The Proms at St Jude’s arts festival gets underway this weekend with a lit-fest and concert starring percussionist Evelyn Glennie.
The nine-day, volunteer-run event stages world class concerts in the beautiful setting of St Jude’s in Hampstead Garden Suburb.
There are also two days of book talks on Saturday and Sunday at Henrietta Barnett School on topics ranging from politics to novels and gardening.
Political scientist Sir Vernon Bogdanor names the Six Politicians Who Changed Britain and is in discussion with PR gury and When It Hits The Fan podcaster Simon Lewis.
Also on Saturday, Ann Treneman talks to North London novelist Charlotte Mendleson about remarkable plants, Sir Michael Palin discusses the latest volume of his diaries covering the years 1999-2009, and broadcaster Petroc Trelawney talks about his native Cornwall.
On Sunday political scoops are revealed by journalists Patrick Maguire and Gabriel Pogrund who talk about their book Get In – the inside story of Labour under Keir Starmer.
After that it’s the turn of historical novelist and Dartmouth Park resident Tracy Chevalier to talk about her latest Venice-set novel The Glassmaker.
Then Hampstead human rights lawyer Philippe Sands probes the connections between Nazi fugitives and Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet as told in his latest book 38 Londres Street.
The legal theme continues as Her Honour Wendy Joseph KC asks ‘Do We have the law we deserve?’
Music fans can also catch percussionist Evelyn Glennie performing a programme of Bach, Vivaldi, Puccini and Tchaikovsky with Fantasia Orchestra on Saturday.
Then rounding off the weekend The Thumping Tommys bring their brand of American and British Folk with a lively mix of barn-dancing bluegrass, passionate folk ballads, heartfelt original compositions, and unique interpretations of popular songs.
The festival continues until June 29 with a packed programme of walks, talks, family events, workshops, comedy and music concluding with a final thumping last night of the Proms.
Further details at https://www.promsatstjudes.org.uk
