Wednesday, 22 June 2016
Hebden Bridge becomes Trouser Town this week thanks to this year's Arts Festival which kicks off on Friday June 24.
The Trouser Town theme is encouraging to local people to look back to when local mills made thousands of pairs of trousers every day, but also focus on how our town is recovering after the devastating Boxing Day floods.
There are plenty of free family activities as the festival continues to building strong partnerships with local organisations so Northlight Studios host free Build Tour Town from Clay and Trouser Town trouser making sessions on Saturday 25 June from 11am.
The same day from noon in the Town Hall there's a special Hebden 1916 event – supported by Hebden Royd Town Council – has plenty of free dressing up games, crafts and period photography for the kids, while the grown-ups can investigate which local folk lived in their house a century ago as part of the Who Lived In Your Street programme funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant.
Budding tailors can pop down to the marina for some Trouser Town bunting making led by with floating artists Crafts Afloat on Saturday June 25, and Innovation Cafe join in the fun with a unique evening performance of True Tales with storytellers focusing on the Trouser Town Theme starting at 7pm.
Arts Festival Artistic Director Helen Meller said, "Everyone we have talked to about the Trouser Town theme have been incredibly positive, but as a token of our appreciation for that support we wanted to put on a series of free and low cost events to make sure everyone can join in.
Kate Rusby, Simon Armitage and Tracey Chevalier
"There's also a chance to see some quality big name acts like Kate Rusby and Arthur Smith playing what are for them are intimate gigs. But most of all our free street entertainment days offer us a chance to have some much needed fun and showcase local talent."
As part of the festival's commitment to looking forward Dr David Bramwell is taking The Road To Utopia, at the Town Hall on Sunday 26 June, looking at how extraordinary communities like Hebden Bridge can create a better future for our planet.
Ribbon Circus on Market Street is the starting point for Making Through on Sunday 26 June, which is a promenade performance around Hebden Bridge offering a unique insight into the lives of local women from 1850 to the present day.
The festival's growing national reputation has attracted some top class acts including superstar poet Simon Armitage reading poems about rain and water at Calder High School on Monday 27 June. The same night postman turned artist Kevin Boniface will be in the Town hall reading some excerpts from his Recorded Delivery projects recording the voices of our county.
A partnership with the Yorkshire Festival brings in quirky Americana act A Hawk and a Hacksaw to the Trades Club on Tuesday 28th June.
Legendary stand up Arthur Smith is At Your Service at Hebden Bridge Picture house on Friday July 1, and the same night dance fans can check out a set from internationally renowned DJ and producer James Lavelle who is spinning the discs at the Trades Club.
The ever popular free street entertainment days are back, on Saturday 2 July and Sunday 2 July, featuring some of Britain's best open air performers working alongside some top class local talent. One of the highlights will be American trapeze artist George Orange clowning about on the high wire on both days. Popular local brass band ravers Mr Wilson's Second Liners have been working with pupils from Calder High on a surprise musical number.
Multiple BBC2 Folk Award winner Kate Rusby closes the festival on Sunday 3 July with set full of old favourites and new material at the Picture House.
More info at www.hebdenbridgeartsfestival.co.uk and the box office is open daily at Hebden Bridge Town Hall.
Previously,
Made in Hebden event launches Arts Festival next Friday 24 June (16 June)
Win a pair of Arthur Smith tickets (14 June)
Win a pair of tickets for WiLd! (8 June)
Postman delivers love letters to Yorkshire (8 June)
Banner bags from the Arts Festival - 17 May 2016
Yorkshire Festival is backing Hebden Bridge Arts Festival - 10 May 2016
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival launches Trouser Town theme - 9 May 2016
Arts Festival goes Wild - 23 March 2016
Folk star Kate Rusby to close this year's Arts Festival - 9 March 2016
Hebden Bridge Arts Festival opens up - 1 March 2016