10 years of True North Music & a look back at my 2023-24 live music series
In December I wrapped up True North Music’s 2023-24 local live music series, which was the most amazing cornucopia of folk-roots, bluegrass and Americana., featuring some of the finest roots artists from the UK, USA and Canada, including Jaywalkers, Gangstagrass, the Jake Blount trio, Mishra, Kris Drever, Golden Shoals and Evie Ladin & Sophie Wellington, just to name a few. We hosted ticketed workshops in fiddle, banjo, body percussion, harmony singing and Appalachian flatfooting, and delivered warmly received school workshops in fiddle, ukulele, body percussion, singing and tabla language! Our Huddersfield-area concerts and festival took place at delightful community venues The Carlile Institute (in Meltham) and Marsden Mechanics. Check out the video highlights reel above! I also want to add my appreciation to series sponsor Dark Woods Coffee and event sponsors Eagle Music Shop and the British Bluegrass Music Association for their contributions. Most of all, I’d like to acknowledge the vital support from Arts Council England, whose Project Grants funding made it possible for me to deliver such an excellent programme of events and guarantee decent fees for artists, alongside the ticket income (which was also absolutely essential).