The Fuse team has put together a high quality and diverse line up of live music, dance, poetry, workshops, art activities, food traders, market stalls and two bars. 

Fuse Project Manager Jeff Fowler said “This will be the 18^th Fuse Festival, and it continues to evolve each year.  New developments for 2019 include a tie-up with the Lichfield Festival to introduce acts to each other’s festival; an arrangement with funding partner Lichfield BID to bring Fuse performers into the city centre during the festival; and an expanded festival market courtesy of Cocker Hoop Creative, the organisers of the Lichfield Food Festival, including a gin bar to complement our main bar”. 

Music programmer Phil Beale said: “Once again we have a tremendous line-up of music, spanning genres as diverse as rock, afro funk, RnB/soul, ska, pop, folk, jazz and reggae.  Headliners on Friday night are Irish punk folksters The Lagan; on Saturday night it’s the amazing 11-piece afro-rock-funk-psych outfit Agbeko and the festival closes on Sunday afternoon with the Bethlehem Casuals, self-styled purveyors of Afro-Cuba Tropical-Kraut.  We always support local acts at Fuse, and this year is no exception, featuring Americana duo A Different Thread, rockers Y!KES, Citylightz and Learn To Lie, superstar DJ Thumpa, the Lichfield Gospel Choir, the hybrid skiffle of The Grecian Hummers, young world folk troubadours Wildfire Folk, community jazz band Blast Off and Rob Taylor with his band The Bad Decisions”. 

“The music will be complemented by all sorts of activities and entertainment for all the family” said organiser Pam Beale. “They include circus skills workshops, a steampunk ceilidh, musical theatre, salsa and Bhangra dance workshops, children’s storytelling, sporting challenges, poetry readings, arts and crafts, group dance displays, yoga on Sunday morning, close-up magic and some fun games and puzzle challenges. And we are delighted to be hosting the 'Fabric Of Life' installation, created by the Nurture Network community.  It celebrates differences and creativity within the locality through a range of artwork; Tepees, Wheel of Life (decorated bike wheels), willow stars and a Rag Rug which will be used as a central hub for activities during Fuse. All materials have been recycled or donated by the community.  We will even have a Teddy Bear’s Picnic in conjunction with the Buddy Bag Foundation for the little ones to enjoy”. 

Lichfield Arts’ Outreach Trustee John Percival said, “We are once again turning over one of the music marquees on the Friday night to ‘Lichfield Arts Introducing’ where young people aged 11 to 18 run their own mini-festival: performing, stage managing, MCing and operating the sound and lights.  It’s the perfect opportunity for them to learn, work in a team, build confidence and have fun”.

As a free event put on by the charity Lichfield Arts, Fuse is reliant on an amazing team of volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please email fuse@lichfieldarts.org.uk. Full details and timings are available on the Fuse website – www.fuselichfield.org.uk and Facebook – LichfieldFuse, Twitter – LichfieldFuse, Instagram – lichfieldfuse.