Music on the Levels announces details of the free concert entitled Danza Alta with Rosafresca on Sunday 25 October 2026 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. The concert starts at 3pm and refreshments are available at modest charge from 2.15pm.

With a passion for music from the Renaissance European courts, Bristol based Rosafresca captures the excitement and energy of the music of the 15^th and 16^th centuries.

‘For this event’, says Rosafresca, ‘we reveal the rich textures and sonorities recreated by period instruments such as vihuela, viola da gamba, recorders, crumhorns and a range of percussion… expect the unexpected.’ 

The performance will include a variety of works by some ten composers including Francisco de la Torre (c. 1460 – c. 1504) and the Italian Joan Ambrosio Dalza who was active in Venice in the early fifteen hundreds.

Most of the pieces are dances such as the pavane, the Italian piva and the Spanish danza alter. The concert will include introductions to some of the most unusual instruments and the history of the times of the composers.  

A 19^th depiction of a pavane 

Arrangements for this concert

Since the 2026 Music on the Levels leaflet was printed, it no longer has the use of The Old School car park.

However, there is parking on most of the roads in the village but we ask people not to park in Church Lane. 

There is no need to book as the church’s capacity have never yet been exceeded. However, it should be noted that seats are available on a first come, first served basis. 

In order to help with the artists’ and other costs a raffle is held. In addition, donations are encouraged. It costs well over £400 to put on a concert.

The Performing Rights Society supports these events with their Charity discount.

The first concert after our summer break is with Thunderbridge on Sunday 20 September 2026 in St Mary’s Church, Main Road, Westonzoyland, TA7 0EP. The concert starts at 3pm and refreshments are available at modest charge from 2.15pm.

For 20 years Thunderbridge toured the UK and beyond, playing arts centres, festivals, bars and front rooms, to packed and happy audiences, meanwhile recording six albums of original material mixed with some bluegrass classics and crowd-pleasers. These days the band consists of Nick Girone-Maddocks (guitar and voice), Jules Bushell (double bass and voice), Paul Hill (banjo, mandolin and voice) and Clare Mactaggart (violin and voice).

‘We formed in Wellington, Somerset, in 2015’, says Jules, ‘Two brothers discovered bluegrass music and decided they wanted to form a new band to play that style. It’s the joy of fully acoustic instrumentation and close harmony singing that continues to appeal.

‘Bluegrass is an American form of acoustic country music, stemming from Bill Monroe in the 1940s. A lot of what we play is original compositions, but also some that people might recognise from the film ‘Oh Brother Where Art Thou’, or from the songbook of the Carter Family.’

The close-harmony singing is backed by all-acoustic music with banjo, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, and double bass.

Arrangements for this concert

Since the 2026 Music on the Levels leaflet was printed, it no longer has the use of The Old School car park.

However, there is parking on most of the roads in the village but we ask people not to park in Church Lane. 

There is no need to book as the church’s capacity have never yet been exceeded. However, it should be noted that seats are available on a first come, first served basis. 

In order to help with the artists’ and other costs a raffle is held. In addition, donations are encouraged. It costs well over £400 to put on a concert.

The Performing Rights Society supports these events with their Charity discount.

Music on the Levels completes its 2006 season with Rosafresca, music from Renaissance courts recreated on period instruments, on 25 October and a return of Joyful Spirit on 29 November with their combination of Gospel and standard covers.

On Sunday 31 May, Sally Jenkins was joined by Kath Sugden to perform a programme of music form around the globe.

Sally before the concert starts . .

. . and Kath chatting afterwards.