Holmfirth Arts Festival's weekend of outdoor performance

Holmfirth Arts Festival will make a return to the streets of Holmfirth next week (June 17-19) with an action packed weekend of (mostly) free top quality arts activities and performances.
Music and live street theatre will take over the Holme Valley capital in and around Holmside Gardens.
On Saturday 18 June from 12 noon to 6pm, the gardens in the centre of Holmfirth will be the setting for a music festival garden party performed by local people and professionals, promising a fun day out for all ages.
It features Leeds-based Kinaara, a cross-genre fusion ensemble bringing together folk, jazz and rock, led by the superb Punjabi vocals of Satnam Galsian. There will be music from Soul Choir, Strumstastic, Café Orchestra, Honley Male Voice Choir, Cool Chords, HD9 Junior Band, Trombone Choir, Wind Band and Youth Brass Band.
Sunday 19 June kicks off with a Family Myth and History Walk in the village of Holme followed by live theatre in the centre of Holmfirth suitable for children and families is on offer with performances of Bee Cart, by Pif-Paf Theatre, as well as acclaimed performers Highly Sprung Theatre (pictured) with their new show CastAway. Mind The Gap Theatre also premiere their show Leave the Light on for Me. All shows highlight climate issues.
The stunning backdrop of the Holme Valley is being used to full advantage to help celebrate this year’s theme ‘The Earth Beneath Our Feet’.
From 17 June onwards, this year’s Steve Sykes Memorial Commission can be viewed in the River Holme in the town centre and the Art in the Landscape art trail will be open to view at Earthworks New Mill Community Garden.
Further ticket performances and creative events at this year’s Holmfirth Arts Festival are being spread beyond the Festival weekend in June with events programmed until October 2022.
Scenic walks with a difference are taking place to include storytelling and activity and two experimental projects will explore quarries and reservoirs as performance venues take place later this year. Top TV comedian Gary Delaney performs at the Civic Hall in September, plus the Riverside Winds Quintet and Cloud Harp Quartet will play later in the summer.
Festival director Bev Adams said: “Instead of cramming everything into just one weekend, the excellent and varied programme will run at several venues and places, with the stunning backdrop of the Holme Valley used to full advantage to help celebrate this year’s theme ‘The Earth Beneath Our Feet’.
Thanks to funding from Arts Council England, Kirklees Council, Holme Valley Parish Council, Longley Farm and others, festival organisers have invited top quality, diverse, local, national and international artists to respond to the topic of the landscape and environment.
Bev Adams added: “There will be something for all ages and we want people to join in and share their own creativity by helping to make an outdoor art trail and work with Dan Price to create a big sing.
“Additional funding from Creative Minds has enabled us to extend our programme to health service users and there will be opportunities for people to learn to make their own music with Josh Haslam of Jam Factory and to make puppets with The Children’s Art School .”
Other Holmfirth Arts Festival events throughout the year include:
Riverside Winds wind Quintet at Hepworth Church on Saturday 9 July at 7.30pm Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/riverside-winds-music
Clouds Harp Quartet at New Mill, 56 Sude Hill, on Friday 5 August at 7.30pm Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/clouds-harp-quartet-music
Cliff Quarry Outdoor Performance, Holmfirth, Saturday 27 August 7pm. The aerial dance performance on a cliff face is free but must be booked in advance
Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/on-cliff-quarry-outdoor-performance
Comedian Gary Delaney at Holmfirth Civic Hall on Friday 2 September at 7.30pm
Info here: https://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/event-details/gary-in-punderland-by-gary-delaney-comedy

Find out more www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk

For more information visit http://www.holmfirthartsfestival.co.uk/