The mysterious "Palmers Scream" scroll, discovered in Southgate Town Hall, says that "Broomfield should be a happy place. All effort should be taken to bring joy and merriment to its grasses throughout the year, for each smile reduces the power of the witches as they sleep." One group of people who are rising to the challenge of "bringing joy and merriment to its grasses" are the Friends of Broomfield Park, who this year are extending the season of summer free musical events to take in every Sunday in July and August. Palmers Green Festival and Talkies Community Cinema will also be contributing to the general happiness.
Proms in the Park
The four Sundays in July will be the occasion of four "Proms in the Park", bringing a variety of musical styles to the Bandstand next to the lake at the southern end of the park. Everything from operatic arias to sea shanties, via Latin American hand drumming, English brass band music, choral music and the jangling of bells attached to the legs of Morris dancers. Audiences will also be able to enjoy food, a licensed bar and excellent hand-made ice cream.
5th July
- Two sets from North London Brass, playing traditional and contemporary brass band music
- Interval support from BoxBeaters and BishBashBosh, playing Cajon and Samba
12th July
- Two sets of folk music provided by regulars from Bowes Park Folk Club
- Luke Carey, a cutting-edge singer/songwriter from north London
19th July
- Operatic arias sung by Stephen Brice (baritone), accompanied by Neil Hatton
- The Tatem Trio (local flautists)
- Choral music by Bella Cora
26th July
- Mairi Armstrong (vocalist) accompanied by Sarah Pope (keyboards)
- The Forest Band - their set will include an opportunity to join the dance
- The Etcetera Morris Men will dance out the Proms season
All this will be available free, thanks to sponsorship by Bennet-Walden estate agents (offices in Palmers Green and Southgate).
Broomfield Blues
On the five Sundays in August Broomfield Blues will be back for the third successive year. As before, entry will be free - sponsored by Winkworth estate agents of Palmers Green. The month will begin with two of the UK's top slide guitarist and culminate with an appearance by ace harmonica player Paul Lamb.
- Graham Hine & the Delta Blues Classics
- The Customtones
Sunday 9th August - Southern Rock
- The Haunting AD
- The Blues Chapter
Sunday 16th August – The Real Folk Blues
- Tressell
- The Low Down Dogs
Sunday 23rd August – Gypsy Jazz and Urban Blues
- The Hot Club
- That Blue Patch
Sunday 30th August – Piano and Harmonica Blues
- Professor Redhair
- Paul Lamb & Chad Strentz
As in previous years, there will be food, a bar and that wonderful ice cream.
Palmers Green Festival
All the above will, of course, just be warming up the park ahead of the Palmers Green Festival on 6th September - a day out for everyone from PG and around and about.
Festival Producer Phillip Chard is also heeding the words of the Palmers Scream Scroll: “We drew thousands of people for the Palmers Green Festival last year and so helped created a massive volume of smiles. I’m hoping for even greater levels of happiness this time, which I would like to think would bury those witches once and for all.”
6th September 2015
12 Noon to 7pm
Broomfield Park
Open-air Ghostbusters
And if you think that all these events exhaust the community's potential for creating happiness, you're wrong. Just in case that is not enough, Talkies Community Cinema will be showing the classic film Ghostbusters on the evening of Friday September 4th in their first ever outdoor screening[1]. The screening will take place on the old bowling green within a spell’s range from the alleged resting place of the Witches.
