Stan Graham's Leisure Guide for North and West Yorkshire
It’s that time of year again, Spring Bank Holiday and Leeds Jazz Festival, for some reason they always seem to coincide – what are the odds? The Champagne was smashed against the hull to launch this year’s Festival at Howard Assembly Room with a collection of amazing local talent, not all of whom were performers…
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I must admit to having a bit of a thing about shoes. I suppose it started in my teens when, not being quite a mod, but interested in the more preppy style, I always had a pair of Chelsea boots and Clarks sand coloured desert boots in my wardrobe, in fact, I still do, not…
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It’s not often that I spend a Tuesday tea time dancing to the beat of two African drummers, in fact I can’t remember it ever happening before, but this event was to change that. I was at the amazing Hyde Park Picture House for the launch of the 2025 Leeds International African Arts Festival, but…
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Whoever compiles the schedule for productions at Leeds Playhouse played a blinder on Thursday night. For those of you who are not familiar with the venue, it comprises four spaces; Quarry, which is the largest auditorium, Courtyard, my favourite, a smaller one with the most comfortable seating, both in the upholstery and legroom departments, Bramall…
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The full title of this production is Alan Bleasedale’s Boys From The Black Stuff by James Graham and is an adaptation of the BBC television series broadcast in late 1982. Two years earlier Alan Bleasedale had written a work for the BBC series of one-off dramas, Play For Today, called simply The Black Stuff, which…
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This is one of the easiest – and hardest – reviews I have ever written. It is easy because the concert was great so no real gripes, but hard as I have been trawling the internet for information about the two bands involved without coming up with much at all. Firstly, the support act, Kontiki,…
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I opened my review of Bat Out Of Hell by referencing Meatloaf’s raunchy performance of Paradise By The Dashboard Light on The Old Grey Whistle Test in 1978. If I thought that was worthy of an 18 certificate, it was made to look like CBeebies in comparison to the action in Cruel Intentions. It has…
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The problem with jokes, unlike music, is that they are great to hear once, but the more they are repeated the more irritating they become. Having this concert on May the Fourth did nothing to change my mind on that, but it did allow me to indulge in a totally unscientific and subjective experiment. I…
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Back at the wonderful Howard Assembly Room after a short break, to see an artist with whom I was totally unfamiliar, but who obviously has a dedicated following, as the place was packed, and the atmosphere buzzing. Karine Polwart is a Scottish folk singer who, it appears, also does a lot of other work nurturing…
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If you doubt the power of music then let me tell you that the medium has done something that even God has failed to do – get me to go to church on a Sunday! I have become quite the fan of Leeds Baroque Choir and Orchestra since being introduced to them by a friend…
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Tyke It To The Limit 