Feast of bands for Fringe finale
DESPITE the trials and tribulations and occasional mistakes on my part, (though not for want of trying), I've really enjoyed attempting to steer the first proper Fringe for Harrogate International Festival in many years. There's a lot more to be done and achieved if it happens next year but the past two weeks have been packed with as many great moments as disappointing ones, possibly more.
Moments like this:
The scared to speak hush in The Club engendered by Swedish songstress Josefina Sanner's beautiful voice and haunting acoustic music about ladies in tall castles and fields of dwarves.
Dalesman Chris Simpson mixing nostalgic tales of a disappearing rural life with fascinating industry gossip from his days in hit prog-folk band Magna Carta - plus a welter of lovely acoustic music with his great band.
Getting lost in a field outside Huby on the way back from Almscliffe Cragg where 'psychogeographer' Philip Legard had shown us how to see the things we could see in this historic beauty spot - and the things we couldn't.
Visiting Guardian critic and book writer David Stubbs, wearing 3D glasses telling everyone this was the "coolest place to be in Britain right now" (surely some exaggeration!) while VJ Quadrod's amazing visuals swirled round the room while mixed music live from the likes of Stockausen and Ligeti as if this was a Rave not a modern classical music event.
All these events, some well attended, others poorly, happened not because of me but because of the hard work of Harrogate people like Matt Stephenson, John Haxby, Guy Hatton, David Moss-Blundell, Nicola Everill, Jem Henderson, Richard McTague, Richard Turner, Stuart Rhodes, Ryan Smee, Rod Castro and more.
And it's not over yet - Matt oversees the Fringe Crawl Day tomorrow, Saturday with visiting Leeds indie act and great Harrogate rock bands and acoustiuc acts from noon to midnight - plus DJ Trev's Bottom of the Bottle and the brilliant FIRE DJs.
Truly, it ain't over 'til it's over.
Oh - and folk legend Ralph McTell is also playing Harrogate Theatre the same night.
ONE of Harrogate's most popular bands, D'Nile are filming a music video at Rehab in Harrogate tonight, Friday. Liam Gray and the boys are asking for would-be extras who would like to appear in the film to turn up at the bar at 7pm for a 7.15pm.
The track the indie rock band will be playing is One Night Lover.
As a special thank you to the extras, D'Nile will be playing a live show straight afterwards at Rehab. Filming will continue at various locations in Harrogate tomorrow, Saturday.
A WORLD famous folk musician is coming to Knaresborough.
Martin Simpson, one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players on the planet, will be playing at Henshaws Arts & Crafts Centre on August 20.
The 23-times BBC radio 2 Folk Awards nominee and two times Musician of the Year winner is only one of several folk-related big names booked in this lovely and relaxed venue in forthcoming months.
RIPON promoters DMB who've made a big name for themselves with a series of high quality acoustic and indie gives with nationally-renowned acts in the past two years or so, have another show coming up in September.
Playing live at The Edge on Saturday, September 4 will be Edinburgh singer-songwriter Alex Cornish who recently had one of his songs picked as the theme tune of the British Golf Open on TV.
His fans include radio presenters Steve Wright and Dermot O'Leary and his second album Call Back comes out in September.
Tickets costing 8 (6 students) are on sale from dmb@livemusic.co.uk or tel 01765 605987.
ANOTHER great-sounding live music show in Ripon is happening closer at hand. Great Northern Wine plays host to acoustic/Americana act Andrea Glass this Sunday, August 1 at 8pm. For tickets costi9ng 7.50, tel 01765 606 767.
WITH recent shows by the likes of The Mods selling well, local promoters RipleyBlues are looking forward to presentations of their next show starring King King.
Helmed by Alan Nimmo, organiser Andy Herrington was so impressed by them on Paul Jones' Radio 2 show he put his summer holidays on hold to book them.
Tickets for the show on Friday, August 6 cost 10 members, 12 non-members.
Other RipleyBlues presentations at Ripley Town Hall include: September 11: The Blues Band. October 23: Counterfeit Stones. November 6: Doug MacLeod. November 20: Chantel McGregor and Dr Feelgood.
www.ripleyblues.com
HARROGATE'S Viper Rooms plays host to another great night of music tonight, Friday from the golden age of disco - the 70s and early 80s. Tonight, Friday, July 30's event features Brutus Gold's Love Train .
Doors open 10pm and stage time is 11.30pm. Tickets costing 5 (or 8 for VIP ones) are available now from.theviperrooms.com
LASTLY, a new Harrogate band called Oswald Chambers are looking for a lead guitarist. If you're interested, contact John R Dowbiggin at http://www.jd74.org
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Weather for Harrogate
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -4 C to 0 C
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