Green Room is a new music festival series, launched in September 2023, taking world-class artists, usually found on the big stage, into intimate and beautiful performance spaces. Audience numbers are limited so both performer and audience member get the best possible experience.
BIG NAMES. BEAUTIFUL SPACES
BIG NAMES. BEAUTIFUL SPACES
Events
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19:30
Lance Ellington, the voice of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, and his fabulous band launch our 2024 festival!
Lance has become known as one of the UK’s most prominent male vocalists. Apart from recording and performing under his own name, his regular appearances on the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ have endeared him to millions of UK dance and music fans. His charismatic style and sultry tones have entertained more than 30 million people all over the world.
Lance has worked with many of the world’s top recording artists including Sting, George Michael, Robbie Williams and Michael Jackson just to mention a few and currently shares the stage with Anton du Beke on his UK tours.
Lance and his live band will be performing the music and songs of Legends. Including music from Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Duke & Ray Ellington, Nat King Cole and so many more.
A show of unmissable style, class, nostalgia, romance and great swing music.
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11:00–12:00
Not forgetting the little people, a concert for the whole family!
Bach to Baby is the critically acclaimed classical concert series for babies, children and their families. Bach to Baby believes children can enjoy exceptional live classical music from their very earliest moments, so they bring exhilarating performances and outstanding musicians from the top concert stages to inspiring locations on your doorstep. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while you take a moment out of your busy day to hear top notch performances with your young babes in tow. No concert is complete without feeding, crying and nappy changing!
Doors open 15 minutes before the concert starts. The concert lasts around 45 minutes.
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11:00
Renowned restaurant critic Jay Rayner, undoubtedly the best jazz pianist in Britain of all the judges on MasterChef, a man who came of age in the 80s, has long been fascinated by the chart hits from that decade which weren’t just jazz-inflected but had jazz in their very bones.
Jay now leads an ensemble of top-flight musicians to celebrate the greatest of those 80s songs, with new arrangements of brilliant tracks by Sade, Matt Bianco, Working Week, Everything But The Girl, Swing Out Sister, Sting and much more. Get your jazzy 80s on with the Jay Rayner Sextet. Box-shouldered jacket and big hair optional.
Get your 80s on with the Jay Rayner Sextet: a show full of great music, killer stories and often quite inappropriate laughter. With Pat Gordon-Smith, voice; Dave Lewis, sax; Robert Rickenberg, bass; Chris Cobbson, guitar; Sophie Alloway, drums.
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14:00–16:00
Come and show your classic car against the spectacular backdrop of this incredible tithe barn, accompanied by live music, refreshments and a truly unique atmosphere.
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19:00
Prepare to be swept off your feet by some of the biggest names in musical theatre, including award-winning stars of stage and screen, including TV's Grantchester, Michael Xavier, four-time Laurence Olivier Award nominee, Emma Williams, Musical Director of Anything Goes Steve Ridley, and musicians from the bands of 'My Neighbour Totora', 'Cabaret', and 'Kiss me Kate' amongst others, singing and playing some of your favourite numbers fresh from London's West End stage.
A night that promises to be truly unforgettable.
Michael D Xavier
Michael Xavier has a busy and varied career on both stage and screen. He recently played the lead role of Joe Bradley in the European premiere of Roman Holiday The Musical and before that played the lead role of Henry Higgins in the UK tour of My Fair Lady.
Over the last few years, Michael has been working on screen filming the roles of DCI Elliott Wallace in ITV’s Grantchester with Robson Green, Dr. Steph Belcombe in Sally Wainwright’s Gentleman Jack (BBC/HBO) with Suranne Jones, secret agent Chistopher Miles in The Blacklist (NBC) and Lieutenant Hamilton Knox in Outlander (Starz). He's also been filming ITV’s Grace with John Simm and The Chelsea Detective (ITV) with Adrian Scarborough.
In 2017 Michael starred on Broadway playing the lead role of Joe in Sunset Boulevard opposite Hollywood film star Glenn Close shortly followed by a leading role in Prince of Broadway directed by the late, legendary Hal Prince and Susan Stroman. He was nominated for 2 Olivier Awards in 2011; ‘Best Supporting Performance in a Musical’ (Wolf/Cinderella’s Prince – Into The Woods at The Open Air Theatre) and ‘Best Actor in a Musical’ (Oliver – Love Story at The Duchess Theatre & Chichester Festival Theatre).
http://www.michaelxavier.co.uk
Emma Williams
Emma made her West End debut as Truly Scrumptious in the original cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, winning the Arts Correspondents' Award for Best Newcomer. She has received four Laurence Olivier Award nominations for her work in Love Story, Zorro, Mrs Henderson Presents and Half A Sixpence, for which she also won the WhatsOnStage and West End Wilma Awards. Her portrayal of Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun (UK Tour) earned her a Manchester Theatre Award nomination and she is also the voice of Mama Bunny in Rhyme Time Town for Dreamworks. Emma’s work as a recording and concert artist is extensive and includes singing with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic, Tasmanian Symphonic Orchestra and The Golden Age of Broadway for Bryn Terfel. She has workshopped many new pieces for theatre including Liberation Day and The Damon Albarn Project (National Theatre), Matilda (RSC), Up The Junction and Come Dancing (Really Useful Group), Country Music (Royal Court) and The Last Ship for Sting.
Television credits include:
The Long Shadow, Coronation Street, Marple, Heartbeat, Where The Heart Is, Four Fathers, Silent Witness, Casualty, Bleak House, The Story of Music and Doctors.
Announcing
our next
3-day festival
30.08–01.09.24
To keep up to date with all our news and any exciting announcements please sign up to our mailing list.
VEnue
Tithe Barn, Court Lodge Farm
Lenham, Kent ME17 2QD
Our 3-day summer festival is set in the spectacular and intimate backdrop of the Tithe Barn, Lenham.
The Tithe Barn is a remarkable historic structure that dates back to the 14th century. With its striking timber-framed design and expansive interior space, it served as a crucial centre for storing and distributing tithes collected from the local community. Today, it stands as a cherished heritage site, offering visitors a glimpse into Kent's agricultural past.
A truly special and unique experience.
FAQs
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Yes it is, but please advise us as to your needs before arriving so we can ensure you are well looked after.
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There are no concessions.
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Yes of course, but they will require a ticket for each event. The Bach to Baby concert on the Saturday morning is specifically geared towards children and as a result, they come free to this concert with a Bach to Baby ticket holding adult.
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There is both parking and disabled parking at the barn. The entrance for all vehicles is through the gates of Court Lodge Farm, next to Lenham fire station off the High Street.
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Vehicles: The entrance for all vehicles is through the gates of Court Lodge Farm, next to Lenham fire station off the High Street. NO vehicular access from the village square
Pedestrians: Pedestrians can access the barn either via Court Lodge Farm gates or off the village square between Thorneloe & co Solicitors and the bakery.
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The doors will open 1.5 hrs before each evening event and 30 minutes before the morning concerts.
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There is no allocated seating.
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There will be local produce refreshments available to purchase at each event.
Donors & sponsors
We would gratefully welcome donations from those interested in supporting Green Room to bring world-class artists into intimate and beautiful performance spaces.
A few sponsorship opportunities are currently available. Please email Festival Director Alexandra to discuss this further.
MEDIA, sUpporters & volunteers
Festival photographer: Robert Crowley
For high-resolution images please email the press team.
Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers:
Sarah Palmer, Helena Wood, Nicholas Reed, Sarah Clark, James Green, David and Karen Procter, Charles and Hilary Sell, Steve Ridley and Sarah Geering.