The 2025 Purbeck Guitar Festival ran from Saturday 14 June to Saturday 28 June, filling venues across Purbeck—from the hushed stone of Lady St Mary’s Church in Wareham to the summertime marquee at Sandy Hill Arts in Corfe—with the many voices of the guitar.
Major Concerts
Juan Martín – “Evening of Flamenco”
On 14 June, Juan Martín brought the heart of Andalucía to Wareham. He opened with the dark intensity of Taranta and Seguiría, moved through the steely strength of Farruca and the radiant joy of Alegrías, then—after a brief pause—wove in his original Tema Helena alongside his arrangements of La Malagueña, before closing with spirited Bulerías “Santiago”, haunting Zambra “Evocación” and festive Rumba “La Feria.” Martín’s seamless shifts from thunderous rasgueado to lyrical falsetas had the audience leaning in at every turn, and his warm introductions between pieces offered glimpses into the stories behind each melody.
Xuefei Yang – International Guitar Showcase
On 24 June, Xuefei Yang presented a wide-ranging programme of music from around the world. She began with Chinese-traditional pieces that evoked misty rivers and spring blossoms, moved to the dreamy refrains of Satie’s Gnossienne No. 3 and La diva de l’Empire, then unveiled her own Xinjiang Fantasy alongside Sakamoto’s Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence and Domeniconi’s Koyunbaba. After the interval came jazz standards—Misty, Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, Take the “A” Train—followed by Brazilian bossa in Manhã de Carnaval and A felicidade, and a South American finale of Ponce’s Estrellita, Scherzino Mexicano, Piazzolla’s La muerte del ángel, and spirited Colombian dances.
Carlos Bonell – Festival Finale
On 28 June, Carlos Bonell guided us through centuries of guitar music. Beginning with the old-world charm of Brian Boru’s March and Greensleeves, he drifted into Spanish baroque dances and lute-style fantasies before moving to Tárrega’s miniature masterpieces—Adelita, Lágrima, Capriccio Árabe—and wrapping up with 20th-century treasures: two Villa-Lobos Preludes, the beloved Inspector Morse theme and Rodrigo’s aching Adagio from Concierto de Aranjuez. Each shift in style felt effortless, making for a truly memorable finale.
Family Concerts
Alongside these headline evenings, our Family Concerts showcased the region’s ensemble spirit and stylistic range. John Mills & Serenata Trio filled the church with warm group harmonies, Geoff Robb’s Music of Trees brought nature-inspired melodies under the Sandy Hill Arts marquee near Corfe Castle, Ricky Romain coloured Trinity Church’s café with Indian raga textures, and Peter Cooley’s Guitar Heroes (with Gary Cain) turned Studland Golf Club into a blues-rock celebration. Local ensembles like the Dorset Guitar Society and the Fretful Federation kept late-night sessions buzzing with folk tunes, jazzy riffs and surf-style bursts, while Sam Brown & Daniel Thompson’s lute songs offered a gentle, time-traveling interlude.
