This year’s Lichfield Festival (4-14 July) is set to be an exciting affair with a major orchestra, some hilarious comedy and visitors from across the Irish Sea. 

The Philharmonia Orchestra, from London, will play the prestigious closing concert on Saturday 13 July, including works by Vaughan Williams and Sibelius. 

The Festival will open with the Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra from Manchester, made up of some of the finest student musicians in the country. “Chets” as they are known among festival regulars have been popular with the Lichfield audience every time they have been here. 

Among those providing the laughs in July are stand-up comedian and star of The Thick Of It and Mock The Week, Chris Addison, and theatrical comedy specialists Lip Service will be bringing their latest show, Inspector Norse, a spoof of all those Nordic crime dramas that have kept us glued to our televisions through the winter. 

First-time visitors include the Irish Chamber Orchestra. 

For 2013 there will be daytime concerts in St Michael’s Church and at Swinfen Hall Hotel, including performances by the Heath and Skampa String Quartets, as well as a morning series of chamber music featuring young artists in the Cathedral Lady Chapel. 

BMW Plant Hams Hall has announced it will be the Lichfield Festival’s Principal Partner for a record 10^th year. The Lichfield Festival is supported by Arts Council England and Lichfield District Council. 

More Festival artists will be announced shortly and booking opens in early May. Lichfield Festival 2013 at Various Venues, Lichfield, Staffordshire, WS13 7LD Thu 4th to Sun 14th July 2013