To the End of War
PiCanta, Bradford Women Singers, Zarebi, Secret Singers and more
A weekend of concerts, workshops and impromptu performances given by choirs and vocal ensembles, loosely themed on peace, love and understanding: 100 years on from the end of the 1st World War. (PLEASE NOTE: Saturday's events are at The Birchcliffe Centre, Sunday's at Wainsgate Chapel)


Joe Richards
Classical percussion recital
Recital of contemporary pieces for solo marimba “A superb performance from an amazing young musician” Hebden Bridge Arts Festival 2011Andrew Thomas: Merlin
Joseph Schwanter: Velocities
Paul Lansky: Three Moves for Marimba
Steven Mackey: See Ya Thursday
David Lang: String Of Pearls
Philippe Hurel: Loops IV
Joe has performed all over the UK and abroad in a huge array of musical contexts; ranging from work as a contemporary solo artist, to that of an orchestral, chamber and West End musician. He has appeared with numerous ensembles including the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and London Sinfonietta, frequently featuring on national radio and television.
Ghost School
Original songs from some of the Calder Valley’s finest acoustic musicians

Andy Greaves: vocals, mandolin, guitar
Les Gillon: guitar
Jen Rhiannon Trott: iddle, vocals
Ghost School is a new musical ensemble based largely around the original songs of Calderdale musician Andy Greaves (vocals, mandolin and guitar), a heavy dose of traditional material and, here and there, some very odd poetry. The band features urbane master of the guitar Les (Fez) Gillon and the talented Jen Rhiannon Trott (fiddle and vocals). Expect strong melodies, mystery and mayhem with subjects ranging from murderous cheese thievery in early nineteenth century Cheshire, a heartfelt eulogy to a globe artichoke and the exploits of a cunning, grimly humorous owl.
Helen Thatcher & Neil Darwent
Cello & Guitar Recital
Helen Thatcher: cello Neil Darwent: guitar
‘velvety tone she achieves in the frequent moments when the cello soars from the texture.’ Catherine Nelson, The Strad
Programme:
Burgmueller: 3 Nocturnes
Gnattali: Sonata
Zenamon: Reflexoes no 6
Villa-Lobos: Bachianas Brasileiras no 5
Interval
Paganini: 3 Sonatas
Piazzolla: Cafe 1930, Oblivion and Libertango
Nin: Suite Espagnole
Granados: Danzas Espanolas No.5: Andaluza
Original and transcribed music for guitar and cello. This is an eclectic mix of music that will transport the listener to different regions of the world – especially to Spain and to Latin America.
Music by Burgmüller and Piazzolla, plus contemporary works by Brazilian composer Radamés Gnattali and Bolivian composer Jaime Mirtenbaum Zenamon
Experienced chamber musicians, Helen Thatcher and Neil Darwent, have now set about exploring the musical possibilities for combining cello and guitar.
Helen, founding member of the renowned Sorrel Quartet and the Erringden Ensemble, has toured the world, made numerous CDs and broadcast regularly on BBC Radio 3. The recordings of the complete Britten and Shostakovich Quartets have received wide-spread critical acclaim. Helen has performed at all the major chamber music venues: Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Queen’s Hall Edinburgh, Brandon Hill Bristol, Snape Aldeburgh, Spitalfields, St John’s Smith Square, Edinburgh Festival. In demand as principal cello, she has played in Opera North, Northern Chamber Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Northern Sinfonia, London Mozart Players and BBC Philharmonic.
Neil Darwent teaches at Huddersfield University and Rishworth School. His knowledge of guitar chamber music is extensive. He enjoys playing with the Pennine Chamber Ensemble as well as performing solo recitals in intimate settings. Neil is passionate about his teaching hence his involvement with music services in Oldham, Calderdale, Kirklees and Barnsley.
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Paddy Garrigan and the Stroller Priests
Paddy Garrigan and the Stroller Priests are a three piece band from Ulverston and Lancaster, featuring songwriter Paddy on guitar, mandolin, banjo, harmonium and piano; Ben McCabe on drums, french horn and backing vocals: and Darren Leadsom on bass and backing vocals.
The band’s music is best described as alt-folk/rock. Story songs with great melodies, occasional wig outs and pleasant squawks. Sea monsters, James Joyce, the afterlife, Dad’s Army, the stoned freaks in the town centre and the universe blues are just some of what awaits the listener, set to a deftly musical soundtrack of runaway grunge, barreling (or barrelhousing) rock’n’roll, mandolin dub, melodious folk and epic guitar heroics.

Paddy Garrigan - Vocals/Guitar/Mandolin
Darren Leadsom - Bass/Backing Vocals
Ben McCabe - Drums/Backing Vocals
REVIEWS OF DEBUT ALBUM ‘I JUMPED SHIP’
“Absolutely awesome record, been singing it for days.” - Tom Robinson (BBC6 Music) on ‘Sea Monsters’, played on his BBC6 Introducing and Saturday night show
"Bonkers but amiable three piece from the far north of England take two years plus to produce a debut which has some trouser-bursting brass and lots of chutzpah. Mandolin ska folk psychedelia doesn’t even make a halfway decent description. Off the wall and up the alley." fRoots Magazine
To Love Somebody Melancholy
Join an artist as he journeys through the euphoric highs and the self-destructive lows of his creative cycles. Folktronic singer-songwriter Minute Taker and animation artist Ana Stefaniak have created a haunting, modern fable told through projected film and live piano songs, brimming with ethereal harmonies, fizzing synthesisers and orchestral twists.
A Hebden Bridge Arts Festival event
Minerva Scientifica – Electric Voice Theatre
Superwomen of Science
Frances M Lynch sings spectacular stories, highlighting outstanding achievements by pioneering UK female scientists. An Edinburgh Fringe 2016 award-winning show, with music ancient and modern, specially commissioned from some of the UK’s leading female composers.
A Hebden Bridge Arts Festival event