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Portfolio- Holmfirth Music Scene

Holmfirth fans of L.A. rockers Rival sons didn’t need to travel far to see them perform. They didn't even need the car or bus to make the journey outside of Holmfirth, or even take a flight across the pond. ''Holmfirth well and truly rocked last night- we were delighted to have brought a little music from our home place to this fantastic setting. We hope we've given the town an experience they won't forget whilst reminding folks that music is best enjoyed live in venues like the picturedrome,'' says Michael Boder, senior brand manager at Jack Daniels.

The music in Yorkshire is known for bringing out musicians such as the Arctic Monkeys who have had international success. Even with international success, the Arctic Monkeys are willing to play venues that are not the size of London's O2 arena. It is the small music venue that has recently become more popular with audiences and musicians. Both wanting a more intimate setting with each other. Holmfirth's Picturedrome is a small music venue that was last year's runner up at the NME awards for the most successful small music venue in the country. Peter Carr, owner of the Picturedrome says ''People are attracted to the Picturedrome because it's an intimate venue, Holmfirth is quite a welcoming place. Chances are you can get right up to the stage and see your artist. The acoustics are very good.'' Jack Daniels supports the fight to save the small music venue, with The Jack Rocks Your Town event which forms part of its Jack Rocks series, which promotes live music in smaller venues.

As well as having Rival Sons perform at The Picturedrome, it has been associated with the likes of Red Hot Chilli Peppers,Adam Ant and the Buzzcocks. Before Peter took over as owner of the Picturedrome, the old theatre's future was uncertain. Originally known as the Holme Valley Theatre ,in 1913 the first films to be shown were 'A Court Intrigue' and 'That Awful Pipe'. It took 15 years to include musicians on the theatre stage. The theatre was then leased to the Bradford amusement cates and reopened as a bingo hall for 26 years. The theatre was unused until 1997. Peter bought the place in 2003. The ground floor was then utilized as a cinema capable of staging live performances.

Hade Edge band, regular performers at the Picturedrome , are a brass band just outside of Holmfirth, who perform regularly to the Holmfirth community. The band has a long history dating back to 1908. A band made up of mixed ages have had a successful run within recent years, becoming Yorkshire champions in 2002 which launched the journey to becoming Champions of Great Britain and there way up to Yorkshires Championship section. The band have also had their story told on television on the TV series 'Yorkshire Brass'.

''I’ve been performing with the Hade edge band for about 10 years now, it wasn't only because it was good for my asthma but it was because I wanted to try something new. I enjoy being part of the group because it feels great to be a part of something musically that brings together a sound that can connect with people. I have a great teacher who has the patience and is someone who you can easily follow. They get on with everyone which makes it easier for us to get along. I love performing to others and Holmfirth is a great place to perform in. The picturedrome is great, a change from are band room. I think it's good that we participate in events like the Holmfirth Folk festival because although it's about

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performing to entertain, we do it to promote ourselves, get more people involved, show people that the brass instrument is a great instrument to play.'' From Finn Herring, a member of the Hade Edge band.

Apart from the Picturedrome Holmfirth also has other smaller venues such as The Nook and The Box Office who hold regular Mic nights. They also commit to being the platforms for musicians to perform on in events like the Holmfirth Folk Festival.

Martin Christie a musician who regularly performs in Holmfirth had this to say about his preferred venues he likes to perform in, '' Holmfirth has lots of good places to play and they all have their good points and bad points. I have no favourites but have always enjoyed Gonzos, The Nook and the Box Office. I have played on the Picturedrome main stage quite a few times and that is always exciting. ''

Shelia the owner of the Nook said ''We play a part in hosting events because we want to play are part in the community. It's also an enjoyable experience in welcoming new and established musicians to show off their talent. Although we are not a big venue we have the intimate space for an audience to experience a closer connection with the musician. ''

Hot Banana in Holmfirth is the only music shop in town that besides selling instruments, it holds workshops and tuition .Steve the owner of Hot Banana said ''It's just to make it variable for business, Holmfirth is a quiet village so making it on sales would be difficult unless running an internet business which we might do in future. Me and my partner are both musicians, my partner is a qualified school teacher so that was the idea, the business plan, to combine the two.'' Hot Banana is considered to be what brings the Holmfirth community closer through music not only through its own purposes, but by contributing to being a venue for Holmfirth Anti-Folk Festival’s think people shop local, use local shops and businesses. Its very community based thing that we are running. Its community based as in the people that come to are workshops, sometimes people come from different areas , but much set on local people.'' An explanation from shop owner Steve on why he thinks people of Holmfirth come to Hot Banana.

Another event that the venues in Holmfirth provide platforms for is the Holmfirth Film festival. The festival provides with a program of films from popular films to international films. ‘’I just thought Holmfirth should have a film festival, why not a film festival if we have an arts and music festival. Generally older people come to the festival, the young are not so interested in the festival although we do put on films that the younger generation should like. Funding is the main problem at the moment. ‘’ Said by Stephen Dorril, the director of the festival.

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Folk in Holmfirth

  ‘’At the moment Holmfirth is a great place for music. There are lots of musicians and artists who are contributing to this cultural vibe. I’d like to see more variety though as I think the town is folk dominated which is natural but there are so many other great genres to listen to and enjoy. ‘’ as said by musician Martin Christie.

2015 is the second year in which Hot Banana and the Box office in Holmfirth will be holding its anti-folk festival. Happening at the same time as Holmfirth folk festival, it’s a chance for those to experience something different.

''It’s understandable that Holmfirth is associated with folk but there are a whole range of great musicians living in the place from successful DJ’s like L'Étranger, to artists like Napolean III and indie bands. All of this should be celebrated and not buried away as a preference to folk music. I’d like to see Holmfirth associated with music full stop, not just one specific kind of music. The anti-folk festival is not anti-anyone or anything, it just seeks to create a platform where other kinds of music can be heard and after all the original definition of folk music is about the peoples music and everything at the antifolk festival is very definitely the peoples music i.e. there is no elitism or over emphasis on tradition.'' A quote from anti-folk organiser Martin Christie.

For 30 years there has been a folk festival in Holmfirth. They produce a community based festival that features talent from schools and the locals.

Apart from the anti-folk festival, Stefan a Holmfirth resident believes the folk festival has the right not to put on any other genre of music. ''I am glad that it is just folk. I feel that if a festival tried to incorporate various genres of music it generally becomes watered down and rather than a smaller amount having a great time a lot will have an average time.''

The Holmfirth folk festival has built up a strong reputation. Because of the setting of the festival and the atmosphere that comes with it, it’s a popular festival choice for musicians to want to come and perform. Hugh Daily who is in the festivals committee has said, ''We have to turn many of them away because there is not enough venues for them to perform in due to the many demand of musicians wanting to play.''

Martin Christie believes there is a solution to the problem. ''The festival could put on many more musicians in Holmfirth itself it just takes a bit of different thinking. You can get four decent acts into an evening’s entertainment for example instead of just a main act and a support act. I’m putting on the Holmfirth Anti Folk festival this year with some pals and we have around 20 different acts lined up. Many of them are young musicians who just want a place to play and practice their trade. Many of them are also local to Holmfirth and don’t get a look in at the folk festival. The festival could easily expand into surrounding villages.''

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Besides turning musicians away, the festival struggles to attract the younger musician wanting to get involved. Christie says ''I think young folk musicians would be very happy to play here. But if you’re a young musician in an indie band or a DJ you’ll probably want to play the cities that’s where your audience is.''

However, not having a younger musician perform at the folk festival may not be an issue. As Holmfirth resident Stefan said ''I generally look for the older musicians as I tend to believe they will have got there music closer to perfection, or as close as can be.''

Holmfirth folk committee are made up of a small group. All of them aged over 50, Sean Herring who is a volunteer at the festival thinks that’s the problem why younger musicians and locals are not taking part in the festival.''I don’t think it's just because there's not enough space or that they want a bigger platform to promote their music think it's because of the lack of promotion that goes outside of Holmfirth. I also think the folk committee are out of date. I believe they only want to keep to old traditional folk within the festival. They don’t want to bring in new folk, they are afraid of change. ''

The Anti-folk festival ranges not just from anti-folk but also with a mix of blue, folk punk and electric folk. Here is an interview with current Huddersfield student and Holmfirth resident Robert Sharp who will be one of those performing at this year's Anti-folk festival.

Have you always been into music? ‘’I first got into music at the age of 11 nirvana were the first band someone showed me , I then got on to bands like The offspring Idlewild ,Alkaline trio, Bad religion, Pennywise ,HIM, The Cure, AFI ,so a mix of punk and indie also a bit of nu metal at points I still think Slipknots first album is amazing .’’

Is there a genre you favour the most, why? ‘’The Genre I favour most our I should I say I listen to the most is now is Folk artists like Nick Drake ,Roddy Wooble, Kris Drever, Sorren Mclean but I also still listen to punk rock / Hardcore bands like Refused ,Propagandi are the main ones at the moment . And a lot of Nick Cave ….. Folk Music has always seemed to make me very relaxed I enjoy the stories people tell and the sense of community it has , punk is very much the same but louder and They Both Have a there time and place.’’

Why come to a small village like Holmfirth to perform?

‘’Why not, I love small gigs and Holmfirth is a good place to play the people who go watch music are awesome and have a good vibe about them.’’

Were there particular reasons you agreed to perform at the Holmfirth anti-Folk Festival?

‘’I know Martin the man who runs it and he is also the front man of old man pie who I have support a few times and he has been putting nights on round the village for years and they are always filled with amazing acts and people .’’

What will you be bringing to the anti-Folk Festival on your 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 music has a strong history in Holmfirth, with the Holmfirth festival coming up do you think the anti-Folk Festival is a way of rebellion against folk music?

‘’Well I think yes to the rebellion I think Martin and Steve want to bring people together and play music no matter the style that’s what folk means music for the people and sometimes the folk festival gets a bit dull I like dirty old town but you can walk into most venues at the folk fest here that song and all the other covers the anti-folk fest is something different and Steve and Louise also share the same views I think at that’s why they’re letting us all play in there awesome shop.’’

Have you performed at the Folk Festival before? What are your thoughts on the event?

‘’Yes I have been lucky to play for the past 2 years and the shows seem to get better every time, the event over all is good for me it's more about the music this year Eddie reader is playing the Picturedrome and Mikey Kenny is at gonzo bar there 2 people I have to watch and Herveys always has some nice music on in the day I would recommend the Holmfirth folk fest there is something for everyone.’’

Holmfirth’s music scene has a bright future ahead of it following the success of its venues like the Picturdrome and Hot Banana. The community spirit of a small town makes it happen.

Martin Christies thought on the future of music in Holmfirth. ‘’It looks great at the moment there is so much good music being made here and we also have the music hub that is Hot Banana Music. I hope the folk festival goes from strength to strength and that the anti-folk festival continues as a kind of fringe festival.’’ 

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