EVENTS FROM LAST YEAR’S ONLINE FESTIVAL ARE DETAILED BELOW
Elias Smith are a duo made up of Cheryl Elias and Chris Smith. The couple regularly perform at Otta’s Leah and will keep you entertained with New Orleans blues and jazz.
This lively act consists of some familiar faces around the Otley music scene.
When this bunch of mates gets together, there’s usually a bit of a commotion (stramash). With a core team of Curries and Atkinses, they’ll co-opt and coerce whoever they can to join in on the fun. They’ve even got the t-shirt to prove it! Playing a variety of well-known songs, they’ll want you to sing along.
Having heard them play, it’s fair to say they will provide a lively addition to the festival.
During his time at Leeds College of Music a couple of years ago studying music production, Graeme was encouraged to write and perform his own material in a solo format. His songs are based on his own experiences and the stories of people he has met, resulting in a spectrum of mood, from light, to sometimes quite dark. Equally happy at either side of a mixing desk, he has worked as a sound engineer for both local and nationally known artists in a live and studio setting.
Nature and wild places have inspired self-taught guitarist Paul Briscoe, who has been playing since the tender age of ten. Paul will be one of the four acts performing during the first round of the festival.
As organiser of the festival, Paul is possibly best known throughout Otley as a brewer of beer.
However, his passion for music has seen him organise the most successful open mic in town (at the licensed cafe, Otta’s Leah) where he has built up a fan base for his tunes.
He said: ” I am entirely self-taught and without expert guidance developed a style all of my own….. but it sort of works and it’s far too late to change it now!
“In younger days I would play along to my favourite music: Genesis, Camel and Dire Straits. However, about 20 years ago I suddenly felt inspired to start writing music of my own.
“Much of it is inspired by my love of nature and wild places while some evokes memories, both happy and sad. Thus far, I’ve struggled to find words that do justice to the sentiments I want to convey, so I have concentrated instead on expressive playing, letting my guitar do the talking. I don’t believe that music should be classified in boxes; it is for you to make of it what you will…… but it is very definitely a style all of my own!
He added: “There is much about the album that I would change if I were ever to re-record it, but you have to start somewhere! However, in November 2019 I started work on a new album which should hopefully sound far better!”
A poignant song about Yorkshire’s musical market town will provide the perfect opener for Otley’s Online Music Festival. (June 12).
Shadow of the Chevin, was written by musician Jon Budworth at the beginning of Lockdown UK.
The tune, inspired by a walk on the popular beauty spot, struck a chord with many in the area, as they struggled to come to terms with a life behind closed doors.
Within weeks Jon had written a second song, All is Quiet, after mourning the effects of social distancing in what was once a ‘bustling and vibrant town.’
Jon said: “I’ve wanted to write a song about Otley for some time and then in a short space of time I wrote two. Shadow Of The Chevin, came to me very quickly after the title ‘popped into my head’ whilst walking on The Chevin and looking down onto the town. It’s a song about travelling far and wide, seeing the world and yet at the end of the day finding a place that truly feels like home.
“All Is Quiet was inspired following a walk around the deserted streets of Otley one evening in early April. I was struck by how incredibly quiet and calm everything was -no traffic, no aeroplanes and no people. This song has gone down very well on social media receiving thousands of views and lovely comments coming in from all over the world from people who empathise with the song’s sentiment.”
Jon moved to Otley three years ago from Leigh in Lancashire.
He said: “When I was looking for somewhere to live in the Leeds area I remember driving into the centre of Otley and immediately falling in love with the place. The quaint buildings, the cobbled streets, the clock tower, the beautiful river and of course the abundance of pubs!
“After moving here I don’t think I’d live anywhere else. You don’t have to dig too far beneath the surface to uncover the incredible music and arts scene. Musicians are everywhere, live music is everywhere and on many nights of the week there are opportunities to get out and play and meet other like minded people.”
“I’m very exited to have been asked by Paul Briscoe to open up the 2020 Otley Music Festival. This is a fantastic opportunity for me and also a great way to make some money for several local charities. I’ll be collaborating with some extremely talented local musicians including Mags Elliot, Richard Currie and Simon Carey.”
Jon will open the festival here on June 12 at 7.30pm. Write it in the diary folks!
The Nick Wood Band Thing, aka (l-r) Richard Currie, Rory McLeish and Nick Wood, pictured
Otley is bursting at the seams with talented musicians and, as part of the festival, we are eager to showcase this talent.
One of the acts included in our first ’round’ of video performances is The Nick Wood Band Thing, made up of Nick Wood (singer/songwriter/guitarist) Richard Currie (guitarist, backing vocals) and Rory McLeish (lead guitar).
Nick said: “I suppose I’m a bit old-school really. I like a song with a good tune and a catchy chorus”.
Well, old-school or not, Nick Wood and his bandmates are building a solid reputation for the kind of songs you think you already know, songs that get into your head and under your skin. The Otley-based trio have spent the past twelve months putting together a selection of Nick’s original songs to create a live experience of soaring melodies, wry humour and heart-stopping pathos.
“My songwriting heroes are people like Nick Lowe and Ron Sexsmith. Their best songs are beautifully crafted and feel like old friends as soon as you hear them. I’m trying to write stuff that’s half as good as that!”.
Fun- loving duo Hazjak – who’ve proved a huge hit with audiences – will also be performing during the first round of the festival.
Hazjak are an exciting duo featuring Steve Chapman Smith and Lynne O’Malley. They are both well-known and respected on the Northern music circuit.
Steve has performed and recorded with Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, Susan Herndon, Ghostdance and the Troubadours and has recorded 4 John Peel sessions. He writes gritty songs about real life – some political rants, some heart-wrenching love songs.
Lynne is known as one third of close harmony folk trio Yan Tan Tether.
Together, Hazjak perform original material in the folk, Americana and roots tradition, with strong harmonies, guitar, banjo, piano and bouzouki.
“Close-harmony folk meets Goth rock blues. Like poles repel, but unlike poles attract. From poles apart this duo have brought together guitar and keyboard to create irresistible and original songs with a magnetic field that will pull in the masses. I feel this is the start of something very big and attractive.”
Tony Haynes; FAB Folk and Blues Radio
Lynne said: “We are very excited to be involved in the online Otley Community Festival, playing alongside like-minded musicians who all want to do their bit for the music community, whilst raising funds for charity.
Obviously it’s not the same as performing in front of a live audience, but will be fun all the same. The festival has been extremely well organised, and we hope it’s a huge success.”
Local to Global is the name given to a group set up by Otley Parish Church. The name denotes an interest in specific work both at home and abroad.
Locally, we support Caring for Life based at Crag House Farm. It is a Christian charity that for over 30 years has provided unconditional long-term support, homes, love and friendship to deeply damaged and hurting people. There are many projects at the Farm in Cookridge, the housing support team works with more than 100 vulnerable adults. They help by finding and maintaining safe housing and by providing advice, friendship and long-term support.
Globally, we support Kisiizi Hospital, a private not-for profit hospital in south west Uganda and supports a rural population of mainly subsistence farmers. No-one who needs care is ever turned away and high quality care is provided by a mixture of Ugandan and expatriate staff with minimal user fees. They provide a wide range of inpatient and community services and aim to upgrade their Mother and Baby unit in the coming years.
One of the aims of Otley Community Music festival is to ensure that locals get to know more about some of the bands and musicians that live in and around the town.
So please feel free to browse through information about our acts and follow them if you like what you hear on social media, Soundcloud, YouTube – etc!
Otley Music Festival 