What links one of the poorest countries in the world and the Stoke Prior Sports and Social Club in Bromsgrove?

How can going to a festival help empower disadvantaged children and adults of Nepal?

Where can you have a party that’s out of this world, but also local?

Where can you find a festival supporting local authors, poets, musicians and storytellers to make a difference halfway around the world from here?

The answer is the Raising Steam Festival, taking place in the lovely grounds of the Stoke Prior Sports and Social Club in Bromsgove, B60 4AL, from the 19th to the 22nd May this year. All funds raised will go to support the work of New Futures Nepal (NFN), a small UK charity who’ve been in existence for 20 years, and are doing what they can to support disabled and disadvantaged youngsters in Kathmandu, as well as supporting communities further out in the mountainous villages of Nepal. More about them later.

The four day festival is a smorgasbord of entertainment, from local authors, poets and storytellers including Jon Hartless, Ian Henery, Laura Jane Round and Susan Vickers, supported by The Curious House of Stories and their storytelling yurt; there’s fiery entertainment from St. John le Fox, shamanic drumming, as well as a selection of the finest steampunk and alternative musicians around, and a market as well as workshops and the chance to watch artists at work.

Berlin (via outer space) gothic cabaret band Feline and Strange headline the Thursday evening. Coventry based dark-wave Attrition headline the Friday night. Space rockers Krankschaft headline the Saturday evening show, which also include Walsall’s finest, Martian Social Club, music hall entertainment and an Elvira tribute show.

There’s also the launch of a debut novel, “The Somewhen Chair” by C. H. Randle. The first gig of Sonic 909. The live debut and debut album from Seven Devils, and the release of Ben Culkin’s second album. In addition to all those mentioned, if you come to the full festival you’ll also be able to catch performances by David Brinkworth and the Pit, Jonathan Day’s Rainstorm Discotheque, Gurdybird, The Wattingers, Chasing the Dark, Mice in a Matchbox, The Cogkneys, Beorma Morris, Belly Fusion Dance Collective, Tom Slatter, Jessica Law, Doctor Gray and his Orchestra of One, Ash Mandrake, Experimental Sonic Machines, Cage of Crows, Jolly Roger, Crystal Jacqueline, Count Rostov, Cthulhu-esque theatrical entertainment from Hopeless, Maine – and more!

Tickets (there is a full festival ticket as well as day tickets) are available from raisingsteam.bandcamp.com. The full event costs £50, which includes camping. A ticket for Sunday is £15, both Friday and Saturday £30, and Thursday by donation.

Further information can be found at raisingsteamfestival.weebly.com.

More about New Futures Nepal (reg charity number 1142984)

New Futures Nepal, in addition to supporting those they can in the community, also support several outreach programs, both in Kathmandu and the foothills of the Annapurnas and Everest regions.

Last year, the Municipal Council for the Mahakulung Rural Municipality of the southern Everest region of Nepal met. Due to NFN’s ongoing support of the Mahakulung people in collaboration with The Everest Mera Foundation, the council decided to name a peak in the region (standing approximately 5200m above sea-level) 'Royal Britain Peak' in honour of New Futures Nepal.

The festival is organised by Steven C. Davis, a trustee of New Futures Nepal, who has seen first- hand the difference the charity makes to the lives of some of those who most need our support.