Albums: Bonfire – Higher Ground
The title of the album appears to be a suitable one, as the group seems to have discovered a higher level, which is to be commended, seeing as Bonfire has been around for over thirty years.
In Conversation With John Tothill
Critically-acclaimed new comedian John Tothill, ahead of his debut UK Tour in April 2025, coming to - GRUB, Manchester on April 4 and Leeds’ Hyde Park Book Club on April 6. How are you feeling about bringing your show to Manchester? I can’t wait to take my show to Manchester, because it is the home of Vimto, and I am obsessed with Vimto.
Classical Music: Jeneba Kanneh-Mason Fantasie
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Throughout this remarkable debut, Kanneh-Mason demonstrates not only prodigious technical skill but also a rare ability to make her instrument sing with richness and sensitivity. Her deep emotional connection to this diverse repertoire proves utterly infectious, marking her as an artist of exceptional promise. The outcome is not merely an impressive debut—it's the arrival of a significant new voice in classical piano.
Classical Music: Noah Max: String Quartets
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This compelling new release showcases the remarkable compositional talents of Noah Max, featuring four string quartets performed with exceptional skill by The Tippett Quartet. Max, described by The Sunday Times as "a fizzing creative fuse," delivers works that are inventive, intense, and vividly expressive.
Silver Screen Weekly- What's Coming Up At The Cinema From Friday 14 March
Last Breath (12a) Hold...your...breath! The stunning and intense true story Last Breath (12a) stars Woody Harrelson and is a survival thriller that makes you appreciate every last breath.
In Conversation With Michael Maloney As He Steps Into Poirot's Shoes
Michael Maloney says he has only one ‘claim to fame’ regarding York – the fact that he’s never appeared on stage in the city in a career spanning 40-plus years. He could have made his professional stage debut in the city but chose not to. His first job offer after drama school was a year’s contract with the rep company at York Theatre Royal.
Teddy Swims—a Stroke Of Genius In Manchester
The heavily tattooed body of Teddy Swims might look like the singer should still be in a heavy metal band; that is, until his soulful voice filled the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester in the first of two sold-out concerts in the city.
Theatre@41 Appoints New Theatre Manager
York’s independent theatre has appointed top director Tom Bellerby as its first Theatre Manager to help take the venue to even greater heights. Tom will bring a wealth of experience to Theatre@41 where he will move our fundraising and programming forward as well as taking on the day to day running of the building, liaising with hirers and working with the community.
In Conversation With Matt Aston, Writer And Director Of The Storm Whale
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This Easter holidays, York Theatre Royal have a treat for parents and young children alike as The Storm Whale splashes into the Studio with eight daytime performances. Ahead of the show opening in York we caught up with writer/director Matt Aston to talk all things The Storm Whale and how you bring a beloved story from page to stage… What can audiences expect from the show?
Expressions In Blue: Monumental Sculptural Works In Porcelain
Expressions in Blue is a solo exhibition of monumental sculptural works in porcelain, painted in tones of rich cobalt blue oxide using expressive brushstrokes full of movement. These hand-thrown ceramic vessels and stacked monoliths stand up to an impressive five-metres high and have a powerful sculptural presence.
New Month-Long Arts Festival Highlights The North York Moors
A new month-long festival begins in April to showcase the diverse and vibrant arts and cultural scene that exists across the North York Moors and highlight how the National Park is more than just a beautiful landscape, by being a destination for creativity all-year-round.
Ghost The Musical
Based on the 1990 famous Oscar winning film Ghost, Ghost The Musical written by Dave Stewart and Glen Ballard brings to theatre audiences once more, the romance and magic of this classic love story. The stage show follows the film, telling the story of Molly and Sam whose happiness and hopes for the future are brutally shattered when Sam is murdered.
Jason Donovan—a Concert Of Many Colours
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From the hit television show Neighbours to pop music stardom and theatre musicals, Jason Donovan has enjoyed a successful career, which he is currently celebrating on his "Doin Fine 25" tour. As the tour arrived at St George’s Hall in Bradford, those who might have thought that Donovan could not sustain a two-hour show of his work to date were sadly mistaken.
Verve A Journey Of Incredible Movement
Neither of us had any real experience of contemporary dance on arrival for Northern School of Contemporary Dance’s tour of Verve at Harrogate theatre. Little did we know what a treat we were in for! Sixteen dancers, three different shows with three different choreographers.
Artist Ian Gets To Max Out For New Exhibition At Wentworth Woodhouse
When your latest art exhibition is going on-show at one of the largest stately homes in the UK, it’s an opportunity to ‘think big’. Grade I listed Wentworth Woodhouse in Rotherham has a Palladian front bigger than Buckingham Palace, 365 rooms and ceilings up to 40 feet high.
The University Of Manchester Welcomes Manchester High School For Girls To Honour First Woman To Graduate With Music Degree
A new building at The University of Manchester has officially opened and named in honour of former graduate Marian Millar. Miss Millar was passionate for women and girls’ education, with Marian becoming the first woman to graduate with a music degree in the UK. She gained her qualification in 1894, whilst teaching at the Manchester High School for Girls.
Terrorvision—a Welcome Sight In Sheffield
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In a week when the grassroots music venue Dorothy Pax announced its closure in Sheffield and with the future of the legendary The Leadmill still hanging in the balance, the experience of seeing one of Yorkshire's finest rock acts, Terrorvision, in what remains of a shrinking live music scene in the city was welcome.
The Fibonacci Quartet: Harmony In Four Parts
In the hallowed world of string quartets, where emotional depth and technical precision must balance in perfect harmony, the Fibonacci Quartet has emerged as one of classical music's most exciting new ensembles.
In Conversation With Fiona Amaka
Fiona Amaka is a singer/songwriter in London. She lives with her kids, her cats and her guitars. Having spent the majority of her adult life focusing on other elements of her existence, she has moved recently back into the realms of the music world.
Classical Music: Reynaldo Hahn
Hahn's music, nostalgically reflecting his heyday in the belle époque, lacks any trace of modernism. This recording stands as a testament to music that deserves wider recognition and hopefully will lead to a much-deserved resurgence of interest in Hahn's musical legacy.
Albums: Lady Gaga Mayhem
Mayhem is a clever release. It ticks all the boxes for the original Monsters but adds enough new into the mix that it does not feel like it is simply trying to recapture old ground. Lady Gaga's career has consistently explored a wide range of genres, often within a single release. Mayhem takes the best of her work to date and makes it even more potent and powerful.
The Third Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition Opens For Entries
The third Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition is now accepting applicants from aspiring conductors across the world. This prestigious competition provides one talented conductor with a platform to develop their skills on an international level.
In Conversation With Tachia Newall
Actor Tachia Newall admits that the new Leeds Playhouse production of George Orwell’s political fable Animal Farm is what he calls ‘a dark show’ but – and it’s quite a big but - it’s fun to do, he says. The harsh industrial landscape depicted in the production pictures hints that this staging is not going to be what you might expect from George Orwell’s political fable.
John Suchet's Intimate Portrait Of Beethoven Weaves Personal Experience With Historical Revelation
There comes a point in the life of any biographer when the subject becomes more than a historical figure—they become a companion, a confidant, perhaps even a friend. For John Suchet, former ITN journalist and now Beethoven's most devoted chronicler, that relationship has spanned decades and yielded seven previous books.
Classical Music: Messiaen Turangalîla-Symphonie
The BSO creates a dazzling and shimmering phantasmagoria of sound, enveloping the listener in waves of sonic colour. Wang's performance is nothing short of spectacular, her legendary technical prowess perfectly suited to the monumental piano part. She navigates the work's staggering difficulties with both dexterity and profound musicality, illuminating Messiaen's seismic soundscape with fluorescent brilliance.
Classical Music: Benjamin Britten Canticles
Britten's gift for tenor writing and his operatic sensibilities shine throughout this superbly recorded album. Way demonstrates exceptional control of phrasing and dynamics, particularly in the softer passages where his nuanced delivery creates moments of profound beauty.
The Girl on the Train
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Adapted from the best-selling Paula Hawkins thriller of the same name published in 2015, the story centres on Rachel Watson, a 32 year old alcoholic who is still suffering after her marriage to Tom hit the buffers. Tom is now married to Anna and they have a daughter, Evie. Rachel’s daily train commute passes by her old house where Tom and Anna now live.
In Conversation With Honesty
HONESTY is not a band in the traditional sense.
Pig Heart Boy
Based on the book by Malorie Blackman predominantly aimed at primary age school children, and adapted for the stage by Winsome Pinnock, Pig Heart Boy tells the story of Cameron, a thirteen year old boy who loves swimming but really just wants to be like all of the other boys his age.
Thrilling Opportunity For Under-Represented Writers To Attend The Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2025 As Jane Gregory Bursaries Open
Applications are now open for the Jane Gregory Bursaries which offer three under-represented writers a unique opportunity to attend the Creative Thursday writing day at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2025, the globally renowned celebration of crime fiction presented by Harrogate International Festivals.