Ash and Ant music: York’s music festival rocks
It started only eight years ago in the back of a pub, yet this year the Galtres Festival is bringing the likes of Ash, Seth Lakeman, Adam Ant and Billy Bragg close to York.
The festival runs from Friday, August 24 to Sunday, August 26 at Crayke. Despite the big name acts, it retains a special place in the hearts of festival goers for its embrace of local bands alongside the headliners, and its commitment to charity, green issues – and family fun.
So here’s a audio-visual preview of Galtres 2012.
Ash
You’d have to be a girl from Mars not to know and love Ash. Creators of some of the greatest singles of the last 20 years, Ash are the main Saturday headliner. “Walloping scarf-waving choruses, taut verses, all infused with the sheer thrill of music making that has never quite departed.” John Aizlewood, bbc.co.uk
Playing: Saturday
Seth Lakeman
Widely regarded as the UK’s foremost folk singer songwriter, Mercury Prize nominee Seth Lakeman is Sunday co-headliner. “Seth might be trying to shake things up on the recording side of things (some of Tales From The Barrel House being recorded down a mine) but when it comes to the live arena, the focus is still firmly on creating a solid set, which leaves little room for complaint.” – Lisa Ward, More Than The Music
Playing: Sunday
Adam Ant
The Dandy Highwayman of Eighties superstardom can still hack it. “Once the microphone had been turned up after his first song I was transported back to Scarborough 1982 two hours of punk/new romantic nostalgia. He still had the swagger and the ability to enntertain and front (a very talented band) especially the female drummer!” Review by foxclover44
Playing: Sunday
Guillemots
“They creep up on you, Guillemots, as the best music so often does… It’s this sense of the unexpected that makes Guillemots such a treasure: they don’t beg for attention. They simply deserve it.” Wyndham Wallace, bbc.co.uk
Playing: Saturday
Billy Bragg
The one-time Red Wedge firebrand has lost none of his passion or power. “Bragg’s own merchandising stand sells a Marmite-themed tea towel and there’s a bit of that: the bard of Barking’s dulcet tones are an acquired taste but, on this form, it is a taste well worth acquiring.” Bruce Blacklaw, The Scotsman
Playing: Sunday
The Men They Couldn’t Hang
The folk punk band and David Bowie’s former support act are still going strong after nearly 30 years. “Phil [Swill] Odgers’s voice has always been a joy to listen to and yes, if anything does seem to get better with age.” Review by Ohthegreenandred
Playing: Sunday
Buzzcocks
One of Britain’s most influential bands, the Buzzcocks’ “music stands the test of time, the band may get older but their songs remain youthful rushes of rushing guitar and pretty melodies – it’s like Dorian Grey In reverse. This was one of the key bands of punk, they took punk out from the London elite and gave it to the north.” John Robb, louderthanwar.com
Playing: Friday
Ocean Colour Scene
Brummie Britpoppers Ocean Colour Scene have “have seen and weathered it all – poverty, break ups, destructive record company politics, fads and fashions, critical acclaim and critical abuse, massive chart success, despair, bailiffs and Top Of The Pops” according to their website. At Galtres Simon and Oscar from the band will perform an acoustic set.
Playing: Friday
Supporting acts
Leeds guitar maestro Jon Gomm is hosting a guitar master class – Jon’s talent was recently endorsed by Stephen Fry on Twitter.
Ellen And The Escapades are topping a Leeds stage, The Talks headlining the Hull stage and York’s Chris Helme, Littlemores and the Arts Barge Project make a welcome return.
Galtres Festival falls on the final weekend of the York Mystery Plays so organisers have teamed up with Script Yorkshire and the York Settlement Players to bring modern versions of the plays to the festival.
Continuing the festival’s medieval theme of Dragons & Knights, there will be jousting, archery and a whole range of creative family activities centered upon a medieval village, including falconry and a Dragon Ball. Whatever that is.
Dozens of workshops and activities aim to keep children happy. To do the same for mums and dads, the Yorkshire beer and cider showcase boasts more than than 100 different varieties – from Ampleforth Abbey Cider to Black Sheep Ale.
- For more details check the Galtres Festival website
- Or follow the festival on Twitter