Music to enjoy as festival is a real smash hit

Dancers Bizarre, from Brighouse, at the Friday night variety show during Brighouse Festival 2014

Organisers have hailed the 2014 festival “the best yet” as the diverse programme brought new experiences to many people.

Festival director Tom Ratcliffe said: “It has made me very proud to see the large number of people who have supported all the amazing events this week.

“We organised this event for the benefit of the Brighouse community and to be rewarded with such enthusiastic audiences makes it all worthwhile.”

The Mikron Theatre Company brought the week of music, drama, literature, crafts and fun to an end with its performance of its latest play, “Troupers”.

Among the highlights of the week was the performance given by Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band in Central Methodist Church - the first time the band has performed at the festival.

Led by conductor Professor David King, who has recently returned from Australia, the band displayed its top musicianship to an appreciative audience.

The Smith Art Gallery was the venue for a number of concerts.

Many people went to Rastrick Library to hear crime writer Cath Staincliffe, and many others attended a workshop with James Nash on the theme of remembrance.

Lectures and talks abounded and workshops were enthusiastically attended.

Working on “the fringe” was Rokt, who held a family fun day,

Johnny Casson took top billing, performing for the first time in Brighouse for many years. His quick patter and delivery coupled with sharp observations created much laughter and fun at the Civic Hall.

And the fun doesn’t end here. There are post-festival events still to come.

A “Taste of Gilbert and Sullivan”, a concert of the duo’s popular songs given by the Halifax Gilbert and Sullivan Society, will take place at the Civic Hall on Saturday night, September 26. Tickets, priced £10, can be bought from Simply Flowers, Ryecorn Wholefoods, Harrison Lord Art Gallery and Brighouse Library.

The festival organisers would like to thank all their sponsors, especially Websters Insurances, Thornhill Estates, Calderdale Community Foundation Fund, Calderdale Council and the principal sponsor – the Friends of the Rydings.

Tom said: “A big thank you must also go to Sainsbury’s who provided refreshments free of charge for all the events during the week.

“It is the generosity of these sponsors that enables this festival to function and to whom we owe a great debt.”

He added that plans are underway for an even better and bigger festival in 2015.

l See pages 24 and 25 for a round-up of photos from the festival