EVENTS DIARY 2011

Current bookings for 2011 which are open to the public

It's a pity you can't see all the ones which aren't open to the public too, but I don't publicise the education & private function events here.

There's still more to come, but to go on with....

APRIL

16th, Saturday: London Maze - free history fair at the London Guildhall, itself a fantastic place. Last time there I was medieval, this time Victorian.
Come & meet the new hurdy-gurdy!
see their own page on the event.

19th, Tuesday: Chesterfield: Museum Victorian Event.
First visit to this one, and I'm looking forward to it. The day runs from 10 - 4.

MAY

2nd, Bank Holiday Monday: Blakesley Hall, Yardley, Birmingham
Tudor music from our Duo. Yet again we return to this really friendly place, with a lovely atmosphere of really having been lived in.

JUNE

25th, Saturday: Chester, St John's Church. Re-creation of The medieval Minstrels' Court. This growing annual event commemorates the original Minstrels' Courts which took place for 500 years, when minstrels were given licences. There's a great story behind it.
This year sees ever more musicians and re-enactors; so we plan a really stirring procession through part of the city.
You can find out more by visiting http://www.pilgrimsandposies.co.uk/minstrels.htm, the site of Tom and Sue Hughes, the organising geniuses.
You may recognise a certain musician in many of the pictures there.
This year includes HAVE A GO Bagpipe teaching sessions too.

26th, Sunday: Blackden, Holmes Chapel, near Goostrey, Cheshire CW4 8BY.
Again I'm privileged to work at this superb medieval house, brought all the way from Staffordshire.
Presentation of music related to the house's time span and history, with a light lunch included.
For details, please see The Blackden Trust's own site
or phone 01477 571445, or email contact@theblackdentrust.org.uk

JULY

2nd, Saturday: Nuneaton and Bedworth Museum and Art Gallery.
Our duo presents a new programme of music with a theme of the Sea, from various times in history. As usual, a wide array of instruments, and as usual there will be some chances to join in.

16/17 Saturday/Sunday: Stretton Watermill, Cheshire. Free event at this gem of a place, a working watermill recreating 1596, with truly friendly and knowledgeable people, and a lovely atmosphere.
We always love working here: please come and join us.
Cheshire West and Chester website for more information.

23rd, Saturday: Lichfield and Tamworth: Medieval strolling musician alongside mounted armed men who are taking part in a "Cultural Olympiad" to celebrate the Staffordshire Hoard, which is to be lodged in Lichfield Cathedral. Stafford also takes part, there you can see my good friends of "Hautbois" playing.

AUGUST

10th, Wednesday: Ruthin, Denbighshire - Come and visit me in Gaol!
Ruthin Gaol is well worth a visit anyway, on this day you'll also get music of its Victorian period, as well as meeting people who really were there, both inmates and officials.
The gaol is famed for being very haunted, so you'll have to decide if they're re-enactors or not, and make sure you leave before locking up!
More info on Ruthin Gaol here.

20/21 Weekend: Beeston Castle, Cheshire, English Heritage.
"Medieval Mounted Skill at Arms" event: Knights, Horses, Combat, and Music. I'll leave you to decide which bit we're doing... but our bit doesn't involve horseback unless EH hasn't told me something!

Duo, with full pavilion tent and all. More info at English Heritage's own site.

SEPTEMBER

10th, Saturday: Will Adams Festival at GIllingham - third year running at this celebration of England's own Tudor Samurai. Unfortunately, by the time they booked this time, Elizabeth already had a wedding to play for, so it's just me. But there will still be plenty to see, hear, and join in with, and story telling too.

18th, Sunday: Brackley Folk Club, at The Greyhound PH, 8.00 pm. We're the Act that night.
Something different - we're doing what we did before we began playing historical music this time, though we like to think we've moved on musically in our traditional music quite a long way since then. We've certainly got a whole lot more instruments!
We're being joined by our good friend Philip Hughes, with his fiddle, for some items, too.
Brackley Folk Club's Website

OCTOBER

8th: Waltham Abbey: King Harold Day to celebrate the man himself, who has a tomb there.
See the King Harold Day website
This will now be our duo, as Elizabeth became available at the last minute, and after last year's friendly event we look forward to this one.

29th Saturday evening: Northampton Ceilidhs, Christchurch Hall, Wellingborough Rd Northampton;
Our band Sleeping Moggy plays Northampton, with caller Jackie Allen.

NOVEMBER

... which had one event due for public consumption, which was cancelled due to my having a foul germ, so it's as well I never got round to writing it up here!

DECEMBER

17th, Saturday, Keats House, Hampstead: A Victorian Parlour Musician, plus a few rather lower than Parlour level instruments too!
Details at The Keats House website
There will be concertinas, harmonium, hammer dulcimer, pipe & tabor, hurdy gurdy, Northumbrian Smallpipes, button accordion, more...
keep your eye on Ham & High online too, there may well be an article appearing soon there as well.

18th, Sunday, Aylesbury Market: VIctorian Christmas Market morning & afternoon: many stalls, entertainers, and my music and handcart in among it all. More details when I have them.

2012 Preview

January

8th, Sunday: London, Bankside, outside Shakespeare's Globe.
The Lions Part Twelfth Night See the Lions Part website for more information on what must be one of the best Mumming plays going, complete with street dancing, a joyous procession, Story telling, and before all, the Holly Man, who I have the honour to pipe in, and if the weather allows, to pipe down the River Thames.
In case you've never tried playing bagpipes in an open boat on the Thames in early January, I can tell you it's chilly on the fingers!
I'm always proud to be asked to work with this company - come & join the fun!

More to follow soon....

Previous events have included events from great to small, for example:

National Trust, Castle Drogo; Heritage Lottery Fund event at Nottingham; London Maze History Fair at The Guildhall, City of London ;
Dover Castle (EH); Greenwich Foundation, Old Royal Naval College; Bede's World, Jarrow;
Dover Castle, Carlisle Castle, Richmond Castle, among others - English Heritage
Beamish Outdoor Museum, Co. Durham; Ayscoughee Hall, Spalding; Blackden Trust, Cheshire;
Queen Elizabeth's Hunting Lodge in Epping Forest; Aston Hall, Birmingham;
Nuneaton Art Gallery & Museum; Salt Museum, Northwich; Stretton Watermill, Cheshire;
Amersham, Heritage Open Days; Chester Grosvenor Museum; Blakesley Hall, Birmingham;
Kettering Alfred East Art Gallery; The Tower of London;
AND, LAST but NOT LEAST!:
The Victoria & Albert Museum, and The British Museum.

This listing doesn't of course include the many bookings in schools, nor other events not open to the public.
If you'd like more information about any of the listed events, please e-mail me, or contact me if you'd like me/us to play at your event.

This page refers to Richard York, Historical Musician Interpreter, events diary, public events,heritage site,English Heritage, National Trust,Museum,Open day,Festival,Eliabeth York,Historical musician,harpist,harper.