Get Set for Bank Holiday Fun at the Darley Park Weekender

The sun will be out, so make the most of the Bank Holiday right here in Derby. The Darley Park Weekender will be taking over the beautiful natural amphitheatre of Darley Park as it returns for it’s second year. After last year’s success the event has grown to Fri-Sun event, with music, fireworks and activities for the whole family.

Kicking off the party is Classic Ibiza on Friday 26 August with the Balearic beats with a live orchestra transporting us back to the white isle. On Saturday 27 August a new addition will be joining the weekender line up in the form of 80s Mix Tape. Featuring the icons from the era, Nik Kershaw, Carol Decker and DJ Pat Sharp along with local four-piece band Cassette Roulette. Donna Alos the presenter of BBC Radio Derby weekend breakfast shows will also be hosting 80s Mix Tape. Closing the weekend is the return of the much-loved Darley Park Concert, conducted by James Holmes, with soloists Helen Power, Dan Gill and Preetha Narayanan also appearing. Your hosts for the Sunday will be BBC Radio Derby presenters Andy Twigge and Sally Pepper. The mayor of Derby and Derby’s award-winning Dame Morgan Brind will also be making an appearance.

The evening will help celebrate Sinfonia Viva’s 40th Anniversary showcasing classical music and a spectacular firework finale. For timings see the event pages for more information.

If you are joining us this weekend don’t forget the bring you can bring your own picnics, and your preferred alcoholic tipple. There is food and drink available on site, with a bar serving a selection of draft beers, premixed spirits, wine and soft drinks.

Derby City Council would not be able to stage the weekend without our partners in the city and region. The Weekend is supported by Huub, Meridian Business Support, Project D, and RDS. Sinfonia Viva is supported by PRS Productions, and Rolls Royce. Our media partner is BBC Radio Derby.

While the met office is predicting fine weather, we would always advise wear sensible shoes, warm clothes and bring waterproofs with you. You can find all you need to know about the event on our FAQs page. All events across the weekend will be BSL sign interpreted. Tickets are available for Classic Ibiza, 80s Mix Tape and Darley Park Concert from Derby LIVE Tickets can also be purchased at the Sales and Information Centre Riverside Chambers, Full Street, Derby, DE1 3AF, or by calling 01332 255 800.

Car parking is available at Chapel Street and the Assembly Rooms car park sites. 24-hour parking is available for £4 which is payable on exit with cash or card. Similarly, parking at St Benedicts Catholic Voluntary Academy will be available on a first come first serve basis for £5 cash only. There is also limited parking available at Darley Village near the Cricket Club for Blue Badge Holders. The full details about parking can be found on the FAQs page on our website. We urge everyone to remember that this year various road closures are in place around Darley Mills, including the Darley Abbey Toll bridge. Customers are advised that it may take longer to get to the event due to the closure of this bridge.

Elsewhere in Derby this Bank Holiday, there is still chance to catch Forest of the Future, which has seen The Market Place in Derby transformed into a woodland wonderland. The last of our summer holiday activities will be taking place join us for Summer Badminton Fun (5-11 years) at Springwood Leisure Centre or test your golf skills with Pitch and Putt at Markeaton Park, suitable for ages eight and over. Young bookworms can join our Summer Reading Challenge which helps children of all reading abilities maintain their reading skills over the summer break. The summer Reading Challenge is the UK library sector’s biggest free annual reading event and runs until the 5 Sep. Find out more about holiday activities across Derby at Inderby.org.uk

Classic Ibiza will be joined by DJ Jose Luis former Pacha resident, and DJ Goldierocks, alongside The Urban Soul Orchestra. The set list offers some of the best-known floor fillers such as favourites such as Insomnia and God is a DJ from Faithless, Born Slippy Underworld, 3AM Eternal The KLF, Groovejet (if this ain’t love) Spiller and Set You Free N-Trance. Tickets bought before 25 Aug are £35 per adult, £20 for ages 5-16 and under 5s free. Tickets bought on the day cost £40 per adult, £25 for ages 5-16 and free for under 5s.

Timings

4pm- Gates

6pm- Chill-out DJ Set

7.45pm Sundowner Set list includes, Lean On (Major Lazer & DJ Snake), I Put A Spell On You (Sonique, Turn Around (Phats & Small), For An Angel (Paul van Dyk), Killer (Adamski)

8.45pm Interval

9.15pm House DJ Set followed by Dance Set and Laser show – Dance set list includes Born Slippy (Underworld), Insomnia (Faithless), 3AM Eternal (The KLF), God Is A DJ (Faithless), Titanium (David Guetta)

10.35pm end of event.

80s Mix Tape

On Saturday headliners include 80s icons Carol Decker, Nik Kershaw, and DJ Pat Sharp. Also joining the line-up is local 4-piece band Cassette Roulette and The 80s Reunion featuring some stars from Europe’s premiere 80s tribute show 80s Mania. Carol Decker is best known as the lead singer of pop-rock band T’Pau, who scored international success in the late 80s with the hit China in Your Hand. Nik Kershaw is a singer, song writer, musician and record producer, his top 40 hits include Wouldn’t It Be Good, I Won’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me and The Riddle. DJ Pat Sharp was a staple of the 80s with numerous radio shows to his name and of course well-known for presenting the now cult rated ITV show FunHouse for 12 years.

Tickets bought before 25 Aug are £22.50 per adult, £15 for ages 5-16 and under 5s free. Tickets bought on the day, cost £25 per adult, £20 for ages 5-16 and free for under 5s.

4pm Gates open
4:30pm Cassette Roulette 6pm The 80s Mania Reunion 6.45pm Carol Decker 7:30pm Nik Kershaw
9pm DJ Pat Sharp
10:50pm Event ends

Darley Park Concert

Bring the weekend to a close is The Darley Park Concert, which has become a staple to families across the region for over 3 decades. Sinfonia Viva, supported by Rolls-Royce -will tantalise audiences with a showcase of music, elegantly sweeping across the genres. With recognisable highlights from the stage and screen such as Phantom: All I ask of you. – Andrew Lloyd Webber, Chariots of Fire – Vangelis, Star Wars: Imperial March – John Williams and Don’t Stop Me Now – Mercury to name a few.

Conductor James Holmes will make a welcome return to the stage alongside soloists soprano Helen Power who has accompanied the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra and has recorded at Abbey Road Studios; baritone Dan Gill has appeared in Mountview productions of Legally Blonde and Les Misérables.

To celebrate their 40th anniversary, Sinfonia Viva will also be performing a brand-new commission supported by PRS Foundation’s The Open Fund, written by composer Preetha Narayanan, a violinist, composer and educator with a unique musical story that crosses countries, cultures, and genres. The new piece titled ‘Drifting Tides; explores our inner connection and our relationship to nature and the importance of preserving it

2pm Gates Open

6pm Welcome and speeches

6.20pm Derby Jazz – Music from local jazz musicians; Matt Ratcliffe: keyboards, Jeff Brown: trumpet, Gary Reader: saxophone and Tymek Jozwiak: drums. BLUE FUNK, commissioned by Derby Jazz to play in parks in and around Derby.

7pm Sinfonia Viva act 1:

Crown Imperial, composed by Walton – Instantly recognisable, this is an orchestral march by William Walton, that was commissioned in 1937 for the coronation of King George VI in Westminster Abbey. Subsequently the work has been played at many state occasions in the Abbey including the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and the 2011 wedding of Prince William.

English Folk Song Suite: Seventeen Come Sunday, composed by Vaughan Williams – One of English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams’ most famous works, this suite was first published to be performed by a military band as ‘Folk Song Suite’ and was premiered in 1923 at Kneller Hall. Upbeat and stirring, this piece is another celebratory moment, that perfectly encapsulates the joy of the Jubilee year.

Drifting Tides, composed by Narayanan – commission celebrating Viva’s 40th Birthday.

A Man of No Importance: The Streets of Dublin, composed by Ahrens/Flaherty – Taken from the musical ‘A Man of No Importance’ with music by Stephen Flaherty, lyrics by Lynn Ahrens and a book by Terrence McNally – it is all based on the 1994 Albert Finney film. Telling the story of a Dublin based amateur theatre group and their fearless leader, who despite objections from the church authorities, is determined to stage a version of Salome at his church.

Characteristic Waltz No.2 – Valse Rustique, composed by Coleridge-Taylor – Although born in 1875, Coleridge-Taylor’s work has been making waves, with his determination to fight racial prejudice in both Britain and America only matched by the emotionally beautiful and moving quality of his work. His Four Characteristic Waltzes (of which this is the second), are thought to have been written early in 1898 and published in 1899.

I Could Have Danced All Night, composed by Lerner & Loewe – Time to get up and have a bop! This is a classic sing-along song from the musical My Fair Lady, with music written by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner that was published in 1956. Sung by the musical’s heroine, Eliza Doolittle is singing her heart out with exhilaration and excitement after an unexpected dance in the small hours of the morning with her tutor Henry Higgins.

Kings & Queens suite: Elizabeth II, composed by Debbie Wiseman – Debbie Wiseman OBE pays a special tribute to The Queen on her 95th birthday with this wonderful piece and album ‘The Music of Kings & Queens’, the soundtrack album for the Royal birthday celebrations. This beautiful piece celebrates Queen Elizabeth II.

Phantom: All I ask of You, composed by Lloyd Webber – Who’s that hiding in the rafters? From Andrew Lloyd Webbers 1986 show Phantom of the Opera, in which soprano Christine Daaé becomes the obsession of a mysterious musical genius wearing a mask and living in the subterranean labyrinth beneath the Paris Opéra House.

Pomp and Circumstance March No.4, composed by Elgar – The Pomp and Circumstance Marches are a series of marches for orchestra composed by Elgar. This one is the most well-known of the marches.

7.55pm Interval- Sing Viva Carers Choir A programme of Well-known songs performed by carers from Derby and Chesterfield directed by Pete Lack and accompanied by Sinfonia Viva musicians Charlie Penn, Tim Gunnell and Dave Ayre.

8.25pm Sinfonia Viva act 2:

London Suite: Knightsbridge March, composed by Coates – The London Suite, also known as London Every Day, is a suite of orchestral music by the English composer Eric Coates. ‘The Knightsbridge March’ was also the theme tune for BBC’s ‘In Town Tonight’ radio show broadcast between 1933 – 1960.

Nimrod, composed by Elgar – Taken from Elgar’s Variations on an Original Theme, Op. 36, which is also known as the Enigma Variations. Nimrod is one of the fourteen variations on an original theme that make up the work, with Nimrod arguably being the most popular and well-known.

Music from the Royal Fireworks: La Rejouissance, composed by Handel – So it’s not quite time for the fireworks yet, but here’s a bit of musical spectacle that will certainly go off with a bang! Composed by Handel in 1749 after King George II asked him to write the piece to set alongside fireworks to celebrate the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. A joyous piece of music that makes the hairs stand up!

Summertime, composed by Gershwin – It’s time to sizzle with this seasonal classic. ‘Summertime’ is an instant feel-good classic, composed in 1934 by George Gershwin for the 1935 opera Porgy and Bess. The lyrics are by DuBose

Heyward, who is the author of the novel ‘Porgy’ which was the basis for the opera. So sit back, enjoy the vibe and relax. This is still arguably one the most recognised and beloved songs ever created.

Chariots of Fire, composed by Vangelis – A moving and stirring piece that conjures images of the film ‘Chariots of Fire.’ Released in 1981 this piece is taken from the score by electronic composer Vangelis for the British film, which went on to win four Academy Awards including Best Picture and Original Music Score.

ET: Flying Theme, composed by Williams – Legendary film Composer John Williams is 90 is 2022! So we’re celebrating by performing a selection of his best known works. ET’s Flying Theme is unmistakable, moving and captures the magic of the 1982 film perfectly.

It’s De-Lovely, composed by Porter – It’s time for some Cole Porter. ‘It’s De-Lovely’ originally appearing in his 1936 musical ‘Red Hot and Blue’ and was later used in the musical ‘Anything Goes,’ first appearing in the film version from 1956, when it was performed by Mitzi Gaynor and Donald O’Connor.

City of Angels: The Tennis Song, composed by Coleman/Zippel – ‘City of Angels’ is a musical comedy film with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, and a book by Larry Gelbart. Telling two stories simultaneously, the musical weaves together two plots. These are a story of a writer trying to adapt his novel into a screenplay and the world of the film he is writing. The musical is a beautiful homage to the stylised film noir motion pictures of the 1940’s.

Don’t Stop Me Now, composed by Mercury – It’s party time with this classic piece of Queen released in 1978 on the album Jazz. Let it all hang out and get to your feet and get your pool cues ready, with this guaranteed party starter of a track!

Star Wars: Imperial March, composed by Williams – More from John Williams here with a marching piece that’s out of this world. Imperial March first appeared in The Empire Strikes Back in 1980 and still fills us with dread!

Star Wars: Throne Room and End credits, composed by Williams – John Williams ensured the classic status of ‘Star Wars – A New Hope’ with his stirring score and the final scene and credits were the perfect send off to the film, helping solidify it in film and popular culture history.

Tickets for The Darley Park Concert bought before Sun 31 Jul are £4 for a standard ticket and under 16s are £1. Tickets bought from Mon 1 Aug until Sat 27 Aug are £6 for a standard ticket and £3.50 for under 16s. Tickets bought on the day cost £8.50 for a standard ticket and £3.50 for an under 16s ticket.