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Portfolio- Holmfirth Music Scene
Holmfirthfansof L.A.rockersRival sonsdidn’tneedtotravel far tosee themperform.Theydidn'teven
needthe car or bus to make the journeyoutside of Holmfirth,oreventake aflightacrossthe pond.
''Holmfirthwell andtrulyrockedlastnight- we were delightedtohave broughta little musicfromour
home place to thisfantasticsetting.We hope we've giventhe townanexperience theywon'tforget
whilstremindingfolksthatmusicisbestenjoyedlive invenueslikethe picturedrome,''saysMichael
Boder,seniorbrandmanagerat Jack Daniels.
The music inYorkshire isknownforbringingoutmusicianssuchasthe ArcticMonkeyswhohave had
international success.Evenwithinternational success,the ArcticMonkeysare willingtoplayvenuesthat
are notthe size of London'sO2 arena.It is the small musicvenue thathasrecentlybecome more
popularwithaudiencesandmusicians.Bothwantingamore intimate settingwitheachother.
Holmfirth'sPicturedrome isasmall musicvenue thatwaslastyear'srunnerup at the NME awards for
the most successful small musicvenue inthe country.PeterCarr,ownerof the Picturedrome says
''People are attractedto the Picturedrome because it's anintimate venue,Holmfirthisquite a
welcomingplace.Chancesare you cangetright up to the stage and see your artist. The acousticsare
verygood.'' Jack Danielssupportsthe fighttosave the small musicvenue,withThe JackRocksYour
Towneventwhichformspart of itsJack Rocks series,whichpromoteslive musicinsmallervenues.
As well ashavingRival SonsperformatThe Picturedrome, ithasbeenassociatedwiththe likesof Red
Hot Chilli Peppers,AdamAntandthe Buzzcocks.Before Petertookoverasownerof the Picturedrome,
the oldtheatre'sfuture wasuncertain.Originallyknownasthe Holme ValleyTheatre ,in1913 the first
filmstobe shownwere 'A CourtIntrigue'and'That Awful Pipe'. Ittook15 years to include musicianson
the theatre stage.The theatre wasthenleasedtothe Bradford amusementcatesand reopenedasa
bingohall for26 years.The theatre wasunuseduntil 1997. Peterboughtthe place in2003. The ground
floorwasthenutilizedasa cinemacapable of staginglive performances.
Hade Edge band,regularperformersatthe Picturedrome ,are a brass bandjust outside of Holmfirth,
whoperform regularly tothe Holmfirthcommunity.The bandhasa longhistorydatingbackto 1908. A
bandmade upof mixedageshave hada successful runwithinrecentyears,becomingYorkshire
championsin2002 which launchedthe journeytobecomingChampionsof GreatBritainandthere way
up to YorkshiresChampionshipsection. The bandhave alsohad theirstorytoldon televisiononthe TV
series'Yorkshire Brass'.
''I’ve beenperformingwiththe Hade edge bandfor about10 yearsnow,itwasn't onlybecause itwas
goodfor my asthmabut itwas because Iwantedto try somethingnew.Ienjoybeingpartof the group
because itfeelsgreattobe a part of somethingmusicallythatbringstogetherasoundthatcan connect
withpeople.Ihave agreat teacherwhohas the patience andissomeone whoyoucan easilyfollow.
Theyget onwitheveryone whichmakesiteasierforusto getalong.I love performingtoothersand
Holmfirthisa greatplace to performin.The picturedrome isgreat,achange fromare bandroom. I
thinkit'sgood that we participate ineventslike the HolmfirthFolkfestival becausealthoughit'sabout

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performingtoentertain,we doittopromote ourselves,getmore peopleinvolved,show peoplethatthe
brass instrumentisagreat instrumenttoplay.''FromFinnHerring,a memberof the Hade Edge band.
Apart fromthe Picturedrome HolmfirthalsohasothersmallervenuessuchasThe Nookand The Box
Office whoholdregularMicnights.Theyalsocommitto beingthe platformsformusicianstoperformon
ineventslike the HolmfirthFolkFestival.
Martin Christie amusicianwhoregularlyperformsinHolmfirthhadthistosayabout hispreferred
venueshe likestoperformin, ''Holmfirthhaslotsof good places toplay andtheyall have theirgood
pointsandbad points. I have nofavouritesbuthave alwaysenjoyedGonzos, The Nookandthe Box
Office. Ihave playedonthe Picturedrome mainstage quite afew timesandthatisalwaysexciting. ''
Sheliathe ownerof the Nooksaid''We playa part in hostingeventsbecausewe wanttoplayare part in
the community. It'salsoan enjoyable experience inwelcomingnew andestablishedmusicianstoshow
off theirtalent.Althoughwe are nota bigvenue we have the intimate space foranaudience to
experience acloserconnectionwiththe musician.''
Hot Banana inHolmfirthisthe onlymusicshopintownthat besidessellinginstruments,itholds
workshopsandtuition.Steve the ownerof HotBanana said''It's justto make itvariable forbusiness,
Holmfirthisa quietvillagesomakingit onsaleswouldbe difficultunlessrunninganinternetbusiness
whichwe mightdo infuture.Me and my partnerare both musicians, mypartnerisa qualifiedschool
teacherso that was the idea,the businessplan,tocombine the two.'' HotBanana isconsideredtobe
whatbringsthe Holmfirthcommunitycloserthroughmusicnotonlythroughitsownpurposes,butby
contributingtobeingavenue forHolmfirthAnti-FolkFestival’s thinkpeople shoplocal,use local shops
and businesses. Itsverycommunitybasedthingthatwe are running. Itscommunitybasedasinthe
people thatcome to are workshops,sometimespeoplecome fromdifferentareas,but muchset on
local people.''AnexplanationfromshopownerSteveonwhy he thinkspeopleof Holmfirthcome toHot
Banana.
Anothereventthatthe venuesinHolmfirth provideplatformsforisthe HolmfirthFilmfestival. The
festival provideswithaprogramof filmsfrompopularfilms tointernational films.‘’Ijustthought
Holmfirthshouldhave afilm festival,why notafilmfestival if we have anarts andmusicfestival.
Generally olderpeoplecome tothe festival, the youngare notsointerested inthe festival althoughwe
do puton filmsthat the youngergenerationshouldlike.Fundingisthe mainproblematthe moment.‘’
Saidby StephenDorril,the directorof the festival.

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Folk in Holmfirth
‘’Atthe momentHolmfirthisagreat place for music. There are lotsof musiciansand artistswhoare
contributingtothiscultural vibe. I’dlike tosee more varietythoughasIthinkthe town isfolk
dominatedwhichisnatural butthere are so manyothergreat genrestolistentoand enjoy. ‘’ as saidby
musicianMartinChristie.
2015 isthe secondyearinwhichHot Banana and the Box office inHolmfirthwillbe holding itsanti-folk
festival.Happeningatthe same time asHolmfirthfolk festival,it’s achance for those to experience
somethingdifferent.
''It’s understandablethatHolmfirthisassociatedwithfolkbutthere are awhole range of great
musicianslivinginthe place fromsuccessful DJ’slike L'Étranger,toartistslike NapoleanIIIandindie
bands. All of thisshouldbe celebratedandnotburiedawayas a preference tofolkmusic. I’dlike tosee
Holmfirthassociatedwithmusicfull stop,notjustone specifickindof music. The anti-folkfestival isnot
anti-anyone oranything,itjustseekstocreate aplatformwhere otherkindsof musiccan be heardand
afterall the original definitionof folkmusicisaboutthe peoplesmusicandeverythingatthe antifolk
festival isverydefinitelythe peoplesmusici.e.there isnoelitismoroveremphasisontradition.''A
quote fromanti-folkorganiserMartinChristie.
For 30 yearsthere has beenafolkfestival inHolmfirth.Theyproduce acommunitybasedfestivalthat
featurestalentfromschoolsandthe locals.
Apart fromthe anti-folkfestival,StefanaHolmfirthresidentbelievesthe folkfestivalhasthe rightnotto
put onany othergenre of music.''I am gladthat it isjustfolk.Ifeel thatif a festival triedtoincorporate
variousgenresof musicitgenerallybecomeswatereddownandratherthana smalleramounthavinga
great time a lotwill have anaverage time.''
The Holmfirthfolkfestival hasbuiltupastrong reputation.Because of the settingof the festival andthe
atmosphere thatcomeswithit, it’sa popularfestival choice formusicianstowantto come and perform.
Hugh Dailywhoisin the festivalscommitteehassaid,''We have to turn manyof themawaybecause
there isnot enoughvenuesforthemtoperformindue tothe manydemandof musicianswanting to
play.''
Martin Christie believesthereisasolutiontothe problem.''The festival couldputonmanymore
musiciansinHolmfirthitself itjusttakesabitof differentthinking. Youcan get fourdecentacts intoan
evening’sentertainmentforexample insteadof justamainact and a supportact. I’mputtingon the
HolmfirthAnti Folkfestival thisyearwithsome palsandwe have around20 differentactslinedup.
Many of themare youngmusicianswhojustwanta place to playandpractice theirtrade. Many of
themare alsolocal to Holmfirthanddon’tgeta lookin at the folkfestival. The festivalcouldeasily
expandintosurroundingvillages.''

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Besidesturningmusiciansaway,the festival strugglestoattractthe youngermusicianwantingto get
involved.Christiesays''Ithinkyoungfolkmusicianswouldbe veryhappytoplayhere. Butif you’re a
youngmusicianinan indie bandora DJ you’ll probablywanttoplaythe citiesthat’swhere your
audience is.''
However,nothavingayoungermusicianperformatthe folkfestival maynotbe anissue.AsHolmfirth
residentStefansaid''Igenerallylookforthe oldermusiciansasItendto believetheywill have gotthere
musiccloserto perfection,orasclose as can be.''
Holmfirthfolkcommittee are made upof a small group.All of themagedover 50, Sean Herringwhoisa
volunteeratthe festival thinksthat’sthe problemwhyyoungermusiciansandlocalsare nottakingpart
inthe festival.''Idon’tthinkit'sjustbecause there'snotenoughspace orthat theywanta bigger
platformtopromote theirmusicthinkit'sbecause of the lack of promotionthatgoesoutside of
Holmfirth.Ialsothink the folkcommittee are outof date.I believe theyonlywanttokeeptoold
traditional folkwithinthe festival.Theydon’twanttobringinnew folk,they are afraidof change.''
The Anti-folkfestival rangesnotjustfromanti-folkbutalsowithamix of blue,folk punkandelectric
folk. Here isan interview withcurrentHuddersfield studentandHolmfirthresidentRobertSharp who
will be one of those performingatthisyear'sAnti-folkfestival.
Have you always beeninto music?
‘’Ifirstgot intomusicat the age of 11 nirvana were the firstbandsomeone showedme ,I thengoton
to bandslike The offspringIdlewild,Alkaline trio,Badreligion,Pennywise ,HIM,The Cure,AFI ,so a mix
of punkandindie alsoa bitof numetal at pointsI still thinkSlipknotsfirstalbumisamazing .’’
Is there a genre you favour the most, why?
‘’The Genre I favourmostour I shouldI say I listentothe most isnow is Folkartists like NickDrake
,RoddyWooble,KrisDrever,SorrenMclean butI alsostill listentopunkrock / Hardcore bandslike
Refused,Propagandiare the mainonesat the moment .And a lotof NickCave ….. FolkMusichas always
seemedtomake me veryrelaxedIenjoythe storiespeopletell andthe sense of communityithas, punk
isverymuch the same but louderand They BothHave a there time andplace.’’
Whycome to a small village like Holmfirthto perform?
‘’Whynot, I love small gigsandHolmfirthisa goodplace to playthe people whogowatchmusicare
awesome andhave a goodvibe about them.’’
Were there particular reasons you agreedto performat the Holmfirth anti-FolkFestival?
‘’IknowMartin the manwho runsit andhe isalsothe frontman of oldman pie whoI have supporta
fewtimesandhe has beenputtingnightsonroundthe village foryearsandtheyare alwaysfilledwith
amazingacts and people .’’
What will you be bringing to the anti-FolkFestival onyour performance?

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‘’My friend Jim mckerchar is also joining me on double bass we have got a good set together for
this show.’’
Folk musichas a strong history in Holmfirth,with the Holmfirthfestival comingup do you thinkthe
anti-FolkFestival isa way of rebellionagainstfolk music?
‘’Well Ithinkyestothe rebellionIthinkMartinandSteve wantto bringpeople togetherandplaymusic
no matterthe style that’swhatfolkmeansmusicforthe people andsometimesthe folkfestival getsa
bitdull I like dirtyoldtownbutyoucan walkintomostvenuesatthe folkfesthere thatsongand all the
othercoversthe anti-folk festissomethingdifferentandSteve andLouise alsoshare the same viewsI
thinkat that’swhy they’re lettingusall playinthere awesome shop.’’
Have you performedat the Folk Festival before?Whatare your thoughts on the event?
‘’YesI have beenluckytoplayfor the past 2 years andthe showsseemtogetbetterevery time, the
eventoverall isgoodfor me it's more aboutthe musicthisyearEddie readerisplayingthe
Picturedrome andMikeyKennyisatgonzobar there 2 people Ihave to watch andHerveysalwayshas
some nice musicon inthe day I wouldrecommendthe Holmfirthfolkfest there issomethingfor
everyone.’’
Holmfirth’smusicscene hasabrightfuture aheadof it followingthe success of itsvenueslikethe
Picturdrome andHot Banana. The communityspiritof asmall townmakesithappen.
Martin Christiesthoughtonthe future of musicinHolmfirth.‘’Itlooksgreatatthe momentthere isso
much goodmusicbeingmade here andwe alsohave the musichubthat isHot Banana Music. I hope
the folkfestival goesfromstrengthtostrengthandthatthe anti-folkfestival continues asa kindof
fringe festival.’’

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