Francis Dunnery- Calling All The Shots In Rawentstall

Francis Dunnery is a man of many talents: musician, storyteller, astrologist, and charity organiser. He is probably best known for being the frontman, guitarist, and main songwriter in the band It Bites, whose biggest hit, Calling All the Heroes, is still played on the radio today, forty years after the song was released.

Jane Gregory Bursaries open for inspiring writers’ day at Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2026

Rebecca Philipson, author of ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ and Creative Thursday attendee: “I took part in Creative Thursday in 2023 and 2024. I was still drafting ‘How to Get Away With Murder’ and the workshops were incredibly helpful.

Poem Of The Week: Ends By Matthew Sweeney (1952-2018)

Ends At my end of the earth the Atlantic began. On good days trawlers were flecks far out, at night the green waves were luminous. Gulls were the birds that gobbled my crusts and the air in my bedroom was salty. For two weeks once a whale decayed on the pale beach while no one swam. It was gelignite that cleared the air. The uses of village carpenters were many.

Britpop Icon Dave Rowntree To Appear At Pocklington Arts Centre

For the first time ever, Dave Rowntree, best known as the drummer for Britpop legends Blur, is hitting the road to share the unheard stories behind the band’s formative years. Music lovers can catch him live at Pocklington Arts Centre on Thursday 21 May, where he’ll be offering an intimate behind-the-scenes look at Blur’s journey to global success.

Madama Butterfly Takes Flight As Kent Says Goodbye

As Puccini basked in the glory of La Boheme and Tosca – two of the most popular and successful works ever written for the operatic stage – little did he know that his next work, Madama Butterfly, would premier to howls of derision.

Tomorrow Belongs To YorkLight's Joyful Annie

They say to never work with children or animals…well, YorkLight’s production of Annie proved that it is perfectly possible! Annie is a heartwarming musical about a brave and cheerful orphan girl who lives in a strict orphanage run by the mean Miss Hannigan.

Kaiser Chiefs Bring The Beat Back To Bradford

Back in 2014 when the idea was first mooted of bringing the former Odeon cinema building back into use as an entertainment venue by the visionaries whose dream of realising their mission seemed a long way in the distance, Yorkshire band Kaiser Chiefs were one of the first major acts to give their approval to the scheme. “We've played a lot of great old theatre venues.

Character-Led: Nathan Carter On Papal Performances, Robbie Williams' Hitmaker And Why Country Fans Are The Most Loyal

Blending country charm with an Irish heart, Nathan Carter has become one of the most enduring and beloved figures in modern country music, building a career defined by versatility, determination and a fiercely loyal fan base. Known for his ability to seamlessly merge pop, Irish folk and traditional country sounds, Carter has carved out a unique space in the genre.

Classical Music: Vienna New Year's Concert 2026

There's much to savour on this album, which marks the debut appearance of Canadian conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin, leading the Vienna Philharmonic in the legendary New Year's Concert. This annual jamboree of festive Viennese waltzes, polkas and marches, broadcast from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein, is a tradition that perhaps benefits from the occasional refresh of its familiar formula, and Nézet-Séguin has risen admirably to that challenge.

Classical Music Alfvén and Rautavaara Orchestral Works

Neither composer enjoys the recognition they merit in British concert halls, but Järvi makes an eloquent case for both. The Gothenburg Symphony plays with conviction and considerable beauty in tone throughout. Warmly recommended.

Grimes Of Passion

Benjamin Britten's opera Peter Grimes has been 'revived' by Opera North. It's an ironic choice of words for this much-loved Phyllida Lloyd production, as the opera includes the tragic deaths of two young apprentice fishermen and a suicide at sea - all of whom might have benefited from some revivification.

Classical Music: St Louis Passions

Released to coincide with Valentine's Day, this latest recording from the Saint Louis Chamber Chorus offers an imaginative meditation on love in all its guises—passionate and tender, sacred and profane, timeless and contemporary. Under Philip Barnes's direction, one of America's finest choral ensembles navigates a programme spanning five centuries, from Renaissance masters to commissions by living composers, several receiving their première recordings.

Fozzy Get Back Into The Ring

Three rock bands and one rowdy crowd in one of the country’s finest rock clubs can only mean one thing: the Fozzy tour has arrived at Bradford’s Nightrain. The posters outside the venue might be advertising a few tribute bands coming to the venue, but for one night only, this was the real deal. First up were Marisa and the Moths, who were ready to spin their web.

BIZETness As Usual – Carmen

As a relative opera novice, what I have come to love about Ellen Kent’s touring productions is very simple: they do exactly what they say on the tin!

In Conversation With John Blaylock

Manchester singer-songwriter John Blaylock is a new solo artist with a storied background in music, his talents attracting top-tier collaborators such as the two-time Grammy winner Guy Massey (Ed Sheeran, Manic Street Preachers, Jack Savoretti), Helen Boulding (Ward Thomas) and Freddy Sheed (Lewis Capaldi).

130 Voices And Full Orchestra To Bring Haydn’s The Creation To St George’s Hall

One of the most uplifting and spectacular works in the choral repertoire will be heard in Bradford on Saturday 21 March, as part of the Bradford Theatres International Orchestral Season, when Bradford Festival Choral Society joins forces with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra to perform Joseph Haydn’s The Creation at St George’s Hall.

Northern Ballet Presents Gentleman Jack. The Extraordinary Story Of Anne Lister

From March 2026, the world premiere of Northern Ballet’s new full-length ballet – Gentleman Jack – is set to captivate Yorkshire audiences as part of a nationwide tour, with performances in Leeds (7-14 March 2026), Sheffield (31 March – 4 April) and Bradford (3-5 September).

Art On Your Doorstep: The National Gallery Arrives In Kirklees

Kirklees Council has announced that Oakwell Hall and Country Park in Birstall has been chosen as a host of the nationwide art exhibition, The National Gallery: Art On Your Doorstep The exhibition will see life-size reproductions of National Gallery paintings on display throughout the Oakwell estate.

Rave Reviews For Film Festival As It Announces 2027 Dates

A 10-day festival bringing world-class film to Morecambe has earned rave reviews for its third edition showing an inspiring selection of films with a focus on Northern talent development. The Bay International Film Festival has now confirmed its fourth outing will take place 29 January - 7 February 2027.

Twenty Years In The Making: Sheffield Adventure Film Festival Returns For 2026

Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) returns this March for its 20th anniversary with its most ambitious edition yet. From Friday 20 to Sunday 22 March 2026, the festival brings over a hundred films, conversations and free events to the Showroom Cinema with stories of endurance, sustainability and connection with the natural world.

Corinne Bailey Rae Joins Line-Up For Children’s Literature Festival In The North Celebrating Black Writers And Storytelling

Corinne Bailey Rae has joined the line-up of Likkle Lit Fest – a new festival of Black literature for children and young adult readers in her hometown, Leeds. The Grammy Award-winning musician is appearing at the festival on Saturday, February 14, at Leeds Central Library, when she will read from her debut picture book, Put Your Records On (published by Fox and Ink Books on March 5).

BBC Radio 6 Music Festival 2026 To Take Place Across Greater Manchester’s Grassroot Venues

BBC Radio 6 Music has announced its annual live music festival will take place at independent venues across Greater Manchester from Wednesday 25th to Saturday 28th March. This year, the event will illuminate independent grassroots venues, expanding its reach throughout Greater Manchester and honouring their independent spirit.

BBC Celebrates Momentous Year In Bradford - And Unveils What’s Coming Next

A new Extraordinary Portraits exhibition, a new initiative to find inspiring under 25s, and a major writing scheme are just some of the BBC’s upcoming plans for Bradford - following the city’s defining year as the UK City of Culture.

Jason Derulo Serenades Leeds With The Last Dance Tour

In a career that began seventeen years ago, Jason Derulo has sold more than 250 million singles worldwide and had five UK number ones. Now, the American singer-songwriter has announced that it is time to say goodbye, as his current album and tour mark the end of his career as fans have known him.

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.

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