'Well, we did it! Postponed numerous times for reasons of the terrible global Pandemic, finally we were able to bring a scaled back, socially-distanced "Day of Transcendent Joy as Autumn Falls" on Saturday 2nd October 2021... let's let the written feedback speak for itself...

"...thank you for a really wonderful evening, you have created something really special, and I was so grateful to be part of it..."

"I just wanted to let you know how much I loved the music last night. Every single person who shared their music did so from a heart centred place and it was very much felt - the awareness the energy and and the love. What an amazing evening! Such an affirmation of how music and sound can be a portal into divine consciousness and what a wonderful feeling that is. Well done and so much thanks for bringing it all together."

"Loved this and so wonderful to share Spirit in this church. If only the whole world could be like this ❤️ "

"What an eclectic and moving array of musicians last night - it was a really good concert (and lovely food). Well done to all the volunteers and the whole team for the whole day.... there was a lovely calm in the Chant Space and people who had been there for several items loved it. What an honour to be in the audience for the evening." 

"I just wanted to say how amazing the evening was on Saturday - the people you'd chosen were wonderful and gave such deep and profound offerings. It was remarkable and inspiring."

"Thank you so much for such a special evening on Saturday. We [Boss Morris] had a wonderful time and were really honoured to be included in such an amazing line up of artists. It was a really, really incredible evening." 

"Thank you for organising the Festival. We are staying in the area for a few days for our wedding anniversary and found out about it from a random what's on search. We loved it. Thank-you."

"Well done on organising the Festival - an astonishing collection of musicians and the closing collaboration was inspired!"

Welcome to the 2019 edition of the hugely popular Stroud Sacred Music Festival (apparently only one of six in the world!)  

This year with our theme of Music to Celebrate our Beautiful Earth, we have a fantastic line of of musicians, facilitators, food, drink and dancing for you, in and around the grounds of St Laurence Church and Bank Gardens, Stroud. 

Come along on Friday evening for a unique night of Ecstatic Dance facilitated by Keef Miles from Awakening the Wild with live music from The Raga Babas & DJ Osara followed by a relaxing Gong Bath.  There will be a cacao bar to fuel your footsteps, dancing into the night. Bring blankets if required to rest on during the gongs!

Saturday promises an eclectic mix of events to suit all ages and abilites.  In the morning there will be the deeply reflective and calming Celebration of Life followed by Dances of Universal Peace, and for those who like a precession we'll be congregating midday at the Subrooms for a drum circle and march thought the town (wear bright clothes & a big smile) In the afternoon there will be a youth area in Bank Gardens with yoga, meditation, drumming and an open mic stage.  

In the old Town Hall (above the shambles market) drop in for an immersive day inter-faith chant, from Taize to Kirtan it will all be going on with many local musicians including Enchanting the Void and the special guests Ravi Ji and Omer Makessa. 

The Main event on Saturday evening will be jam packed with an array of bands, choirs and musicians including our three headline acts; Baka Beyond, The Kakatitsi Drummers and Bob Hillary! There will be Indian vegetarian food & other refreshments available all night.  Expect to dance, sing and celebrate! 

To make the Stroud Sacred Music Festival as welcoming and accessible-to-all as possible, none of the events are ticketed however we do ask that you make donations on the door £10-£50 to cover the costs.  

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Stroud Sacred Music Festival Team.

Following this year's hugely successful festival, the team are busy working on the 2019 festival and continue with it's gradual growth. 

Making the festival accessible to all by doing away with tickets and trusting that generous donations would work, we were able to just cover our costs this year.
There have already been several events in St Laurence Church since July with Seckou Keita an amazing highlight in September. November will see many more events including The Raga Babas, Ombiviolum, Chaturtha Timo and The Armed Man by Karl Jenkins.

We are aiming to add another stage at the Sacred Music Festival 2019, where the performers will come from a learning difficulties back ground. The all day chants from around the world venue worked extremely well too and the plan is to continue with that with more wonderful singers.

We hope to attract another world known headliner for the finale on Saturday night.
Still a lot of work to do.

Do you you have some time to help? If so do get in touch...

​We are very excited to announce that Susie will be launching her new album Song of a Thousand Leaves in concert at St Laurence church, with a harmony singing workshop the following afternoon (no experience necessary) Booking in advance is recommended especially for the workshop where places are more limited, tickets are available on event brite via the links below.

Saturday 26th May- Evening concert with special guest Omer Makessa
19:30 – 23:00
Click here for tickets

Sunday 27th May-Afternoon Singing Workshop 
14:00 – 17:00
Click here for tickets

​St Laurence Parish Church
The Shambles, Stroud, GL5 1AP

Susie's uplifting heart songs and soulful, original medicinemusic seems to inspire a sense of joy wherever she goes. She tours internationally with her harmony singing workshops and beautiful songs on guitar, connecting with the global light family, and ancient traditions of the world, and weaving what she learns into a stream of free-flowing music to awaken the heart. During her concerts she loves to get the whole audience singing in harmony together.

On Saturday night, Susie will be joined by Omer Makessa a master percussionist, experienced performer, singer and songwriter from Martinique in the Caribbean. “In my music, one can hear the influence from the beautiful island of my origin with its complex history and fusion of cultures. This inspires my music and my unique singing style."

On Sunday afternoon, come and experience the incredible power of voices joining in harmony. The workshop will be full of gorgeous songs of the heart, of the earth, of freedom, joy and presence - composed and collected by Susie Ro.

The song Seekers from Susie's debut album 'Song of a Thousand Leaves', featuring Omer Makessa.

Susie's Website

with Matthew & Neesa Radhika

Thursday 5th APRIL, 7–9pm (doors open 6.45)
Stroud Trinity Rooms, Field Rd, Stroud, Gloucestershire, Gl5 2HZ
Opposite the maternity hospital.
EVERYONE WELCOME, no experience needed.

 £8-14 sliding scale
For details contact Matthew:  01453 751973
Or Neesa:  neesastroud@gmail.com

https://www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org.uk/events/stroud-with-matthew-and-neesa/

Dances to support our awakening into the energy of spring with Matthew & Neesa Radhika.

FRIDAY 9th MARCH, 7–9pm (doors open 6.45)
Christian Community, 73 Cainscross Rd, Stroud GL54HB
EVERYONE WELCOME, no experience needed.

 £8-14 sliding scale
For details contact Matthew:  01453 751973
Or Neesa:  neesastroud@gmail.com

https://www.dancesofuniversalpeace.org.uk/events/stroud-emerging-from-winter-sleep-celebrating-the-first-flowerings-of-spring/

Come join the RagaBabas in a journey of dance and musical fusion to celebrate St. Patricks day at Stroud's Trinity Rooms on Saturday 17th March. 

Entrance donation on the night  is a suggested £5-£10

On sale will be lovely samosas, dal, rice and chai to refill your bellies.

FB link: https://www.facebook.com/events/2044126679207655/​

The RagaBabas are, a 9 to 15 piece band based on World Fusion Devotional music with ancient and contemporary sounds specifically for dancing. For more information please visit ragababas.co.uk

The HANG  and its offshoots of similar instruments, collectively known as “handpans”, was invented in Switzerland in 2000, and has its genesis in the combination of two instruments, the Carribean steel drum and the clay pot drums called udus in Africa, Ghatams in India and Potes in South America. Both instruments are quite quiet, and are frequently used to create music for yoga and meditation , sound journeying and sound healing.
 
The techniques for playing both instruments are easily learned, and are accessible to anyone of any age with a love of music, whether or not they have any formal training.
 
Workshops start with demonstrations of both instruments, and then we learn 3 or 4 simple rhythms on the udus.  This forms the “UDU ORCHESTRA”, which provides the accompaniment and support to the handpans.
 
Next, on a one to one basis, you are invited to play the handpans, guided by ourselves. The small group numbers ensure that everyone can have a few minutes at this, and usually all manage to create some simple but original and beautiful melodies.
 
The last section of the workshop is a performance which combines the sounds of handpan and clay drum, as “brother and sister” instruments, with other simple percussion tools.  Past workshops have achieved surprising and beautiful spontaneous music.  

The Gospel Groove.
 
We are a small group of local people, who love to sing inspirational songs together. We formed last year, as part of the Sacred Music Festival in Stroud, after two workshops led by Jean Paul Wabotai. He is a charismatic teacher and performer of Gospel, African and inspirational songs, inspired by his own background in the Congo and more recently France and Spain. What he brings to his teaching is the ability to empower and enable people to have the confidence to sing.
It worked! Since last summer we have continued as a local group, slowly building our confidence and repertoire and have performed twice. We are opening this year’s Sacred Music festival on Friday 30th June and are busy working on our programme. We would really welcome a few new members to join us, ideally confident singers who are comfortable with our way of working, which is very much an organic, evolving process.

We meet on most Wednesday evenings in Stroud, at St Albans church and some occasional Sunday afternoons in the Trinity rooms.

If you feel inspired to join us, we would love to welcome you into our happy band of singers.

Please contact Kate Marney/Robert Duddell
01453547222/07800717901
Robertoandkate02@gmail.com