Spanning two weekends and bringing together artists from the worlds of literature and music, TOWN Festival in Halifax is designed to tantalise your ears and energise your mind.
Last year’s festival served up a rich schedule of talks, gigs, workshops and exhibitions, featuring the likes of Stuart Maconie, Lanterns on the Lake, Loose Articles and Miki Berenyi, alongside local acts such as Callis, doogle, Deep Sea Lemons, Grow and Start To Run.
This year, the names are, arguably, even bigger.
The prized Halifax Minster slot goes to Villagers, the acclaimed Irish indie folk band.
Villagers’ debut album Becoming A Jackal catapulted them into the spotlight, earning them a Mercury Music Prize nomination. Their 2024 release, That Golden Time, on Domino, was their seventh studio album to date. The band’s intricate, emotive melodies should be a perfect fit for the Minster’s dramatic ambience.
Meanwhile, bringing the noise in full force, we have Leeds DIY hardcore punk exponents, Pulled Apart By Horses, and epic doom-crushing metal from Godthrymm.
Bristol ‘s relentless, apocalyptic disco-punk duo, Getdown Services, return to The Grayston off the back of a busy 2024, which saw them play to huge festival crowds and garner a fervent following along the way.
There’s more vivacious charm in the form of Mik Artistik, the poet, punk and provocateur hellbent on making magic out of music.
British Birds, the rising, wonky, garage-pop band from Chorley, are another to have seen their stock grow exponentially over the last 12 months, following the release of their colourful debut album In Search Of Mr Rykyn and a succession of high-profile support slots.
The enigmatic troubadour from Newcastle, Nev Clay, will also be returning to the Grayston. Among his biggest fans is Matthias Kom of comedic Canadian indie darlings, The Burning Hell. Enough said.
As ever, TOWN Festival will be a platform for some of the many great local bands we are blessed to have in the Calder Valley. Our acclaimed ska-punk ruffians, Brigantes, and the exciting, new groove-jam combo Grow – on Grayston Unity Records – are assured premier billing. There will be a youth showcase too for the up-and-comers.
TOWN Festival of Music & Words is the collaborative effort of Michael Ainsworth, owner of Halifax grassroots live music venue, The Grayston Unity, and Sarah Shaw, who runs the magnificent independent and contemporary bookshop, The Book Corner, in The Piece Hall.
The idea came together a few years back as a way to create a happening of cultural significance in Halifax, showcasing local creative talent alongside established names.
Here’s a link to tickets for all Grayston Unity events on Seetickets: https://shorturl.at/yaetA
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