Our programme of music this year really does offer something for everyone – you can look forward to performances from The John Wilson Orchestra, Lianne La Havas, Lesley Garret and many, many more!

The Raworth’s Literature & Lecture Series is also offering up some incredible names including Michael Palin, Chocolat author Joanne Harris, and everyone’s favourite TV couple, Richard & Judy.

As if that wasn’t enough, you can also look forward to the return of the Spiegeltent, The Children’s Festival, The Young Musicians’ Series and The Theakston’s Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival!

View our full Event Guide below:

These Harrogate International Festivals events will be presented in association with Usborne Books. Each interactive session, performed for a range of key stage 3 classes, will involve Chris speaking about his Street Duty Case Books and students will be able to purchase the newest Street Duty: The Killing Street ahead of publication date too.

Chris will work with students to plot the perfect crime story, giving useful hints and tips along the way. As a scriptwriter for TV, Chris has previously written for The Bill, Hornblower and other popular series. Students will be able to ask questions about being an author, writing stories or script writing at the end of the session.

To celebrate this exciting series of events, Harrogate International Festivals and Usborne are offering readers the chance to win 1 of 5 signed copies of Chris Ould’s brand new title ‘The Killing Street’. For the chance to win, entrants simply need to answer the following question – What is the name of Chris Oud’s first Street Duty novel? Answers should be sent to crime@harrogate-festival.org.uk by no later than midnight on Friday May 31st.

Competition terms and conditions:
Closing date for entries is Friday 31 May 2013. No purchase is necessary to enter the Prize Draw and entry is by email only. Harrogate International Festival accepts no responsibility for incomplete or invalid entries. If you are under the age of 18, please gain permission from a parent or guardian before entering. The winning entries will be drawn at random; winners will be alerted within 1 week of the closing date and will be notified by email. The prize is not transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or alternative books/prizes. Data submitted by entrants will only be used for the purpose of this Prize Draw. By entering this Prize Draw each entrant agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions.

Book NOW

on 01423 562303!

Following the success of our inaugural Musical Villages in February 2013, Harrogate International Festivals’ half-term programme bringing world music to your doorstep, we are delighted to bring Musical Villages back this May half term; offering a wide range of music workshops for young people aged 7-13!

During May half-term, actor/singer Eamonn O’Dwyer and pianist and vocal coach Jennifer Miles will be running workshops for young people who are interested in music and performing music, open to everyone, whether or not they play an instrument or read music.

Eamonn & Jennifer are bringing the glamour of the West End to North Yorkshire in a series of Music Theatre workshops during the summer half term. Over a single day participants will work with Eamonn & Jennifer to create their own version of the popular musical Bugsy Malone, learning key scenes and songs from the show, before giving a performance to their friends and families at the end of the day.

All workshops begin at 10am, and the final performance is at 3.15pm – all participants need to bring is a packed lunch!

Find a workshop near you!
Workshops are taking place in three different venues around North Yorkshire, and places are just £5. Places are limited so book early to avoid disappointment…

Wednesday 29th May      Nidderdale High School, Pateley Bringe
Thursday 30th May           Long Memorial Hall, Spofforth
Friday 31st May                 St Stephen’s Primary School, Skipton

Booking is essential!

Book now by calling 01423 562303, or by downloading a Booking Form and returning it to Bryony Jones via email: bryony@harrogate-festival.org.uk or to the Festivals Office: Harrogate International Festivals, 32 Cheltenham Parade, Harrogate, HG1 1DB.

For more information please call the Festivals Office on 01423 562 303

We look forward to seeing you there!

Part of the NYMAZ Musical Inclusion programme, funded by Youth Music

Ch…Ch…Changes

Wednesday 15 May 2013

7.30pm | The Club, 36 Victoria Avenue
Tickets: £12

This event has taken place.

Experience changes you, and we’re not talking about a new age, hippy mantra here but instead in a quantifiable, scientifically proven way. King’s College London epi-geneticist Professor Tim Spector will be on hand to explain his work which has proved if you practise a subject for six hours a day and master it, your brain will show recognisable changes both in large-scale anatomy and crucially in your genetic make up. With everything you do and learn in your life you can alter your genes, and with it the genetic package you hand over to the next generation. Tim Spector will be opening the first Salon North of the Year with his research in to this cutting edge scientific area.

Next on the Salon North stage, famed classicist and award winning broadcaster, journalist and comedian Natalie Haynes who will introduce her ancient guide to modern life. She’ll show us exactly what Greeks and the Romans did for us by using the work of the sages to show how capable of change we all are. Whether it’s change on a personal or global level the ancients have seen it all before and have plenty to say about it.

Finally we will be asking you to change right there at Salon North by firing up some new neural pathways as we introduce you to the skill of lateral thinking. QI writer and world expert on joined-up thinking Stevyn Colgan will be leading us through a labyrinth of lateral thinking and leaving you with an essential tool for thinking differently. Stevyn will show how you can unlock your creative thought and in doing so, help you to understand the mechanics behind lateral thinking. In this master class he will give you the skills to go lateral on any problems you might be facing in your work, social or secret lives.

Salon North – massive ideas in intimate spaces.

Need To Know Basis

Wednesday 19 June 2013

7.30pm | The Club, 36 Victoria Avenue
Tickets: £18
Early booking is recommended

Book Now

Box Office Tel: 01423 562303

There are things you know, things you want to know, and things you need to know. To help you in your quest for knowledge Salon North presents ‘Need to Know Basis.’

First up we’ll be tackling the middle east. We all know nodding sagely at the news whilst stroking your imaginary beard fools no-one, but where to start? We are talking thousands of years of history. Luckily John McHugo is on hand to give a thirty minute introduction to the region, the subject of his life’s work and book ‘A Concise History of the Arabs.’ He will explain the psychology of the region, why religion became the glue that bound the area together, and the British role in the troubles, providing you with all the context you need to ditch the beard stroking and start talking knowledgeably instead.

It’s never too clever to get in the way of a hippopotamus & water, a dipsomaniac & a mini bar & two people in love. But what makes the latter so dangerous? Because, as Kerry Daynes will explain in her session ‘The Science of Attraction’, the brain patterns of those in love and the certifiable are pretty much identical. This highly experienced forensic psychologist will also explain why, if you want someone to fall for you, you just need to put them in a terrifying situation and why a rational approach and strong romantic feelings are never bedfellows.

Been told your anecdotes go on too long? Brilliant at the set up of funny stories but forget the punch line? We all know being amusing can defuse situations, win friends and influence people, but did we know it can be learnt? In order to help pick up this essential skill, Salon North has been working with Edinburgh award winning stand up Alexis Dubus (aka as his Gallic alter ego Marcel Lucont) to develop a session to give you the tools of the trade. In this thirty minute master class in amusement, Alexis will teach you everything you need to know to make your stories sing, your jokes hit the mark and to have people ROTFLAO at a click of your fingers.

More massive ideas in intimate spaces from Salon North.

Various Venues | 12noon – 4am

Entry dependent on venue

Now in its 4th year the Fringe Crawl has always traditionally been the closing event for all of the Fringe’s activities, clocking in at the height of summer. However this year, because we’re not convinced such a thing as “summer” actually exists anymore, we’ve brought the day forward and are using it to launch the whole diverse affair that is “Fringe”!

Taking over venues across Harrogate for the Bank holiday Sunday, a range of DJ’s, Promoters, Bands & Beer-establishments serve up 16 hours of Rhythmic Debauchery and Entertainment Eclectica! Check out Monteys rock Café, Rehab and the Viper Rooms for a day and night of live acts and dancing til dawn.

Rehab plays host to a joint showcase from underground DIY punk promoters the NYHC and Harrogate’s longest running club event of any kind Bottom of the Bottle. Headlining will be The FALLEN and Sworn Amongst plus a swathe of Hard rock, Punk & Metal bands to include:

Bad Manifest
Little Drafts
Hell Fire Jack
Waking Theo

Plus Dj Trev! This is also the official after party for all the day’s events – keeping the party going until 4am!

Ear Plugs, a smiling face and a strong constitution are all you need to enjoy a Bank holiday bonanza!

The Frazer Theatre | 7.30pm

Tickets: £8 adults, £6 students/seniors

Box Office: 01423 867901

Presented by The Knaresborough Players, directed by Beth Metcalfe. A hilarious, yet poignant, classroom comedy. Three school leavers, perform an account of their time in High School, specifically their time with the new drama teacher, who ignites their passion for the stage with his idealism and belief that all children should be treated equally.

www.frazertheatre.co.uk

Active Audio Recording Studios | 8pm

Free Entry – Reserving tickets is advised

Ticket Hotline: 07868 995455

The Ammonites (Chris Whitehead and Chris Corner) use ambient sound mixed with digital recordings, video loops and minimalistic live performance to create a visual and audio spectacle that leaves audiences intrigued, baffled and mesmerized. Author Chris Firth and the two Chris’s of Ammonites have worked together before at The Anthony Burgess Institute in Manchester and the Straponas Gallery in Whitby.

www.skrevpress.com 

Hg4 Gallery | 10am – 5pm

Free Entry

Towards the light is a free exhibition by two local artists, who have both held successful exhibitions in the Yorkshire region and beyond. John Page and Patrick Smith have now come together to showcase their stunning works of abstract art. Both John and Patrick will be available during the exhibition to discuss their work, therefore providing a unique opportunity to meet both artists. A preview will be held on the 31st May from 6.30 – 9pm. All welcome to come along for a glass of wine and nibbles. All works will be available for sale. This is truly a wonderful exhibition.

www.hg4gallery.co.uk

Spiegeltent | 7pm

Tickets £5

Box Office: 01423 562 303

Book Now
 
A celebration of young and unsigned bands from across the region to include Harrogate Amp Award winners About Town, plus punk rock band Weekend Offender and For Cuba will bring the evening to an energetic close.

Come and check out the next big thing!

ABOUT TOWN: from St John Fisher High School. Originally forming as a group of lads writing and performing music they enjoy, taking influences from genres such as jazz, alternative and indie, About Town formed in late 2011. Since then they have moved from strength to strength, with the successful “Storeroom Sessions” clocking up over 20,000 views and gigs at places such as the blues bar; About Town are intent on sharing the music they love to play and listen to with others.

WEEKEND OFFENDER: From Boroughbridge High School,are a punk rock band, formed in November 2012 . Musical influences include Green Day, Blink 182, Sum 41, Paramore, The Clash and Queen. Having performed at the Harrogate Amp Awards they now join the Unsigned Sessions line-up at the Spigeltent.

FOR CUBA: from St Aidan’s sixth form and winner’s of the Harrogate AMP awards are the first band to be announced to take part in Unsigned Sessions. The band consists of Sorrel Brown, Phil Herbert, Jake Brown , Ali King, Jacob Ibbetson  and Joe Martin. Made up of vocals, piano, guitar and trumpets this produces exclusive and exciting performances.  Some of their musical history includes being winners of the Big T and they have many musical influences that have made them the band they are today.