Get ready to barge into a summer of great York gigs.
We’ve put together a guide to some fantastic upcoming gigs and concerts at some of York’s most brilliant music venues – Arts Barge, The Crescent, The Fulford Arms, York Vaults, National Centre For Early Music, and York Barbican.
Take a look and start planning your summer of music.
Arts Barge
Dylan Earl on the Arts Barge
Yeehaw! It’s time to break out the cowboy boots, blue jeans, Western shirts and the Cattleman hats. Dylan Earl is coming back to town.
The Arkansas singer won over a huge York crowd at the Arts Barge Hoodang last year. Now he’s back to headline his own show on Saturday, June 24.
His music has been described as post-country, countrypolitan, and even ‘twangcore’. Whatever label you apply, his warm baritone oozes honesty and transports listeners to his home in the Ozark Mountains.
York’s brilliant country funsters, The Wreck Liners will open the show. And our city’s own Bonnie Milnes promises some tear-jerking’ tunes as main support.
- The Arts Barge, Selby Tony Foss Basin, York, YO10 4AB
- Sat 24 Jun
- 7pm
- More info
… while we have your interest, there’s still time to get tickets for the return visit of Curtis Eller, but they are selling fast.
Curtis Eller’s American Circus On The Arts Barge
The indefatigable Curtis brings his American Circus show back to the Arts Barge on Saturday July 1.
The return to the barge features a full band bringing physical comedy, wild performances and vibrant, banjo-powered rock and roll energy.
- The Arts Barge, Selby Tony Foss Basin, York, YO10 4AB
- Sat 1 Jul
- 7pm
- More info
Those are just the first two of a busy summer of great gigs in the city.
Here’s the YorkMix selection of other upcoming music which caught our interest.
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The Crescent
Mozart Estate
The words ‘legend’ and ‘cult’ are entirely justified when considering the musical exploits of the long career of legendary cult artist Lawrence.
After ten years and ten albums in the indie guitar pop band, Felt, (and an impressive list of admirers, including The Fall and The Smiths), he turned his pop sensibilities into musical gold-dust with the band Denim.
Despite making one of the 1990s’ most iconic albums, Back In Denim, the band managed to evade fame once again.
It’s hard to believe that a tongue-in-cheek pop classic like Middle Of The Road wasn’t enough to catapult them on to the world’s biggest stages.
Denim were followed by Go Kart Mozart, who delivered a slew of classic alt-pop, world-weary lyrics suffused with hooky pop riffs. They might have failed to set the charts alight; but scores of luminaries in the music world acknowledge the influence of Lawrence and his bands.
Now, under the guise of Mozart Estate, Lawrence is back with a full band. Expect more of what one critic once described as ‘junk-shop glam-meets-novelty-pop sounds.
- The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Sat 7 Oct
- 7:30pm
- More info
The Crescent remains York’s go-to venue for the widest possible variety of live music.
Upcoming summer highlights at The Crescent include:
Newen Afrobeat
This 13-piece Chilean orchestra, inspired by the definitive sounds of Nigerian master-musician, Fela Kuti, bring a Latin flavour to African rhythms that guarantee a night of exuberant music and dancing.
- The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Thurs 17 Aug
- 7:30pm
- More info
Nina Nastasia
Prepare to be moved to tears by the lyrics and clear-voiced delivery of Nina, a peerless singer-songwriter of Calabrian-Italian-Irish descent.
- The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Tues 28 Aug
- 7:30pm
- More info
OFF!
What happens when you put former members of Black Flag, Burning Brides and Thundercat together with a pal from…And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead? You get OFF! The raging Californian punk supergroup promise a feast for fans of hard-core rock.
- The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Fri 10 Nov
- 7:30pm
- More info
Le Vent Du Nord
… and for lovers of French-Canadian folk music (and there are more of those fans around than you might expect), a joint promotion at the Crescent in association with Black Swan Folk Club.
- The Crescent, 8 The Crescent, York, YO24 1AW
- Wed 2 Aug
- 7:30pm
- More info
The Fulford Arms
There’s not just one main summer festival at The Fulford Arms… there are three!
Swinefest
It all kicks off with the three-day rock extravaganza of Swinefest.
Between Friday June 30 and Sunday July 2, more than a dozen bands will grace the stage.
Confirmed performers include Oi Polloi, The Domestics, Harijan, F. Emasculata, In Evil Hour, Migraines, Petrol Hoers, Spam Javelin, and SplitBox. Special mention must be made for the wonderful York bands Pat Butcher and The Wreck Liners too.
You’ll get everything from wry country-rock right through to metal in all its glorious guises.
A £35 three-day ticket seems like the bargain of the year so far. (Individual day tickets are also available)
- The Fulford Arms, 121 Fulford Rd, York YO10 4EX
- Fri 30 Jun – Sun 2 Jul
- TBC
- More info
Fully Fest
As if Swinefest wasn’t enough excitement, the three days of joy that is Fully Fest follow closely behind on Friday August 18 to Sunday August 20.
A three-day ticket is just £22 (individual day tickets are available too).
Line-up so far:
Friday:
Heartsink / Slackrr / Dead Drummer + special guests (TBA!)
Saturday:
In These Walls / This House Is Haunted / The Apocalypse Disco / I Tell Lies / The Rosettas / Hunter-Gatherer / What Fresh Hell
Sunday:
Hyde Family Jam / Eugene Gorgeous / Rowan (full band)
- The Fulford Arms, 121 Fulford Rd, York YO10 4EX
- Fri 18 – Sun 20 Aug
- Various times
- More info
One For The Road Festival
The One For The Road Festival returns to the Fully from Friday October 27 to Sunday October 29.
Tickets for the three-day extravaganza are £40 (with a limited number of one-day tickets being made available soon).
Friday’s headliner is Jim Lockley and the Solemn Sun, Saturday’s bill-topper is Millie Manders and The Shutup, and Sunday’s headliner and many other acts to be announced.
Jess Silk makes a welcome return, as does local favourite, the indefatigable Harrison Rimmer. Other acts already announced include Crazy Arm, Gaz Brookfield, and Texas Forever.
- The Fulford Arms, 121 Fulford Rd, York YO10 4EX
- Fri 27 – Sun 29 Oct
- TBC
- More info
The Meteors
… and for good measure, also at The Fully, The Meteors, Monday July 4. Punk survivors who can stoke up a crowd like few other bands.
- The Fulford Arms, 121 Fulford Rd, York YO10 4EX
- Mon 24 Jul
- 7:30pm
- More info
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The York Vaults
Nunnery Lane’s grassroots venue has a packed programme leading up to the already-sold-out Punk York 2 event on Saturday 8 July.
Highlights include:
Billyboy Fitch
Billy Boy Fitch – Mixtape launch and Jakez birthday special at The York Vaults Also with more support from A2, Regz, Benrtst, Killshot Bunny + K Robbo.
- The York Vaults, 47-49 Nunnery Ln, York YO23 1AB
- Fri 16 Jul
- 7:30pm
- More info
The Thieves
Brilliant night of indie rock headlined by Newcastle favourites The Thieves. The band are on the rise in 2023. If you like indie rock you’ll love this.
- The York Vaults, 47-49 Nunnery Ln, York YO23 1AB
- Fri 30 Jul
- 7:30pm
- More info
Marseille
Vibrant indie band from Derby. Support from Vega Rally and The White Roses.
- The York Vaults, 47-49 Nunnery Ln, York YO23 1AB
- Fri 13 Oct
- 8pm
- More info
National Centre For Early Music
A packed programme, with the week-long York Early Music Festival as its summer highlight from July 7 to July 14.
York Early Music Festival
Highlights include a celebration of the work of William Byrd, with performances from The Marian Consort and The Rose Consort of Viols (July 10), and the Ensemble Jupiter, with countertenor Iestyn Davies (July 8). The performance by exceptional violinist Rachel Podger (July 13) has already sold out.
- Multiple locations
- Fri 7 – Fri 14 Jul
- Various times
- More info
Claudio Kron
This Saturday (June 17) sees Claudia Kron’s presenting two separate workshops of Brazilian Dance and Percussion. The 10:30am event is targeted at teenagers and adults; the 2pm workshop targeted for families, suitable for 7-year-olds and upwards.
- National Centre for Early Music, St. Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL
- Sat 17 Jun
- 10:30am, 2pm
- More info
John Etheridge
A member of Soft Machine, master guitarist Etheridge has collaborated with violin legends Stephane Grappelli and Nigel Kennedy. He promises an uplifting evening of blues, folk, jazz and African grooves.
- National Centre for Early Music, St. Margaret’s Church, Walmgate, York YO1 9TL
- Sun 18 Jun
- 6:30pm
- More info
York Barbican
Shalamar
This Saturday (June 17) sees soul and disco superstars Shalamar celebrate the 40th anniversary of their Friends album, performing the entire set live for the first time ever, with guests Jaki Graham and Lauraine McIntosh (Cool Notes).
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York YO10 4AH
- Sat 17 Jun
- 7:30pm
- More info
… and early warning for a major gig that will almost certainly sell out:
Dexys
Dexys play the Barbican on Tuesday, September 5. A rare chance to see Kevin Rowland and the band; they will be playing their new album, The Feminine Divine (to be released on July 28).
- York Barbican, Paragon St, York YO10 4AH
- Tue 5 Sep
- 7:30pm
- More info
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