Music

OPERA North and legendary saxophonist Snake Davis are among the headline acts heading for Birkenshaw this Autumn.

Marie Claire Breen, Laura Kelly McInroy, Warren Gillespie and Ross McInroy from Opera North will perform Autumn Leaves on Sunday October 7 at the Birkenshaw Music Festival, and Snake Davis, featured previously in The Guide, headlines the final concert of the festival on Saturday October 27.

Hosted by the village church, St Paul’s in Bradford Road, the event is expected to replicate the success of the previous Birkenshaw Music Festival held in 2016.

The month-long programme begins on Sunday September 30 with a Last Night of the Proms concert by the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service Band.

Musical showcases, quizzes and film nights screening Hollywood musicals also form part of a packed programme of events and activities.

Wednesday October 3 features a Country and Western Mass during the Holy Communion Service and on Friday October 5 Heckmondwike Grammar School Band and Musica Mirfield will be showcasing their musical talents.

On Saturday October 13 ‘That Was the Great War That Was’ features songs and sketches from the First World War in a Music Hall themed performance involving children and young people from Applause Theatre School and guest appearance from the St Paul’s Players.

The Bishop of Huddersfield, Jonathan Gibbs, leads the harvest festival service on Sunday October 14 and Voces Seraphorum will sing Evensong.

Wednesday October 17 features a Reggae Mass and on Friday October 19 the Batley Gilbert and Sullivan Society, an amateur group of Gilbert and Sullivan fans, will perform.

A showcase of local talent takes place on Saturday October 20 and Sunday October 21 when local musician, Nick Wright and wife Norah and Nick and Alison Wise perform contemporary and classical music during the Palm Court Afternoon Teas on Saturday.

On Sunday October 21 renowned local big band singer, Paul Stone, entertains at ‘An Evening with Encore and Paul Stone.’

Paul, who has performed all over Europe and worked with Grammy award-winning songwriter, Diane Warren, is looking forward to performing on home territory.

“It’s nice to do something local for the local community,” he says.

Adding: “And what is really great about it is how music brings people together.”

Popular sing-alongs also feature part of the programme with a ‘Singalong Film Night’ on Tuesday October 23 and a Singalong children’s film matinee on Thursday October 25.

Fans of Forties and Fifties music can look forward to ‘Blitz and Bobby Socks’ with Kitty LaMare (Kathryn Mitchell) on Friday October 26 while legendary saxophonist, Snake Davis, who has accompanied some of the biggest names in showbusiness and whose iconic sax solo featured on Take That’s ‘A Million Love Songs’ will perform with his band on Saturday October 27.

A special Songs of Praise service with local organist, Stephen Wright, will close the festival on Sunday October 28.

Tickets will be available from September 1 from Gorgeous Gifts and Cards, Bradford Road, Birkenshaw. For more information, or to get involved, call 01274 683776.