Introducing... The Events

More than 150 bands, musicians and entertainers are lined up for Rhythms of the World 2009 at Hitchin Priory on July 4 and 5.

There will be seven stages, market stalls, food and drink, family area and – as always – a huge variety of music and entertainment.

On stage

Highlights of this year’s festival will include Jazz Jamaica, winners of BBC Jazz Band of the Year, who are the No 1 exponents of Skazz, a mixture of Ska and Jazz, the Jive Aces and legendary singer John Otway, with his renowned surreal sense of humour and a winning underdog persona.

Singer-songwriter Sam Isaac – a real success on the UK festival circuit last year – will be here, and there will be desert blues from the Niger with Etran Finatawa, the female Cajun band from Louisiana Magnolia Sisters, Hjaltalin from Iceland, Welsh language folk band Allan Yn Y Fan and bhangra star H S Talwar

Expect a blast from the past with punk band Chron Gen – first formed in 1977 and still going strong. Local talent playing on the BBC Introducing... stage will be The October Game, My Pet Junkie, Flamboyant Bella, Stuart O’Connor, Exit Avenue and There Were Bears.

Rhythms Of The World

In the Arena

Like last year, the Arena will host a huge variety of entertainment and activity. Highlight will include Majorettes, karate, fencing, boxing, trampolining, Thai kick-boxing, Jane’s Dance, Grant’s Irish dancing, Jiveswing dance, Rainmakers International Dancing and Staplers Country Dancing, Bollywood dancers, aerobics, ladies’ tag rugby and ladies’ football.

Local rugby teams will compete in a tug-o-war, more than 40 young people will put on an exuberant Gang Show, junior rock’n’roll band Curious Zebra will perform.
Supporting events

Organisers are still working hard to raise money for Rhythms of the World: fundraising events in the run up to the festival include a gig at Club 85 in Hitchin on Friday June 12, with the Stuart O’Connor Band, The October Game, the James Bay Trio and Muntjac. Doors open at 7:30 and the event ends at midnight. It’s for people aged 16 and over and tickets are £5.

There’s also a Rhythms stall at the Hitchin town centre car boot sale on June 7. You can also support the festival by ‘voting’ with your tokens in the Waitrose community scheme – details in the store.

Get your tickets early

Tickets have gone on sale for this year’s 17th Rhythms of the World (ROTW) festival at Hitchin Priory on July 4 and 5. With ticket numbers limited by the conditions of the festival's licence, organisers suggest buying them early to be sure of entry to the area’s biggest and best festival.

‘Given the success of last year, we believe there will be limited tickets available on the door over the weekend!’ says ROTW Chairman Matt Wyle.

Adult and youth tickets are available for each day priced at:
• Adult (18 years and over): £7
• Youth (6-17 years): £3
• Child (5 years and under): FREE

Tickets are now on sale at the Hitchin Initiative office in Churchyard and at David’s Music in Letchworth and other local shops and outlets, from the ROTW stall, which will be in the Market Place most Saturdays in May and June, and online via the ROTW website.

Ticket outlets include:

• Hitchin Initiative
• David’s Music in Letchworth
• Harvest Moon
• Merryfield’s
• Club 85
• Eric T Moore Books
• Evans-Pughe Strings
• The Victoria Pub
• plus others to be confirmed

Get involved

ROTW is run entirely by volunteers – and more are always needed. There is an information stand in Hitchin Library.