Otley Street Festival

Eve and I stumbled across the Otley Street Festival on Sunday the 18th July, and spent a lovely few hours enjoying what proved to be a fun day out.

The Market place, Market Street and Newmarket featured all kinds of entertainment where stilt walkers delighted children and adults alike whilst a bouncy castle rang with excited bouncing kids. Punch & Judy drew a large crowd as they played out the traditional tale in dramatic razzmatazz style, just as gripping as ever. A living statue startled and entertained unsuspecting pedestrians.

And then there was music and dance all day featuring youth bands and musicians throughout the afternoon, followed by more established adult bands playing into the evening.

It was good to see a street festival showcasing and supporting local young people’s talents, giving young bands the opportunity to perform. Eve and I enjoyed watching song writing duo ‘hey Doris!’ with their evocative vocals and voice harmonies which they combined with intriguing lyrics and songs.



Local shops joined in the festivities and the Market place was alive with festival goers and shoppers enjoying communal fun and fellowship- all in all a lovely afternoon.

Andrew Sugden

Kirkstall Festival 10th July 2010

Alison and I spent a pleasant Saturday afternoon at the Kirkstall Festival set in the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey which made a perfect backdrop for this event. The weather was very kind and this clearly encouraged the population of Leeds and district to turn out in their thousands.

After meandering around the various stalls and sideshows we settled at the main stage to listen to the Leeds Youth Jazz Rock Orchestra who entertained us royally. It is good to see the young people keeping traditional music alive.
Next we watched an exhibition of birds of prey, brilliantly handled by their trainer Ben Potter.

Onward we went and listened to the ever popular Bassa Bassa playing in the area of the Abbey Guest House. The original guests can never have had such entertainment!

With so much to see and do - fairground, stunt bikes, majorettes, belly dancing, Morris men, Punch and Judy, pony rides, information stalls of all descriptions, food stalls from all corners of the world made our choices of what to watch next very difficult but we cleverly opted for Casual Sax. A very clever choice as they were perfect to chill to away from the hustle and bustle as they were housed in the cloisters which still to this day feel peaceful and relaxed. This suited their mellow tones superbly.

Now feeling very mellow we decided that a cream tea in the tent of the Oddfellows Tea Dance would be very appropriate. This rounded off a lovely afternoon and we made our way home with the sun still shining. We are already looking forward to next year.
For The Yorkshire Gig Guide
Denis Heaton

Hole in The Wall Acoustic Night in Hebdon Bridge

It was Club Organiser Craig's birthday and an infectious party atmosphere pervaded the Hole Note Acoustic Club in Hebdon Bridge, with its cosy sitting room and drinks cabinet, comfy sofa and chairs, intimate low lit lamps silhouetting the performing area, and expectant excited audience.

They were not disappointed as Mand gave beautiful voice to her evocative authentic songs, accompanied by Blanty's hauntingly violin like melodies and subtle rhythms on guitar.

Paul Wetherin gave traditional folk harmonies to modern themes in his hilarious often cutting lyrics as he sang out joyously, and his audience applauded enthusiastically. This was followed by Derek Elton on keyboard with fast rock n roll piano and crooning voice. Wayne Rusell had his audience whooping and cheering to his drag it down furious rhythmic guitaring and passionate vocals.

Then it was time for Pancho Ballad and the Banditos, a great band featuring drums, spanish guitar, two trumpets a trombone and lots of fun!! They play a sort of Mexican Scar from Bolton with a BIG BIG SOUND. Fun songs, Mex-Bolton Perkins soup Song with funky rhythms, story telling donkeys, cut throats and war, haircuts and hats. They have a fun boozed harmonic appeal cut from superb tight musicianship; and the hole Note Audience loved them, dancing spontaneoulsly, cheering, shouting and clapping to the collision of Mexican Bolton rhythms.

The evening ended to the funky rhythmic guitar of Blanty with his lovely spanish folk song beautiful classical fingering clear voice, relaxed catchy choruses that had his audience clapping and singing with him.

The Hole Note Club has a minimilist approach to lighting and a basic use of sound control, it is a friendly accepting club encouraging vocalists and muscicians of all abilities and giving a truly intimate and acoustic feel.

A great night and a great music club at the Hole in The Wall Pub Hebdon Bridge.

Review by Andrew Sugden

Crown of Light Acoustic Nights in Heckmondwike

A lovely evening as the sunshine softened into the twilight illuminated by candle light as we sat in the friendly company of the Crown of Lights Acoustic Club at Comrades in Heckmondwike.

A great stage, good lighting and excellent sound management by Peter Rimshaw along with a very friendly receptive audience allowed all the musicians to perform to their best.

Jasmine Kennedy beautifully sang her new song Cardigan Sweater which had been given its debut airing the previous night on Radio Leeds. Then Toby Hardwick from Heckmondwike sang and played in serene and relaxed style.



Up next was April Maybe May a Duo from Barrow in Furness featuring Rosie Hillman's both 'delicate and earthy' voice and Matt Kassel's 'flawlessly evocative rhythmic' guitaring. They sang songs from their new album with lovely voice harmonies and funky folk rhythms. This is a great duo and can be seen in Yokshire again at the Hole in The Wall Club , Hebdon Bridge, 17th July.



Diamond Dac Charnley from Holmfirth played blues slide guitar and with melodic voice sang with humour, warmth and relaxed style to his laid back rhythmic harmonic guitaring.

Jack and Gills Daughter, a Leeds Duo featuring Gemma Tilley on vocals and Jack Haigh on guitar. Exquisite funky rhythms and percussive harmonic guitar with Gemma's subtle voice, sometimes strong, sometimes light, powerful, soft, raucous always evocative in quality. They sang their own songs about elements of their own experience. A band to look out for.



Chris Martin finished off the evening with brilliant thumping blues guitar and laid back cheeky humour, not forgetting his 'Jaffa Cake Tradition'. He was accompanied on acoustic guitar by Paul 'Raoul' Johnson and on banjo byMartin Hirsd.

Donal O'Driscol (Acoustic Club Organiser) and his team have created a lovely friendly relaxed place presenting and supporting local musicians, comradeship, conversational anecdotes and irrepressible good feel optimism.

Review by Andrew Sugden

Cooking with Elvis: A wonderful not to be missed show at Hull Truck Theatre

A dark delicious comedy and hugely popular when it first appeared at the Hull Truck Theatre in 1993, Cooking with Elvis by Playwright Lee Hall arrives back at Hull Truck by popular demand, skilfully guided by Director Gareth Tudor Price, and after Fridays outrageously funny performance is bound to be a sell out success.

Mother and daughter are coming to terms with dad, a former Elvis Impersonator, after a car accident has left him a quadriplegic with severe head trauma and wheel chair bound. Jill the teenage daughter is the main carer and she deals with it by cooking and looking after dad and mam. Mam spins wayward turning to drink and seducing young men- and this is where the story begins as this dark in places comedy starts to unfold.

Enter Stuart played with boyish cheeky innocence by Chris Connel who is Mam’s new lover. Mam portrayed seductively and needful by Jackie Lyle introduces Stuart to Daughter Jill played by Victoria Elliot with girlish womanly adolescence. Jill has her world all ‘shook up’ in her meeting with ‘hound dog’ Stuart. Meanwhile glimpses into dad’s mind as Elvis played regally by Jim Kitson provide unexpected musical insights. Stuart finds himself at the centre of the whole family’s sexual frustrations with shocking consequences.

The whole action takes place in the house and the set design by Andrew Wood and lighting by Graham Kirk is simple, unobtrusive and effective in supporting the story unfold. Andrew Wood’s costume design particularly Elvis’s works really well. Elvis is king and the musical arrangements by Jim Kitson are a good enough reason to see this play on its own.

From the very start the cast are immediately believable and the audience is visibly and audibly drawn into the unfolding action responding with gasps, laughter and applause. During the intermission there was a buzz and heightened arousal from the audience in anticipation of the second part of the play- and they were not disappointed as the play surged on to a surprising, but satisfying, ending.

Cooking with Elvis is a good story as much as a very funny musical comedy and it has all the ingredients in the cooking pot to satisfy. This play tackles some dark elements of human experience but is ultimately about how people overcome their own trials and difficulties in life and through some wonderful, raw, honest humour. Cooking for Elvis transmits a tremendous sensation of good feeling to its audience that was reflected warmly and deservedly in the standing ovation at the end of the performance.

I recommend, no I urge you to Cook with Elvis at the Hull Truck Theatre- it’s not to be missed.

Andrew Sugden

Cooking With Elvis at the Hull Truck Theatre from 24th June till 10th July
For Tickets and more information see Here

Denis's Diary for Beverley Festival Day Three

Up bright and early to attend the Festival Service at St Nicholas's Church, Beverley. This was an illuminating and spiritually uplifting service (and definitely different!) Music and choir wonderfully provided by members of the Folk Festival with participation from regular congregation and visitors alike.

Later we were joined by Andrew and Eve on the village green where we munched on bacon and egg sandwiches sitting in the sunshine (out at last) whilst being entertained by events occurring on the green.



The four of us then went to an audience with Tony Benn and Roy Bailey which was informative and amusing at the same time. Hats off to these two Old Timers. Long may they continue to deliver their message.



Just in time we managed to catch Ella and the Escapades for an informal interview before we watched them play. This band won a place at Glastonbury in a "Battle of the Bands", a competition held country-wide for a coveted chance to play the main stage at the world famous festival.



We spent some time walking around the site talking to a variety of people who were out enjoying the Festival. Andrew was by now winding down and indulged in a nice cold beer. Mmmmmm. I happened upon Anne-Marie who brightened up all the stages and other venues with her beautiful flower arrangements and I found out that she was the official florist and this was her first Festival. She can be contacted on www.flowersbyanne-marie.co.uk.

In the Concert Marquee we were entertained by Charlie Dore & The Hula Valley Orchestra. A great scoop by the Yorkshire Gig Guide! During their performance - whilst we were filming- they were joined on stage by the wonderful Barbara Dickson who gave an impromptu performance with her friend Charlie.

Back to the PeaceCake Cafe for Alison and I for lamb korma. Andrew and Eve went to the burger tent. A rich variety of faire being available at this Festival.
As the evening - and indeed the Festival- drew to a close Alison and I attended the final concert in the main hall, whilst Eve and Andrew went to cover events in the Wold Top and the Acoustic Marquees.

We enjoyed our concert which consisted of Tyde (a young trio, fresh on the music scene playing country music from around the British Isles), followed by Alison's favourite performers of the weekend The Black Umfolosi 5. These were an internationally known group from Zimbabwe who sang their own traditional songs and dances along with a very humorous "send up" of the European summer, adapting the Zimbabwean dance to the open-topped convertible and mini-skirt! A group not to be missed if they are in your area.

The final act was given to a packed, sell-out audience by The Proclaimers. They received a rousing reception and delighted their eager audience with their performance.
After this we said our "good byes" to Andrew and Eve and headed for the motorway and home.

The Yorkshire Gig Guide would like to thank the Festival Committee for such a wonderful, well organised and friendly Festival, Martha the Press Liaison Officer for all her help and kindness over the weekend, all the artists who gave up their valuable time to give us interviews and not forgetting all the stewards, car park attendants and other volunteers who were most helpful with our endless enquiries.

Andrew (Editor in Chief of Yorkshire Gig Guide) and Alison (Eigle Film Productions) will be compiling all the interviews and events which took place over the weekend. Keep an eye on the Yorkshire Gig Guide to see them as soon as they appear.

That's it folks!
Looking forward to next year.
Denis Heaton

Denis's Diary of Beverley Festival Day Two

Hello again. Off we go once more to enjoy the friendliness and beautiful music of Beverley Festival and we arrived on site with no sign of the promised sunshine, only a stiff breeze and light drizzle. This in no way dampened our enthusiasm for the day ahead.

After a quick stop at the Peace Cake Cafe for a refreshing cup of tea, we went in search of music. Eve went to the Wold Top Marquee, Andrew, myself and Alison (film crew) toured the site and chatted to various festival folk, all in good spirits in spite of the anti-social weather. Plenty of events had been organized to take place on the village green today. These included Morris dancers, clog dancing, sword dancing plus an exhibition of dancing round the maypole.

Rejoined by Eve who had explored the fringe of the festival in the town of Beverley itself we stopped again at the cafe for a further refuelling.

Once fed and watered , we headed for the Acoustic Marquee, where I was blown away by the various bands which included local singer songwriter Rob Nicklas, York's funky soul singer songwriter Jess Gardham and band and the passionate vocals and rhythmic harmonies of Hull band Circus Envy.

After this session the Yorkshire Gig Guide crew went to explore the craft tent, where I am happy to say the sales of pet peas are going well!

Time now to leave the Festival Village and attend the concert at Beverley Minster. We were entertained by the Beverley Community Choir's vocal harmonies before the main event of the evening which was the Brighouse and Raistrick Brass Band which played rousing joyous music to a packed and enthusiastic Minster audience.

After the performance in the Minster we made our way back to base looking forward to whatever delights await us on day three.
Nighty nite for now- Denis Heaton
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