Bestselling author to 'open up' at special Vinyl Sessions in Harrogate about his musical roots
A popular monthly Harrogate music event which has seen sold-out signs for the last year has an exciting VIP guest coming up.
Vinyl Sessions presents Soundtrack of a Bestselling Book with Rob Cowen will see one of the UK’s most popular writers on nature open up about his musical influences and how he wrote his latest bestseller.
A former Harrogate resident, Rob's 2015 book, Common Ground, which was set in Nidd Gorge and written from his home in Bilton, was voted in the top three UK nature books of all time in a BBC Winterwatch poll.
His latest book The North Road, published by Penguin Random House, is a BBC Radio 4 Book of the Week and was longlisted for the Wainwright Prize for Nature Writing 2025.
For this special Vinyl Sessions event, which will take place at Starling Independent Bar Cafe Kitchen on Wednesday, May 13, Rob Cowen will select his favourite tracks from legendary music acts that feature in The North Road book.
He will also take part in a Q&A with Harrogate Advertiser journalist Graham Chalmers about his musical influences and how he wrote his new book.
Founded by vintage hi-fi expert Colin Paine in 2018, Vinyl Sessions features a historical introduction by co-host Graham Chalmers and a stunning live-mix visual backdrop each time.
Every penny goes to Harrogate Hospital Community Charity.
Tickets are expected to go fast for next month’s event which will utilise a modern Technics SL1210GR and Marantz Amp combo with Wharfedale Linton Heritage speakers for a playback of tracks from The Beatles, Underworld, George Harrison, REM, Bruce Springsteen- plus a few surprises!
Rob Cowen’s The North Road involves a voyage of self-discovery by the intrepid writer along the 400 mile route of the AI from it historic roots in London, to an archaeological dig near Catterick, all the way to his final destination at the outskirts of present day Edinburgh.
It was hailed by fellow author Robert Macfarlane as a “dazzlingly inventive work of literature".
The Observer described it as "beautifully written".
For tickets for the event, which starts at 7.30pm, visit: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/vinylsessions-present-best-selling-local-author-rob-cowen-tickets-1987646361774