Festival organiser Paul Briscoe is on a mission to bring to Otley some of the finest exponents of acoustic roots and folk music from across the country. In particular, he’s keen to give a stepping stone to younger and emerging talent. At his regular venue – the intimate and excellent-sounding upstairs room at the Horse & Farrier Public House – Paul has booked outstanding nationally-acclaimed acts: Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Jacob& Drinkwater, Ben Walker & Kirsty Merryn and Ellie Gowers. However, some events will take place in the rather larger function room at the Black Horse. Paul hopes to continue bringing the very best in acoustic music to North Leeds in the year ahead.
Upcoming acts – please scroll down the page for further details and ticket info for each gig:
MAAR in Concert – Sunday 11th October 2026 – 7.00pm start – Black Horse Function Room – Supported by We Three Things
Tickets available online (£14 plus processing fee) from :
https://wegottickets.com/f/24346
We are delighted to welcome the brilliant Icelandic/Italian trio MAAR to the Black Horse in Otley.
MAAR is the latest endeavour from long-time collaborators and friends Ösp Eldjárn, Valeria Pozzo, and Helga Ragnars. Two-thirds Icelandic, one-third Italian, the trio first crossed paths in London in 2011, when a chance house-share sparked a lasting musical connection. After years of collaborating and performing in each other’s solo projects, the three songwriters have now joined forces to create their new collaborative project.
In the summer of 2024, the trio retreated to a cabin in rural Iceland, where they wrote the three songs that will appear on their debut EP, The Wave, due to be released in June 2026.
MAAR’s music is characterised by three-part vocal harmonies, intimate lyrics, and acoustic instrumentation. At the heart of their sound is the interplay of all three members’ voices, creating a dynamic and harmonious identity that’s uniquely their own. Shaped by collaboration and friendship, their music is intimate, and unforced. It flows like a conversation between close friends.
MAAR have been performing in England and Wales in the summer of 2025, and are touring Iceland in July 2026. They are currently working on their first full album.
Support comes from the highly regarded local trio We Three Things, featuring the wonderful three part harmonies and guitar textures of 3 local singer/songwriters: Matthew Sturgess, Tim Marshall and Nick Wood.
Jon Doran & the Northern Assembly – Sunday 1st November 2026 – 7.00pm start – Black Horse Function Room
Tickets available online (£14 plus processing fee) from : https://wegottickets.com/f/26518
We’re delighted to welcome the fantastic Jon Doran & the Northern Assembly back to Otley. This is a groundbreaking new collaboration seeking to capture the excitement that lies within traditional song. The trio aims to breathe new life into old stories from across the British Isles, injecting the energy they feel these narratives deserve.
With striking vocals from Jon Doran (BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist 2019), combined with the virtuosic playing of Jordan Aikin (“trailblazer” – Calum MacCrimmon, Breabach), and Heather Ferrier (“accordion virtuoso” – Tom Robinson), the trio perform songs that create “a cohesive musical framework with intricately layered arrangements, each song from the traditional folk canon unfolding a vivid drama” (Folk London).
Their eponymous debut EP, released in 2024, gained an overwhelming amount of positive feedback and secured airplay on shows such as BBC Radio 2, BBC Introducing North East, and BBC Radio Lincolnshire. “Filled to the brim with energy, excitement and a lust for life” (TradFolk), the trio move away from a conventional folk-song performance style and lean heavily upon their varied musical upbringings and experiences to conjure emotions and communicate a story far deeper than the words of the song.
They blur the lines between two contrasting sides of the folk genre – the bright, vibrant energy of contemporary instrumental folk music, and the intensity of traditional storytelling songs. KLOF describe their songs as “overflowing with ideas for the production of imaginative, entertaining music”.
“The trio’s seemingly effortless mastery of vocals and instrumentation is truly impressive.” Folk London
“Absolutely beautiful”
BBC Introducing North East
Chris Cleverley – Friday 20th November 2026 – 7.30pm start – Horse & Farrier
Tickets available online (£12 plus processing fee) from : https://wegottickets.com/f/26715
We’re delighted to welcome the brilliant singer/songwriter and guitarist Chris Cleverley back to Otley for a solo gig.
Chris Cleverley was born under a solstice moon, in the honeysuckle mysticism of a late 80s Midsummer. As his fledgling days unfurled, the symbolic sounds of ‘Hunky Dory’, ‘Graceland’ and ‘Ladies of The Canyon’ echoed from the woodchip walls of the South Birmingham terrace where he was raised; quiet and curious, saturnine and shy. Here, the soul of a young artist was shaped.
Fast-forward three decades; With five nationally acclaimed records under his belt, and ringing endorsements from The Times, Telegraph and BBC6 Music, 2x FATEA ‘Male Artist of the Year’ Chris Cleverley is described as “One of the most vital voices of his Folk generation” (KLOF).
His boundary-shattering ‘Dream-Folk’ songwriting sits on the cutting edge of acoustic music. Exploring powerful, human themes from displaced people to the fragile beauty of our natural world, we travel with him from the arid deserts of Syria, to the rich Mediterranean sunsets of the Cretan coastline; a captivating voyage of place, landscape, season and self. With a compendium of songs for the misfits, steeped in love, joy, grief, anxiety and empathy, his truly immersive performance unites each individual in the room on their own journey towards finding a place in this head-spinning modern world.
From the fairy-light intimacy of concert venues, to the stages of world-renowned festivals, Chris has built a sturdy following in his 10 years touring the new British Folk Scene, including standout performances at prestigious events like Cambridge Folk Festival and The English Folk Expo.
A true guitar-man, his breathtaking fingerstyle technique dances above lush ambient soundscapes, drawing comparisons ranging from Lo-fi American Greats, Elliott Smith & Sufjan Stevens to UK guitar royalty John Martyn & Nic Jones; a curious tapestry weaved from the hazy psychedelia of the 60s folk revival and the soulful oblivion of the 90s Pacific Northwest.
With replenishing calm and warm humour, his unique one-man live show occupies the space between concert performance and yoga nidra meditation; plunging audiences head first into a revitalising journey that promises to leave them feeling that little bit more wholesome than when they arrived.
“As surreal as Fforde. As loaded as Ballard” – Time Passed and Time Passing
An Evening of Bluegrass – Sunday 6th December – 7.00pm start – Black Horse Function Room
Otley has more than its fair share of accomplished bluegrass musicians! To start the festive season we celebrate with an evening of music featuring some of the area’s finest exponents! With Dogwood Mountain Railroad, The Grove Band and more.
Further details to follow, but please save the date!!
