Featured artist on German national broadcaster Deutschland RadioKultur, 2017
Voted by Australian Guitar Magazine (100th issue) as on the the top 25 guitarists of 2015
Tim McMillan & Rachel Snow are a duo from Melbourne, Australia, currently based in Germany. They entertain and delight audiences across the world performing over 140 concerts each year. Tim is a percussive finger-style guitarist and outlandish yarn spinner and Rachel is an exceptional violinist and accomplice in Tim’s whimsical narrative.
Together they perform an inventive mix of styles including Celtic rock, folk, metal & jazz. Tim and Rachel’ss hows are filled with athletic guitar stunts, interwoven violin antics and a magical blend of vocals accompanied by hilarious stories of life on the road and tales from the Australian bush.
After many years performing and touring together, Tim and Rachel have captured their entrancing sound on their first fully collaborative work – Dawn EP. Rachel also features on Tim’s latest album ‘Hiraeth’, which is a collection of instrumental pieces and songs composed and recorded while on tour through Europe. Hiraeth also features a variety of guest musicians from the rock world including members of Motörhead, The Sisters of Mercy, Ugly Kid Joe, Ghost and Mr Bungle.
Join Wrongsemble for their brand new storytelling show ‘A Witch’s Tale’: Before Hansel and before Gretel, there was Grizelda – a young fairytale witch who loved gingerbread! This magical musical adventure is perfect for the whole family! All performances are followed by an interactive making workshop where you can create your very own theatrical props inspired by the show. Wrongsemble will be back at Leeds Central Library in December with their family Christmas show Hansel & Gretel.
Otley Rugby Union Club plays in the National League 2 North at the famous Cross Green ground in Otley. Tickets available on the door.
Otley RUFC formed in 1865 and is one of the most distinguished rugby clubs in the country. The First XV has played at the top of the National Leagues for more than a decade, and many internationals have come through the club’s Junior section including Nigel Melville and more recently Danny Care.
The club has hosted some memorable occasions including the North’s defeat of the All Blacks in 1979, the North versus Australia in 1988, and Italy versus the USA in the 1991 Rugby World Cup.
These days Justin’s not certain about anything apart from his uncertainty – Brexit looms, it appears the Cold War is being rebooted and that’s before we begin to worry about what’s happening in America…..closer to home he’s starting to feel redundant as a parent. One kid is leaving home, the dog is getting older and doesn’t need much walking, and the youngest kid hits thirteen and cancels the family subscription to The Beano.
On top of this the golden age of the Northern straight white male comedian has gone the way of the dinosaurs. How will he adapt if he wants to survive? What next for this Northern Joker? What can he talk to his daughter about now she cares little for Dennis the Menace and the Bash St Kids? Hang on. Perhaps nothing has changed that much. When he was thirteen, the Russians were scary, the White House was a madhouse and he’d never been to Europe anyhow. Thinking back this was when his reading habits changed too, more Dark Knight than Desperate Dan, more Catwoman than Minnie the Minx. Perhaps our heroes never went away….they just waited for us to pick them up again. Perhaps she just needs a different type of comic.
Suitable for ages 14+
Gordon Haskell has often been described as a brilliant mix of Bill Withers and James Taylor with the feel of J.J Cale; but ultimately Haskell is a craftsman with his own unique style and presence, who has been consistently winning audiences with his warmth and golden voice for decades.
After 35 years of dedication to developing his craft of the singer-songwriter, Gordon Haskell finally broke through in 2001 with his hugely popular song ‘How Wonderful You Are’ reaching No. 2 in the UK chart and top chart positions right across Europe.
In 2002 his albums ‘Harry’s Bar’ and ‘Shadows on the Wall’ reached No. 2 and No 44 in the UK chart, and in the top 20 in Germany, France, Poland, Finland and the Netherlands. Both albums reached Gold status with the single selling 400,000+.
Since then he has continued to perform and record mostly in Europe, travelling from his home in Greece, and released book ‘The Road to Harry’s Bar’.
Having had a handful of sporadic concerts (& hugely successful) live appearances since, Gordon returns to the road in 2019 to bring his jazz/blues-influenced songbook and golden voice back to theatre audiences nationwide; up-close, intimate evenings with Gordon Haskell – the master singer-songwriter.
Blackbeard’s Tea Party’s bold and riotous modern folk rock is built for late nights and big stages. Traditional songs and tunes are given a heavy rock edge with earth shattering riffs, playful arrangements and driving dance rhythms.
This is gutsy folk rock dragged kicking and screaming into the 21st Century.
The band celebrate a decade of rocking the folk boat in 2019 and will commemorate this with their ‘Ten YAAR Anniversary Tour’ in the Autumn & Winterand will re- release an updated version of their most popular track‘Chicken on a Raft’ to commemorate this milestone.
Blackbeard’s Tea Party believe a live show should be a spectacle for the eyes as well as the ears. Outlandish outfits, costume changes, DIY props, unhinged stage antics and chaotic choreography all add up to an engaging, high- octane show that inevitably leaves audiences cheering for more.
Their most recent release, the 5-track EP ‘Leviathan!’, explores the romanticized glories and the full gruesome horrors of the 19th century whaling industry. The record brings with it a bigger, bolder sound and a revamped live show, employing a heftier rhythm section with their new double-Drum Kit set up.
The past few years have seen Blackbeard’s Tea Party perform at festivals as diverse as Glastonbury, Cambridge Folk Festival, Fairport’s Cropredy Convention, The Rainforest World Music Festival in Borneo and many more.
Formed in 2009 after meeting at the University in York the group was conceived as a busking band to temper the savage realities of adult life and scratch together some extra pocket money. These sessions would go a long way to inform the later incarnation of the band, frenetic dancing drew bigger crowds in the street and had the added bonus of keeping them warm. Subsisting on a diet of pasties and cheesecake, Blackbeard’s Tea Party quickly developed a fervent local fanbase.
The band members come from diverse musical backgrounds and their list of influences is eclectic. The decision on which songs to arrange as well as the writing of original material is usually lead by Stuart Giddens who is largely informed by folk influences such as Jim Causley, Eliza Carthy, Tim van Eyken, Stan Hugill, Cyril Tawney as well as groups such as Le Vent du Nord.
The contemporary twists that the band places on their arrangements come from a large melting pot of artists from the rock and metal genres such as Primus, Rammstein, Iron Maiden, Tool and Led
Zeppelin. From further afield the band takes its inspiration from classic funk groups such as The Meters, the bombastic pop hooks of artists like Beyonce and the dark storytelling style of Nick Cage.
Please note this is a standing only gig.
Semi- famous puppeteer Frank Stein has had enough with his badly made puppets. He’ll never be really famous because his puppets keep falling apart! Taking inspiration from the scientist Dr Frankenstein, and with the help of the audience he creates a new real live puppet that is destined to change this life forever!
Creature George emerges from the workshop – innocent and willing to learn, but Frank is so intent on the planned rehearsal that he neglects to look after his new child.
A gentle horror for little horrors. A treat not to be missed!
Little Frankenstein will tickle the imagination of everyone from 5 to 105 years old.