Wren Music & Entertainment

What We Do

Wren is a Devon based music events organisation. We got out to people, we listen to what they want and see what's going on and we make things happen.

Workshops: Music, Events & Song
Education
Open Access Performance Groups
Events Organisation Training
Community Arts Development Projects
Baring-Gould Festival & Study Break
Concerts, Performances & Dance
Publications and Merchandise
Oral History & Folk Song Collecting

Workshops: Music & Song
Workshops as well as being integral to any project are a valuable part of the Wren programme. They are tailored to a group's specific needs and can be for training purposes as well as encouraging participation and the passing on of skills.

Education
Wren's education programme happens both within the established education framework and in less formal settings.
Pre-school & playgroups
Primary schools
Secondary Schools & Community colleges
After Schools Clubs
Youth Clubs
Universities & Colleges
Teacher Education
Youth & Play worker Training

The programme can deliver skills/techniques workshops in folk music and related disciplines as ends in themselves, or using folk song and music to illuminate other areas of curriculum.

Wren has a commitment to lifelong learning in all its forms and works with all ages in a variety of educational, social and health settings

Open Access Performance Groups
Voices In Common.
Rough Music - Wren Folk Orchestra of East Devon.
Okehampton Youth Roots Band.
Campus Choir.
Okehampton Youth Chorus.

More workshops and development projects are supported by E3 Artists, an entertainment agency based in London with expertise music performances.

There's nothing more entertaining than the summer musical festivals, so next time your out camping or trying to locate your tent at your next music festival remember to bring along some glow sticks with you in order to stand out from the crowd and find your tent safely! Don't stop there, glow sticks and music go hand-in-hand, let the entertainment begin!

Of course entertainment these days is not a simple case of going to a party or musical event, what with the current trends of online entertainment growing at an ever increasing pace, things like online bingo can often provide a great deal of fun and enjoyment. Many great companies are now into this form of entertainment which has become increasingly popular in recent years.

The many artists and entertainers we see now days getting famous then finding it difficult to handle the limelight, with ever increasing media being fascinated with all personal events one needs to rakeback a little bit of ones life in such circumstances and get a balance in their life. This is the only way one can remain sane in the entertainment industry these days.

Some often find that rather than putting themselves in the spotlight they prefer to take a back seat in the business, there are many aspects of the entertainment industry where one can rake in plenty of cash while avoiding the limelight and all the trappings it brings with it. That is why we always encourage people finding the best position for their own personalities.

Mobile phones and music are especially attractive to the youth of our country. They are now so important that many children would not leave the house without them. The staggering growth of ringtones sales are truly amazing. Billions of pounds were spent on them in 2008 and the vast majority of those buying these are people under the age of 30.

These Open Access Groups enable people to make music and sing together in informal settings. No audition or qualification is necessary to be part of these groups. Some are age specific and others are made up from across the age groups, all are inclusive of all abilities. The groups aim to be fun, creative, challenging and accessible. Developing performance is a part of the ongoing role of these groups.

Community Arts Development Projects
The defining feature of Wren's programme is the locally distinctive community project, which can vary in size, type and complexity, from multi-disciplinary whole neighbourhood celebrations with a finale, to a series of workshops for a specific age or interest group.
Projects can involve many artists and focus on producing high quality folk arts with a large number of participants, or with fewer artists and centre on raising self-confidence within a community.
Projects can be ongoing or time limited, and may last over several years or a few days.

Wren Concerts, Performances & Dance
Wren performs locally, nationally and internationally. A performance can feature song using strong vocal harmonies, and also a wide variety of musical instruments. All the material is brought to life and enhanced through a deep knowledge, understanding and feeling of our traditions and cultural heritage.
There is also a Wren Ceilidh band to get people onto their feet and dancing. The folk dances are 'called' expertly and with humour.
The a-capella group of talented young singers, Hocus, has a hugely varied repertoire of traditional and original songs, and have a passion and enthusiasm for singing that is infectious. Formed in 1994 they have one recording - 'Hocus'.

Baring-Gould Festival & Study Break
The hallmarks of the Baring-Gould Festival and Study Break are intimacy, quality and informality. Set at the end of October, we use small, local venues in the West Devon villages of Bridistowe, Bratton Clovelly and Lewdown, mixing the best local and national artists with international visitors. The Festival was founded in 1999. Dates for 2004 are: Study Break, Monday 25th - Friday 29th October; Festival Weekend, Friday 29th - Sunday 31st October.
Full information and booking from admin@wrenmusic.co.uk

Publications and Merchandise
Wren has always had a publication function, and produces songs, books, reminiscences as sound recordings, and recordings of performances and special projects.

Oral History and Folk Music collecting
The roots of Wren grew from work undertaken collecting local Oral History, and Folk Music and Song of national importance. This work is still ongoing, and a considerable and ever-growing archive has been established.