Langholm, August 20

[gareth]

It looks like Katherine and Hayley will renew acquaintances!

From www.gaelforcefestival.co.uk/festivals.html

Saturday 20 August
KATHERINE JENKINS
In concert with HAYLEY WESTENRA
Langholm Parish Church
Katherine Jenkins’ story began, quite unusually for a classical singer, when she was offered a recording contract immediately after leaving college - a six-album deal with Universal Classics. Her debut album ‘Première’ went straight to number one in the classical charts in April 2004 and stayed there for eight weeks. outselling operatic greats like Kiri te Kanawa, Lesley Garrett and Angela Gheorghiu. For Katherine it was a dream come true: “My three ambitions have always been to sing at the Millennium Stadium and the Sydney Opera House, and to get to number 1 in the classical charts and I can’t believe I’ve done all three.”
She is now a great international star and it is a great privilege to be able to hear her performing at the Langholm Festival and in GaelForce
Langholm Parish Church, 8pm £15.00

[Lothar]

Hi all,
please could someone explain me where Gealforce festival is situated
Because I want to check if I can visit it maybe
Many thanks in advance.
Greetings Lothar

[emmettb]

Hi Lothar,

I think this ones going to be tricky to get to.

Longholm is situated in Dumfries & Galloway in Southern Scotland. The nearest big town is Gretna, Lockerbie or Carlisle. The only public transport to Longholm is by bus.

Here is a map:-




Emmett

[emmettb]

Hi,

I think Keith is probably closest to this one, makes a change from all those London concerts.......

Seems that Katherine concerts are mainly in much smaller venues and located away from the bigger towns and cities that Hayley usually performs. But maybe this could change with any upcoming UK tour.


Emmett

[HWI]

Hi Lothar,

Yes. The concert with Katherine Jenkins and, hopefully, Hayley, will be in the Parish Church in Langholm. Now, this place is what would be described as "out in the sticks". There are, potentially, three airports that could serve it.

They are:
Glasgow. It is 103 miles (approx. 165Km) from Langholm.

Newcastle Upon Tyne. This is 70 miles (112Km)

Manchester. This is 145 miles (over 230Km)

Of these, Manchester would be the best for you. I could make arrangements with you to pick you up and take you up to Langholm, then bring you back to the Manchester area afterwards. The extra distance it would add to my journey is not that great. The additional time the trip would take is just 34 minutes.

However, hold off making a booking at the moment. i have emailed Steve, Hayley's manager, and asked him about this concert. let's get his confirmation before we do anything.

Cheers,
Keith.

p.s. If we get confirmation on this, and anyone else would like to join us on the trip from Manchester to Langholm, the first two to say so will get a seat in my car. it's a four-seater, so that will be the limit.

[gareth]

Hi Keith,

Well, in view of my position as webmaster of KJI and active contributor to HWI, I am seriously considering a flying visit, if Hayley's participation is confirmed.

Cheers,

Gerrit

[roger]

Hi Gerrit,

Due to a temporary glitch on the server, Keith is temporarily unable to reply so I am doing so on his behalf.

He says that if the Langholm concert is confirmed, and you are able to come, he will be able to help you with transport.

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible!

Roger

[gareth]

Thanks, Keith and Roger,

Because of plans I have travelling to the UK in September, this could only be a flying visit indeed. I would fly into Manchester on the 20th - and hopefully it would be possible to be returned to the airport after the concert. I wouldn't even consider booking a hotel.

Thta's not the first time though - Last year September a travelled to Munich to see Hayley - and I returned by night train immediately after ...

Cheers,

Gerrit

[HWI]

Hi Gerrit. That would be no problem at all. Yes, I'm back. i.postimg.cc/9fYxy370/smilie-big-grin.gif

Keith.

[roger]

We mentioned this event to Steve last night and it seems Hayley was never scheduled to appear. In fact, on the night in question, she will be in Sydney.

We do not know at the moment whether Katherine's appearance is confirmed.

Roger

[gareth]

Hmmmm, Sydney - now that is a long way from Langholm .... just about as far away from Langholm as you can get on this globe. Where then do these rumours come from?

Gerrit

[HWI]

As far as I can make out, this was first published by the website for the festival. How they decided that hayley would be appearing, even Steve does not know. As soon as I mentioned it at Kenwood House, he said "what's this? We know nothing about it."

That was when he told us that Hayley will be in Sydney on that date.

I think that is pretty conclusive. But, it does make you question the validity of these venue websites when they make such announcements.

Very annoying.

Keith.

[gareth]

Well, I decided to contact the people involved with the site. I have received confirmation that the mention of Hayley was in error - but that Katherine definitely will be appearing.

From the explanation I received, I have gathered that very early on in the planning, they had wanted to invite Hayley as well, and apparently from that time stems the announcement that Hayley would be appearing with Katherine. They didn't seem to have awaited confirmation.

Then of course, the classical website error appeared of not updating the news when no confrimation of Hayley's appearance was forthcoming ...

They have promised to update the page as soon as possible.

Gerrit

[roger]

Huh! It is hardly surprising that no confirmation of Hayley's appearance was ever received. According to Steve, she was never asked!

Roger