Watford Live! is a community arts festival designed to showcase the wide variety of very talented groups and individuals who live, work or perform within Watford Borough.

The festival started life in 2009 as a weekend of music, face-painting and dance and has evolved into the month-long celebration of the arts that it is today, supported by the majority of the town’s arts venues and organisations.

There’s something for everyone – from open-air dance performances and art workshops and exhibitions to choir taster sessions, literary competitions, quiz nights and starlight walks.

There’s plenty for music lovers too, and one event in particular is a must for anyone who wants to get a taste of just how vibrant and eclectic our town’s music scene is – Tom Craven and Friends, taking place at the Watford Palace Theatre.

“The night is a massive celebration of the local music scene that I have been so proud to be part of for ten years now,“ explains the 28-year-old former Parmiter’s pupil who is the founder of the local creative collective Papermouth.

“From the open mic nights at The Horns, the Pumphouse and Taylors and a multitude of venues putting on live music regularly, the scene has been a hot bed for some incredible talent. This night is for myself and some of my closest musical friends, putting on a spectacular evening to showcase our music and showing exactly what it is we love so much about writing and performing our songs.“

Tom will be joined at the Palace by Watford regulars Minnie Birch, Lauren Rich from Borehamwood, DodoBones from Hemel, and Terry Emm from Leighton Buzzard, as well as The Turner Brothers, The Caution Horses, The Nameless Three and Tom’s own band The Chapter rounding things off.

Proceeds for the evening of music will be going to the Peace Hospice, a charity that Tom has worked with before, providing the music for its annual Starlight Walk and having put on a couple of fundraising gigs for it at the Watford Colosseum last year.

“It’s great to have met all these fantastic musicians,“ continues Tom, who lives on the Kingswood.

“I thought Watford Live! was the perfect excuse for us all to have a bit of a party – and all for charity and for everyone in the area.“

  • Tom Craven and Friends – Ten Years of Chances, part of Watford Live!, is at the Watford Palace Theatre, Clarendon Road on Saturday, June 14 from 6.30pm. Details: facebook.com/papermouth, watfordpalacetheatre.co.uk