‘Let’s Dance for Sports Relief’ winner Rufus Hound is one of many acts performing at the re-instated Wimbledon Cannizaro Park Festival this July
By Walaa Khubieh
Cheryl Cole impersonator, comedian Rufus Hound, will perform at the Wimbledon Cannizaro Park Festival this summer.
Other confirmed acts include F1 legend Eddie Jordan and his band ‘The Robbers’, ‘Never Mind the Buzzcocks’’ Phill Jupitus, award-winning jazz pianist and vocalist Liane Carroll and soul singer Mica Paris.
Hound, the recent ‘Let’s Dance for Sport Relief’ winner, will participate in a Comic Strip Live performance alongside fellow entertainers Milton Jones, Richard Herring, Marlon Davis and Phil Nichol.
Pupils from The BRIT School, whose alumni include Amy Winehouse and The Kooks among others, will also take to the stage.
The event, taking place between July 2 – 17 on the Wimbledon Common site, will feature a variety of entertainment including comedy nights, tribute bands, opera and jazz evenings.
Elizabeth Penney, Director of Music at The BRIT School, said: “We are all very excited to be invited back again this year as it was the highlight of our performance calendar last time.
“We are going with a theme of modern hits as it created a real party atmosphere in 2008.”
Financial difficulties brought about by the economic downturn forced Cannizaro Events Ltd to cancel the festival last year.
Wimbledon-based BSL World is taking on the entire project this year.
The event management consultancy firm contacted Merton Council and the previous organisers hoping to get involved in the planning of the festival.
“Being a local company, we have always enjoyed the event and were sad to discover it wasn’t going ahead last year,” Festival Manager Lauren Harris said.
“We got in touch to see if there was anything we could do to help,” she added.
Merton Council will adopt a behind-the-scenes supporting role, leaving most of the planning and arrangements to BSL World.
They are ensuring that local talent is included in the festival by helping the organisers select the main and supporting acts.
Ash Akhtar, Merton Council’s Arts Development Department spokesman, said: “We make sure that Merton-based acts get an opportunity to showcase their talents.”
The festival will offer spectators an intimate surrounding to enjoy the beautiful Italian gardens of Cannizaro House.
There is capacity for 1,000 people through an 800 seat grandstand and a picnic area that accommodates 200 festival-goers.
Food concessions and drink stores will also be available.
Tickets go on sale on April 6 from www.ambassadortickets.com.
