July e-newsletter

BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner OBE, who survived being shot multiple times by Islamist gunmen in Riyadh in 2004, has been confirmed to appear at the second St Albans Literary Festival.

Frank, who reports on issues of UK and global security covering terrorist attacks, hostage-taking and Middle Eastern politics, will be discussing his debut thriller, Crisis, which combines his up-to-the minute insider knowledge and fly-on-the-wall insights with heart-in-mouth excitement.

The novel was described by author Tony Parsons as 'a nerve-shredding thriller... and intelligent high-voltage storytelling of the very highest order' which he compares to the best of John Le Carre and Robert Harris, but with a knowledge of the political landscape that is infinitely better than all of them.

It focuses on the murder of a British Secret Intelligence Service agent, whose body is discovered in

And now we're taking this one step further.  We're happy to announce that you can now list your business for free on allaboutstalbans.

How does it work?

If your business is already listed on allaboutstalbans, you can claim it by visiting your business's page and following the instructions that will

There's lots of great music coming your way in St Albans this summer with some exciting events just around the corner in July:

Childwickbury Arts Fair

There's plenty of music acts all day Saturday and Sunday at this year's Childwickbury Arts Fair (1-3 Jul 2016). All music is included in the admission price.  Bands appearing on the Saturday and Sunday of the three day event include Melodi, Mouth on a Stick, and legendary post-punk singer Lene Lovich (Saturday). See website for full listings. Live music only on Sat 2nd and Sun 3rd Jul. 

St Michael's Village Street Folk Evening

On a different note entirely Wed 6 July sees the St Michael's Street Folk Evening.  There'll be English, Irish, Scottish and American folk music and dance on the street and in the two pubs, Churchyard and Kingsbury Manor. Free entry.

This year's Wheathampstead Village Weekend will take place on 9-10 July 2016 and the theme will be 'All the world's a stage' - a celebration of the theatre on Shakespeare's 400th Anniversary. Celebrations kick off with 'Wheathampstead's Got Talent'.

There'll be a picnic on the Meads with live music. Sunday will see a village parade and there'll be stalls and activities on the Marford Playing Field.