Behind the castle
If only we could bottle the fantastic sights, smells and sounds of perfect summer days ! Yesterday was one of those days when we visited Sherborne Castle for a one day music festival called "Behind the Castle". The sun shone, the performers were fantastic and the scenery was amazing. When we took some items back to the car before the final act we walked behind the other side of the castle and around this lovely garden and lake........
In the evening light the remains of the 12th century old Sherborne Castle across the other side of the lake added a magical touch.
Throughout the day my eyes kept being drawn to the beautiful rolling English countryside all around us. We were also lucky enough to spot a rare red kite gliding in the skies above us.
And as evening started to fall the sun shone out behind the castle....
and listening to the Levellers was a perfect end to the day.
It was the first time the festival had been held and we will be back again next year! There seems to be so many open air music festivals catering for different musical tastes held during the summer that you don't need to travel far too find one. We always enjoy watching Glastonbury on television and have always discovered new bands that have become some of our favourites. This year we will be looking out for the Cornish alternative rock band the Black Tambourines who were Runners up in the Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition. My son discovered the band during a family holiday in Cornwall in 2010 and he released their music under the Art is Hard record label that is run by him and his friend. Are you visiting any concerts this summer? Are they popular in other countries too?
Wishing you a good week ahead.
Sarah x
This is my kind of day. Oh yes we will be going to some Summer festivals here in California but none behind a castle. How blessed you are! Lovely post as always.
ReplyDeleteThis must have been a great day. A music festival with beautiful views to a castle and the surrounding landscape, amazing. We have lots of music festivals too in our country but we miss the rolling hills of England, it is all flat.
ReplyDeleteAnd this time of the year keep blooming more magical sights in music, color and tastes! Oh Sarah, this is indeed my idea of magic! Lovely garden, my goodness! XOXOX
ReplyDeleteLove summer concerts. They are magical in the summer evenings. Looks as if you had a wonderful time. What a beautiful castle and the garden is just as beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your day.
Blessings,
Bobbie Lynn
It sounds a perfect day Sarah.
ReplyDeleteI love the last photo of the castle and the sun going down.
The house looks beautiful, the flowers divine.. I dream of a garden like this.):-
Here we have a lot of summer festivals. Our biggest festival, is "Rock in Rio"- this year's star group were "The Rolling Stones"- My youngest son who is a musician went to see them. He was blown away. At 71 and 72 or so they are amazing.
Music is food for the soul..
How great your son has started his own recording label.. I will take a look at it on the net.
The weather is perfect for concerts now.
Happy week Sarah..xx val
I love live music, especially an open air concert with picnic etc. This looks like a wonderful evening in beautiful surroundings.
ReplyDeleteIt all looks magical - the dusk photo is lovely with its soft light and yet still warm enough to linger on for longer enjoying the company.
ReplyDeleteThe flower borders at the castle are exactly my cup of tea - traditional English assortment of lupins, delphiniums, and foxgloves.
Oh Sarah, you are so kind to visit me! Yes, this 102 year old woman got her wish to meet her daughter after 77 years. It is a compelling story that changed my course of writing. I hope you are having a FUN SUMMER, my friend! Anita
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful location for an outdoor concert! Your pictures were lovely. In Portland, OR...we have concerts at the zoo. This year we are seeing Huey Lewis and the News in July! Hopefully we will have a beautiful night for it and not too hot. Enjoy! Stacy
ReplyDeleteOpen air concerts are my favourite way to see a band. There is just something magical about it!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic location for a festival. I love the Levellers, I saw them live once in .... 2003 or 2004 but that was an indoor gig and I remember it mostly because a crowd surfer 'stood' on my ear and ripped a piercing out and a bit later, I fainted as I far too hot! Outdoor music is much better! We are going to a music festival in August called Alt Fest and I'm looking forward to that.
ReplyDeleteTo answer your question about well dressings and natural materials: Yes, I think so. Traditionally, well dressings only used petals and leaves to fill in the design and the picture would be 'drawn' on to the clay with alder cones before adding petals. I know there are people in some villages who complain about the use of seeds and coffee beans and such as it's not proper. I think a wider ranger of materials are used now, including dyed stones which I suppose aren't really natural but I think they all tend to use natural things - flowers, seeds, pine coke, sheep wool, shells, stones, catkins, peppercorns, twigs - I suppose the list could go on and on! I've found a link which tells you all about Well Dressing, which I hope you will find interesting -- http://welldressing.com/extra.php
I've just read through that link I sent in the previous comment and realised it didn't talk about the materials used! The last paragraph on this wikipedia page has a little more - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Well_dressing . I've never seen a well dressing that used much in the way of non-natural materials so I think this must still be the widespread, chosen way of doing it!
ReplyDeleteI would love to go to an open air concert - with my picnic!! One day maybe!! The garden looks wonderful, such colours! Have just spent a very sunny, warm week in Bridport!! Spent a day in your neck of the woods, was looking for a Westie dog, the only one I saw had an owner who was writing postcards, so didn't think that was you!!!!! Got to Brewers Quay, nice to have a rummage, but I preferred it how it used to be!! Thank you for the sunshine!!!! Will be back in a couple of weeks, when Little Bredy is on the list!!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic setting for listening to music.
ReplyDeleteMy husband is a music lover so I am going to share the name of your son's business with him to learn about the different groups he releases.
I think outdoor concerts are everybody's favourites! Looks like you had fun and what a great spot to host that concert!
ReplyDeleteWow, beautiful, plants and Castle. I have never heard from this Castle, now I have it on my To-do-List and will show it Mr. W.
ReplyDeleteI think, that was a great day.
Sigrun
It sounds and looks like you had a fabulous day, so very pretty.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful garden....Sherborne castle is on our list of places to visit. x
ReplyDeleteThat looked like a smashing evening Sarah. We have an annual open air classical concert at Leeds Castle in Kent every summer and it's fantastic with a finale of fireworks whilst the 1812 overture is played. Picnic and champers are obligatory of course. Glad you enjoyed yours. x
ReplyDeleteLooks like fun ... may have to visit that one next year. I used to go to Glastonbury every year but now we go to the Larmer Tree festival and and the Glastonbury Abbey evening concert instead (Robert Plant this year).
ReplyDeleteSounds like a perfect day! The garden and lake behind the castle are so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI love summer open-air events! At least, I love the idea of them, and sometimes the reality. But even huddling under blankets as the clouds gather, with a moth in the wine-glass, has a particular charm!
ReplyDeleteNothing better than a day like this! Your photos are eye catching, sooo beautiful! I would be happy to join you...
ReplyDeleteOh what a lovely garden you accidentally found - and that lake is to die for - I can just see us in a rowing boat with long floaty dresses and large straw hats drifting on a summers evening. So glad you enjoyed the concert - events out of doors always seem more special.
ReplyDeleteAlways a beautiful spot, and I imagine more so with the added attractions of music, picnics and good company :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely spot to enjoy music. Your photos are great. I looked for the red kite and could not see it - if you have it in the photo. Perhaps I don't know what I am looking at. No matter seeing the countryside and castle is just lovely. The pond look so calm and serene. Your son must have an interesting job. Best, Kim
ReplyDeleteI wasn't quick enough to capture the red kite unfortunately! My son runs his record company in his spare time so he always seems to be busy! Sarah x
DeleteWe're going to the East Neuk Festival (Fife, Scotland) this year for the first time. Classical concert holidays have become our favourites. Next year Medelssohn on Mull! Glad you enjoyed this one in it's wonderful setting Sarah and thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing experience that must have been. There is a production of Pride and Prejudice at Sandal Castle (which is nearby) soon but unfortunately we cant go to that. I bet it would be brilliant.Glad you had a great time.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us!
ReplyDeleteThe only concerts we will enjoy this year are those of the Seagulls, robins, Finches, Swallows, Towhees etc.
Hugs to Daisy and Twinkle!
Glad that you had such a good time, we must do better and go to more of this sort of thing as it is years since we went to an outdoor concert. They are great fun though aren't they. xx
ReplyDeleteWow - what a place. I love the colors in that second one. xx
ReplyDeleteA concert being held near a castle in these wonderful surroundings, wow! And that garden, soooo beautiful, good thing you went to see it and took pictures. Must have been a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteMarian
How wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI go to see the open air plays at Highcliffe Castle with a bunch of girlfriends every year... this year Macbeth. Our village has a four day music festival which is superb & I love the final headlining bands with everyone up dancing.
great setting for a music festival! I've never been to a big festival and it dosnt really appeal, too big too crowded...the loos.... but I love smaller festivals and venues, much more intimate and civilised haha x
ReplyDeleteThe castle and the gardens are exquisite....they are so quintessentially British, love seeing masses of flowers grouped together all running wild...so beautiful and what a beautiful evening you had. I think you had the best of both worlds, a more intimate festival is probably what I would enjoy as well especially on a beautiful summer evening. Hope the weather lasts, we've been enjoying such balmy evenings lately.. Sharon xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a garden and what a castle! So nice to see a concert in this setting. Lovely greetings
ReplyDeleteThe castle is very grand as is the lovely gardens. What a lovely day you had. Hugs Judy
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah,
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful place to hold a concert - the Castle and gardens are amazing.
We too always enjoy watching Glastonbury on the television - love seeing and listening to new bands and hearing their music.
hugs
Carolyn