FEVA is ON in Knaresborough!
I really can’t tell you just how good I think this festival of the mixed partial arts is; they have literally hundreds of events on and they are really varied and all encompassing. There are kids entertainers, folk bands, treasure hunts, writing workshops, country music gigs… they’ve even built a beach! Look, I can’t really go into it all here but www.feva.info has got all the details. This is, for me, definitely how local community arts festivals should be run, there is something for everyone.
Obviously, for me, the main highlight from the extensive programme is next Saturday, when I am playing their Pic-nic-in-the-park at Knaresborough House. That’s a fully free event, with The Matt Goldberg Band, The Detail, Alister’s Theory and Billie Marten. And me inbetween playing songs no one likes. I think I am compering it this year, so need to flipping practice not fracking swearing all the folking day.
Other, less ME based highlights include Monday night’s gig from Echo in the Woods, who do Country and Folk. That’s on at the FEVA festival Urban Beach that’s been installed at Henshaws. It looks really cool and Henshaws is already a very sweet location. They have a load of gigs on there that I’ve put in the listings, and also most days there are things on for the family.
What with the summer holidays being in full swing, I suspect you are all already sick of your kids, just like everyone like me who doesn’t have kids is really truly sick of them, crying and snotting everywhere, so you can take them down The Henshaw’s Urban Beach and get them to burn off some of their energy at the workshops that take place. What a shame we can’t hook kids up to like, battery chargers and run street lamps off them? Dystopian nightmare visions of the future aside however, there looks to be a really good programme of stuff down there at Henshaws, as there generally always is.
I am also loving the idea of The Lavender Room’s “Feast of Knaresborough” gourmet night. That’s this Friday (though I think you’ve got to have booked by the end of today… so call them before you get your hopes up). Lavender Rooms is one of my favourite Tea Shoppes in Britain (it’s above ye olde chemystie shoppe innite) But ‘cos I work Fridays in Leeds I can never go to their special bistro nights, and am madly in jealous at anyone who can. Please someone go and enjoy it for me?
Really, I can’t sing FEVA’s praises enough, the only low point about it all is the fact that this Sunday I was meant to be doing a Beach Party, and forgot to book anything for it. and also forgot to book the day off work. And also forgot to book cover for me in my Sunday 6-a-side games. Basically, I forgot, is what I’m saying. So I’m not doing it. In my defence, I’ve been working upwards of 8 (E.I.G.H.T.) hours a week recently and that’s an awful lot for me, so I’ve been waaaay too busy. Plus I try to avoid beaches as the last time I was on a beach I went to the toilet behind a wind break which blew away, and following a misunderstanding I ended up serving a short prison term.
Speaking, unusually, as I was about how busy I am, I’ve got a showbiz gig in Manchester this Saturday, so Bottom of the Bottle’s Rock night, upstairs at Rehab, is being hosted by Jaye Selway this week. Jaye’s a quality dj when it comes to playing Rock and stuff, as everyone who goes to Rock Box on Tuesday at Moko already knows, so this should be a good night.
The Blues Bar, has yet another live all dayer this Sunday, and in the late lunch slot they’ve got The Petty Heartbreakers. Blues is lovely on a Sunday and I know a few people who are into the music of Tom Petty.. I mean, I’ve not checked to make 100% sure that The Petty Heartbreakers IS a tribute act, but you don’t need to draw a picture for me. They are on at 3pm.
On Friday, High Harrogate Working Men’s Club has one of the now legendary Spaghetti Wrestling events run by our very own Roller Derby team, the Spa Town Roller Girls. As well as Spaghetti Wrestling there is also live music from Pips, Hell Fire Jack & Set Sails. I’ve made “lighthearted flirty / disturbing stalkery” references to several members of all of those bands before on my column (column, heh) so coupled with the Roller Girls covered in Spaghetti this willl no doubt be another night of collar loosening & brow mopping. And saying things like “Oh I say” and “Rather”. Doors are open 7.30pm onwards and it’s £3.50 entry.
There’s a couple of live gigs on Saturday that are slightly less regular and thus worthy of note:
Charlie’s Place, up on Otley Road, has got The Blue Flies playing. I went to Charlie’s again the other day, and it really is a cool bar and has some great regulars in there. If you fancy something out of the town centre it’s well worth a stroll up. Meanwhile in Knaresborough it looks like The Market Tavern have fairly regular live gigs on. This Saturday certainly they have 3 Speed playing, and I’ll try get some more listings for there in my travels.
Finally for this week you may have noticed that one of the longest standing town centre venues, Revolution, has GONE… not to worry though as 3 seconds after they took the sign down they put up another one, saying “Rift & Co”. Essentially, it’s a name change, though they have upped their game on a few things and put a few changes in place. I’m hoping to have a chat with Jez the manager over the next week so I can give you a more detailed account of what has happened, as this is certainly the end of an era, but hopefully the start of a new exciting one for one of the town centre’s prime locations and bigger venues. As it is, so far all I can tell you is their Veggie Burger on the menu is SUPERB, and I don’t really go in for that kind of thing. Mondays is 2 for 1 on food, so that would be a good day to check it out if you don’t want to just take my word for it?
Oh yeah, I’m no longer doing my quiz at Lure; I may move it to another venue at some point but for now Lure have replaced it with “YOLO’s official pre -bar” and as far as that goes I’m going to go with the mantra of “if you can’t say something nice…”
Here are this week’s Listings:
THURSDAY 7th August
Blues Bar, live music from The Sharon Colgan Band, Free entry.
Viper Rooms Nightclub YOLO R’n’B night student Carnival.
Lure Bar, YOLO official pre bar.
Rehab Nightclub with Dj Tex. “Urban R’n’B”.
The Alexandra, Live music, free entry.
Christies Bar, Pub quiz with Sean McGrath.
FRIDAY 8th August
FEVA’s Urban Beach at Henshaws: Northern Songbirds Choir, Free.
High Harrogate Working Men’s Club, spa Town roller Girls Present “Spaghetti Wrestling” with Pips, Hell Fire Jack & Set Sails. 7.30pm, £3.50 entry.
Blue Bar, live music from The Mix, free entry.
Lure Bar, Shuffle with Toby Skinner. House, Breaks & Funk.
Moko Lounge, open, but not sure doing what.
Rehab Nightclub, “Electro Circus” dance Night. Free entry.
SATURDAY 9th August
FEVA’s Urban Beach at Henshaws: Saturday night Burlesque with Lilly La Belle and Friends
Charlie’s Place, Otley Road, The Blue Flies Live.
Market Tavern, Knaresborough. 3 Speed Live.
Blues Bar, live music with the Jed Thomas Blues Band
Rift & Co. Bar, front bar Dj Tex (Soul & R’n’B), main room Disco Dave (upfront dance and chart) free entry.
Viper Rooms, Agel Lee & Neil Jaques upstairs, Harvey Westwood Downstairs. Door charge applies, or contact the venue for guest list before 11pm.
Moko Lounge, Drop Out house night. Door charge applies, or contact the venue for guest list before 11pm.
Rehab nightclub, two floors of music: Top Floor : Bottom of the Bottle ROCK NIGHT with Jaye Selway 10pm ‘til 4am.Downstairs: Doors open 8pm with Pop & Dance music from Djs Wayne & James. Free entry.
SUNDAY 10th August
Blues Bar, live all day: Petty Heartbreakers 3pm, TBC 6pm & Rob Reynolds Band 9pm.
Empress on the stray, Pub quiz every week.
Rehab nightclub, Dj Trev’s Sunday Social.
Viper Rooms. Peek-a-Boo R’n’B night.
Hales Pub, live acoustic night.
Fat Badger, Cold Bath Road, Pub Quiz.
MONDAY 11th August
FEVA’s Urban Beach at Henshaws: Echo in the Woods live, tickets £8.
The Harlow Inn, Otley road, Pub Quiz.
So! Bar, Otley Road, Pub Quiz.
Rehab, late bar.
Blues Bar, fully hosted fully entertaining open mic session, hosted by Pete Oliver.
Moko Lounge nightclub, Karaoke.
TUESDAY 12th August
FEVA’s Urban Beach at Henshaws: Vintage Jazz from “The Wonderful World of the Cinema Organ”
The Blues Bar with The Sandratas EP Launch night, Free entry.
The Tap n’ Spile pub, folk night.
Pitcher & Piano Re:Session cheap drinks night.
Rehab nightclub, Dj Max Czernic.
Moko Lounge Nightclub, “Skint” main room upfront dance and electro, VIP Room Rock Box Rock night Dj Jaye Selway.
Rift & Co. Bar, “Back to Rev’s” House Night, Half Price Drinks with Toby Skinner.
Coach and Horses Pie and Peas night with proceeds to Martin’s House Children’s Hospice.
WEDNESDAY 13th August
The Harlow Pub “Midweek Madness” pub quiz with Dj Tim Paul.
The Regency Pub, big screen quiz.
Rehab nightclub, Dj Max Czernic. Anything goes party set with Harrogate’s next big hair.
The Blues Bar, live music from the Paul Middleton Angst band .
Thanks for reading, drink responsibly and don’t be loose with your affections.
Trev x x x
