As the days start to get a little longer, the events calendar gets a little fuller this February as we have a month of Macbeth, Music and Markets. Find out what’s on during the month with our round-up of the best events below.
The GOAT portrait artist
If you’re looking for the GOAT (greatest of all time) portrait artists, you don’t need to look much further than John Singer Sargent. What made his ‘swagger’ portraits remarkable was his power over his sitters, what they wore and how they were presented to the audience.
Through interviews with curators, contemporary fashionistas and style influencers, Exhibition on Screen’s film John Singer Sargent: Fashion & Swagger is showing at Otley Courthouse on Saturday February 1st. Filmed at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Tate Britain, London, it examines how Sargent’s unique practice has influenced modern art, culture and fashion.
So good they now host it twice
Otley Farmers’ Market is so good they’re now holding it twice a month. The first offering is on Sunday February 9th, with the second two weeks later in the more traditional last-Sunday-of-the-month slot on February 23rd. Both markets are from 9am to 1pm, with the Feb 23rd date also seeing the Craft Fair being held at Otley Courthouse.
Stellar new Macbeth production
Recorded live at the Donmar Warehouse, David Tennant (Doctor Who, Broadchurch) and Cush Jumbo (The Good Wife, Criminal Record) lead a stellar cast in an enthralling new production of Shakespeare’s Macbeth showing at Otley Courthouse on February 9th. The production had rave reviews live and this film captures the energy brilliantly.
80s legends at the Courthouse
You’ll just die in their arms when 80s legends Cutting Crew appear at Otley Courthouse on Sunday February 16th. Nick van Eede formed the band in 1985 and within two years the Grammy nominated, Anglo-Canadian band had scored multiple worldwide hits including of course, their 1987 USA number one, the timeless, majestic “(I Just) Died in Your Arms”. The song has earned countless prestigious awards including 7 million radio plays in the USA alone! There were still some tickets left at the time of writing, otherwise it’s returns only.
Or if slide guitar is more your thing…
One of England’s most revered folk performers, widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin Simpson’s interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. Luckily for us he’s on at Otley Courthouse on Friday, February 21st. Check him out if you can, this promises to be an amazing show.
Side order of jazz? Yes please…
The month finishes off when What The Clef take to the stage at Tapas N Tunes in a dinner with music event on Friday February 28th. This fab duo will be laying on some smooth jazz for those choosing to dine.
For these and other events in Otley, see https://www.visitotley.co.uk/whats-on/calendar/