HEAVY rainfall almost ruined an open-air concert until an alternative venue was found at the last minute.

Celebrate Voice provide up-close concert experiences with world-class musicians and always ensure the settings for the event are beautiful and memorable such as the proposed venue within the grounds of Little Durnford Manor.

But the weekend weather conditions made it impossible to hold the event. 

Artistic director, Lynsey Docherty said: “We really didn’t want to cancel but just didn’t know what to do. No one wanted to have to email and disappoint 300 ticket holders.”

Fortunately, an alternative venue was proposed.  

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Salisbury Journal: Before Celebrate Voice team began the transformation process

Lynsey said: “We were offered a barn complete with haybales and cows.”

The festival is now in its 10th year, and the hard work to try to make the barn fit for the event began.

This meant moving haybales and the cows being put out to pasture. Volunteers needed to clear up the barn and decorate it. 

Lynsey said: “It was unbelievable. The volunteers were amazing. I have to thank Alex and Jan Grant and the technical team Ivy Sound.”

Salisbury Journal: The barn is cleanThe barn is clean (Image: Lynsey Docherty)

“I admit on the night, the relief was palpable, but it was probably the most beautiful thing. All the singers were on the stage. We were sitting there in our beautiful gowns, but wearing leggings beneath and wellington boots, but no one seemed to mind.”

The feedback received was all so positive that Lynsey is now thrilled that they managed to sort out the event in time and didn’t have to disappoint people.

The next Celebrate Voice event is at The Guildhall in Salisbury. The audience will experience an array of international artists and there will be a new opera production. 

It opens on Thursday, October 19, and finishes on Saturday, October 28.  

For more information, go to celebratevoice.co.uk