Time for a laugh at Beverley Festival

It’s not that Beverley Festival shouldn’t be taken seriously, but there again we should all learn to let our hair down at some stage – so this year the festival has made sure it has only the best for its Comedy Nights in June.

Kicking off on the Friday (21at June) night is the brilliant and loveable stand up comedian that likes to hug and eat cake, Patrick Monahan. “There isn’t a comic quite like him and his hugs alone are worth the price of admission”. ***** New Current, 2012.

Having been brought up in Middlesbrough by his Iranian Mother and Irish Dad he has many hilarious and engaging stories about his heritage. “He has the dark looks and stubble of the Middle East, married to the charm of the Irish and the sense of fun of the Teessider… Omid Djalili meets Dave Allen you might say.” Daily Mail

Since he started performing stand-up he has had a meteoric rise up the comedy ladder and has gone from ‘open spot’ to headliner in an incredibly short length of time. Now a regular MC and headlining act at the top London and UK comedy clubs including the prestigious Jongleurs circuit and the Comedy Store, he is certainly going to receive a big welcome at the festival. With the festival attracting a wide range of audiences from music and comedy lovers alike to families, Monahan is the perfect act to start the festival’s comedy nights. “Monahan possesses the rate ability to be hilarious without being outrageous”. ***** 3 Weeks, 2012.

Following on the Saturday, and back by popular demand, is that wackiest of characters, John Shuttleworth.  Quoted as being "A National Institution...the 42nd Best Reason to Love Britain"  Sunday Telegraph Shuttleworth will be bring in his own special brand of comedy to the festival. The Sony and Perrier nominated Shuttleworth will be venturing beyond his garden gate to tread the mean streets of Beverley and wander up to take a stroll around Beverley’s Racecourse. Which is better: city life or country living? Supermarket or village shop? Or is it better to sit in your shed and count the cobwebs? Those are some of the questions the star of Radio 4's ‘The Shuttleworths’, and TV’s ‘500 Bus Stops’ will be asking the audience on Saturday 22 June.  “His stand up is second to none, his timing is impeccable, and you can practically warm your hands on his good nature “ The Guardian Guide. "Wonderful, wacky, and weird" Radio Times.

Not only will Mr Shuttleworth be appearing live at the festival, but he will also be appearing twice in his film “Southern Softees” on the Saturday of his performance.

To round off a weekend of humour, the festival is proud to include in its programme a cabaret version of its Patron, John Godber’s award winning film play “Bouncers” in which we welcome you to a vision of British Urban Nightlife’. Lucky Eric and the rest of the Bouncers will arrive at the festival on Sunday 23rd  for audiences to spend a night with Baz and the lads, Plain Elaine and, if they are Lucky, Sexy Suzy, along with a host of other characters.  Follow them on their Friday night out , from the hairdressers to the drunken taxi ride home, all under the watchful eyes of the four men in black. Performed by a top-notch cast  “Bouncers” should not to be missed!

Certainly a weekend to smile about!

For further information on the festival go to the festival’s website www.beverleyfestival.com or by call the office on 01377 217569.

Single Event and Weekend Tickets can be obtained on-line from www.beverleyfestival.com

Patrick Monahan                Friday 21 June                    8.00pm                      £12.00

John Shuttleworth             Saturday 22 June               8.00pm                      £16.00

“Southern Softees”           Saturday 22 June               6.00  & 10.00pm      £4.00

“Bouncers”                         Sunday 23 June                 8.00pm                      £12.00

Day tickets available:  Friday  £30 Adults; Conc £27; Saturday/Sunday £45 Adults; £41 Conc

OTHER INFORMATION

Beverley Folk Festival 2013 – 21st June to 23rd June

Weekend tickets:  £98 Adults; Concession £85 and Families £281 - Camping £20 per person for 3 nights – Fri, Sat, Sun

Artists already confirmed for 2013

The Proclaimers • Show of Hands with Miranda Sykes • Oysterband • Gretchen Peters (USA) • Lau  • Steve Forbert (USA) • Ian Rankin • Eduardo Niebla • Sam Carter • Henry Priestman • Curtis Eller (USA) • Megson   John Shuttleworth • Patrick Monahan • Lucy Ward • Allan Yn Y Fan • Blackbeard’s Tea Party • The Young ‘uns  The Whiskey Dogs •  Folkestra •  Eric Brace & Peter Cooper (USA) • Coco and the Butterfields • Will Kaufman  • Edwina Hayes • Farino • Circus Envy •  Chris Cole • The Duncan McFarlane Band 

‘Bouncers’ 

Beverley Folk Festival Patrons

Mike Harding – Broadcaster, singer, songwriter, author, poet & comedian.

John Godber – Olivier Award-winning playwright (Up ‘n' Under, Bouncers, Teechers, etc.), director & lecturer.

Beverley Folk Festival Award Nominations

Shortlisted for ‘Best Family Festival’ Award -  2012 UK Festival Awards

Finalist in the Remarkable Tourism Event Category -  REYTA Awards 2012

Finalist in the Remarkable Tourism Experience/ Event   REYTA Awards 2013

Contact Details

Artistic Director: Chris Wade    Festival Directors: Andrew Mills; Jim Pybus; Matt Snowden; Mike Booth

Festival Office, The Stables, Westwood House, North Dalton, Driffield, East Riding of Yorkshire, YO25 9XA

Tel: 01377 217569       Email:  info@beverleyfestival.com      Website:  www.beverleyfestival.com

“Adenike’s voice is so smooth and lovely.” - BBC The Voice UK

“… Silky smooth vocals.” - The Mail Online

“… Brings great JOY to my heart.” - Anita Baker

With everybody from The Mail Online, Daily Telegraph and even Anita Baker herself heaping praises on British Nigerian R&B singer and songwriter ADENIKÈ for her rather excellent cover rendition of the 1986 classic, “Sweet Love” on the recent series of BBC’s The Voice UK, the London native debuts a beautiful original song of her own titled “I Stayed” - which is currently receiving support from the likes of MTV UK, SoulCulture, Digital Spy, Huffington Post, SBTV and several online tastemakers - for our listening pleasure.

To be released on June 10, “I Stayed” is a strong and emotive piano-led ballad, accompanied by rousing string arrangements and commanding drum patterns, which sees Adenikè in the form of her life with a pitch perfect vocal performance and songwriting dexterities that are well beyond her years, as she passionately pours out her heart about lost love and heartbreak on this Okiem Warmann-produced record, “I Stayed”. With visuals, beautifully shot and directed by Olan Collardy for Cardy Films, which bring “I Stayed” further to life, Adenikè surely has a future classic on her hands.

Following the disappointment of not progressing on The Voice UK and with the added impetus she gained from the overall experience, Adenikè is quickly picking herself up to begin work on her debut album. If Tom Jones and Jessie J thought they made a mistake by letting Adenikè slip out of their fingers on The Voice UK, imagine how much more regret they must feel about letting her go, with the release of this excellent new single from the London Soul singer.

The recording artist and producer enjoyed a hugely successful career with the Black Eyed Peas, before branching out to record his own material.

will.i.am funded solo album '#willpower' himself because those around him weren't willing to take a risk on him away from the chart-topping group.

Will said: "When you're in a group like The Black Eyed Peas and you're successful, a lot of times the company that you're with wants you to do just that. And they don't see that you can be successful outside of that.

He added to the Belfast Telegraph: "So I had to do '#willpower' all by myself - fund it, pay for it. There's a lot at stake. You don't succeed, you mess up your group. Very few people succeed outside their group when their group is successful. So it's been a hurdle."

will has since enjoyed huge success with songs including 'Scream & Shout' and 'This Is Love'.

The beauty fell from her chair while filming the popular TV show and had a seizure, but explained to the Sydney Daily Telegraph that hospital staff were unable to determine the reason behind her convulsions:

"I still have absolutely no idea what caused it. But if there was something positive to come out of it, it's that I've started looking into what might have happened and what different foods do to your body and it's made me an even healthier person."

"Some say caffeine can have a certain effect on you so it's things like that (I've learned). I don't want to be a sob story and make it sound like I want people to feel sorry for me or something (but) it was completely terrifying."

Osbourne, who has dropped an impressive 70lbs in the past couple of years and is conscious about her diet, added: "What most people don't know is everyone will experience some sort of seizure in their life. Mine just happened in front of everybody."

The US singer, who this week celebrated her first ever Billboard chart-topping album, told Australia’s The Telegraph that she can’t wait to get back on the road for her 'The Truth About Love' tour:

"Hell yeah, we are putting it all together now. I am honestly just trying to figure out how to top the last tour and stay alive. It was so fun, I had such a good time on that show."

The ‘Blow Me (One Last Kiss)' singer, whose 2009 'Funhouse' tour played out over 151 dates, also admitted that she may have to work out a bit more to prepare for the first show in Phoenix on Feb 13:

"I am going to take my little fat arse to the gym today but other than that I am pretty lazy these days.

“We are conceptualising and putting it (the tour) all together. It is definitely a process with us because we go at it from every angle, from the storyline to the songs to the pace and to what song lends itself to what acrobatic."

The 27-year-old, who has starred in the likes of St. Trinian’s and The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, told the Telegraph that her film career hasn’t exactly been lucrative so far:

“They don't pay anything. When I did the film The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, the director, Terry Gilliam, kept making jokes saying: "Can everybody just settle down and focus because for the rate Paloma Faith is on we can keep her on set for 10 years. But some of you are charging me more money so stop talking."

The ‘Picking Up The Pieces’ singer, who recently revealed her stint as a wedding singer inspired her to become a songwriter, also admitted that there were several times during her early career where she worried about her lack of income:

“Yeah, there were loads of times when I just couldn't even afford to buy food in the supermarket, especially in January and February, which are the quietest months for cabaret and the coldest, so you can't put money in the meter.”

The 'Set Fire To The Rain' superstar features on the exclusive list alongside the likes of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, David Cameron and gutsy Sky News reporter Alex Crawford because of the incredible success she has enjoyed over the past 12 months. 

Adele was also recognised for her phenomenal 6 Grammy Award nominations and for her stunning BRITs performance. The newspaper explains:

"If 2011 had a signature tune, then it came from Adele Adkins, and her roaring, soaring single Rolling in the Deep. Proving that it isn’t just trouble that comes out of Tottenham, 23-year-old Adkins not only gave the year its anthem, but also had in 21 the biggest-selling album in the world."

"The Brit-school singer’s winning mix of open-hearted soul declamation and gor-blimey-trousers integrity seemed to touch a nerve with millions, and for added drama her whole career appeared to hang in the balance when she was admitted to hospital for an operation on her throat. To cap an extraordinary 12 months, she’s up for six Grammys in February next year."