Wondering what to do this weekend? The SNJ has five ideas:

  • Festival is to promote peace through music

DEVOTIONAL music traditions from the East and West are being celebrated in Stroud this weekend.

Bands from a variety of spiritual traditions - including Judaism, Sufi-Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Druidism – will perform at the Sacred Music Festival on Saturday.

Organisers hope to bring together people from all walks of life – interfaith, no faith, all traditions - in a celebration of diversity and unity.

Stroud businessman and musician Girish Patel, and Rev Simon Howell, of Holy Trinity Church, had the idea for the festival last year.

“We decided to pursue this goal, of using the arts as the medium to bring people together, from all sections of the community, in an act of peace,” said Girish.

As Pioneer Minister in Stroud, Rev Simon’s job includes imagining a new kind of church-community in the heart of Stroud’s diverse spiritual cultures.

Girish is the director of the Stroud-based multi-faith, multi-cultural, devotional band - the Raga Babas.

This band, in microcosm, encapsulates the ethos of the Sacred Music Festival - a sharing of devotional musical traditions and the promotion of understanding and friendship.

The festival starts at midday on the forecourt of the Sub Rooms, with the RSVP Bhangra Band, followed by a procession to St Laurence Church.

There the festivities continue, with afternoon singing workshops, and the main concert at 6pm.

www.sacredmusicfestival.org.uk

  • Record launch

STROUD musician Saskia Griffiths-Moore is launching her new EP, Gentle Heart Night, at an event this weekend. The night of songs, cake and celebration will take place in Stroud’s Black Book Café on Saturday, from 7pm to 9pm.

  • Art exhibition

YAELROSE Tijou has created a collection called Paintings for World Peace and Unity.

The images, described by the artist as "cosmic meanderings" are being exhibited at the Lansdown Gallery until Sunday.

The exhibition is open daily, from 10am to 4.30pm and on Friday there will be an open evening from 6pm to 8.30pm, with music from Jehanne and Rob Mehta.

  • Summer concert

THE Painswick Singers’ summer concert will take place at the Painswick Centre on Sunday at 3.30pm.

Entitled Musical Island Meanders, the programme is set to include music from Rodgers and Hammerstein’s plus songs from the timeless musical Mamma Mia!