Chimeo

Poem Of The Week: To Sleep By John Keats (1795-1821)

To Sleep O soft embalmer of the still midnight, Shutting, with careful fingers and benign, Our gloom-pleased eyes, embower'd from the light, Enshaded in forgetfulness divine: O soothest Sleep! if so it please thee, close In midst of this thine hymn my willing eyes, Or wait the ‘Amen’, ere thy poppy throws Around my bed its lulling charities.

Yorkshire Artist Returns To Her Roots - Yorkshire Sculpture Park Presents 'Cake Crumbs And Lemonade'

Yorkshire Sculpture Park (YSP) is presenting Cake Crumbs and Lemonade, the largest solo exhibition to date by renowned illustrator and designer Louise Lockhart. Already loved by many through her much-admired brand The Printed Peanut, Louise Lockhart is known for her joyful, folk-inspired designs that celebrate the charm of everyday life.

Classical Music: Beethoven & Barber Violin Concertos

There is also an emotional narrative running through the album. Beethoven is recorded on the 1708 'Huggins' Stradivarius that accompanied Chen after her Queen Elisabeth Competition win, while the Barber introduces the 1720 'General Kyd' Stradivarius, marking both a farewell and a beginning. You can hear that sense of transition in the playing, contemplative but forward-looking.

Albums: Now 12” 80s – 1986 – Part One

This decade was the period in popular music when the synthesiser and electronic drums replaced the electric guitar and traditional drums, respectively. If some of the 7” versions now sound like their time, then the 12” versions only go to exemplify the point even further.

In Conversation With Rich Ward From Fozzy

In the world of heavy rock, there seems to be a trend for having a frontman who also has another talent: Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden is a qualified commercial airline pilot, while Chris Irvine—aka Chris Jericho, the lead singer in Fozzy— is also an American-Canadian professional wrestler.

Moustache In Progress: Mark Hadfield Brings Fresh Melancholy To Poirot

Playing legendary detective Hercule Poirot in the European premiere of a new stage version of Death on the Nile, Mark Hadfield has the approval of none other than Sir Kenneth Branagh. The two actors are friends. "And he's been incredibly encouraging," Marks says about chats he's had with Branagh, who has played Poirot himself in three big-screen outings.

Classical Music: 17(67)

In this superbly curated programme, Mesa creates a timeless evocation of the cello's expressive possibilities, conveying an emotional intensity that will appeal well beyond the instrument's devotees.

Classical Music: Tchaikovsky Symphony 6

The LSO showcases superb strings and exceptional wind playing throughout. Due to Noseda, we get sumptuous playing and excellent phrasing that makes each movement compelling, with all concerned creating a truly dramatic narrative full of colour and aching vulnerability.

Classical Music: ContraDANCE – MZ Duo

By turning virtuosic, lyrical, and irrepressibly playful, ContraDANCE reveals an astonishing expressive range. This is a partnership that has clearly captivated audiences across Europe, and the evidence here suggests that acclaim is thoroughly merited. The fusion of these distinctive timbres makes for consistently engaging listening, demonstrating that unusual instrumental combinations, handled with this degree of artistry and imagination, can yield genuinely illuminating musical insights.

Trousdale, O2 Institute 3, Birmingham

Quinn Andrea, Georgia Greene, and Lauren Jones are Trousdale. A trio formed at USC while studying music. They started singing together and built a distinctive sound centred on striking three-part harmonies. Little did they realise that their musical experiments would evolve into a recording career that endured long after their studies.

Concert Of Choral And Organ Music

Vocal ensemble, Cantorelli, with organist Professor David Baker will perform a concert of choral and organ music at St.James the Great, Hebden Bridge Parish Church, on Sunday 1st March at 3.30pm with a programme of timeless sacred choral and organ masterpieces spanning five centuries from Renaissance composer Thomas Tallis to late Romantic Josef Rheinberger.

Crown Of Blood - Riveting And Compelling

Crown of Blood is a powerful and compelling Yoruba production retelling the story of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, written by Oladipo Agboluaje and directed by Mojisola Kareem. The action is set during the civil wars of 19th-century Yorubaland. General Aderemi, fresh from saving the kingdom from invaders is promoted to be a Field Marshal, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the oracle.

Prism Arts Exhibiting Across The North This Spring

Prism Arts, a disability arts organisation based in Carlisle, has announced that two of its studio artists — Emma Evans and Stuart Irving — are currently exhibiting work at major galleries across the north of England. The exhibitions, running through spring 2026, highlight the breadth and ambition of the creative work emerging from Prism Arts and the artists it supports.

Sparks Will Fly In Blackpool This Summer

Since storming into the UK charts, minds and airwaves in 1974 with This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us, Sparks – brothers Ron and Russell Mael - have been at the cutting edge of pop, creating new musical genres and inspiring generations of musicians.

Phoenix Dance Theatre Presents World Premiere Of interplay In Association With York Theatre Royal

Later this month, Phoenix Dance Theatre will return to York with the World Premiere of Interplay (27 – 28 Feb) in association with York Theatre Royal.

Amandaland’s Samuel Anderson Joins British Menopause Comedy Hot Flash

Samuel Anderson is to star opposite Gaynor Faye in Hot Flash, a feature film which delves into the challenges of menopause. Hot Flash tells the story of Geri, an accidental entrepreneur who triumphs despite brutal menopause symptoms, imposter syndrome, and the challenges of being a forty-plus single mum. Anderson will play opposite her as Steve.

The Bradford Way Continues To Build Cultural Legacy After Year As UK City Of Culture 2025

The Bradford Way – a partnership between Bradford Producing Hub, Cultural Voice Forum, The Leap, and City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council – has announced a new wave of opportunities for artists, freelancers and creative businesses across the district.

From Nan's Front Room To Dismantling Capitalism: She Drew The Gun At The Crescent

Independent Venue Week saw She Drew The Gun pitch up at the fabulous community venue The Crescent in York. The event was billed as an evening of poetry and song; this seemed apt, as there is undoubtedly a poetic element to She Drew The Guns’ music (check out Howl), and I was interested to see how the evening would pan out.

Classical Music: Chopin Orbit

His imagination and creativity shine throughout. The degree of reference ranges from quoted melodies and figurations to more abstract affinities, but in every case Sumino carries Chopin's sensibility forward whilst crossing it with his own contemporary voice. Raindrop Postlude, for instance, unfolds with the feeling of a jazz improvisation. Transposed up by a half-step from Chopin's original flat key into a sharp key, it gains a sense of clarity and brightness—fresh air after rain. Embedded within lies a hidden four-note motif (second, octave, tonic, fifth, spelling out "28/15") as cryptic homage to the original's opus number.

In Conversation With Bad Boy Chiller Crew

Yorkshire rap collective Bad Boy Chiller Crew began by uploading comedy and prank videos onto social media, which later began to materialise into a musical career as the three-piece became one of the hottest bassline acts in the musical world – even having their own six-part reality television series as well as selling out nationwide tours, besides signing a big record deal with House Anxiety R…

Opera North’s The Marriage Of Figaro: A Farce (The Good Kind)

Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro is a comic opera that first premiered on May 1, 1786, in Vienna, but is brought bang up to date in this witty, fizzing production directed by Louisa Miller. Performed in its original Italian, with highly amusing modern translations in the surtitles by Lydia French, Figaro is as accessible and entertaining as a Brian Rix bedroom farce.

“Trumpeter Extraordinaire” Matilda Lloyd Heads To Harrogate

Described by BBC Music Magazine as a “trumpeter extraordinaire, Matilda Lloyd gives the trumpet a starring role taking the audience on a journey through the brilliance of Bach, elegance of Haydn and dynamism of Gershwin.cMatilda is an ECHO Rising Star playing in Europe’s leading venues and Professor of Trumpet at Trinity Laban and has been shortlisted by the Royal Philharmonic S…

Albums: Now That’s What I Call Timeless - The Eternal Collection

You begin to wonder what theme the successful Now the compilation series will release next, as the compilers seem to come up with some interesting and intriguing ideas – the latest being this timeless collection of songs, which is just exactly what it says on the front cover of this four-track CD collection.

Albums: Kula Shaker - Wormslayer

Led by frontman Crispian Mills the album sets off with all the aplomb, ceremony and rocking credentials that made Kula Shaker such an attractive prospect over thirty years ago as Lucky Number shines as brightly as the summer sun with a joyful guitar riff that recalls T Rex at their peak.

Classical Music: Overtures From The British Isles Vol 3

As the sun bathes Whitby's famous Abbey in golden light on this album's striking cover photograph, Rumon Gamba and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra illuminate repertoire that has spent far too long in the shadows. This third volume of Overtures from the British Isles continues the conductor's admirable mission to resurrect rarely heard works, delivering three world première recordings alongside pieces that deserve far wider currency.

Classical Music: The Bassoonist's Songbook

As a passionate advocate for her instrument, Harman – appointed solo bassoon of the Philharmonia Orchestra at just twenty-three and currently principal bassoon of the Aurora Orchestra – showcases her skills not merely as a soloist and chamber musician, but as an eloquent communicator. Her thoughtfully curated programme demonstrates the bassoon's capacity to transcend its sometimes comedic image and become, in her words, "a voice".

Grand Opera House York Appoints New Theatre Director

Grand Opera House York has announced a change in leadership, appointing Allie Long as Theatre Director. Allie joined ATG Entertainment in 2017 while studying at the University of York, starting in Front of House department before progressing through marketing, operational and management roles across the UK.

York Culture Strategy Launched At Reignite Xii: The Future Of Culture

York’s new Culture Strategy was officially launched last week at Reignite XII: The Future of Culture, bringing together more than 250 leaders from across culture, business, education and the public sector at the Yorkshire Museum, followed by continued networking and discussion at York Art Gallery.

The Clause Shine On Independent Venue Week

The network of small individual venues is vital for groups to gain their first experience of playing live, as evidenced by bands like Coldplay, Oasis, and the Kooks, who built their audiences through these performances.

The Dukes Announce A Vibrant Spring/summer Season And Start To Celebrate Turn 55 This Year!

Grab your ticket for a season of unforgettable nights of laughter, entertainment and applause as the Dukes announce a spring/summer season packed with the finest theatre, comedy and cinema. Audiences are invited to adventure into a world of thrills, comedy and excitement with the Dukes’ diverse selection of theatre shows.