Top acoustic music at Major Tom’s in Harrogate

Major Tom’s Social, located above Space in The Ginnel, has rapidly become a favourite of people in Harrogate who like good music, good beer and a Leeds-like relaxed and bohemian atmosphere.

The next in their programme of live shows, which are free entry, happens on Thursday, February 12 when Leeds-based five-piece Cottonwoolf bring their mildly psychedelic, blues-folky alt-rock to the venue.

Next up is Wednesday, February 18 which sees another treat when when rootsy Leeds outfit Redgrass perform.

This lively multi-instrumental three-piece, occasionally four-piece, band, take bluegrass and folk and add left wing politics to create a combustible and entertaining mix on stage.

With a line-up including Dave Procter (vocals, guitar, bouzouki), Paul Whittaker (guitar, banjo, vocals), Dave Mays (guitar, bass, banjo, vocals) and Jeff Round (tea chest bass, guitar, vocals) and have been dsecribed as “breaking the conservative grip on the genre, by including political comment, skiffle, folk, blues and country.”

Another highlight of Major Tom’s new season is bound to be Serious Sam Barrett who appears on Wednesday, February 25 with support from David Broad.

In terms of folk-blues, the seriously talented Barrett has seen and done about it all in his ten years or more of gigging success across Yorkshire.

But don’t take my word for it, listen to Gideon Coe (BBC Radio 6) who hailed Sam thus: “splendid folk blues from the West Yorkshire hills.”