Young Talent Shines in the Heart of Maidenhead

Young performers lit up the town centre on Sunday June 1st as Maidenhead Festival continued its summer programme with an afternoon of music, dance, and community fun.

The space outside Maidenhead Library on St Ives Road was transformed into a vibrant open-air theatre, drawing crowds of all ages to enjoy a free showcase of local talent. Students from Shining Star Performing Arts School wowed the audience with energetic performances of hits from the West End musicals Annie and Mean Girls.

Following the performances, the Shining Star team invited children and adults to join in a dance workshop, teaching a fun routine to Revolting Children from Matilda the Musical. The chance to take part was a hit with young festival-goers and their families.

Local singer-songwriter Sophie Natasha brought the afternoon to a close with a relaxed set of acoustic covers and original songs, rounding off an inspiring day of live music.

Festival-goers also helped Rio Deli celebrate five successful years of running the library café. With vouchers for free hot drinks on offer, the benches outside the venue were packed with families soaking up the sunshine and enjoying the festival atmosphere.

Maidenhead Festival chairman Lisa Hunter said: “It was wonderful to bring open-air music to the heart of the town centre and partner with Shining Star to showcase the abilities of so many talented young performers. Events like this really highlight the spirit of Maidenhead Festival — bringing people together to celebrate creativity and our local community.”

This year marks a new direction for Maidenhead Festival. After retiring the two-day event in Kidwells Park last year, organisers are now focusing on smaller, more frequent community-based events designed to connect residents with local venues, businesses, and artists.

Sunday’s performances followed the successful Maidenhead Festival SoundLab event held during half-term, which also brought live music to the town centre.

Lisa added: “Our first two events have perfectly embodied what Maidenhead Festival is all about: promoting community spirit, connecting people, and celebrating creativity and grassroots arts in our town.”
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Next up in the programme is Live and Local: Summer Sounds — a vibrant showcase of acoustic musicians taking place in the Waterside Quarter on Saturday, August 16. Be sure to mark your calendars and join us for more great music and community spirit.

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