LOOKING for things happening in and around Hereford?

We've compiled some upcoming events to keep all the family busy in Herefordshire, including a concert at Hereford Cathedral.

These are three of the events published in the what's on section of the Hereford Times this week (August 15).

John Challenger

(Image: Ben Tomlin)

Hereford Cathedral will welcome back former chorister John Challenger for a very special Gala Organ Concert this September. John will be opening the Space and Other Worlds season at the cathedral with his transcription of Holst’s the Planets on Tuesday, September 17 at 7pm as part of this year’s summer organ recital programme.

Mr Challenger said: "Holst was dedicated to improving musical education, so it seems fitting that the Planets has become one of the main ‘classical’ works used to introduce young people to music. It’s a great pleasure to be at Hereford Cathedral performing The Planets on the very beautiful Hereford Willis, the sounds of which were so thrilling to me, and which inspired me as a child myself, to become an organist.

"The Hereford Willis possesses a refined delicacy and beauty of tone which, set in Hereford’s generous acoustic, makes the playing of romantic or symphonic styles so enjoyable. It’s therefore a great pleasure to re-imagine Holst’s The Planets on this organ. In this building the music just comes alive, and so I cannot wait to share it with an audience this September."

John received his early musical education as a chorister at Hereford Cathedral from 1996 to 2001 under Dr Roy Massey, Geraint Bowen and Peter Dyke. He began his organ studies with Geraint Bowen, obtaining his Fellowship of the Royal College of Organists in 2008. Since 2012, John has held the post of assistant director of music at Salisbury Cathedral. 

John Challenger’s performance of The Planets will take place at Hereford Cathedral on Tuesday, September 17 at 7pm. Tickets for this concert cost £12 (students £5) and are available to purchase through the cathedral shop and cathedral website: www.herefordcathedral.org/Event/the-planets

Sarah McQuaid

(Image: Phil Nicholls)

Singer-songwriter Sarah McQuaid is performing a concert in Hay-on-Wye.

Ms McQuaid said: “I’m basically trying to build a fanbase one gig at a time. It’s why I do a lot of village hall and library concerts, because those shows draw an audience that hasn’t necessarily ever heard of me, but goes along anyway because it’s in their local area and it’s not a big investment for them — the library concerts are almost always free to the public and the village halls tend to be subsidised. 

“And then if they come up afterwards and buy merch and sign up to the mailing list, I know I’ve got another fan or two, and hopefully they’ll tell their friends to check out my music.”

Her Hay-on-Wye concert is at the Globe at 8pm on Sunday, August 31.

Fighting knights

(Image: English heritage)

English Heritage will be welcoming some special guests to Goodrich Castle in Herefordshire on the weekend of August 17 and 18, when chivalric warriors will be battling it out for glory at fighting knights.

Visitors can come and watch these brave knights get donned in their armour, before putting their strength and skill to the test in combat shows throughout the day. Alongside this, there will be interactive family activities for everyone to get involved in that will transport you back to the castle’s medieval heyday.

Ella Harrison, events manage at English Heritage, said: “We know there’s nothing quite so magical as watching our historical performers do battle in a spectacular heritage site, so we’re very pleased to be holding Fighting Knights at Goodrich Castle in August. We hope the event will bring to life what it was like in the castle centuries ago for visitors.”

Entry to Fighting Knights is included in the price of admission. English Heritage members and non-members can save 15 per cent by booking online. For more information on Goodrich Castle, visit www.english-heritage.org.uk.