The acclaimed Ealing Music & Film Festival is set to celebrate its sixth successive year in 2018 with a wonderful mix of music from a wide range of genres and film to entertain and enliven a cold, dark February.

The eclectic programme celebrates Ealing’s cultural heart and the Festival also supports the wealth of creative talent on its doorstep, through outreach and scholarships.

The Festival takes place from 7 – 11 February 2018 with both free and paid for events taking place across the Borough at venues including the University of West London, Church of St Barnabas, The Red Room (formerly The Ealing Club) and St Mary’s Church. Also due to popular demand, the walking location tour of the Island Triangle, the most filmed area in Britain, returns for its second outing on Saturday 10 February.

There will be an array of outstanding concerts with classical performances including the works of Debussy (celebrating the year of the centenary of his death), Janacek, Chausson, Verdi, Delius, Dvorak and Strauss. Continuing the eclectic mix, performances will include the music of Gershwin, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonard Cohen and Paul Simon.

The diverse music programme continues with a selection of blues, Southern fried soul, soul rock and funk, at Ealing’s seminal venue The Ealing Club, now known as The Red Room from Northsyde and Mack featuring Tommy Hare and the renowned singer Robert Hokum, presented in partnership with The Ealing Club CIC and Ealing Eclectic on Thursday 8 February 2018.

We are delighted to announce that we’ll be hosting the West London Premiere of the brand new film Suburban Steps to Rockland: The Story of The Ealing Club directed by Giorgio Guernier, with a Q & A, on Friday 9 February 2018 at Weston Hall, University of West London.

The Ealing Music & Film Festival launches on Wednesday 7 February with a free lunchtime recital from renowned pianist Emilie Capulet celebrating the music of Debussy, at St Mary’s Church. In the evening there will be a free screening of a selection of locally produced short films taking place at Weston Hall, University of West London.

On Thursday 8 February at 7.30pm the Tippett Quartet, with violinist Tamsin Waley-Cohen and pianist Julian Gallant perform music by Janacek, Debussy and Chausson at Weston Hall, University of West London, followed by the Friday 9 February performance from the Ealing Youth Orchestra, conducted by Leon Gee with Akito Goto on cello, who perform music by Dvorak and Strauss at 7.30pm in St Barnabas Church.

Saturday 10 February brings the hugely anticipated performance by Ealing Symphony Orchestra with conductor John Gibbons and baritone Keel Watson, who perform music by Verdi and Delius alongside Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess (concert suite), 7.30pm at St Barnabas Church.

The final day of the Festival Sunday 11 February sees The Love2sing Choir, conducted by Elizabeth Lusty perform songs by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Leonard Cohen, Paul Simon and many more, at Weston Hall, University of West London. At 5pm the London College of Music, Junior College student concert takes place at Weston Hall, University of West London and includes Junior Samba Ensemble, Junior Jazz Ensemble and Oliver Sabbagha (piano solo).

All this and more can be enjoyed at Ealing Music & Film Festival 2018.

As before, the Festival has been organised by the independent Charitable Trust of the same name, specially set up by a group of local residents, and it is being supported by more than 20 local organisations and businesses and the University of West London.

Julian Gallant, Festival Artistic Director said: "I’m so proud to be part of the Ealing Music and Film Festival 2018. Once again we are packing a superb series of events - film, classical music, rock, youth, community - into just five days. Don’t miss Suburban Steps to Rockland, an original exposé of the The Who and others in their early careers. Ealing’s cultural life has no limits and a vital future."

Patrick Chapman, Chairman of the Trust, said: "We are now in our sixth year; each year the Festival is attracting a wider audience and is therefore able to help more local young artists. We are indebted to our local sponsors and audiences who help us achieve this."

For more information, the full programme and tickets for all events please visit www.ealingmusicandfilmfestival.org.