So, that’s more coffee to drink then, it’s a good job there are toilets there too! Andy Bosco can be contacted on 07754 946762 or by email on strandliner@me.com .
At 11.50 on the stage will be Heathfield’s Cake & Wine Club Choir which is run by Angela Brooks, who some of you will have seen fronting Sway Allstars here in the past. She has also backed all manner of famous acts in her singing career and heads this very popular choir for people of all ages and abilities who just like to sing popular uplifting songs for the sheer joy of it. Ring 07957 405342 for more details.
At 12.30 in the Union Church, Twice Dailey (Becky & Terry Dailey) will perform their acoustic country, pop, jazz, blues and folk music from the 1920s to the 2020s. They were popular last year so we’ve given them another go. If you would like to contact them then it’s terry_dailey@me.com or 07973 669802. You might also like to try the lunches and refreshments available in the Union Church.
Also at 12.30 Marco the Magician will start his second session of magic etc. in the State Hall.
Andy Bosco will also do a short fill-in session in front of the stage (from 12.35).
13.00 and it’s time for The Always on the stage. Besides their regular vocalist (Marney) they will also be joined today by a local young lady by the name of Bibi, so you get two singers for the price of one! Oh, for a minute I forgot, you don’t even have to pay as all the entertainment is f r e e. You may also recognize Harry, one of the guitarists, the Heathfield resident who also plays banjo and harmonica in 21 Whiskeys, who have appeared here several times before. If you would like to contact The Always then they are on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thealwaysband4u/
The last session of indoor entertainment for the children in the State Hallcommences at 13.30 with Andy Bosco juggling, losing things under his arms, and many other tricks to keep the kids amused.
At 13.50 in the Union Church Heathfield musicians/vocalists P.Tripp(iaraband@yahoo.com) and Bob Melrose (bob@bobmelrose.uk) will appear both individually and as a duo.
Whilst rushing around takes place behind him, in front of the main stage at about 14.15 there will be a short Zumba dance fit fiesta with Barry Randall. Barry is one of the two professional dancers (the other one being Beata) who regularly perform at the Young at Heart Community Club in Heathfield, a fantastic local organisation that gives the elderly companionship and an interesting life. If you want to know more about Young at Heart they will have a stand here today, usually near the main stage. They can also put you in touch with Barry Randall.
Well, they’re back again! The Fat Belly Jones Band, complete with their horn section (usually sax., trombone and two or three trumpets), will have you dancing in the street (main stage) to their ska and soul from 14.45 until the event closes at 16.00. The old saying goes that the show isn’t over until the fat lady sings but in our case it’s not over until the Fat Bellies play Geno! Book them for your wedding, party, or whatever by ringing Spencer Page (the bass player) on 07890 487301 or look them up on Facebook.
Finally, we couldn’t put on the show we do without the stage (David Pibworth Stage Hire, 07879 414110) or the PA system (Chris Roche, 07771 995877), both of which are here long before you arrive and after you’ve gone home!