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Birdsedge is on the A629 between Huddersfield and Penistone, just half a
mile south of the crossroads with the A635.(Look to the bottom left hand side of
this map.) The Village Hall is on the main road in the middle of the village,
right on the roadside, near the school and the mill. The car park is tiny. We
suggest you park off the main road, up the lane by the school. The turning is
within 100 yards of the hall. If you are travelling south, turn first right
after the hall. If travelling north, turn left before the hall.
Please note that if you park on the main road, outside the row of
cottages, or on the hard standing opposite, you will upset the residents--and we
would like to keep them as our friends. Also the main road is a 40 limit and it
is illegal to park without lights after dark.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter. |
Past Performers and Recent Highlights
The Brian Bedford Band,
Artisan, John Tams &
Barry Coope, James Keelaghan (Canada),Vin
Garbutt; Maxie and Mitch; Cosmotheka; Jake Thackray;
Shep Woolley;
Tanglefoot (Canada) The Old Rope String
Band, Penny Lang (Canada), Harvey Andrews, Tania
Opland and Mike FreemanWilliam Pint &
Felicia Dale (USA);
Roy Bailey; Janet Russell; Bill and Benns; The Kipper Family; Beggar's
Velvet; Keith Hancock; Mundy-Turner; Stanley Accrington;Cockersdale, Tamarack (Canada), Les Barker;
Amos and Rocks; Graham and Eileen Pratt; Robin Garside; Plexus; Boulavogue; The
Kitchen Sink Band; Roy Wilcock and Bridget Guest, Quicksilver, Dave Sealey,
Keith Hancock, Pete Coe, Maggie Boyle, Steve Tilston & Chris Parkinson.
And our first guests, way back in 1983 were Limbo, a local five man
vocal harmony group, now sadly gone their separate ways. |
History:
In 1983 we ran a folk concert to raise some money to help put a new roof
on a section of the Village Hall. No-one told us that folk concerts don't make
money, so ours did. Not only did it make money, but people had such a great time
that they asked us to put on another...and another... until we began to book a
short series each year. We haven't always made money (they were right, after
all,) but the music has been great, and we've managed to break even over the
years, which is what counts.
In those early days our resident performers included William Noble, Mick
Lindley and Sue McBurney, Jacey and Brian Bedford, Dennis Fallowfield and Pete
Shires. Our thanks go to all of them. Sadly, Mick died of motor neurone disease
in 1997, but his memory lives on, as does his unique brand of humour, in his
little book, "Letters to God," now available from J.R.Nicholls
Bookseller in Denby Dale.
Tim King and Jacey Bedford, between them, took most of the blame for the
event for several years and since the King family's move to the Midlands, Jacey
has been organising the music alone. All the behind the scenes people, past and
present, deserve a huge round of applause and thanks. Apologies if we've left
anyone out. First and foremost, Tim King - and then various voluntary bar staff,
past and present, include David Brown, Steve Ashley, Richard and James Ashley,
Robert King, Richard King and Peter Whitehead. Our treasurer for many years was
Anne Brown before Tim took over the reins and now it's Joan Lockyer.
Door-persons, past and present, include Tim and Chris King and Cresta Greenwood
(also sadly no longer with us). Room cleaners and setters, past and present,
include Steve Ashley, Tim King, Sarah and Anne Brown. Those who stayed behind to
help us wash up afterwards include most of the above and even some of the
performers themselves. Refreshments are now provided by the Birdsedge Village
Hall committee, spearheaded by Carole and Steve Ashley. A special thanks to Mary
Healey and Carole Ashley for baking the cakes.
In 2006 plans were passed for alterations to the hall which will make it
much better for concerts (and everything else, for that matter) bringing it up
to date with a bigger hall, better toilets, good kitchen facilities, adequate
heating, a new entrance hall and a separate small meeting room. We're now at
the grant-applications stage, so the concert programme may be a little erratic
until we know what's happening in the near future. We will be continuing to book
acts, but we'll not be working too far in advance. |
New Helpers Always Needed
Without people giving generously of their time, concert series like
this, in tiny rural halls would not exist. Many of the above helpers are no
longer available to help. If you can help, please contact Jacey Bedford (contact
details at the top of this page.) We are always pleased to welcome people who
want to get involved.
Arts Council England - Yorkshire
We would like to acknowlege financial assistance from Yorkshire and
Humberside arts for some of the above concerts - specifically for underwriting
concerts by Simon Mayor and Hilary James; Maire ni Chathasaigh and Chris Newman;
Artisan; Maggie Boyle Steve Tilston & Chris Parkinson, Pete Coe and the
Brian Bedford Band. |
