Events Calendar

Poet, broadcaster & comedian Ian McMillan and Olympic composer Luke Carver Goss present a hilarious night of words, music & breath-taking comedy, featuring songs, stories and a musical created out of thin air!

Bard of Barnsley Ian McMillan hosts weekly hit radio show The Verb. He’s Poet-in-Residence for Barnsley FC, The Academy of Urbanism and, until recently, English National Opera. He’s a regular on BBC Breakfast, Pointless Celebrities, Coast, Countryfile, Pick of the Week, Last Word, The Yorkshire Dales and The Lakes (C4) … He was featured on The South Bank Show and cast away on Desert Island Discs. His rip-roaring poetry shows are legendary.

Luke Carver Goss has recorded & performed with his own group, the acclaimed Carver Trio, as well as The Ian McMillan Orchestra, jazz singer Tina May and story-teller Daniel Morden in the group The Devil’s Violin. Recent works with Ian include Snappy Opera the Magical Music Tree for Mahogany Opera Group, Looking for a Stable for Scunthorpe Rotary and local choirs, and Tiger Tales for Holmfirth Arts Festival. Expect a night of music, laughs and tales from two very talented performers.

After a sell-out performance of Handel’s Messiah to a packed Otley Parish Church at Christmas, Otley Choral Society will perform a concert version of Purcell’s most famous work, the opera ‘Dido and Aeneas’ on Saturday 23^rd March at 7:30pm.

The piece includes many beautiful and melodic choruses and the end result should be something very special indeed. They will be joined by a bevy of talented, young soloists and a baroque orchestra for the performance which is being conducted by their Musical Director, Yonny Levi.

The programme also includes a performance of Monteverdi’s ‘Ave Maris Stella’. Tickets are available from Brown’s Gallery or from choir members. (£15 including a programme. Free for students under 18. £5 for students who hold an NUS card.) For further information please go to www.otleychoral.org.uk or @otleychoral

The Lindisfarne Story, celebrates one of the UK’s most original and successful groups. Front-man Billy Mitchell and founder member Ray Laidlaw travel through the Geordie group’s history from the 1960s to the present day via their classic songs, rare video, audio and photographs – tall tales and scurrilous gossip.

From Whitley Bay to ‘Frisco Bay: The Lindisfarne Story. Don’t miss it.

Jon Palmer Acoustic band return to Otley Courthouse for their third consecutive year, with rousing choruses; catchy-as-hell melodies; superb musicianship; bags of energy; plus the dynamic and sophisticated songwriting of Jon Palmer. The musical chemistry displayed by this band goes from strength to strength … it’s almost becoming alchemy! With some classic ‘JPAB’ songs that you’ll know and love, plus new material and special guests, this stunning group are quickly becoming a ‘must-see’ show every year at the intimate Otley Courthouse. Tickets sell quickly, so grab yours now.

The Otley Folk Festival takes place over a weekend in September at various venues throughout the town. It attracts a wide range of well-known folk artists and demand for the tickets is always high.

Otley has many pubs (all serving cask conditioned ale) most of which are used by the folk festival over the weekend. All of the folk festival venues have real-ale bars except for the Methodist Hall which serves excellent cakes, buns, tea, coffee, soft drinks and savoury snacks. There is a campsite available for the weekend for anyone wishing to stay in Otley for the duration of the festival.

Date: Friday 20 to Sunday 22 September 2019

For further information please visit: www.otleyfolkfestival.com