Staffordshire Day – 1 May 2025

1 May is Staffordshire Day, when the county comes together to celebrate all things Staffordshire. So, we’ve picked out some of the exceptional home-grown artists who’ll be performing at this summer’s Lichfield Festival.

Former Lichfield Festival director Paul Spicer is a busy man. When he’s not directing choirs like the Birmingham Bach Choir, or composing music, he’s an engaging author and speaker. His latest biography charts the life and music of the composer Sir Arthur Bliss. Bliss recovered from injury and loss in the First World War to become Master of the Queen’s Music and a prolific and respected composer. Among his ballets, opera and music for TV and film are his influential score for H G Wells’s Things to Come.

An evening of superbly performed show tunes, film scores, popular music hits and classical masterpieces awaits from the 50-strong Lichfield Concert Band. Celebrating their 40th anniversary this year, the band travel the UK from Sidmouth to Scarborough and abroad, making Lichfield proud with their competition successes including at the National Concert Band Festival.

Award-winning writer, story-teller and funny girl, Katie Arnstein’s career goes from strength to strength. A Festival Associate Artist, Katie’s brand new comedy Everything Will Be Alright has been created especially for Lichfield Festival.

Lesley Smith is a hugely popular Lichfield Festival regular. A former curator of Tutbury Castle and the British Museum, Lesley is a specialist in Tudor history. She’s known for her dramatic portrayals of historical characters, which she gives in full costume, and this year she brings Anne Boleyn’s story to life. Manipulative and cunning, or profoundly religious and morally concerned Lesley will put the facts straight.