WemsFest Arts Organisation

Experience Music from Around the World

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The Next Event at Chidham is Rum Ragged - 24th January 2026

JUNO Award Nominees, Rum Ragged, take a bold approach to the distinct folk music of their home, the Eastern Canadian island of Newfoundland. With a reverence for their roots and a creative, contemporary edge,
this young band has quickly become known as the finest performers of their great, living, musical tradition. Boasting bouzouki, fiddle, bodhran, banjo, guitar, and button accordion,
these new champions of East Coast music enliven and enlighten audiences with their signature brand of Newfoundland folk

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The Old Malthouse - A Hub for Global Music

The Emsworth-based voluntary arts organisation WemsFest* has been using the hall – which they affectionately call ‘The Old Malthouse’ for several years to present music from all over the world.

Countless artistes have performed there from solo artists to 10-piece African dance bands, and attracted audience members from as far afield as Northern Ireland, and Norway:

The organisation’s Artistic Director Mark Ringwood said “This hall has such a wonderful inbuilt atmosphere which our audiences and musicians absolutely love no matter whether it’s a seated or standing situation.”

*‘WemsFest’ is a portmanteau of ‘Westbourne’ and ‘Emsworth’ and was established in 2010 as an annual arts festival. It has since gone on to provide music events throughout the year.

WemsFest is an entirely volunteer-run community interest company, meaning that all our profits are reinvested into the local community.


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