Yorkshire Arts & Music | Yorkshire

February 4, 2010

Art in York at New School House Gallery

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire Trips and Places — brian @ 4:21 am

‘Crunchtime 2010′ is an event depicting International Artists’ Responses to Global Issues running in York until 6th February 2010. Sorry it is crunchtime if you want to visit the various venues where events are taking place, as you have only a few days left. There is a seminar at the Guildhall at 5pm this evening and talks, debates and screenings tomorrow and Saturday.

My visit to the event introduced me too the New School House Gallery in Peasholme Green near St Cuthberts and the Quilt Museum.

‘Housed in a grade II former schoolhouse, the gallery is showcasing work in contemporary ceramics, glass, wood and metal, textiles and jewellery by both established and up-and-coming makers. It will also exhibit paintings, prints, mixed-media work, sculpture and installations by artists from the UK and abroad.’ read more on the New School House Gallery website. This new venture is planning a series of themed Exhibitions starting on 11th February with Home , then 1 April – 22 May with Reclaim followed by Navigation, 53º North and Open in August. If that isn’t enough reason to visit the gallery it is located in The Secret Garden’ . After a mind broadening trip you can have coffee and cakes at Le Langhe delicatessen.

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December 31, 2009

Sir Patrick Stewart

Filed under: Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire Folk — brian @ 6:02 am

After waiting for Godo-nly knows how many decades (well 6.9 actually) the Mirfield lad made good with an OBE in 2001 and now a Knighthood (KBE) in 2009.

He is the Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield. ‘Sir Pat’ is also a Patron of Refuge, the national charity supporting women and children who are victims of domestic violence and has sponsored a scholarship for a three-year full-time doctoral study in the area of children and domestic violence at Huddersfield. Patrick Stewart has also been a committed human rights activist. He tells the story of how he got involved in human rights advocacy when he heard of an Eastern European theater troupe that got jailed for trying to perform a Shakespeare play. ‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’ may be an apposite quote from Hamlet.

Of his role in Star Trek he is reported to have said ‘you know all of those years with the Royal Shakespeare Company, all those years of playing kings and princes and speaking black verse, and bestriding the landscape of England was nothing but a preparation for sitting in the captain’s chair of the Enterprise.’

As CNN said the ‘Queen says make it so‘ and we want to add our congratulations to Sir Patrick.

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November 3, 2009

Brass Bands of Yorkshire and Yore

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes — brian @ 1:12 pm

Where there’s muck there’s Brass Bands and where there is a lot of brass there are Silver Bands. ‘The Cloth-Cap’ music of the working class man has strong links in Yorkshire and with Yorkshire businesses.

For up to date news and reports there is a weekly magazine The British Bandsman ‘the leading international Brass Magazine’ with too large a circulation to feature on Private Eye.
The Bandsman has a data base of 108 brass and silver bands in Yorkshire without a single Salvation Army band listed. Exactly half the Yorkshire bands are in West Yorkshire including such names as Gawthorpe Brass, Frickley & South Elmsall Brass Band, Hammonds Saltaire Band, Holme Silver Band (1), Meltham & Meltham Mills Band and Brighouse & Rastrick Band. In South Yorkshire you can hear Rockingham Band, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band,Grimethorpe Colliery Band and Stocksbridge Band amongst others. North Yorkshire has many village bands and this is just a selection, Knaresborough Silver Band, Leyburn Brass Band, Muker Silver Band, Summerbridge & Dacre Silver Prize Band, Reeth Brass Band and York Railway Institute Band. So if you are thinking of joining or rejoining have a look for a band near you (or not so near if the sound of your practicing travels).

Widely accredited as the first amateur band was that of Stalybridge Old Band in 1814 followed by the world famous Black Dyke Mills Band formed in Queensbury Yorkshire in 1816. Below is a photograph of the Keld Village band from a book of old photographs that I can no longer trace.

Keld Village Band

I am indebted to The History of Brass bands for the following musical quotations

‘Brass Bands are all very well in their place –

outdoors and several miles away’

Sir Thomas Beecham

Come if you dare! Our trumpets sound’. Purcell

…the brass band movement has a great future]:

‘It has a great present, if only people would realise it’

Gustav Holst

‘God tells me how the music should sound,

but you stand in the way’

Arturo Toscanini to a trumpet player

‘Never look at the trombones, it only encourages them’

Richard Strauss

‘Military justice is to justice what military

music is to music’

Groucho Marx

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October 27, 2009

Stocksbridge Steeltown and Hillclimb Venue

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Villages and Towns, Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes — brian @ 4:48 am

Stocksbridge is a sporting community 12 miles north of Sheffield that last weekend hosted the British National Cycling Hill Climb Championship. The ride up Pea Royd Lane tested all the entrants who were too shattered at the top to take in the splending valley views. The winners received awards from Town and City mayors at The Venue.

It is great walking country and the local town council offer free printable maps on this site.
The workers for Sammy Fox who opened the first Steelworks in the town in 1842 would have had little time to appreciate the hills around. As Steel manufacturing grew to dominate jobs in the town workers traveled miles by bus,foot and rail to work in the plants. During world War ll the town was subject to bombing raids yet continued to produce the quality steel the country needed. More on Sam Fox
Now all I can find is a is Chorus for Corus written by Tom Russel -listen below

Other things are happening for the community such as the new development of 443 houses to be built at Station road Deepcar and planning approval has been given for a development of the Outo Kumpo site.
The Switch On of the Christmas Illuminations will take place on Friday, 4th December 2009 at the shopping precinct at 7.00 p.m where Deepcar Brass Band will be playing Christmas carols from 6.30 p.m.
Stocksbridge Park Steels Football Club, Tennis, Golf, Rugby, even photography clubs all seem to thrive. Stocksbridge Brass Band are still entering competitions 110 years after first forming.

For a video of the hill climb see Cycling Info

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October 12, 2009

Night Out in Halifax

Filed under: Villages and Towns, Yorkshire Arts & Music — brian @ 6:38 am

The Victoria Theater in Halifax usually has some event or show that suits me or the family but not always both. Still a good night out can be arranged irrespective of the programme if it is combined with a meal and drink. The bus is the way to get into town but a taxi or sober chauffeur is needed to get home.
In 1956 Joe Brown formed The Spacemen skiffle group and was on TV over 50 years ago but he will be performing at the Victoria on 16th October 2009. The next evening there will be Paul Jones (the former singer with Manfred Mann) and other members of The Blues Band Dave Kelly Tom McGuiness, Rob Townsend and Gary Fletcher will be on stage from 7.30pm. According to the Theater ‘you will not leave with the blues!’

The following four Saturdays have the Festival of Dance XIII, then the ‘chuckle therapy’ of Barry Cryer, the stage version of Skellig ‘ sophisticated theater with real emotional pull and Oliver by the Halifax Light Opera Society. To save space here why not get on the mailing list for future information or buy tickets by calling 01422 351156.
The Unthanks are at the Parish Church on 24th with a new line up to support the Geordie Folk Rachel & Becky Unthank.
Halifax has a rich and diverse choice of entertainment and a pre-evening Pizza at a local ‘Italian’ makes for a good evening.

If you are still ‘up for it’ after your trip to the theater try some Liquid refreshment and a bit of lively clubbing. ‘Liquid presents an unrivaled clubbing experience with state of the art sound & lighting systems’. Mind you if like me you remember Joe Brown and Paul Jones in their hey days you will probably not be up for a 3.00 am stint at the club.

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October 7, 2009

Drink Ingleton Dry

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Villages and Towns, Yorkshire Arts & Music — brian @ 1:35 pm

Ingleton is a lively place to visit for a weekend or short holiday. We chose the folk festival time when the fields were full of campers and the streets full of crows. There are some very good pubs in the heart of the village, plus the Marton Arms at Thornton in Lonsdale or the Old Hill Inn a couple of miles out on the road towards Ribblehead. From what I remember consuming they all serve good home cooked food and a sparkling selection of beers. All the pubs and a couple of clubs were full to overflowing when the singing started and harmonising is thirsty work.

The view from our guest house bedroom window on Main Street showed the most recognisable of the Three Peaks – Ingleborough. The back garden was at the confluence of the two fast flowing rivers the Twiss and the Doe where they become the river Greta. The rivers had already been inspected at closer quarters as we took the Waterfall Trail through Peca and Swilla Glens to Thornton Force and back via Beezley Falls and the aptly named Snow Falls.

Ingleton has a summer walking weekend at the end of May each year but every weekend should be a walking or caving weekend.
2009’s highlight event was probably Operation Home Guard a 1940’s memorial event with performances from the Ovaltiney’s, Gracie lands, a George Formby impersonator, Dancing with the Starlight swing Orchestra and 40’s disco. They take over the town centre, the street is closed to traffic, and is full of military personnel, civilians, cars, trucks and jeeps, from the war time period. Sunday military parade on 5th July 2009 with the NWW11 association 51st Highland division Black watch pipes and drums. Afternoon tea dance, military road run, military vehicles and classic cars, re-enactors, remote controlled battle tanks, trade stalls and spirited fun.

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September 29, 2009

Dance Yorkshire

Filed under: Wit and Humour, Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire Sport and Pastimes — brian @ 5:22 am

Whilst this book features Dancing in the East Riding there is a lot more going off in Yorkshire. I am always surprised at nthe number of dance venues still functioning for classes, medals and competitions. Undoubtedly a healthy pastime for a great many people it is good to feel a resurgence for dance.

Dancing as a Sport
The Yorkshire Dance Festival took place in Sheffield earlier in September. There were 28 classes of ballroom and latin and details can be found on Dance Info Sports that boasts ‘Everything you wanted to know about competitive dance world and dancesport.’
The 2012 Olympics created the idea of a 2012 dancers getting fit by dancing in city centres. A more traditional programme of dance events is on Dance Yorkshires web site.

Dancing as a Career
Yorkshire Dance in Leeds is a charity based operation that offers training courses and more dance related activities. It has just received more funding from The Arts Council for a Lift project to develop the work and careers of a selected group of talented dance practitioners. There will be an expert career mentoring programme and support for artists. The Riley Theatre is based at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance and runs an edgy programme and various courses.

Dance Humour
The Russians have the kosack, the Spanish the flamenco. If Yorkshire had a dance of its own, it’d involve swilling a pint of Tetley’s to and fro in front of the football while shouting ‘Leeds! Leeds! Leeds!’. Thankfully they don’t teach you the ins and outs of that dazzling composition, but you could learn some more credible forms of groove — street, jazz, tap and ballet are just a few of the jigs that you could be mastering here. Jangle that spangle, girlfriend. according to the Itchy guide.

The Butchers Dance

A guy has spent many years travelling all around the world making a documentary on Native dances. He thinks he has every single native dance of every indigenous culture in the world on film. He winds up in a pub in Sheffield where he hears about the seldom seen and sacred “Butcher Dance.”

The guy’s a bit confused and says, “Butcher Dance? What’s that, I thought I knew all the worlds great dances?” After a great deal of persuasion he gets an invite to the local dance hall. With great excitement because he believes he has uncovered a great new dance format he turns up at the appointed time.

A deathly hush descends over performers and spectators. The guy is becoming caught up in the fervour of the moment himself. This is it. He is about to witness the ultimate performance of rhythm and movement ever conceived by mankind. From somewhere the rhythmic pounding of drums booms out and locals begin to sway to the stirring rhythm.

Then he hears “You butch yer right arm in. You butch yer right arm out. You butch yer right arm in and you shake it all about…..

Get a special calender to record your dancing activity.

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September 15, 2009

The Grand Steve Earl

Filed under: Yorkshire Arts & Music — brian @ 5:32 am

Leeds Grand Theater is hosting a Steve Earl concert on Tuesday 3rd November 2009 and it sounds as though it will be a great event. After an outstanding performance at The End of the Road Festival this last weekend Steve is continuing his tour with songs penned by his late friend and song writer Townes Van Zandt. Mixing songs from the album ‘Townes’ with some of Steve’s more raunchy rock numbers worked at the festival and we can expect more of the same when he comes to ‘The Grand’.

Buy ‘Townes’ which ‘is essentially a country album and if you know Steve Earle’s other stuff don’t expect too much rock but do expect some great ballads – there are no duff songs here’ according to Pete Williams, record reviewer. Steve has a reputation for his political views, trouble with the law, drug addiction and his uncompromising viewpoints, so a bit like other Country stars from the old mould then!

If you miss Steve Earl at the Leeds Grand he moves on to the Barbican in London and you could catch him there but I recommend you get your Leeds ticket now. See you at The Grand.

Other Steve Earl recordings from Amazon

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September 7, 2009

Hull Hell of a City

Filed under: Our Yorkshire, Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire Cities, Yorkshire Trips and Places — brian @ 12:46 pm

The Maritime Weekender at Hull Marina this weekend drew me to a City I normally only pass through on the way to the Ferry. Despite cool blustery weather the Sea Shanty singing along the Marina wall was in full flow despite the hands in pockets approach of one of the singers from Hissyfit. Bitter End had all the audience participating, Shellback Chorus had at least 15 singer and Kimbers Men sang in powerful bass. As a music event in several pubs and outdoor stages it was fast moving, entertaining and well supported. Beyond the music there was other daytime entertainment and retail therapy set against Hulls seafaring history.

Walking from the railway station to the marina involved negotiating a street food market thronged with folk buying Yorkshire grub with the odd bit of exotic cuisine. This must have been specially designed to tempt me but I waited for Fish and Chips at The Green Bricks pub one of the singing venues on Humber Street. Moving on to The Minerva for more music and sustenance you got a good view of The Deep one of the ‘Visitor Attractions’ I didn’t have time to visit. This is home to 40 sharks and over 3000 fish in an area called a ’submarium’.

Hull Museums & Exhibitions

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July 21, 2009

Band Of Hope to Salvation Army Band

Filed under: Yorkshire Arts & Music, Yorkshire History and Heritage — brian @ 3:32 am

sally bash

The Band of Hope started in 1847 when Ann Jane Carlile was invited to Leeds to speak at some children’s meetings. She was convinced that children suffered because of the ready availability of ‘strong drink’. Hope UK still works as a childrens charity ‘enabling children to make drug free choices’. ‘First you take a drink, then the drink takes a drink, then the drink takes you’ Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald.

After exposure to the Band of Hope William Booth and his wife Catherine opened The Christian Revival Society renamed in 1878 The Salvation Army. There are many icons associated with The Salvation Army including The Citadels, The War Cry, the Red Shield and the slogan “Blood and Fire”. (Representing the Blood which was shed by Jesus for our sins and the Fire of the Holy Spirit).

The good works of the Salvation Army include;

3,000,000 meals served every year at community and residential centres
79,000 prisoners visited each year in 134 prisons
3,200 homeless people given food and shelter every night in 57 centres
709 local church and community centres
636 elderly people accommodated every night in 17 residential centres
300 youth clubs providing a caring environment for young people
120 drop-in centres offering support and help for people in need
70 day centres for elderly and disabled people
50 nurseries and playgroups
30 Red Shield support centres for military personnel in the UK, Germany and the Falkland Islands
10 people reunited every working day with their families through the Family Tracing Service

Perhaps the most obvious icon is the Salvation Army Band that is one of the activities that supports the necessary fund raising activities.

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