Bus timetables on festival day: 906
Artist Update: REVISIT
It’s always good to have a bit of high energy on Festival day, and Revisit are guaranteed to get you in the mood to move.
REVISIT are a 4 piece band playing high energy Punk/NewWave style tracks of own composition and covers. Our own songs tackle politics and society just as good old punk did, but with a bright new sound we call “Bright Brit Punk” . Teamed with stagemanship, presence and attitude give a good visual show as well as solid melodies guaranteed to get your feet tapping.
Make a Place event at Hebden Bridge Town Hall – 27 June 2015 to
Artist Update: Farago
Farrago is an exciting acoustic collaboration between two experienced musicians, Andy McDermott and Gayna Grimshaw.
Although described as English/Americana folk, they prefer not to pigeonhole it. Whether it’s a folk standard, a foot-tapping Celtic jig or self-penned, it’s all performed ‘Farrago-style’ that means music with a personality.
Andy & Gayna have a wealth of musical experience between them and have both been solo singers and performers in their own right, but when their voices come together, the harmonies are the highlight.
Andy plays guitar, mandolin and banjo whilst Gayna plays accordion and guitar.
Individually, they have worked ‘live’ and in studios for too many years to admit!
Blackshaw Head Chapel Anniversary
Blackshaw Head Methodist Chapel celebrated their 200th anniversary with a family service led by lay preacher Roger Munday, who outlined the history of the chapel as well as leading worship. There were performances from the children of the Sunday School, including a poem written by Gwen Hughes. A display of pictures and memorabilia included many memories of the building and residents, and also explained how close the chapel had come to closing in the 1980s, saved only by the generosity of local people.
Several other activities are planned for the remainder of the anniversary year, including a recreation of a historic group photograph by local people, and a concert.
Artist Update: 3 Valleys Gospel Choir
We believe everyone can sing, we are a non-audition community choir who come together once a week on Monday evening in the upstairs room at Central Methodists in Todmorden – and we aim to be a blessing to our community by singing uplifting songs including gospel, spirituals, world music, soul and sometimes pop. Ailsa Nicholson, our musical director, specialises in vocal technique and so everyone from a complete beginner to people who have sing for 20 years will get something out of this choir. Come along and enjoy our performance at 1pm on the Weavers Square stage, and if you like what you see and hear, we’d love to have you join us.
Find out more here.
Julie Bull textile artist
Award-winning textile artist Julie Bull creates hand stitched illustrations with recycled cotton fabric.
Working from her home studio in Heptonstall, Julie is inspired by nature, folklore, myths and legend
She is available for commissions and teaches. As an embroidery designer Julie has had projects published in several needlecraft magazines and also sells patterns online.
Julie said: “I see each piece I create as a precious little gem with its jewel like colours achieved by hand dying cotton fabrics and thread. Measuring just 8 inches square or less each illustration is a labour of love interjected with emotion.
“My hands on approach of connecting with the fabric through hand stitching follows the Kantha tradition of “feeling” the materials while creating a talisman of love to protect and comfort my loved ones
“Kanthas originate in West Bengal. Indian where mothers stitch together layers of old saris with running stitch to create quilts then embroider them with story images. The Hindu religion includes a belief that old rags protect loved ones from evil spirits and hundreds of these rags can be seen hanging outside temples and shrines.“A mother will often create a Kantha as a gift for a grown up child who has to leave home. The soft comforting softness and smell of the old clothes it is created from evoke memories of home, family and a mother’s embrace”
You can see more of her work, including designs produced as giclee prints and cards, here.
Studio address : 6, Smithwell Lane, Heptonstall, HX7 7NX
Tel: 01422 844111
Artist Update: Catfish Skillet
Catfish Skillet – Pennine Appalachian string band. Quality pickin’ !
Fast driving tunes and three part harmonies with guitar, banjo,double bass and more..
We cannot wait!
Artist Update: The Lottery Winners
We love this band, and after knocking us all out last year, they’ve agreed to come back to “the back of the slippy church” to do it all again. If you did’t catch their headline set last year, you really must make it to the Ruin Stage at 8pm..
The indie- pop quartet blend momentous melodies with wistful and insightful lyrics,“The songs are the most important thing in the world to me,” remarks Thomas Rylance, frontman and songwriting force of the band, “if they’re ever even a tiny fraction as important to other people, I’ll die a very happy man.”
The bands first single ‘Elizabeth’, an ode to misappropriated love with a nod to Her Majesty the Queen, was released to coincide with the Diamond Jubilee celebrations. Described by Lauren Laverne as “Adorable”, Hooting and Howling magazine remarked “It’s the sound of Morrissey taking some happy pills and prancing stark naked through a hilly glade, singing of romance”.
Have a listen:
Picnic at Slack Top
A family picnic is to be held on Popples Common to help find out local people’s views on the future of the Slack Baptist Chapel. The Big Picnic will take place from 1pm to 4pm on Sunday, 12 July. Bring your own food and blanket, find out more about ideas for the future of the building, and share your own thoughts.
The chapel was sold by the Baptists several years ago and is currently owned by an evangelical Christian group, however services have had to be moved because of problems renovating the building. Suggestions to use it as a halfway house for those recovering from drug abuse were dropped after objections from local residents. Could the chapel become a community centre, or could there be other uses for the building? All are welcome to this picnic to talk and find out more.
Artist Update: Frolicked
Make sure your children are in Weaver’s Square in time for what promises to be the best entertainment at the festival this year.
Frolicked is an outdoor puppet theatre company. They create intimate and magical experiences for all kinds of unusual spaces and places. Their engaging, interactive performances include a host of memorable and beautifully designed puppet characters.
Don’t miss it!
Donations wanted for children’s fun
Can anyone please donate old jam jars, ice-cream tubs or any unwanted soft toys or teddies for game stalls in the Bowling Club at the Heptonstall Festival? If so, please could you drop off to the reception of Heptonstall School or give me a call Beth Hardman to organise collection 07796 265027
Blackshaw Head chapel anniversary
The 200th anniversary of Blackshaw Head Methodist Chapel will be celebrated on Sunday 14 June, and all are welcome to attend.
There will be an informal service at 4.30pm for all the family, followed by refreshments and a chance to look at a display of old photographs.
The chapel was originally built on the site of a bull baiting ring, and is in a classic Georgian style. A Sunday School wing was added in 1838, and within five years had 240 scholars and 66 teachers. It is still well used by community groups.
For more information, RSVP Roger on 01422 844214, or email blackshawhead.chapel@me.com or visit www.blackshawhead-chapel.net
Artist Update: Ben Blue Waters
Ben is a solo acoustic slide guitar player and singer, performing blues songs from the 1920’s onwards.
He’s been playing music and gigging since the 70’s, sometimes in bands, sometimes solo, and various genres from R&B to punk to avant-garde, but he’s always maintained a deep love of the simple country blues of artists like Son House and Robert Johnson, and the urban blues of Howling Wolf, Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker.
His first official show as a solo blues artist was in 2010 at Weymouth’s annual Lupus Festival. Since then he’s been gigging regularly in Yorkshire and beyond.
Ben appears on the Weaver Stage at 2pm.
We can’t wait!
Children wanted for cash
Call out for help with stalls!
Older children are wanted to help out manning the stalls at the children’s events at the Bowling Club.
Youngsters earn £10 for 6 hours work on festival day plus a sweetie bag, or alternatively £1 a hour if you can’t spare all day! Please contact Beth Hardman for more information: 07796 265027.
Artist Update: TAKOTSUBO MEN
Formed in 2014 Liverpool’s Takotsubo Men’s 7” single is just what we need as we get ready for five more years of Tory rule.
Their dizzying, frantic and raw post punk debut sees them become a modern-day Minutemen, tearing through three tracks in barely six minutes. Breathless, giddy and sweat-palm thrilling. No welcome outstayed. No B-side invited. Say it and f***k off!
Led by former Cecil frontman Ste Williams, the band also features Stuart Carswell’s pounding drums and Paddy ‘Clawhand’ Harrison on his unconventionally tuned guitars.
Takotsubo Men will be on the Ruin Stage at Heptonstall Festival and are currently working on more tunes scheduled for release before the end of the year. Expect a perfect eruption of distortion, bite and thrill. See you there!
Takotsubo Men appear on the Ruin Stage at 7.20pm.
Release date 29/06/2015 Record Label WAAIL Product Number WAAIL001
What’s on for kids
Lots of exciting things are happening on festival day Saturday July 4 for children as part of the Children’s Programme of events down at the Bowling Club.
There will be story telling with the ever-popular Ursula Holden Gill, and many summer fair type activities including Splat the rat, Teddy Tombola and guess the number of sweets in the jar, and test your strength. Why not try your luck at target practice – water bombing Nigel Farage, Ed Miliband and David Cameron!
There will also be woodland workshops and a bouncy castle, a pop up photo booth and lots of lovely food, drinks and cake, including a candy floss machine!
Costume Workshops for Festival
Roald Dahl themed costume making workshops are being held in the Bowling Club on 11th, 12th, 25th and 26th June 4-6pm to make costumes and props in preparation for the Children’s parade.
The workshops are being led by Beth Hardman. It’s a great way to meet mums and children from Heptonstall village, Colden and Heptonstall schools. A light tea will be provided. Come along and join in the fun!
Heptonstall Festival Words and Pictures Competition
This year the festival theme is “the stories of Roald Dahl” and we are inviting you to create your very own drawing, poem or short story inspired by Roald Dahl.
Selected writers will have their work displayed on the day and also be in with a chance of winning £15, £10 or £5 book vouchers if they are placed in any of the categories. An overall winner will receive the fabulous Roald Dahl Treasury – An illustrated compendium of excerpts from all of his books and full reprints of 6 stories including Esio Trot and The Enormous Crocodile.
Local Children’s author Liz Flannagan has agreed to judge the competition and all prizes generously donated by The Book Case in Hebden Bridge.
There are two competitions to enter:
Drawing competition: (Year 2 and below): Draw your character (either an actual character created by Roald Dahl or your creation) on a sheet of A4 paper and send to the address below. Parents can help with some written character details if you wish.
Poetry and Writing Competitions (Year 3, 4 & 5 and 6, 7 & 8): Write or type your entry on sheets of A4 Lined or Plain paper (or use Microsoft Word for email entries). You can use Roald Dahl’s characters or your own imagined ones and can add a cover sheet and pictures if you wish – in fact we encourage it!
Meet the Judge
Liz Flanagan is a local author and has written a number of children’s books. Liz has very kindly agreed to judge the children’s writing and drawing competition. Until recently Liz worked at the Ted Hughes Arvon Centre at Lumb Bank. She is currently studying for a PhD in Creative Writing. Liz Flanagan is the author of Cara and the Wizard, Starlight Grey, and Dara’s Clever Trap, see lizflanagan.co.uk for more information.
Closing date is 21st June 2015
Prizes will be awarded on festival day!
Download the Competition Entry Form and Roald Dahl Writing Guide to get started.
Sponsored Walk Memories
A sponsored walk and tea will be held on Saturday, 6 June 2015, starting at 1.15pm. The annual Heptonstall Methodists walk finishes with a tea at the Sunday School.
The walkers’ reward
This year, the walk falls on the same day as the first sponsored walk, so we would like to invite anyone with pictures or memories of the walks to share them at a display and on our website. If you have any pictures, please get in touch with Amy Binns at abinns@uclan.ac.uk.
Parish Council Meetings – 18 May 2015
Follow these links to see the agendas for the 2015 Annual Parish Council Meeting and the May Parish Council Meeting.
Both will be held at the The School Hall, Heptonstall J I & N School, on Monday 18 May 2015 commencing at 7.00 pm and 7.30pm respectively.
Music and Events Information
Ruin Stage |
|
| Artist | Start Time |
| The Lottery Winners | 8.20pm |
| Takotsubo Men | 7.20pm |
| Revisit | 6.20pm |
| Owter Zeds | 5.20pm |
| Brunelle | 4.20pm |
| The Tiny Minds | 3.20pm |
| Tim O’Connor | 2.20pm |
| Alex Roberts | 1.30pm |
| Sleepers | 12.40pm |
Weaver Stage |
|
| Catfish Skillet | 6.00pm |
| Zoe Stirling | 5.00pm |
| Pocket Hercules | 4.00pm |
| Farrago | 3.00pm |
| Ben Blue Waters | 2.00pm |
| Rayen | 1.30pm |
| Three Valleys Gospel Choir | 1.00pm |
Heptonstall Pace Egg video
This year’s Pace Egg play was a rip-roaring success as usual, this year captured on film by videographer and local resident Paul Cooke. As well as excerpts from the show, you can also hear St George, Hector and the rest of the motley crew try and explain what it’s all about, while the Doctor, played by Dave Burnop, tells us how the play was revived for the village:
Pennine Heritage – Local Trails
The South Pennines are a combination of unique landscape and outstanding industrial heritage. The area has long been a favoured resort for walkers and historians.
To share this special area with even more people, Pennine Horizons has teamed up with a whole host of local volunteers, community groups and organisations to create 12 interesting and inspiring walks and trails. Pennine Horizons Trails provide you with an opportunity to explore the area on foot with the bonus of having information about the landscape, ecology or history at your finger tips.
More details at www.pennineheritage.org.uk/Trails.
Information on events taking place on 25 and 26 April 2015.
The e-trail Apps (with map, walk directions, audio commentaries and historical photographs) can be downloaded to a phone or tablet and include interesting stories of local events and people of note as well as information about the awe-inspiring ecology and outstanding industrial heritage of the area. The trails are:
- Power In the Landscape – App available. A wander down the beautiful Colden Valley uncovering early 19th century water powered industry. 6 miles
- Charlestown and Jumble Hole – App available. This delightful walk along the canal and up a beautiful wooded valley will give you glimpses of hidden 18th and 19th century industry. 3 miles.
- Cragg Vale – Coming Soon. This linear walk takes you down a wooded stream where you can see remnants of the area’s rich industrial heritage. 5 miles.
- Sam Hill of Soyland – Wool Trade, Scandal and Feuds. Coming Soon. Follow in the footsteps of Sam, a great wool baron, who lived in the beautiful Ryburn Valley 300 years ago. 3.5 miles
- Hebden Bridge’s Woodland Heritage. Coming Soon. A walk around Hebden Bridge town and surrounding woodland to meet some of our native British trees (plus a few of their close relatives from abroad) and find out about their local and traditional uses. 3 miles.
- Blackshawhead Packhorse Trail. Coming Soon. Explore the Packhorse Trail from Blackshawhead to Heptonstall; learn about this ancient route with far reaching views. 2 miles.
- The Heptonstall Trail – an Ancient Village Explored. Coming Soon. This gentle circular walk takes you around the ancient Pennine hilltop settlement of Heptonstall, discovering its rich history and conserved stone buildings. 1.5 miles
- A Walk Around Todmorden with the Fieldens. Coming Soon. Explore the wonderful town of Todmorden, discovering the role of the Fieldens and some of the town landmarks, 3.5 miles.
- Todmorden Tops – Forged by the Fielden Dynasty. Coming Soon. This circular walk takes you over the hilltops to the north & west of Todmorden to enjoy a landscape forged by nature & the Fielden Dynasty. 8 miles.
- Riots and Protests – Radical History around Todmorden. Coming Soon. The first of two walks which introduce sites associated with the early radical social movements (Chartism and the Anti-Poor Law Movement ) of the Upper Calder Valley while enjoying its unique topography and scenery. 8 miles
- Cooperatives and Visions – Radical History around Hebden Bridge. Coming Soon. The second of two walks which introduce sites associated with the early radical social movements of the Upper Calder Valley (cooperative, trade union and women’s struggles) while enjoying its unique topography and scenery. 8 miles
Frank Woolrych, Chair of the Pennine Horizons project said: “The stunning landscapes and striking remains of its industrial heritage have drawn walkers and historians to the Calder and its valleys for many years. To share this with more people, we have teamed up with a whole host of local volunteers, community groups and organisations to create 12 interesting and inspiring walks and trails.”
More details at www.pennineheritage.org.uk/Trails.
Information on events taking place on 25 and 26 April 2015.
Heptonstall Festival presents: The Roald Dahl Treasure Trail
On Festival Day we are planning to create a Treasure Trail that will take the children through the village, finding clues along the way. If you live in Heptonstall we would like you to help us create this Trail by volunteering to create a clue and place it in your window or in your garden.
These clues could take on any forms as long as they relate to Roald Dahl. It could be something as simple as a passage taken from a book to a masterpiece creation made from sticky back plastic and fairy liquid bottles – Blue Peter eat your heart out!
We cannot create the Trail until we know how many volunteers we have, so if you would be kind enough to register your interest at the Post Office as soon as possible. We will close the list on 15h May, this will give us good time to be able to liaise with everyone and create the Trail ready for July 4th.
Don’t worry if you miss this date, we still would like as many people as possible to decorate their gardens / houses just for the fun of it.
So get your thinking caps on and let’s get Creative!
If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely……..Roald Dahl
Heptonstall Parish Website 