Sham jam festival delivers packed opening weekend

The first weekend of Melksham’s Sham Jam Festival has been hailed a success, with hundreds of residents joining in a packed programme of arts, comedy, music and creative activities across the town.

The ten-day festival, organised by Melksham Town Council, began on Friday 18th September and has already attracted strong audiences, sold-out events and enthusiastic public feedback.

The festival opened with a community flash mob dance in the Market Place. Led by Mojo Moves, more than 200 people danced to Queen’s Don’t Stop Me Now.

The festival’s community pianos have proved popular across the town, while the visual arts programme has included local artist Nicola Davis’s Art Heals exhibition and a Hidden Melksham photography trail.

Comedy has also featured strongly, with Rich Hall performing at the Assembly Hall and the inaugural Sham Jam Comedy Weekend bringing nationally recognised comedians including Angelos Epithemiou, Lloyd Griffith, Mark Watson and Crissy Rock to King George V Playing Field.

Creative activities included a sold-out Canvas Swap, beginner ukulele workshops and a street art workshop led by Mr Sce, helping develop ideas for a new wildlife mural. Six artists also created works during Street Paint in the Park, with completed pieces set to be displayed around Market Place for the rest of the festival.

The Sham Jam continues throughout until Sunday 27th September.

Mayor Saffi Rabey said, “It’s fantastic to put on these community events, which bring everybody together in the centre of the town.”

Full programme information is available at shamjam.org.uk.