Hitting the high notes . . .

Thursday, 4 June 2009

HIP hop to Haydn, flamenco to folk, jazz to jamming . . . . music-lovers of all tastes will find plenty to enjoy in Hebden Bridge Arts Festival's diverse music programme.

Music has traditionally played an important part in the festival, now in its 16th year, and this summer's highlights are certain to set toes tapping and put smiles on faces.

The festival, which runs from June 26 to July 12, kicks off with bhangra, tabla, hip hop and funky grooves from the Dhol Foundation, Diversity Dance and students from Calder High School at Hebden Bridge Picture House. The performance on June 26 is supported by Arts Council England and Calderdale MBC and promises a spectacular fusion of choreography and amazing sounds.

Festival co-ordinator Rebecca Yorke said: "We're pleased with the early response to bookings. In particular we have a very varied music programme for this year's Arts Festival with something to suit all tastes."

The Northern Jazz Orchestra, which draws on the best young musical talent in the north west, brings spectacular contemporary sounds to the Ted Hughes Theatre at Calder High School on July 2. Formed in 1989 by drummer and musical director Paul J.Rigby, the orchestra plays music by such jazz greats as Buddy Rich, Stan Kenton and Count Basie.

Top-flight folk band Tanglefoot from Ontario will bring powerful vocals, dazzling instrumentals and mesmerising stage-presence to Hebden Bridge Picture House on June 30. The Canadian band, which first visited the UK in 1998 and have completed 11 sell-out tours since then, will be on their farewell tour.

Award-winning singer and performer Barb Jungr, who gave a stunning performance at Hebden Bridge Picture House as part of the Linda Smith tribute last year, is back for this year's Arts Festival. Along with pianist Jenny Carr and Jessica Lauren on organ, harmonica, melodica and autoharp, she brings her show 'Tell It Like It Is - Songs of War and Peace' to the Ted Hughes Theatre at Calder High School on July 10. Singing songs by Dylan, Cohen, Springsteen, Bragg and Previn, among others, her passionate delivery and intelligent arrangements promise an evening to remember.

Heptonstall Church will be the venue for a concert of music by Mendelssohn, Liszt and JS Bach by acclaimed Swedish pianist Martin Sturfalt on July 11. He returns to Hebden Bridge with a programme celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Felix Mendelssohn, drawing parellels with Bach, the composer's spiritual mentor, and Franz Liszt.

Always a popular venue, Heptonstall Church will also provide the setting for recitals by pianist Aisa Ijiri on June 27, pianist Gemma Beeson on July 4, the Hepton Singers on July 4 and jazz duo Peadar Long and Dave Nelson on July 5.

Hebden Bridge Trades Club will feature the fresh-sounding jazz of Empirical on July 3 and the stylish contemporary sounds of the TG Collective, who mix gypsy, jazz and flamenco, on July 5. The seven-piece Urban Strings, fusing dynamic urban music with classic melodies, will be at the Trades on July 11 and multi-instrumentalist Nathan Riki Thomson will play sounds from his debut album 'Under Ubi's Tree' on July 12.

Programmes are now available at many venues in Hebden Bridge, Mytholmroyd and beyond or, for more information, contact the Festival office.

The Festival runs from
Friday June 26 to Sunday July 12.  

Look over the Festival website or phone 01422 842684 for more information.