holmfirth live magazine august/september 2011

Holmfirth Live magazine Issue 1 - August/September 2011

Advertising: e: [email protected] t: 01484 818963 1

2 News & listings e: [email protected] t: 01484 818956

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Welcome To this, the first issue of Holmfirth Live magazine - a new monthly magazine bringing you the best in live entertainment in the Holmfirth area.

From live music to theatre, open mic to karaoke, brass bands to choirs, comedy to dance - we'll let you know what's going on every month.

Sure, we'll be covering all the festivals and other great happenings, but Holmfirth Live magazine is about putting local people in touch with local events - things you tell us about, people you know about.

Our contact details are below. Keep us up to date with your news and listings so that we can let everyone else know.

Thanks for reading, and for your support.

Contents4 & 5 The Interview:We chat to Diamond Dac Charnley, bluesman of the Holme Valley Delta.

6 Noises Off:Our monthly look at theatre and the performing arts. This month,Far Out Theatre's production ofA Midsummer Night's Dream,part of the Royal Shakespeare Company's Open Stages project.

8 & 9 The List:This issue's live happenings, featuring events from 1st August to mid September. Keep us up to date with your events.

10 & 11 The Venue:Our first issue looks at The Picturedrome,Holmfirth's iconic main stage.

12 & 13 The ReviewJuly's big Picturedrome charity gig featured top class local talent.

13 Open Mic SceneThe places where you are the star.

14 The ProfileHow Huddersfield's Bar 1:22 launched with help from the peace of a Holme Valley camp site.

15 Competition Start your career with gift vouchers kindly provided by Musical Notes of Holmfirth.


Holmfirth Live Magazine August/September 2011 - online at www.holmfirthlive.co.uk

News & Reviews to [email protected], 01484 818956

Advertising & Distribution enquiries to [email protected], 01484 818963

Holmfirth Live & Holmfirth Food and Drink Magazines are published by MHPAD – www.mhpad.co.uk

Copyright © the contributors, advertisers and publishers 2011



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ROUGH DIAMOND:An Interview with Diamond Dac

With a third album in the works and performances scheduled across the country; Holme Valley blues musician and guitar teacher, Dac Charnley, proves that it is never too late to follow your passion.

Early BeginningsI have always been interested in music. My first recollection is as a toddler and I had a toy banjo and I loved it. My mother took me to see the King Brothers when I was about 8 years old, my first live performance, I thought it was fantastic. But I must have been in my late teens, when I used to go to Woods music shop down in Huddersfield and put an LP on and listen to it with all my mates. I was looking through all this stuff and I found this LP, Roosavelt Holts, Blues. I thought I have got to listen to this. It was all like Delta Blues and bottleneck slide and it was really raw. There was a song on there, Big Road Blues, by Tommy Johnson, and that's what got me into it really. It stirred something inside me and just spoke to me. At that time I played a bit of guitar, a few chords and messed around with a couple of bands, The Fugitives and the BobCats. I packed it in because … two marriages, business, work, divorce... twenty years went by and I didn't touch a guitar.

Never Too LateAfter the second divorce, at about 50, I decided I was going to learn finger picking blues. I couldn't find a teacher in the UK to teach me what I wanted to learn. So I finished up going to America for the first time, looking up the old Blues Guys. I was very fortunate that I met a blues man who was running a seminar in New York and I ended up getting a grant, it only cost me my airfare to go. So I went over there and I was studying with those old guys, the legends that have since passed on.

Good Times BluesWhen people ask me 'what do you play'? I would say Good Time Blues. A lot of the time people think blues is miserable, but to me, all blues is about people having it bad, whether its health, drink, financial, its been in a bad time but getting themselves up again and feeling good about life. This music, in the Twenties, people used to dance to it. Its good time stuff. I like all sorts of music, but what I am passionate about playing is the blues, country, delta, whatever. Just the blues.

Tools of the TradeI have three Nationals altogether, as well as other guitars. My oldest is a 1932 Duolian. This is the type they all used. That's got the sound, it's very raw. Some people say it's like a dustbin lid sound. Just right for Delta Blues. It was like the bees knees at the time. Very cheaply made guitar, but it had the sound. Apart from the strings, everything on mine is original.

Brass NeckTogether with a playing partner I have designed a new slide, the Brass Neck. It is different is the way it is designed inside and in that it is a bored bar, not a welded tube, which gives it more mass. A lot of the ones you buy in a guitar shop are welded tubes or pyrex. They are too light and skate over the


The Interview: Diamond Dac Charnley, bluesman of the Holme Valley Delta



strings, you will never get a good sound. This is made from Yorkshire brass and is available through my website. Be Loud 'n' Proud with a Yorkshire Brass Neck.

A New GenerationWith my lessons I teach any kind of guitar, any style, any age. A lot of guitar teachers have a set way, I don't. What I do is, the first lesson is free, no obligation. Its a time to find out what that person wants and outline how I think I can help them. One girl I taught was a total beginner, hadn't even taken the guitar out of the case. Within months I had her finger picking, with a separate melody to the baseline. I wish I'd had somebody to do that when I had started because it would have saved me years of work.

Future PlansI play gigs all over the country, from the Lake District to Cornwall. What I would like to do, they do a lot of this in the States, is house concerts. People get an artist in for a private party, with a small cover charge on the door, and have a very intimate concert where they also get to talk to the artist. I am also available for charity events, which I do free of charge.

My next local gig is on the Saturday of the August Bank Holiday at the Durker Roods Hotel Beer Festival, in Meltham, between 1pm and 3pm.

Diamond Dac Recommendswww.weeniecampbell.comwww.earlyblues.comwww.reverbnation.com/diamonddac- I've now made it into the top five of blues downloads in the North. Great.

Would Like to MeetA female playing partner who can sing the blues and play ukulele, mandolin or guitar.

Dac's Website: www.diamonddac.com


http://www.reverbnation.com/diamonddac

http://www.earlyblues.com/

http://www.weeniecampbell.com/

http://www.diamonddac.com/


MIDSUMMERDREAMINGTake one successful theatre company, add a story by the most famous playwright of all time, and place it in the centre of Holmfirth. You have the recipe for A Midsummer Night's Dream, being performed at The Picturedrome on August 13th and 14th.

It is being produced by the Far Out Theatre group, as part of the open stages project run by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The group, which has been going since 2005, has performed several plays and pantomimes in the Dearne Valley area of South Yorkshire. They have also been on stages in Rotherham and Lincoln, but this is their first time in Holmfirth.

A Midsummer Night's Dream is their first Shakespeare production, and Artistic Director Suzy Dix is excited to be performing this Shakespeare classic. She said:

"Whilst our version of Midsummer sticks to Shakespeare's Original, comic script, we're putting our own unique design stamp on it. The piece has a 1960/70s bohemian feel to it.

"Costumes, set and music are inspired and influenced by various musical aspects of that era – from Hepcat swing to classic rock 'n' roll to Latin guitar music. There's a definite modern yet vintage feel to the show."

All tickets are £10 and the performance is suitable for all ages.Photographs by Zoe Martin


Noises Off: Our monthly look at Theatre & The Performing Arts


Thursday 4th AugustHolmfirth Live Open MicHarrows, Holmfirth. 8:30 pm. Free.

Saturday 6th AugustJ B GoodeRose & Crown, Thurstonland. 9pm. Free.Authentic Rock n RollThe Edgy SessionsBay Horse, Hade Edge. 8:30 pm. Free.Alice Jane and others.

Sunday 7th AugustMark Sings SwingThe Cricketers Arms, Netherthong.6 to 9:30 pm. Free.

Tuesday 9th AugustOpen Mic NightFarmer's Arms, Holmfirth. 9 pm. Free.

Friday 12th AugustRitche Penrose – Soul SingerThe Huntsman Inn, Holmfirth Tickets £5 Proceeds to Alzheimer's Society.www.the-huntsman-inn.com

Saturday 13th AugustBrass Monkeys Jazz BandHolmside Gardens, Holmfirth. 2 to 4:30 pm.A Midsummer Night's DreamPicturedrome, Holmfirth. 7:30pm. Tickets £10Far Out Theatre production. www.picturedrome.net

Sunday 14th AugustA Midsummer Night's DreamPicturedrome, Holmfirth. 7:30pm. Tickets £10Far Out Theatre production.

Tuesday 16th AugustGerald Seymour, author. (Harry's Game)Holmfirth Civic Hall. 7:30pm.Tickets £2 from Kirklees Booking Offices.

Thursday 18th AugustHolmfirth Live Open MicHarrows, Holmfirth. 8:30pm. Free.

Friday 19th AugustCast Picturedrome, Holmfirth.Tickets £18. www.picturedrome.net


The List: regular and forthcoming happenings in and around Holmfirth

http://www.picturedrome.net/


http://www.the-huntsman-inn.com/



Friday 26th AugustSerfThe Nook, Holmfirth. 7 pm. Free.

Saturday 27th AugustLive Music at the Durker Beer FestDurker Roods Hotel, Meltham. 1 pm. Free.with JB Goode, Diamond Dac Charnley & others...New 2The Nook, Holmfirth. 7 pm. Free.

Sunday 28th AugustLive Music at the Durker Beer FestDurker Roods Hotel, Meltham. 1 pm. Free.with Mark Sings Swing, Alice Jane &Gerry Cooper.J B Goode & Storm Rock BandThe Bridge Tavern, Holmbridge. Free.Afternoon Outdoor Rock Music.Stephan MelbourneThe Nook, Holmfirth. 7 pm. Free.

Monday 29th AugustEdge of the Peaks FestivalPicturedrome, Holmfirth. Mini-festival feat. The Wedding Present www.picturedrome.netLive Music at the Durker Beer FestDurker Roods Hotel, Meltham. 1 pm. Free.

Thursday 1st SeptemberHolmfirth Live Open MicHarrows, Holmfirth. 8:30 pm. Free.

Saturday 3rd SeptemberElton John Solo Tribute ShowPicturedrome, Holmfirth. Tickets £10 www.picturedrome.netThe Edgy SessionsBay Horse, Hade Edge. 8 pm. Free.

Tuesday 13h SeptemberOpen Mic NightFarmer's Arms, Holmfirth. 9 pm. Free.

Thursday 15th SeptemberHolmfirth Live Open MicHarrows, Holmfirth. 8:30pm. Free.Not in The List? Contact us about events between 1 September and mid October.


The List: regular and forthcoming happenings in and around Holmfirth




THE PICTUREDROMENot many small towns can boast a large entertainment venue at the heart of their community, but Holmfirth Picturedrome has again become a focal point for music, film and theatre, and not just for the Holme Valley. It attracts audiences from many miles away, and it attracts much bigger names than you might expect.

Originally opened in 1913, the Holme Valley Theatre, as it was then known, was one of the earliest purpose-built cinemas in the country. It is likely films were shown using a projector cranked by hand. It also provideda large variety of live acts, including music, plays and even a strong man, billed as Yorkshire's Hercules.

In the 1960s, with dwindling audience numbers, the venue was reopened as a bingo hall. Numbers were called out for 26 years before the hall was closed.

In the late 1990s the building came full circle, again being opened as a live entertainment venue and reviving the name of Holmfirth's first cinema, The Picturedrome. Since then the venue has been hosting live performances and film, with praise from many of the performers.

Why is it that The Picturedrome holds a special attraction for musicians?

Steve Harley, of Cockney Rebel, wrote:

"What a place that is. Funky old cinema with an air of juvenile disdain which seems to raise audiences to levels of relaxed fun they seldom enjoy these days."Packed and rocking from the start. Relentless in its waves of unity. Waves that rush the stage. An audience like that will always raise the game of the performers."

The Picturedrome is now a top tour stop for many performers, attracting big names such as Billy Ocean and KT Tunstall, whose November performance is already sold out.


The Venue: Welcome to the Picturedrome, a favourite stop for touring bands



One of the secrets to keeping the performers happy must be in keeping the audiences happy. The Picturedrome has two easily accessible well staffed and well stocked bars downstairs, and a further bar on the balcony level. An outside seating area can cater for those taking a breather, and here you can often bump into the performers themselves.

During the performance the audience can almost touch the stage, whilst the newly revamped balconies can provide a bird's eye view of both the stage and the main audience below.

So performers find an intimate space filled with comfortable and stress free people. Add to that an industrial strength sound and lighting system and you begin to understand why the big names just keep coming back.

Find out more at www.picturedrome.net


Week In – Week OutRegular Music Events in and around Holmfirth

TuesdayAcoustic Club at Bar 1:22, Huddersfield, 9 pm

WednesdayLive music at La Carreta, Holmfirth, 7 pm

ThursdayLive Music at La Carreta, Holmfirth, 7 pm

SundayFolk Session at The Nook, Holmfirth, 8 pm

All Events Free Entry



PICTURE THIS:The Picturedrome may bring some big names to town, but it is also a good place to recognise local talent, talent that not only stands alongside the best but also works hard for the benefit of the community.

At a recent charity performance, some local musicians got together to strum out some great tunes, and at the same time raise awareness of a silent killer, carbon monoxide poisoning.

Honley based rock 'n' roll band, J B Goode, were amongst those performing on the night. Bass player Steffy-Lou said:

"It was great to play such a fantastic venue as the Holmfirth Picturedrome, alongside such great bands. The general feeling of the night was one of celebration and not regret, and the atmosphere was electric from start to finish."

The event itself was put together to remember Huddersfield man David Swallow, who tragically died from carbon monoxide poisoning last year. A big fan of local music, many of the acts were family friends.

Jon Strong, front man of Holme Valley based the Jon Strong Band, said:

"David used to come and see us play at 'The Lockwood' back in the early 90s, likewise with JB Goode, who also played at his wedding. Tim Wood was a family friend while David's widow, Ruth, told us that he was a big fan of Roger Davies."

It was Tim Wood who opened the evening's entertainment with some powerful solo acoustic numbers. His driving, percussive guitar underpinning strong vocals and heartfelt lyrics.

Contrasting, but complementing brilliantly, he was followed by another singer-songwriter - Brighouse based Roger Davies. Roger has some of that peculiarly serious whimsy of


Review: local bands perform for charity at the Picturedrome



Jake Thackray, somehow tinged with a sensation of repressed punk, as illustrated in his song 'Northern Trash'.

Jon Strong and his band were a class act from start to finish, incredibly tight with complex percussive interplay. The band sounded as though it was twice the size, with John's skill in playing rhythm and lead on the same acoustic guitar simultaneously just illustrating the band's depth of sound.

There was no let up for the dancers when JB Goode hit the stage, classic rock guitar and blonde bombshell double bass from the father and daughter fronted outfit generating a high energy audio-visual spectacle.

More classic blues rock, expertly delivered by the Blueflies, rounded off the evening perfectly. From their opening number, 'Take Me To The River', through a host of perfectly realised anthems, they kept the party going until the very end.

Open Mic SceneFor the uninitiated, an open mic night is somewhere you just turn up and play and hope others will listen. Some are almost all performers, some have a broader audience. Some have a microphone, some are purely acoustic. But they all have one thing in common – whether a first timer, or you've been performing for years, or you've just come to listen, everyone is welcome.

'Ged' is rapidly becoming a victim of his own success at our long running namesake, 'Holmfirth Live' open mic, in Harrow's cellar (see The List for dates and times). He says:

“Another packed house for Holmfirth Live in the cellar at Harrows this week … 19 performers, so no room or time for a detailed review. Suffice to say it was the usual extraordinary high quality, variety and enthusiasm that we have come to expect over the last five and a half years.

Several new faces over the past few weeks which is very healthy but does cause me a logistical problem – how do we give everyone a reasonable opportunity on stage?

Let’s just make sure we start promptly at 8.30. Those arriving before the start will get two songs. Those appearing after that will only get the one...”

More from the open mics next month.


David Swallow died while at a motorcycle event in Scotland after sleeping overnight in the back of his van with an almost spent barbecue that was releasing a small amount of the dangerous gas, carbon monoxide. His widow, Ruth Swallow said:

"After the tragic loss of Dave to this silent killer I'm keen to raise awareness of the life threatening danger of using these apparently innocuous everyday items in any enclosed space.

"I think a fun, vibrant event like this is a fitting tribute to the kind of guy Dave was. It was a great night and far exceeded any of our expectations."

Proceeds from the event went to various charities involved in raising awareness of the dangers of Carbon Monoxide: Carbon Monoxide be Alarmed; The Dominic Rodgers Trust and the Royal Edinburgh Hospital Critical Care Unit who took care of David and battled to save his life.

www.co-bealarmed.co.uk

http://www.co-bealarmed.co.uk/


Listening at the Acoustic Club on a Tuesday night, at the open mic night at Bar 1:22 in Huddersfield, you'll get to hear many great acts. Some are performing on stage for the first time, while others are singer-songwriters that become known across the country.

"Everyone gets their first chance to play at Bar 1:22, If you are just starting out, great, we love new bands, because you can get better at Bar 1:22 and then go into the world and tell them how great you are." says Stevo, the compere and founding member of the club.

What is not apparent is how much struggle there has been to make sure the Huddersfield music scene has a great place to play. It all started with the Acoustic Club, which has now in it's 11th year.

"I got asked by the landlord of a pub in Birkby to do a gig but I didn't know enough songs. So I took the gig anyway and asked a couple of mates to come and join me. That basically formed our first open mic night."

It soon moved to Abraham's Caf Bar iné Westgate, where it ran for four years in the Tuesday night slot. However, when their venue closed down, the club became homeless.

"I was at work and the receptionist brought through a flyer for Elements Bar. She asked if I had considered it for the open mic. At the time I had never heard of it, but it was the place that would eventually become Bar 1:22."

The club had found its new home, and soon the bar started having live music seven nights a week. However, going through

several owners and name changes, including Bar 120, the future of the bar was never certain. At times the staff, all comprising of musicians, thought they were going to lose it all. They realised the only way they were going to keep the bar as a live music venue was to get hold of the lease for themselves.

This task wasn't easy, and it was a very stressful time for Stevo and his partner, They needed somewhere where they could escape.

"To take my mind off things I would go camping. One night I was very stressed and just needed to get away, but needed to be back the next morning.

"I found there was a camp site in Thongsbridge and we spent the night there. We thought, why don't we stay here all week? Eventually we came back with a caravan and stayed the entire summer."

They stayed through the winter too. They found the peace and quiet of the Holme Valley a welcome respite from the nerve-jangling legal wranglings of situations that unfolded

On the 22nd September 2010, the newly christened Bar 1:22 (Bar 120, part 2) finally belonged to those musicians who had originally visited looking for somewhere to play. The Acoustic Club sits alongside comedy, burlesque and plenty of diverse live music across all genres.

"We have had a load of amazing acoustic guitarists here. Martin Carthy, John Redbourn, Martin Simpson. I looked at an internet poll of the top 100 guitarists and we have had six of the top 20 play here and that is quite remarkable really."

The Acoustic Club runs every Tuesday night from 9pm. Don't expect to leave early though, the clock is permanently stuck - at 1:22.For more information visit www.122live.com


The Man Who.... lived in a caravan and built up a venue at Bar 1:22

http://www.122live.com/




Competition in conjuction with Musical Notes of Holmfirth

Win one of 5 £10 vouchers kindly provided by Musical Notes of Holmfirth

Musical Notes are offering 5 £10 gift vouchers to spend in their shop to readers of Holmfirth Live

who can correctly answer the following question:How many strings are there on a fully strung

standard acoustic guitar? Choose your answer from the following options:a) 1 b) 6 c) 16

To enter, email your answer a), b) or c) to [email protected],

or drop your written answer into Musical Notesduring opening hours.

All entries must include your name, address and a contact telephone number. Entrants must reside in the HD9 postcode area and only one entry is permitted per

household.

Winning entries will be drawn at random from all correct entries received by midnight on 01 September 2011.

The competition is to be judged by representatives ofHolmfirth Live and Musical Notes. Their decision is final and

no correspondence or discussion will be entered into.There is no cash equivalent offered for the voucher value and no change will be given. Please mark your entry 'no further

contact' if you do not wish to receive information in the future from Holmfirth Live or Musical Notes. Your details will not be

released to any third party under any circumstances.



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holmfirth live magazine august/september 2011

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