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With summer fast-approaching, it’s good to hear that Kettfest is taking place on Saturday 15th July: one day - five stages - across the town - celebrating the best of Kettering! This town centre festival, originally set up by Jo Selby-Green in 2015, is about arts, culture, music and more and, certainly, this year we do see ‘more’ with additional stages appearing all along the pedestrian high street. Kettering Town Council and Kettering Community Consortium (KCC), thanks to Historic England, are the funders of this community event and, this year, they have enlisted several enthusiastic champions of the arts and local businesses to help organise and host. Cllr Emily Fedowycz is the organiser of the Community Stage. Zoe Martin, KCC representative, summarises the intention of Kettfest this year: “By delegating the stages, we hope to give the local community greater ownership and ensure Kettfest’s future sustainability. Kettfest is all about communities getting creative and having fun, whilst supporting our hard-working local businesses on the high street.” We see Kettering Arts Centre hosting the Main Stage led by Rev Tom Houston, and Jason Redhead of ISM Music Academy is hosting the Busking at the Clock Tower Stage. Community Performances will be staged on Meadow Road hosted by Shire Sounds and Beccy Hurrell Voice and Arts. The Spoken Word Stage, with a vintage feel, will be at Kettering Library, hosted by performance poet, Kezzabelle. Family friendly activities will take place in The Green Patch Fun Zone at the Parish Hall. At the Yards, markets will run during the day, followed by Peter Chamberlain running the Schtumfest DJ Stage from late afternoon and into the night for those ready to party on. With many local businesses and groups keen to get on board with their own stalls and activities, the event is set to be a great day out for all ages with opportunities for taking part. Kettering’s new Mayor, Cllr Emily Fedorowycz : “This year’s Kettfest is going to be like no other, with the entire length of the high street coming to life. More people than ever before are coming together to showcase the best of Kettering, and this is a day not to miss! There’s something for everyone: chill vibes by the clock, big bands at the Market Place, community performances, a DJ at the Yards, spoken word, food, fun - you name it. The original organiser Jo Selby-Green started this amazing annual event, and I’m absolutely certain this will be a day to make her proud.” www.instagram.com/Kettfest_Kettering |
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