New classical music festival for Battle?

Dan Cawford, of the London Philharmonic Orchestra, and Battle Town Councillor Maurice Palmer have been exploring various venues in and around the town in recent weeks to determine which would be a suitable location for events during the three-day festival.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s Battle Town Council meeting, Cllr Palmer said using Battle Memorial Hall was ‘a possibility’.

But Battle Abbey School appears to be a front runner.

Cllr Palmer said: “We thought Battle Abbey School hall was the perfect venue.

“As part of the weekend the London Philharmonic Orchestra is talking about doing some lessons for the children.

“We are in negotiations at the moment.”

Cllr Palmer stressed that the festival would be open to pupils from other schools, not just Battle Abbey.

He added: “If we can get a number of different schools and we can pull that together, then the school hall would be a perfect venue for that.”

Planning for the classical music weekend is still in its early stages, but Cllr Palmer said the event is likely to take place in August 2014.

Cllr Palmer said Dan would be taking the lead in organising the event.

He added: “Dan would like to get the music to the people.”

Battle’s classical music festival is the latest new music festival to spring up in Rother over the last few years.

Last year saw the launch of Battle Rocks and the Rye International Jazz Festival.

And in 2011, The Big Green Cardigan Festival brought its chilled out vibe to Cripps Corner for the first time.