DIRTY SUNBEAMS’ GIG OF THE MONTH:
ANDREW METHEVEN + BEN MCELROY, The Puzzle (Sowerby Bridge) – Sunday 21st September, 2025
Headliner Andrew Metheven is no stranger to the Valley. An acclaimed lo-fi/alt-folk songwriter, he released his first EP, A Quiet Life, in March 2022, his first album, Sister Winter, in June 2024, and has since performed at grassroots venues and festivals across Yorkshire. Still living in his native Bradford, his songs circle around births, hills, loss, birds and daydreams, while his live performances are characterised by melodic guitar finger-picking, unapologetically raw and unfiltered.
Andrew, influenced by the likes of The Tallest Man on Earth, Adrianne Lenker, Anaïs Mitchell, and Iron & Wine, is gearing up for the release of his upcoming EP, if death was a flower – out on October 29th – a collection of four stripped-back, acoustic-folk songs.
In support, Ben McElroy is an enterprising, ambient-folk musician originally from The Wirral but now residing in Nottingham. He combines acoustic instruments with computer processing to create jaw-dropping, folk-inspired soundscapes. More>
MOONCHILD SANELLY, The Trades Club (Hebden Bridge) – Friday 26th September, 2025
Stylish and edgy, mixing kitsch and attitude, South African musician and creative visionary, Moonchild Sanelly, continues to blaze her own trail. She’s on tour celebrating the release of her new studio album Full Moon. Known for her vibrant and genre-bending approach that spans Amapiano, Gqom and her own ‘future ghetto funk,’ the Port Elizabeth-born artist has created a 12-song collection that showcases her versatility across electronic, afro-punk, neon-pop, kwaito and hip-hop sensibilities. More>
THE WANTS, The Golden Lion (Todmorden) – Wednesday 24th September, 2025
Thrilling agit-rock electro-chaos from the NYC no-wave outfit. The Wants are a Brooklyn-based experimental trio formed in 2016 by singer/guitarist Madison Velding-Vandam and drummer Jason Gates, later joined by bassist Heather Elle. Their music blends post-punk influences with Detroit techno, industrial sounds and smart beats, characterised by Velding-Vandam’s duality of romantic and deadpan vocals, and lyrically reflecting on contemporary American issues. Event by People Like Us. More>
QUAD TOD #2, The Golden Lion (Todmorden) – Thursday 25th September, 2025
Live music in four-speaker surround sound with performances from ADRA, Andi Jackson vs godot.112358 and Void Hands. Well known across the Valley, ADRA is Andy Abbott’s ever-evolving immersive experimental and ambient music project. Andi Jackson vs godot.112358 melds post-no-wave guitar sculptures and digitally-clipped drones to all-out improvised feedback with live computer software effects, all processing in quad format. Meanwhile, Void Hands features event organiser Richard Knight and his organic electronic chimera feedback exorcism. More>
JAMES YORKSTON & NINA PERSSON, The Trades Club (Hebden Bridge) – Thursday 18th September, 2025
Acclaimed songwriter and author James Yorkston joins forces with Nina Persson (The Cardigans) once more and return with a brand new set of songs, plus choices from their widely-praised 2023 album The Great White Sea Eagle. More>
WILL BLOY’S SELF-MADE MILLIONAIRES + BISHOPS + THE CONTAINER DRIVERS, The Grayston Unity (Halifax) – Friday 26th September, 2025
Will Bloy’s Self Made Millionaires are a bold new force emerging from the heart of Yorkshire. Formerly of Huddersfield band Bravado Cartel, Will has a new five-piece outfit that blends the pulse and energy of 90s-inspired dance with the edge of light guitar-driven rock, creating a sound that feels both fresh and nostalgic. Their music is elevated by signature female backing vocals and atmospheric samples, weaving layers of texture around crisp, commanding lead vocals and infectious melodies. More>
ANTIDOTE: BRIDGET HAYDEN & THE APPARITIONS, The Victoria Theatre (Halifax) – Sunday 7th September, 2025
Antidote is a programme of artistes that see things from a slightly different point of view, for audiences who like to challenge their understanding of live music and features some of the UK’s finest performers. Each event is unique and guest curated by Andy Abbott of ADRA Promotions. This particular edition features the starkly beautiful trad folk of Bridget Hayden and the Apparitions as headliners, plus Ancient Hostility in support. More>
THE BURNING HELL + JON MCKIEL, The Trades Club (Hebden Bridge) – Saturday 6th September, 2025
Regular visitors to Calderdale, despite their Canadian roots, The Burning Hell is the ongoing musical project of songwriter Mathias Kom and multi-instrumentalist Ariel Sharratt, often including additional comrades and collaborators. Their densely-populated, genre-shifting songs are packed with an abundance of literary, historical, and pop-cultural forebears, heroes and villains, subjects and objects, stories and hooks. Whimsical, political, urgent and forever fun. More>
COMFORT ZONE SESSIONS / JAZZ WEEKENDER: GLASS FROGS, The Grayston Unity (Halifax) – Saturday 13th September, 2025
Continuing The Grayston’s new gig series, Glass Frogs deliver soul-tinged, genre-fluid sounds with equal parts groove and gut-punch. Think four-part harmonies, funky rhythms, and confessional lyrics. It’s music to move to, but also music that moves you – a bit retro, a bit future and a bit unhinged. More>
NAT, MATT & THE CAT, The Blind Pig (Sowerby Bridge) – Saturday 13th September, 2025
An acoustic three-piece featuring mandolin, guitar, bass & cajon, playing 50s rock, modern indie and effervescent pop. More>
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