Green Room is a new music festival series, launched in September 2023, taking world-class artists, usually found on the big stage, into intimate and beautiful performance spaces. Audience numbers are limited so both performer and audience member get the best possible experience.
BIG NAMES. BEAUTIFUL SPACES
BIG NAMES. BEAUTIFUL SPACES
Events
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19:30
Lance Ellington, the voice of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing, and his fabulous band launch our 2024 festival!
Lance has become known as one of the UK’s most prominent male vocalists. Apart from recording and performing under his own name, his regular appearances on the BBC’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ have endeared him to millions of UK dance and music fans. His charismatic style and sultry tones have entertained more than 30 million people all over the world.
Lance has worked with many of the world’s top recording artists including Sting, George Michael, Robbie Williams and Michael Jackson just to mention a few and currently shares the stage with Anton du Beke on his UK tours.
Lance and his live band will be performing the music and songs of Legends. Including music from Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Duke & Ray Ellington, Nat King Cole and so many more.
A show of unmissable style, class, nostalgia, romance and great swing music.
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11:00–12:00
Not forgetting the little people, a concert for the whole family!
Bach to Baby is the critically acclaimed classical concert series for babies, children and their families. Bach to Baby believes children can enjoy exceptional live classical music from their very earliest moments, so they bring exhilarating performances and outstanding musicians from the top concert stages to inspiring locations on your doorstep. Tots dance, roam about and revel in the wonder of live music, while you take a moment out of your busy day to hear top notch performances with your young babes in tow. No concert is complete without feeding, crying and nappy changing!
Doors open 15 minutes before the concert starts. The concert lasts around 45 minutes.
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19:30
Jack Gonzalez-Harding, rising superstar of the classical music world, returns to Green Room after a magical debut in 2023 with awe-inspiring soloist, Nicholas McCarthy. Nicholas is the world’s only left-hand alone pianist having been born without his right hand, and is now the leading exponent of the 21st century repertoire.
Jack brings with him his new all-star orchestra, Barbican Sinfonia. Green Room is honoured to be the platform for the Orchestra's launch, welcoming some of this country's most established orchestral musicians to play a glorious programme of repertoire, including Martinů's beautiful Divertimento for piano, with Jack at the helm.
Prepare to be amazed!
Nicholas McCarthy‘So dazzling with one hand, he doesn’t need another’
The Times
Jack Gonzalez-HardingPraised for his ‘brilliant infectious enthusiasm’
The Spectator
ProgrammeFranz Schubert (1797–1828)
Symphony No. 5 in B Flat MajorBohuslav Martinů (1890–1959)
Divertimento for piano left hand and orchEdward Elgar (1857–1934)
Serenade for StringsLudwig van Beethoven (1770–1827)
Symphony No. 1 in C Major -
11:00
Renowned restaurant critic Jay Rayner, undoubtedly the best jazz pianist in Britain of all the judges on MasterChef, a man who came of age in the 80s, has long been fascinated by the chart hits from that decade which weren’t just jazz-inflected but had jazz in their very bones.
Jay now leads an ensemble of top-flight musicians to celebrate the greatest of those 80s songs, with new arrangements of brilliant tracks by Sade, Matt Bianco, Working Week, Everything But The Girl, Swing Out Sister, Sting and much more. Get your jazzy 80s on with the Jay Rayner Sextet. Box-shouldered jacket and big hair optional.
Get your 80s on with the Jay Rayner Sextet: a show full of great music, killer stories and often quite inappropriate laughter. With Pat Gordon-Smith, voice; Dave Lewis, sax; Robert Rickenberg, bass; Chris Cobbson, guitar; Sophie Alloway, drums.
Please note: brunch, not included in ticket price, will be available to purchase from one of our wonderful festival caterers.
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14:00–16:00
Come and show your classic car against the spectacular backdrop of this incredible tithe barn, accompanied by live music, refreshments and a truly unique atmosphere.
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19:00
Prepare to be swept off your feet by some of the biggest names in musical theatre, including award-winning stars of stage and screen, including TV's Grantchester, Michael Xavier, four-time Laurence Olivier Award nominee, Emma Williams, Musical Director of Anything Goes Steve Ridley, and musicians from the bands of 'My Neighbour Totora', 'Cabaret', and 'Kiss me Kate' amongst others, singing and playing some of your favourite numbers fresh from London's West End stage.
A night that promises to be truly unforgettable.
Jon RobynsDue to illness, it is with huge regret that Michael D Xavier has had to pull out of 'A Night at the Musicals' but we are thrilled to be able to replace him with one of the UK’s Leading Musical Theatre actors, Jon Robyns.
Jon's long list of Theatre credits include Les Misérables, Hamilton, The Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q, RENT, Miss Saigon, Sister Act, Spamalot, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Legally Blonde and many more.
As a Solo vocalist, he has performed concerts all over the world, including venues in South East Asia, The USA, Australia and Europe. In 2024, Jon celebrated 20 years in the industry with a sold out concert at His Majesty’s Theatre in the West End.
Jon has released 2 Albums, completing a sell out UK tour of his most recent entitled, Musical Direction.
As well as acting, Jon tutors and directs at major drama schools in London and around the UK and is patron of The South London Youth Theatre.
Jon and his writing partner Christopher J Orton’s musical Then, Now & Next was premiered in London in the summer of 2023 and the Original Cast Recording was released in summer 2024. They continue to collaborate on new writing projects.
Jon also hosts Late Night: West End a monthly chat show cabaret, inviting West End stars to perform and interview at the Phoenix Arts Club, London.
Instagram @j_robyns
Emma WilliamsEmma made her West End debut as Truly Scrumptious in the original cast of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the London Palladium, winning the Arts Correspondents' Award for Best Newcomer. She has received four Laurence Olivier Award nominations for her work in Love Story, Zorro, Mrs Henderson Presents and Half A Sixpence, for which she also won the WhatsOnStage and West End Wilma Awards. Her portrayal of Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun (UK Tour) earned her a Manchester Theatre Award nomination and she is also the voice of Mama Bunny in Rhyme Time Town for Dreamworks. Emma’s work as a recording and concert artist is extensive and includes singing with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Liverpool Philharmonic, Tasmanian Symphonic Orchestra and The Golden Age of Broadway for Bryn Terfel. She has workshopped many new pieces for theatre including Liberation Day and The Damon Albarn Project (National Theatre), Matilda (RSC), Up The Junction and Come Dancing (Really Useful Group), Country Music (Royal Court) and The Last Ship for Sting.
Television credits include:
The Long Shadow, Coronation Street, Marple, Heartbeat, Where The Heart Is, Four Fathers, Silent Witness, Casualty, Bleak House, The Story of Music and Doctors.
Announcing
our next
3-day festival
30.08–01.09.24
To keep up to date with all our news and any exciting announcements please sign up to our mailing list.
VEnue
Tithe Barn, Court Lodge Farm
Lenham, Kent ME17 2QD
Our 3-day summer festival is set in the spectacular and intimate backdrop of the Tithe Barn, Lenham.
The Tithe Barn is a remarkable historic structure that dates back to the 14th century. With its striking timber-framed design and expansive interior space, it served as a crucial centre for storing and distributing tithes collected from the local community. Today, it stands as a cherished heritage site, offering visitors a glimpse into Kent's agricultural past.
A truly special and unique experience.
Refreshments
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With us for the entirety of the weekend.
A wine bar and shop in Sandgate, close to Folkestone and seconds away from the beach, John Dory will be pouring some of their favourite wines, including the wildly popular Crémant de Limoux, a top Beaujolais, a white Bordeaux and fizz from both our favourite Kentish winery, Westwell (The village where Green Room founder, Alexandra, grew up). Cheese platters from esteemed French affineurs Mons Cheesmongers, and charcuterie from Italian specialists The Ham and Cheese Co.
As featured in the Observer Food Monthly magazine.
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With us on Sunday 1st September only.
In February 2015 Russell Gormley founded Kitchen of Kent with this wife, Sarah, with the view to building an event catering business that offered more than just catering and was committed to promoting and supporting local suppliers. To this end, much of their menu comes from Kent.
They also understand the importance of catering to different dietary requirements, which is why they offer ample gluten-free and vegan options as standard.
Their responsible approach also extends to using recyclable food carriers, birch wood biodegradable cutlery, and recycled napkins.
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With us on Saturday 31 August (Bach to Baby) and Sunday 1 September.
Jacques et Lilie is super excited to be coming with Ginette to be part of the Green Room concert offering our delicious coffee, delicate teas and comforting hot chocolate to pair with their handcrafted luxurious patisseries. Our patisseries are homemade following the recipes of Amandine's grandparents. All of our drinks are specially selected for their high-end taste and qualities. The coffee comes from Curve, a speciality roasterie from Margate; The teas are from the British Company Tea Lab which focuses on non-artificial flavour teas.
And the hot chocolate from Mork; the best of its kind.
FAQs
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Yes it is, but please advise us as to your needs before arriving so we can ensure you are well looked after.
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There are no concessions.
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Yes of course, but they will require a ticket for each event. The Bach to Baby concert on the Saturday morning is specifically geared towards children and as a result, they come free to this concert with a Bach to Baby ticket holding adult.
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There is both parking and disabled parking at the barn. The entrance for all vehicles is through the gates of Court Lodge Farm, next to Lenham fire station off the High Street.
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Vehicles: The entrance for all vehicles is through the gates of Court Lodge Farm, next to Lenham fire station off the High Street. NO vehicular access from the village square
Pedestrians: Pedestrians can access the barn either via Court Lodge Farm gates or off the village square between Thorneloe & co Solicitors and the bakery.
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The doors will open 1.5 hrs before each evening event and 30 minutes before the morning concerts.
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There is no allocated seating.
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There will be local produce refreshments available to purchase at each event.
Donors & sponsors
We would gratefully welcome donations from those interested in supporting Green Room to bring world-class artists into intimate and beautiful performance spaces.
A few sponsorship opportunities are currently available. Please email Festival Director Alexandra to discuss this further.
MEDIA, sUpporters & volunteers
Festival photographer: Robert Crowley
For high-resolution images please email the press team.
Thank you to all our wonderful volunteers:
Sarah Palmer, Helena Wood, Nicholas Reed, Sarah Clark, James Green, David and Karen Procter, Charles and Hilary Sell, Steve Ridley and Sarah Geering.