From 'Wembley Futures'
On Saturday,
22 July 2017 Wembley Futures will be hosting the second annual Heart of Wembley
Festival. This exciting community event will take place from 1pm-6pm on Wembley
High Road, from the Park Lane junction with the High Road towards the Wembley Triangle.
The Festival
is one of the activities by Wembley Futures, one of 150 recipient groups across
the UK to be awarded funding by The Big Local. A long-term
innovative programme that aims to achieve lasting change, The Big Local
provides a mixture of funding, finance and support. The Big Local is an opportunity
for residents in Wembley Central to make a massive and lasting positive
difference to their area. In addition to celebrating the Big Local success, the
Festival aims to enthuse residents, businesses and partner organisations about
the possibilities that Wembley Futures and Wembley Central present.
The Heart
of Wembley Festival will celebrate the communities in Wembley Central through a
mix of both local and professional music and dance. Among the musicians playing
onstage will be Dhol2Dhol, outstanding performers and instructors of the
vibrant Dhol drum, who have played major events such as the closing of the 2012
Paralympic Games and the London Marathon 2017; The London Belles, a chic
vintage music trio playing favourites from the 1940s and beyond; rock band
Harripaul, and singer-songwriter Doriane Woo. Move and sway to the headline act,
Marta and Emiliano jazz band with a Latin American feel. The stage will also
showcase the DJ talents of MC Nino, sounds of Ebony steel band, and a spoken
word performance by festival MC, Bries. Dance groups representing the art form
from across the world include street dancers from Elan Arts, South Asian Kathak
dancers from the Encee Academy, Nepalese dancers from the British Gurka
Nepalese Association, and Salsa dance from Wembley-based, Mambo City.
Shaun
Wallace, one of the ‘chasers’ on the ITV quiz show The Chase, will be attending
the Heart of Wembley Festival as the celebrity guest. The quiz show pits four
contestants against the Chaser, a ruthless quiz genius determined to stop them
winning the cash prize. Wallace, who won Mastermind in 2004, is a barrister and
also known by the names ‘The Legal Eagle’ and ‘The Dark Destroyer’.
The Heart
of Wembley Festival is a free event and will be a family-friendly environment,
with children’s rides, a fascinating bubble show from bubbleologist Graham
Maxwell, street theatre, community and information stalls, and stalls offering
tantalising world food, fashion, gifts and jewellery.
Francis Henry, Chair of Wembley Futures, said: “I
hope to see both new and familiar faces at the Festival in July. We are
building on the success of last year’s Festival and look forward to a great day
out with friends and neighbours, making the most of our local community.”