1 Market Place (Lower End) – area just outside Hope and Anchor p/h hatched yellow – proposed main use is for Saturday Street Music, with rain shelter and modest PA. An excellent spot which will catch good crowds and be audible across the Market Place and up and down St John Street.
2 Market Place (Top end) – Lovely site opposite the Blacks Head from where sound fills the Market Place. Area used depends on need, either outside the ‘Pelican House’ (for DJs and musicians needing power), or on the steps around the tree (acoustic performers, drama) or on the flat area just above the tree (dancers, larger groups) – only used in September, for Festival music/performance. No rain protection.
3 Library – area immediately in front of the Library, used for Festival Street Music only. An excellent spot with rain shelter and adequate PA catching good crowds and audible down St John Street and up into the Dale/Greenhill – usually for Festival we invite visiting ‘sound stages’ to cover both days here.
4 Memorial Gardens, St John Street – delightful town gardens, we use the pavement in front of the railings and the lawns in the Gardens – superb area for larger groups, dancers/performers etc. Power/PA/rain shelter can be provided, the sound carries over much of lower St John Street. Used for the regular Farmers Market (first Saturday of each month) and for Festival Street Music, and occasionally and strictly in lieu of Venue 6 below for eg Brass Bands, choirs, small dance groups and others for whom Venue 6 is not suitable. Note this is a Memorial Garden, and music/performance must not be too raucous!
5 Stoney Wood – Wirksworth’s ‘Millennial Woodland’ on site of an old quarry reached from just up Middleton road or from Greenhill, a ‘natural amphitheatre’ with wonderful acoustics which could comfortably take an audience of 2000; the ‘Main Stage’ is a flat area immediately in front of the limestone cliff face (inside the Wood) abutting Middleton Road giving superb resonance, but our License includes the entire site for wandering ‘occasional musicians’ without amplification (excellent sites especially along the top rim). This site is also licensed for late events, up to 9pm with amplification and 11pm without, for ‘fire-pit music’ or potentially for full-scale drama productions; we have big plans for using this site in 2010 and beyond. In 2009 we had problems as our borrowed generator was inadequate; we have a good new one for 2010. Rain shelter and good PA available
6 The Cruck, St John Street – delightful small area with circular bench and tree, brick/stone behind for good acoustics, and power/modest PA available; no rain protection except under the tree. Use is mainly for proposed ‘Summer Saturdays Street Music’ and as part of Festival Street Music
7 Babington House, Greenhill – everybody’s favourite venue, a gritstone Tudor merchant’s house with a high limestone cliff opposite so the sound is superb and drifts all the way down Greenhill. Seating for 50, and up a steep hill so punters usually sit awhile. Good rain protection, and a decent PA. Used for Open Gardens and Festival weekends, may also use for occasional musical evenings and fund-raising events.
8 Hatfield Farm, North End – An old farm courtyard at right angles to the road, brick and stone each side and wonderful views to far end. Great acoustics, seating for 30+, and up North End so people are ready to sit and listen. Good rain protection, and an adequate PA. Used for Open Gardens and Festival weekends, may also use for occasional musical evenings and fund-raising events.
9 The Stable Block, Blind Lane – delightful small courtyard surrounded by stone and glass in this fascinating conversion of the old stables. Used for Festival weekends and may sometimes use for other events.
10 The Station, Coldwell Street – a developing regional draw, an exciting site and a historic venue. The entire site is licensed for maximum flexibility; usage will usually be on main platform area, but may sometimes be on ‘loading bay’ to left of entry, on ‘raised mound’ to right hand side, on a moving wagon passing along the tracks in front of the main platform, or inside railway carriages. An important venue for Festival weekends but permitting use to go on into the early evenings as there is excellent sound insulation; exciting plans for extended use in 2010 and beyond, for ‘Railway Musical Weekends’ and similar. Rain protection and adequate PA.
11 ‘Wild Cherry Cafe’ 78 Greenhill - delightful cottage and gardens high up Greenhill, near where the path from Stoney Wood joins. Use is mainly as ‘musical cafe’ (the chocolate cake is legendary) simultaneous with events at Stoney Wood (5 above) but may also use for Open Gardens or other events – usual‘stage’ is immediately in front of the house on the patio area with wonderful views and good sound ‘drift’, but sometimes in the gardens instead. Modest PA, limited rain protection.
12 United Reformed Church – 1850s church perfectly designed for pin-sharp acoustics, with a splendid balcony above - for instrumental/’suitable’ music only. Weather-proof, good seating, a superb venue – used (by us) for Festival Street Music only
13 Church Walk Performance Area - Paved area behind the Balti is the usual spot used for drama and other performance (but these can also fit in at Market Place or Memorial Gardens/Cruck when needed) - no amplification/ power or weather protection. Used for Festival weekends only.