You are invited to Summer in Barham – a bite-size Festival experience offering talks, walks and live music in the beautiful village of Barham, raising much needed funds for Canterbury Festival.

With live music at Barham Court and Church, talks at Barham Village Hall and guided walks throughout the week – Summer in Barham offers a bite-size Festival experience for hungry audiences who are eager to enjoy live performance in a safe and responsible way. Events will take place both indoors and outdoors, and will strictly follow Covid-secure legislation.

Summer in Barham begins on Saturday 3 July with BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Finalists and Canterbury favourites Gentlemen of Few. Performing an eclectic blend of indie-folk and classic rock, their high-energy shows are delivered with raw passion and are the perfect way to kick off proceedings.

Swing masters, the KD Jazz and Dance Orchestra return for a glorious summer’s evening of music on Sunday 4 July. With Peter Cook and Ginger Bennet, a rocking rhythm section and a four-horn front line, KD Jazz are guaranteed to get you in the Festival spirit with a set covering everything from Sinatra to Stevie Wonder.

On Thursday 8 July Harpist Camilla Pay performs Music for a Summer’s Evening in the intimate setting of Barham Church. Camilla has forged an incredible career both on and off the stage. A Royal Academy of Music associate, Camilla has worked with artists including John Legend, Ellie Goulding and Sam Smith, as well as performing with The Killers, Bette Midler and Beyoncé. The programme will include pieces by Debussy, Gliére, Bach and Paul Lewis.

Dive into the world of William Hogarth as The Canterbury Auction Galleries’ Managing Director, David Parker, leads an insightful talk into the artist’s journey across Kent – exploring the social issues of the day and revealing details of the Kent landscape that remain unchanged nearly 300 years later. Friday 9 July at Barham Village Hall.

The music continues at Barham Court on Saturday 10 July with Good Gnus, a musical trio packed with charm, humour and merriment. Featuring David Flood, Chris Price and Jon Williams, Good Gnus invite you to gorge on an evening of wit and satire as they delve into music by Flanders and Swann, Stilgoe and Skellern, Tom Lehrer, Noel Coward and more.

The Canterbury Garden Opera close Summer in Barham in style with Back to Broadway on Sunday 11 July. Perfect for all the family, this show celebrates the golden age of musicals featuring songs from your favourite shows, all in the grand gardens of Barham Court.

For more information and the full programme, visit our What’s On page