Budleigh Music Festival

13/07/2025

Wonderful shots of ZRI at the festival.. take us back ❤️

06/07/2025

What a Festival!

And that’s a wrap on another magnificent Budleigh Music Festival. What an extraordinary 10 days it’s been, with 20 outstanding concerts that have filled our beautiful town with music, joy, and unforgettable moments.

Last night’s headliner, the magnificent London African Gospel Choir, brought the house down. From the moment they took the stage, the energy was electric. The entire audience was on their feet, dancing in the aisles, clapping along to those powerful rhythms, and joining in with voices raised in celebration. The standing ovation that followed was deserved – a perfect crescendo to end our festival on the highest of notes.

Heartfelt Thanks:
This festival wouldn’t exist without the incredible community that makes it happen:

To our volunteers – you are the beating heart of this festival. Your dedication, enthusiasm, and countless hours of work behind the scenes make every concert possible.

To our festival committee – your vision, planning, and tireless commitment throughout the year ensure that Budleigh Music Festival continues to grow and thrive.

To our wonderful sponsors and supporters – your generosity and belief in the arts enable us to bring world-class performers to our town.

To our incredible audiences – you’ve filled every venue with warmth, appreciation, and genuine love for music. Your enthusiasm energizes the performers and creates that special atmosphere that makes Budleigh Music Festival incredibly special.

Thank you, Budleigh, for another spectacular festival. Here’s to the music, the memories, and the magic that happens when a community comes together to celebrate the arts.

See you next year!

05/07/2025

Budleigh Music Festival - Festival Finale

10:30 am - 3:15 pm - Family Day: A Musical Treasure Hunt. £5 ticket includes five events across town designed for all generations. Try world percussion with Drum Devon, handbell ringing with Ottery Ringers, high-energy body percussion with former STOMP cast member Ollie Tunmer, and relaxing gong bath with Alli Colledge. Ends with “Rhythms Beats and Games” led by Artistic Director Jason Thornton. Plus treasure map to collect stamps from local shops for prize draw.

Tickets for the Family Day are available from the marquee at St Peter’s Church.

7:00 pm - London African Gospel Choir: Graceland Reimagined. Once-in-a-lifetime finale featuring joyous gospel tunes and ground-breaking reimagining of Paul Simon’s iconic Graceland album. Under Bongani Magubane’s direction, experience fresh takes on You Can Call Me Al, Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes and Homeless with soaring harmonies, dynamic rhythms and vibrant African musical traditions.

Plus busking in Wesley’s Garden at Temple Methodist Church throughout the day

Full details and locations on our website: www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk/events/ 

04/07/2025

What an extraordinary afternoon at St Peter’s Church today. Márton Mikulík and Benjámin Forgó delivered a spellbinding performance of Mahler’s Symphony No 1 arranged for four hands at one piano.

The standing ovation says it all - these two brilliant Hungarian pianists, who first met at the Béla Bartók Music Conservatory in Budapest, have created something special together.

Their debut as duettists at Budleigh Music Festival was nothing short of triumphant. The acoustic beauty of St Peter’s combined with their masterful interpretation made for an unforgettable afternoon of music.

Huge thanks to our wonderful trustees Janet Keliher, Kate Somerby and Madeleine Collie for their continued support in bringing world class talent to Budleigh.

04/07/2025

Here’s ZRI taking applause last night at Budleigh Music Festival - our audience loved them!

Zum Roten Igel (ZRI), named after a tavern visited by Schubert, delivered a breathtaking re-imagined version of his Quintet in C Major.

This classical quintet transforms Schubert’s masterpiece into something as radical as when it was first performed - bursting with Gypsy and Hungarian themes, re-scored with clarinet, santouri (cimbalom) and accordion, and interleaved with traditional tunes.

The daring and profound qualities of the original composition came alive in our wonderful church setting.

It was a wonderful evening!

04/07/2025

Budleigh Music Festival - Day Eight

10:00 am - Relaxed Concert with . Folk, klezmer and pop in a comfortable, informal setting suitable for all ages. Relaxed attitude to noise with freedom to leave and re-enter during the concert.

12:00 pm - One Piano Four Hands: Mahler Symphony No. 1. Hungarian duo and perform Mahler’s ‘Titan’ symphony in Bruno Walter’s four-hand arrangement, with their own additions. Both are winners of National High School Piano Competition and graduates of Liszt Music Academy.

7:30 pm - Bath Philharmonia with , conducted by Jason Thornton. Celebrate the Fourth of July with an all-American programme featuring Bath Philharmonia and festival favourite Zeynep Ozsuca. Star-spangled pieces in glorious technicolour guaranteeing a great night out for music-lovers of all ages.

Plus busking in Wesley’s Garden at Temple Methodist Church throughout the day.

Full details and locations on our website: www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk/events/ 

03/07/2025

200 local school children joined us for our showcase performance this afternoon, watching them experience live music was fantastic.

From the moment Future Talent’s five emerging artists took the stage alongside ZRI they had the kid’s attention. ZRI and the Future Talent team talked them through the music and the instruments, it was a lovely educational session.

For many of these young people, this was their first ever live concert.

Our emerging artists delivered performances that were both skillful and heartfelt, while brought their considerable talent to create an afternoon that felt very special.

There’s something powerful about watching children discover live music for the first time.

These are the experiences we’re here to create. Music that matters, performances that connect, and moments that remind us all why we love what we do.

There are only a few tickets left for ’s gig at 7.30, you can purchase them on the door.

03/07/2025

Did you catch us on ITV News?

This is "ITV West Country News 23rd June 2025" by Budleigh Music Festival on Vimeo, the home for high quality videos and the people who love them.

03/07/2025

Budleigh Music Festival - Day Seven

During the day, young musicians from Future Talent, a pioneering charity dedicated to supporting gifted young musicians from low-income backgrounds across the UK, will be rehearsing and performing with Zum Roten Igel.  This event is for a school-only audience.

7:30 pm - Schubert at the Red Hedgehog Tavern. presents Schubert’s Quintet in C Major reimagined to sound as radical as when first performed. Named after Vienna’s major concert venue during Schubert’s lifetime and the tavern where composers caroused, this vibrant performance is re-scored for clarinet, santouri (cimbalom) and accordion, interleaved with traditional tunes that reflect the daring spirit of the original.

Plus busking in Wesley’s Garden at Temple Methodist Church throughout the day.

Full details and locations on our website: www.budleighmusicfestival.co.uk/events/ 

03/07/2025

Armonico Consort Performance

What an absolutely sublime evening! Armonico Consort delivered a breathtaking performance of Rachmaninov’s beautiful Vespers last night at Budleigh Music Festival.

The ethereal harmonies filled this church and left everyone spellbound.

This critically acclaimed choir and instrumental ensemble continues to inspire audiences with their passionate performances whilst doing incredible work in our communities. Through their AC Academy programme, they reach 15,000 young people annually, offering life-changing musical experiences and first-class performance opportunities.

We are grateful for organisations like who remind us that music has the power to heal, inspire, and unite us all.