From ska veterans to royal wedding gospel singers, cult psych stalwart to violin war story, Mozart’s maddest opera to Shakespeare’s festival frolics, CHARLES HUTCHINSON peruses a typically diverse diary for May 6 to12
Rude boys in rude health gig of the week
The Specials, York Barbican, Thursday
THE last time The Specials played York Barbican in November 2016, sullen singer Terry Hall apologised for being in a “sh***y” mood that night. Amazingly their first ever York gig, it was still a visceral thrill of an occasion.
Now the Coventry ska veterans return, buoyed by their first album in 29 years, the typically politically-charged Encore, charting at number one.
Special occasion: The Skapones take up invitation to support The Specials
Dream chance of the week for a son of York
The Skapones, supporting The Specials, Scarborough Spa Grand Hall, Monday
PAUL “Willo” Williams, The Specials’ biographer and ska musicologist with York roots, will be living the dream on Monday.
“Things seem to have come full circle with me and the ska band I front, The Skapones,” he says. “Our album has sold out three times; we have an August USA tour coming up, and now we’ve been announced as support to my all-time heroes The Specials.
“We’ll be playing with them at Middlesbrough Town Hall this Sunday and Scarborough Spa on Monday. York Barbican on Thursday would have been lovely but, hey ho, not complaining!”
“Paintings you can listen to”: Robyn Hitchcock goes all art-rock at The Crescent
Psychedelic vibe of the week
Robyn Hitchcock, The Crescent, York, Wednesday
SURREALIST poet, cult artist, musician’s musician and leader of The Egyptians, Robyn Hitchcock is a father figure of alternative rock. Now 66, the wry Paddington folk/psychedelia exponent founded the art-rock combo The Soft Boys in 1976 and released his self-titled 21st solo release in April 2017, calling it “an ecstatic work of negativity with nary a dreary groove”. His songs are “paintings you can listen to,” he says.
Mystery and menace: Vienna Festival Ballet in Giselle
Classical ballet of the week
Vienna Festival Ballet in Giselle, Grand Opera House, York, Monday
RACHEL Victoria Hernon, raised in Greater Manchester and trained in Russia, has left behind solo roles in the Romanian National Ballet to join Vienna Festival Ballet.
She dances the title role in “the ultimate romantic ballet”, Giselle, the 1841 tale of innocence, love, betrayal and madness, performed to music by Adolphe Adam and choreography by the late Nicholas Beriosoff. This traditional staging moves from the sunny optimism of Giselle’s idyllic village life to an ethereal world of mystery and menace.
Unfinished business: Sam Sweeney’s violin journey from The Great War to album and tour. Picture: Elly Lucas“
The Warhorse story of the violin world”
Sam Sweeney, The Unfinished Violin, National Centre for Early Music, York, Monday
INSPIRED by his violin, carved but never finished by West Riding Regiment conscript and Leeds music hall act Richard Howard in 1915, Bellowhead’s Sam Sweeney has created a live show and album of instrumental music inspired by The Great War. “I didn’t want to create a jingoistic, patriotic album, but after some research, it was clear that there would be loads of great tunes and great stories,” he says.
One chaotic day of madness: Annabel van Griethuysen as Susanna in York Opera’s The Marriage Of Figaro
Mozart's day of madness...for three days
York Opera in Mozart’s The Marriage Of Figaro, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, York, Thursday to Saturday
YORK Opera revels in Mozart's day of chaotic madness, true love, deception and mistaken identities, brought to stage life in a modern translation by Jeremy Sams. Musical direction is by Alasdair Jamieson; stage direction, by James Wood, in his first full-scale opera with the society.
Bard times: The Handlebards will be riding their way to York International Shakespeare Festival
Festival of the week and beyond
York International Shakespeare Festival, Thursday to May 19
YORK becomes a buzzing centre of Shakespearean play and thought as the third biennial York International Shakespeare Festival presents two weeks of Shakespeare from around the world. Visit yorktheatreroyal.co.uk for details.
Glory be: The Kingdom Choir at York Barbican
Gospel singers of the week
The Kingdom Choir, York Barbican, Wednesday
BEST known for their angelic singing at last year's Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, The Kingdom Choir are on tour this spring with their combination of choral discipline and raw gospel spiritual sound.
Infinite variety: Mark Watson in Pocklington
Re-arranged comedy gig of the week
Mark Watson, Pocklington Arts Centre, Thursday
MARK Watson's Pock gig carries his profuse apology on the PAC website for moving it from February after a "clash of projects". The Infinite Show definitely goes ahead this time.
Battered acoustic guitar blues: Alabama 3 eschew the machinery
Acoustic show of the week
Alabama 3 Acoustic, Fibbers, York, Friday
HEEDING Woodie Guthrie’s message, Brixton's Alabama 3 have never feared the reduction of their technology, bravely hitting the road armed only with battered acoustic guitar and harmonica, preaching Guthrie’s infamous phrase, "This machine kills fascists".
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