The festival season is upon us again and young people in North Yorkshire are in an especially celebratory mood as they also gear up for the Grand Depart of the Tour de France.
Today (14 June 2014) hundreds of young people in Ripon and surrounding areas will head out for Le Shock de Rip, an annual arts festival organised by North Yorkshire County Council’s Youth Support Service, which looks set to be one of the best ever.
Acts will include bands such as Utah Saints, Purple Mafia, Summer City, My Forever, Rosie, Your Illuminations, Sykelone, Alister’s Theory, Pandemonium, Outside South, Jack Francis, Max Curtis, Ryan Winspear and Jake Varley, Emily Morrall, Caitlin Swales and Ellen (DJ).
As usual this great festival is free and offers the opportunity to take part in loads of great workshops and learn new skills including
•digital graffiti;
•junk drums;
•bike sculpture – contribute to a sculpture being built on the day;
•circus skills and more!
For those who want to get physical there will also be a mobile skate park or they can get involved in a sport tournament or even take part in riding the route of le Grand Depart!
The festival will be held on 14 June 2014 at the Outwood Academy, Clotherholme Road 3pm-10pm.
Until recently the Youth Support Service staged the CultureShock youth arts festival, which was held annually in a different town around the county. But the ‘Mini-Shock’ festivals which have replaced it and which happen in different places, have brought the festival experience closer to home for North Yorkshire’s young people.
Almost 2,500 young people attended the nine Mini-Shock festivals held across the county last year and tomorrow’s in Ripon is the first of this season.
County Councillor Tony Hall, North Yorkshire’s Executive Member for Youth Services said: These events give young people a chance to showcase their skills on a variety of music and dance stages and to enjoy trying new skills in a wide range of workshops.
The event in Ripon has proved very popular and this year will be special, havinge a Tour de France theme.
Alongside all the performing and expressive art gigs and workshops, young people will also having the opportunity to ride the route.
