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.
“This most recent reincarnation of the Poozies is all about mischief and rebellion…”
The ever adventurous Poozies are back, showing off their fantastic new line-up and all-new
material – most of which makes up their hard-hitting new album ‘Punch’.
Newbies Sarah McFadyen and Tia Files have joined founding member Mary Macmaster and long-term cohort Eilidh Shaw, and together they continue to play a dazzling, joyfully eclectic mix of contemporary and traditional tunes with beefy, powerful accompaniment, while their perfectly executed songs vary dramatically from Gaelic walking songs to old-time American, country and pop.
“What a mighty sound they make for a four piece! It’s both bewitching and scary, for there’s also a sinister alchemy at work between the four very different (and self confessedly off kilter) musical personalities – and a keen sense of delicious mischief to boot.”
The world-famous Brighouse & Rastrick Band return for their annual concert at Otley Parish Church. The 2019 Yorkshire Champions bring a varied mix of entertaining brass band music along with their high-class soloists and precision ensemble. B&R have been performing at the very highest level for well over a century and achieved notoriety in 1977 when the band caught the ears and imagination of the British public with their recording of The Floral Dance, holding the number two position in the singles chart for nine weeks.
Jaki Graham is one of the most appealing Soul entertainers to emerge from the UK, as a true pioneer having paved the way for many a black British female solo artist who followed. Jaki achieved international success with a string of hits from ’85 including Could it Be I’m Falling In Love?, Round and Around, Set Me Free, Step Right Up and Breaking Away, also making the Music Guinness Book of Records in the 80’s as the first black British female solo artist to have 6 consecutive Top 10/20 hits.
Her career excelled in the 90’s with her album Real Life selling more than 800,000 copies in less than four weeks. Her cover of Ain’t Nobody reached No. 1 in the US Billboard Dance charts for 5 weeks as well as achieving gold in Australia, Japan and the USA.
Jaki is officially a Motown artist, as one of the only British females to hold this credential alongside Kiki Dee. Jaki also holds a Doctorate from the University of Wolverhampton, for which she was also made Pro-Chancellor due to her outstanding contributions to the music industry and awarded her very own Star on Birmingham’s Broad Street.