West Croydon Area Guide

The Band says:- We had a fantastic year in 2024 - we were very honoured to play at the wonderful Broadstairs Folk Week in August, and also at the amazing community festival BunkFest in Wallingford. Exciting plans are coming together for 2025 - watch this space! What can you expect from a live gig We've got songs of revenge and illicit love, cheery little gospel songs about dying, and lots of accompanying laughter and banter - come and hear Sarah trash-talk each of us while Doug adjusts his guitar into ever more elaborate tunings before we set off into some melting harmonies, fiery fiddle melodies and blistering guitar licks! We cover everything from bluegrass and country to murder ballads, old jazz standards and gospel, plus the odd bluesy original thrown in for good measure. And we're keen on mixing it up with our own take on old favourites like Britney's Toxic and the Dead South's gorgeous minor version of You Are My Sunshine. In 2023 we played at the Croydon Folk and Blues Festival and Kew Village Market as well as in pubs around south-west London, including our Brentford residency at the Northumberland arms, and had a glowing review from the wonderful Doug Welch on Radio Kent Upload. Our origin story One cold January night in 2019, singer and guitarist Sarah Weir strapped her guitar to her back and set out in search of music and song. At the Old Packhorse in Chiswick, she stumbled across fiddle player Cath Nelson, and the pair bonded over shared tales of love lost - and a passion for Emmylou and Michelle Shocked. Together we became Calico Thieves, joined in 2021 by guitar genius Dr Doug Field and in 2022 by bass player extraordinaire Mark Waterfield. Now were on a mission to dress up in our finest stage gear, play and sing our hearts out - and spread the joy of American roots, country, gospel and blues!

Dolly Mavies captivates with her genre-defying fusion of Alternative Indie and Folk Rock. Igniting listeners with sparks of the vivacity of her live performances, uniting audiences in a profound exploration of life's highs and lows. Her songs embody struggle, all-consuming love, the fragility of life, and challenging adversity. Drawing influences from The National, and Patti Smith, Mavies songs feel like an old friend, a new lover, and those feelings youd pushed to the back of your mind. Dolly's music transcends both eras and genres, evoking the spirit of classic rock with a contemporary twist. Drawing parallels to luminaries like Joni Mitchell, Florence + The Machine, Daughter, and Fleetwood Mac, her tracks resonate with integrity and substance, leaving a lasting impact. Backed by her exceptionally talented band, Dolly Mavies captains on an exhilarating sonic journey, inviting her listeners to immerse themselves in her spellbinding narratives. She's not just an artist; she's a compelling storyteller whose music offers an enchanting passage to the heart of the human experience.

Nabil Abdulrashid is an award-winning comedian and writer. Nabil has come a long way since being a finalist and Alesha Dixon’s golden buzzer on Britain’s Got Talent in 2020. He is an acclaimed stand up who has performed comedy all over the UK, and across the world and is recognised for his sardonic intelligence and sharp eye for the absurdities of racial discourse.

We Love Aura is bringing the "Link-up" to BOXPARK. Join us as we continue to redefine the event culture by taking over iconic venues and turning them into immersive social experiences, creating unforgettable moments where music, energy and atmosphere come together. This is a special one as its our debut in BOXPARK. Join us as we turn BOXPARK into a giant PLAYBOX!! Presented by WeLoveAura. This is an 22+ event

Year 6 supported by Year 5 proudly present Frozen Jr

In a world where children have to answer to every grown up, where they are told to listen, be polite, eat their vegetables, what time to go to bed and so on.. It is our duty as Grown ups to teach our children the right ways, to be good people, to do the right thing.. and to behave! However, what would happen if one day these children discover something so wonderfully exciting, something so secret, something that is filled to the brim with all the wishes their little hearts could desire, no bedtimes, no vegetables, and most of all, no grown ups!! What could possibly go wrong... Presented by BRIT Kids Croydon All ages