What’s on in Stroud this week: 7 – 13 July
Plenty to see and do in the Stroud area this Saturday when old favourite the Stroud Show goes head to head with Horns Road’s Daisy Day and the Dursley Summer Festival.
Those willing to travel may even be lured northward to Tewkesbury Medieval Festival for a spectacular historic day out.
Elsewhere there are a range of top-quality musicians to entertain us with everything from legendary guitarist Albert Lee at the Sub Rooms to an intimate evening with Jack Cooper & Tara Cunningham at Brimscombe Mills and songs for children at St Laurence Rooms in town on Wednesday morning.
Find out more in our regular look at things coming up in Stroud and the wider district. To suggest an event for inclusion, use this form.
- See Mr Robbie at St Laurence’s – Wed 9 Jul, 9:30am – 1pm
Stroud’s own Mr Robbie (aka Robbie Humphries) returns with his guitar, harmonica and trademark handlebar moustache to The Well Community Café at the St Laurence Rooms on the Shambles for a selection of much-loved songs for children. The community café remains open to all ages throughout, and Mr Robbie’s songs are suitable for all ages.
- Embrace the Dursley Summer Festival – Sat 12 Jul, 9am – 2:15pm
Dursley Summer Festival takes to the streets for one day only, including live music and dance from Simbora Samba, the Jazz Jammers and Ragged and Old Morris. Plus a World Jungle African Dance Workshop, a barbecue and stalls and free craft activities yarn making, felting and weaving.
- Attend the Stroud Show – Sat 12 July, 11:30am – 5pm
The Stroud Show team continues a tradition which dates back 150 years, officially opened following the show procession by the Mayor of Stroud, who will award the Edna Powell Cup for Community Contribution. Attendees will be treated to a programme of entertainment featuring the Stroud Red Band and Miserden Morris, as well as bubbles, magic and a tug of war.
- Climb the hill to Daisy Day – Sat 12 Jul – 12 noon – 5pm
Horns Road’s inclusive community afternoon returns to Daisy Bank for a one day demonstration that food and drink, low key stalls, and a soundsystem playing old dub records is truly all you need to have a great afternoon. Expect the playground to be as busy as the bar at the Crown and Sceptre and bring cash.
- Watch Jack Cooper & Tara Cunningham at the Sanctuary – Sat 12 July, 7:30pm
Improvisational duo Jack Cooper & Tara Cunningham play an intimate gig at the Sanctuary at Brimscombe Mill, promoting their debut album, Pond Life. Following dinner service at the Long Table, we are promised an evening of wide open chords, hazy tone and obtuse melody.
- See Albert Lee at the Sub Rooms – Sun 13 Jul, 8pm
Billed as one of the most respected and renowned guitarists in musical history, Albert Lee is a Grammy-award-winning musician and five times winner of Guitar Player magazine’s “Best Country Guitarist” award. Now eighty years old, Lee is visiting the Sub Rooms as part of a worldwide tour promoting his new album Lay It Down.
Continuing this week
- Celebrate dragonflies at WWT Slimbridge – Continues until Mon 22 Sep
Slimbridge Wetland Centre hosts a summer of dragonfly-themed activities, and while you may have to wait a few weeks for the big ticket events such as are July’s Circus Spectacular and August’s Wellbeing and Dragonfly Discovery weekends, there is already a special dragonfly trail in place, and a chance to create dragonfly-inspired art or take a weekend dragonfly 4×4 safari.
Further afield
- Attend the Tewkesbury Medieval Festival – Sat 12 – Sun 13 Jul, 11am – 5pm
Taking place since 1984, Tewkesbury Medieval Festival is the largest free medieval gathering in Europe, bringing together around 2,000 re-enactors, traders, entertainers, and visitors from around the world. The weekend’s central event is the re-enactment of the 1471 Battle of Tewkesbury, which takes place on the original battlefield to the delight of spectators.
- For a full month of art, music, theatre, literature, film and comedy events, pick up a copy of Stroud’s popular listings magazine, Good on Paper.
