Spectacular selection of entertainment as Soundstage Festival returns for two-week extravaganza

Journeys, Nottingham’s biggest Soundstage Festival yet, will take audiences across the globe this spring, on famous railway routes, to far-off galaxies, and deep into the imagination.

Featuring great orchestras, vibrant bands and acclaimed solo artists, this two-week festival celebrates the music of the moving image and will fill Nottingham with unforgettable music, from epic cine-concerts to intimate jazz performances.

The festival starts on Saturday, March 22, with a family orchestra event where all ages, instruments and abilities are welcome and concludes on Saturday, April 5, with a mixed media event blending the worlds of cinema and sound in a gloriously eclectic mix.

Among the many performers taking place are: Neil Brand; International Film Orchestra; Bollywood Brass Band; Jeanie Barton: The Swinging Silver Screen; Ukrainian Voices: A Journey through Film and Music; Able Orchestra; and DJ Alex Traska. The festival will take place across the city, presented by the Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall in partnership with Lakeside Arts, the University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent University, Metronome, Nottingham Contemporary, Broadway, and the Ukrainian Cultural Centre.

Theatre Royal & Royal Concert Hall’s resident orchestras, The Hallé and the BBC Concert Orchestra, have headline concerts in the festival, plus there will be several free events, from outdoor performances in University Park to a lunchtime movie singalong.

Families have the chance to make their own soundtrack with members of the BBC Concert Orchestra and video gamers have the rare opportunity to play against each other accompanied by a live jazz quintet.

Festival co-ordinator, Neil Bennison, is proud that Nottingham will be hosting its most ambitious Soundstage festival yet, with 20 events taking place across eight city venues.

He explained: “It’s been quite a journey putting this festival together, but the collective energy and imagination of everyone involved, from orchestras and solo artists to venues, promoters, and music education hubs, has meant that we’ve been able to create something really rich and exciting.

"Soundstage is a place where you’ll be able to experience timeless movie classics as never before and discover more about the stories behind the screen.

"It’s also a showcase for the amazing artists in our city, particularly for young creatives, and there are opportunities for everyone to get involved, whether they’re playing a violin or a game of Super Mario. We can’t wait to see how it all comes together.”

For full details on the events taking place during Soundstage 2025, you can go to www.trch.co.uk