Patrick Barkham takes us on a journey around some of Britain’s most intriguing small islands, meeting their wild residents – from puffins to party animals, Orkney voles to nuns. In this illustrated talk, he travels from small to ever tinier islands in search of the essence of island life. Do small islands have big lessons for us on the mainland?[Read More…]

When they first appeared back in 1999, NME opined ‘Turin Brakes inhabit a space which is entirely their own, fully formed and brutally emotive – give them the devotion they deserve’. Their Ether Song album was certified gold in the week of release and yielded the Top 5 single Painkiller, and their five subsequent albums have all made the Top[Read More…]

Hazel O’Connor rose to fame in 1980 starring in the iconic punk film, Breaking Glass. There were smash hits, Top 10 albums and Top of The Pops appearances aplenty along the way. Hazel’s ageless songs seem even more relevant in our present times. Accompanied by virtuoso saxophonist Clare Hirst (The Belle Stars, Communards, David Bowie) and Sarah Fisher (Eurythmics) on[Read More…]

Folk duo Gilmore & Roberts combine award-winning songwriting with astounding musicianship & tight harmonies to create a powerful wall of sound. Nominated 3 times at the BBC Folk Awards, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts met while students & released their debut album in 2008. Since then, the duo has toured abroad, played the UK’s biggest festivals, toured with Fairport Convention[Read More…]

Salena Godden is a highly respected poet, author and broadcaster. She has published two poetry collections; Under the Pier and Fishing in the Aftermath, and a collection of essays entitled The Good Immigrant. Her live poetry album, LIVEwire, was shortlisted for the Ted Hughes Award. Her latest book, Pessimism is for Lightweights – 13 Pieces of Courage and Resistance, was[Read More…]

Singer-songwriter Scott Matthews who grew up listening to Led Zeppelin, Joni Mitchell and Bob Dylan, got his first guitar when he was seven and knew then that music was his future. His first album Passing Stranger caught the attention of Janice Long, Mark Radcliffe and Lauren Laverne and won him the Ivor Novello award for the single Elusive. He’s toured[Read More…]

Internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter and Words & Music co-founder, Thea Gilmore, performs her annual ‘homecoming’ show in the beautiful St Mary’s Church. The show will include material from all stages of her unique career, including her new album Small World Turning, which features The Fuse (Let it all Come Down) This chance to hear the celebrated, exquisite voice of one of[Read More…]

Recently reformed legendary 70s folk-rock pioneers, Lindisfarne, are back on top form with a classic five-piece line-up fronted by founding member, Rod Clements. Their repertoire includes unforgettable songs like Meet Me on the Corner, Fog on the Tyne, Lady Eleanor and Run for Home. With a live reputation second to none, Lindisfarne’s power to galvanise festival and concert audiences remains[Read More…]

Lucy started out as a singer-songwriter performing at open-mic nights around the country. At just 19-years-old she took the brave decision to perform her self-penned hit ‘Last Night (Beer Fear)’ on the X Factor and secured a Top 20 single and Top 30 self-released album whilst still competing in the show. Through relentless touring, her innate song writing ability and[Read More…]

Lemn Sissay is an award-winning poet, playwright and broadcaster. He has performed throughout the world from The Library of Congress in The United States to The University of Addis Ababa. Awarded an MBE for services to literature in 2010, Lemn is Chancellor of The University of Manchester and holds an Honorary Doctorate from The University of Huddersfield. He is the[Read More…]

Holy Moly & The Crackers make riotous party music for the masses. Their upcoming album, Take a Bite, is a concise, passionate take on folk, blues and indie rock. Formed in Newcastle in 2011, the group began as little more than a laugh, an excuse to busk through some foot-stomping folk pop. VENUE The Crown Hotel Ballroom Monday, October 14th[Read More…]

Beeston Castle Warriors at Beeston Castle Sunday 25 August – Monday 26 August 11am – 5pm Experience the sights, sounds and smells of life as a 13th-century warrior as the Garrison set up camp at Beeston Castle. Meet the mighty armoured soldiers as they train for war, and marvel at their skills as they wield spears, shields and bows. An[Read More…]