Outreach events

Rhythms of the World Outreach programme and Rhythms of the World presents

As well as putting on the festival every year, we aim to bring elements of the Rhythms of the World ethos to people who might not otherwise have the opportunity to experience the event’s spirit. It is one of our charitable objectives to provide a stimulus to the arts in the region and we aim to involve people from across the community - different ages, races, backgrounds, abilities and musical tastes.

Our Outreach programme involves local schools and community groups in the arts, whilst our events entitled Rhythms of the World presents take the festival ethos to a wider audience through a range of musical performances. Over the last year we have organised a range of events as part of these two programmes of work.

Moishe’s Bagel returned to Hitchin in February - after wowing the audience at last year’s festival - to play a concert at The Queen Mother Theatre.

In April, we worked closely with our local Sikh community to put on a free evening concert of Indian Classical Music at Hitchin Gurdwara.

In May, Paul Scourfield, a skilled melodeon player, performed at Nightingale House in Hitchin - a day centre which provides facilities for older people and those with learning disabilities. He entertained the visitors with a selection of jigs, reels, sea shanties and popular songs.

One of the charity’s aims is to provide an outlet for the energies of young people and to achieve this we gave four young local performers the opportunity to play a free, all-age gig in London’s Kentish Town. This event was a huge success and for two of the acts it was the first time they had ever performed in the capital.

We also aim to raise the national profile of the area as a cultural centre. In mid-May we took six performers - three bands and three young acoustic performers - to showcase at The Alternative Escape in Brighton. This is part of the Great Escape Festival, the largest music industry showcase in the UK. Without the support of Rhythms of the World, the performers would not have had this opportunity to display their talents to such an influential audience; an audience that could shape their future careers.

The Outreach programme and the Rhythms of the World presents events are funded from the profits of the Rhythms of the World festival – by purchasing a ticket to this year’s event, you have made both of these initiatives possible. We would also like to thank our much-missed volunteer, Faith Russell (nee Houbert), for leaving a bequest to the charity to be used for our Outreach and Arts programme after she sadly passed away in 2010. We remember her, and her lovely husband Tony, with every event we host.

If you would like to get involved with our 2012/13 programme of activities – as a host or a participating artist – please contact us.