20,000 flock to Fuse

I recently attended Fuse on both days, and boy was it a fantastic event - and FREE! Here is a recap of what went on from Fuse 10 director, Tim Perks.

This year's Fuse has been hailed as 'an unbelievable success' by organisers Lichfield Arts. Helped by glorious summer weather, over 20,000 attended the festival over the weekend in Beacon Park. Fuse was celebrating it's tenth year with the theme 'Dance Your Socks Off!' and there was  a huge range of music, performances, workshops and events to see and get involved in.

Friday
Music kicked off on Friday with a burst of energy from young local band Fountain of Youth. They were followed by the specially formed Muddy La Fete and the evening was bought to a thumping close by rhythm and blues outfit The Shooters. There were also relaxed, fun sessions where you could join in singing or playing classic songs, hilarious comedy from the Comic Rehash team and a special performance by Lichfield Garrick Youth Theatre getting the weekend's Dance Your Socks Off! events off to a fine start. The acoustic tent, featuring local bands and performers, also ran and was packed with people all evening.

Saturday
The Fuse main stage saw performances from The Switch, The Dirty Cheats, Russian rockers Blast, covers band Riven and PBS6. Main tent music finished with African band Chimanimani who had the whole tent up on their feet and dancing. Throughout the day there were art and craft activities including making sock monkeys and giant dancing sculptures; Crik the Croc puppet show; Zumba, Morris dance, Belly dance and Salsa workshops; a Silent Disco and Strictly Come Dad Dancing all kept the crowds entertained. NLI held their Environment day at Fuse and other events included John Parkin, a walkabout close-up magician; the mysterious, serene stilt walking Calvos Dos and the spectacular FlameOz fire show entertained crowds outside.

Sunday
Sunday's music events started early with a church service followed by The City of Lichfield Concert Band, Lichfield Gospel Choir, funk jazz and blues from Funktional, Wildfire Folk (Lichfield Youth Folk Ensemble) and drew to a close with a mega Ceilidh with The Fuse All-Stars Ceilidh Big Band.
There were more art & craft activities, the Arts Fair, a North West Morris dance workshop, a Speakers' Corner Lichfield event, street performer Dan the Hat and storyteller Julie Ann.
Sunday's main highlight was the Dance Your Socks Off! finale. More than 300 hundred local people of all ages from schools, community and dance groups took part in a giant community dance performance presented by Lichfield Arts in partnership with  Lichfield Garrick Theatre and choreographed by Louise Glynn which was watched by an audience of over 2,000.

All weekend there was a visual art exhibition, licensed bar,  food and market stalls.

Tim Perks, Fuse Director, said “Lichfield Arts is delighted that Fuse has been such a huge success this year. My thanks go to the very hard working team of volunteers and everyone else who made Fuse happen. We also want to thank the crowds that came along and created such a friendly relaxed atmosphere.”

Well done to Lichfield Arts!

For more information about Lichfield Arts, please click here.