Curtis Hylton’s Owl mural on the Acomb Post Office wall, created at AcombFest
ACOMBFEST, York’s first International street art festival, attracted 12,000 people to Acomb as art and community bonded from July 3 to 5.
Record numbers were drawn to churches, food vendors, bars and in particular to the four new street murals by Australian photorealist SMUG, Reading wildlife artist Curtis Hylton, Sheffield’s Peachzz and Bristol-based, Acomb-raised SledOne, commissioned by event curators Art Of Protest on the festival theme of Return To Nature.
A PaintJam, curated by RARE Collective’s Sharon McDonagh and Sola at The Carlton Tavern in support of charity partner SASH, York (Safe and Sound Homes), hosted nine live paintings by York and international artists Boxxhead, HazardOne, Lady Mkei, Lincoln Lightfoot, Liskbot, Nicolas Dixon, Sola, spAm (Sharon McDonagh) and VYZ. Hundreds bought artwork and prints created by the artists to raise vital funds for SASH.
Acomb business owner Simon Taylor, of the Post Office/Taylors of Acomb, hosted Reading wildlife muralist Curtis Hylton’s spray-painting of his new owl mural, now resplendent on an external wall.
“We’ve seen a boost in business already, with people coming into the shop to ask about the artwork and in turn buying products from us,” said Simon. “The response from the public has been amazing; we have people gathering outside and sharing their positive views. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Acomb and I hope more events like this can return.”
Fishponds Wood’s moth “reveal” on the Sunday morning when hundreds of people gathered in the woods to release moths to the accompaniment of a five-piece band. A record-breaking 750 people visited Holgate Mill to view Jim Grant and Ben Grant’s light installation Rock Soil Sky on July 4 and 5: the highest number of visitors at the windmill over a weekend.
St Stephen’s church turned into a gallery over the weekend, hosting original works by Damien Hirst and Tracey Emin, complemented by work by Acomb artists.
The Reverend Matt Woodcock said: “People were streaming into church, queuing to get into church. The art exhibition has been a smash hit. I never thought I’d see the day!”
Creative events and activities were centred on Front Street with free street art workshops. Venues included Bluebird Bakery, The Hand, SoJo, The Crooked Tap, The Sun Inn and The Fox.Each venue had its own bespoke offer: from bush craft and nature art to water art and artist talks.
Jimmy Hebbron, owner of The Crooked Tap, said: “This weekend has brought local businesses together, world-class art to our walls and put plenty of money behind the bar. Our food vendors on Friday night sold out at record time!
“Hosting workshops made our venue packed out from 11.30 am and the music took us until close. Please leave feedback on the event so that we can secure funding for AcombFest next year!”
Community activities include a community cinema at Acomb Explore library and spoken word at Books & Bevs. Acomb Methodist Church was packed all weekend with an artist market by That Acomb Arty Thing and activities that kept hundreds of families busy.
On September 12, artworks created at the RARE Collective PaintJam will be auctioned off at an event hosted at the Carlton Tavern in aid of SASH. Plans for next year’s follow-up festival will be revealed.
The festival was shaped by speaking to more than 1,100 residents that co-produced the important theme around returning to nature. Funding was all provided by York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund, Great Acomb Community Forum, City of York Council, York St John University, business and the community.
“The Art Of Protest and AcombFest team would like to say a huge thank-you to all involved,” says Jeff Clark. “No matter how big or small, the support and love for the festival has been truly mind blowing. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.“
SledOne’s mural, What Walks Amongst Us, taking shape for Acomb Fest. Picture: Art of Protest
ACOMB is hosting AcombFest, York’s first international street art festival for York, from today to Sunday featuring 20 art installations, live mural painting, RARE Collective’s PaintJam and spray battles, plus 30 bands, DJs and performers, across 22 venues.
Look out too at this Return To Nature-themed festival for special events and tastings, community cinema, family-friendly interactive workshops, art market, Acomb history walks and talk, plus shopping opportunities in support of independent businesses.
Featuring more than 90 activities and events, AcombFest is the creative brainchild of Art of Protest, Jeff Clark’s York-based street and urban art business “dedicated to transforming cities, towns and communities one spray can at a time in artist-led, community-shaped and stakeholder-driven projects”.
Funded by the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund, Great Acomb Community Forum and City of York Council and supported by York St John University and York School of Art, AcombFest presents a long weekend of highly visual and participatory events.
The centrepiece will be the painting of four large-scale murals in and around Front Street by renowned international artists. This work will be complemented by a further ten art installation paints featuring York artists with community collaborations, alongside a range of workshops, music and cultural happenings.
“Nothing of this scale will have been seen in York before, never mind in Acomb” says Jeff, Art of Protest creative director and lead curator of AcombFest.
Jeff Clark: Art of Protest creative director and lead curator of AcombFest
“Normally, activities of this scale would be confined to the city centre, but this event is a fantastic example of how to broaden out creative and cultural engagement to the people in the wider city and wards.
“Not only does this inject life into local high streets to make them more vibrant and sustainable, it also does the same for the communities themselves.”
Jeff continues: “The ambition for AcombFest is to be a bi-annual event attracting the best international, national and more local artists from across the region to really put Acomb on the map as ‘the creative quarter’ of York.
“This is something that has been much needed as a way of balancing the city’s reliance on its fantastic heritage. Not only that, it will act as an inspiration and a pathway for young creative people in the Acomb and surrounding communities to develop their skills and start their own creative journeys – hopefully into related jobs and industries.”
The mural artist headliners will be Australian superstar SMUG, known as “the world’s best photorealistic artist”; Sheffield muralist Peachzz, 2024 runner-up for Best Mural in the World; wildlife artist Curtis Hylton and Acomb returnee SledOne.
Only one magpie? Phew, luckily plenty more are being added to SMUG’s mural, What Flies Around Us, at AcombFest. Picture: Art of Protest
Creative events and activities will be centred on Front Street with free street art workshops. Venues include Bluebird Bakery, SoJo, The Crooked Tap and all the way down Acomb Road to The Fox, connecting all the green spaces and parks.
Each venue will have its own bespoke offer – from bush craft and nature art to artist talks – with individual tickets, availability information and listings to be found on the AcombFest website at https://acombfest.co.uk/.
RARE Collective are putting on DJs and nine artists will be showcasing their skills in live spray battles at the Carlton Tavern. The community cinema will run at Acomb Explore library and spoken word events at Books & Bevs.
A full programme of family-friendly free activities will run at Acomb Methodist Church; That Acomb Arty Thing will play host to an artist market; the Gateway Church will present art exhibitions; Fishponds Wood will run mini-beast trails. Further attractions will be history tours, Jim Grant and Ben Grant’s Rock Soil Sky light installations in Holgate Windmill and pop-up stalls for Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and York Civic Trust.
Specialist food and drink offerings throughout the festival will include Spirit of Yorkshire and an international mixologist.
The festival was shaped by speaking to more than 1,100 residents and nine schools to learn of Acomb’s rich tapestry of history, flora and wildlife, leading to the festival theme of returning to nature. Acomb Alive and Acomb Methodist Church have supported the event too, the church playing host to music therapy sessions, flower arranging with Acomb Flower Guild, drop-in crafts with Crafty Fox and an art fair with Acomb Artists.
The festival map for AcombFest
What’s On at AcombFest
Friday, July 3
Explore Library 9:30am – 12:30pm Mosaic Workshop 10am & 1pm Hidden History Walk
Gateway Centre 10am – 6:30pm Oak Room Art Exhibition and Art Workshops – Exhibitions & creative workshops curated by That Acomb Art Thing.
The Carlton Tavern 2pm – 5:30pm PaintJam – RARE Collective & Art of Protest setting up PaintJam ready for artists, DJs & mixologist 7pm – 9pm Live World Cup Mega-Screen
Acomb Front Street 3pm – 4pm Art of Protest Street Art Workshops
The Fox 3:30pm – 6pm Water Art – After-school fun! Join the Fox team in a free-for-all floor art event 4pm – 9pm Clucking Oinks Fried Chicken 6pm – 8pm Tri-Starss – Beer garden gig of 1970s-1990s rock
DJ Sola: Leading a bill of live music, dancing and craft beer at The Crooked Tap
The Crooked Tap All weekend RARE Collective Urban Art Exhibition 4pm – 10:30pm DJ Sola & Friends – Live music, craft beer and dancing 6pm – 9pm Philly’s Woodfired Pizza – Neapolitan wood-fired pizza
SOJO 5:30pm – 8:30pm Yorkshire Beer & Cheese Tasting – Celebration of Yorkshire produce 8:30pm – 11pm Live bands – Local bands performing live sets
Bluebird Bakery/Rise 6pm – 7:45pm AcombFest Talks – Curator Jeff Clark and muralists discuss AcombFest (Whisky-Highball on arrival, tickets required) 7:45pm – 8:30pm Whisky Tasting – Spirit of Yorkshire + Tulum Spirits (tickets required) 8:30pm – 10:30pm Flour Power Sound System with Yeastie Boy – Live music (tickets required)
The Hand 8pm – 9:30pm Josh Pulleyn – Live music
Inn on the Green 8:30pm – 11pm Live music – Local bands performing live sets
Saturday, July 4
York pianist Karl Mullen: PIaying outside the bakery at Rise@Bluebird Bakery from 1pm to 3pm
Bluebird Bakery/Rise 9am – 12pm Wild Bee Flowers – Sustainable florist & flower farm 10am – 3pm Fresh Bakes – Bluebird’s fresh bakes & goodies 1pm – 3pm Karl Mullen Live Piano – Busker extraordinaire playing outside bakery All day Craft Beer and Speciality Cans – Fridges of craft beers & small brewery cans in regular rotation 7pm – 11pm Groovetone + The Unknown Stuntman – Jazz, blues, Latin, funk and Ska tunes (tickets required)
The Place 10am – 12pm Leo Morrey Art Workshops 12:30pm – 2pm Drummers 12pm – 4pm Stephen Hodgkins Art Workshops
West Bank Park 10am – 3pm Trapeze classes
Holgate Windmill 10am – 3:30pm Wind, Soil, Rock Art Installation – Video, sound and life-size puppet
The Carlton Tavern 10am – 6pm PaintJam – Watch nine artists begin their paints 10am – 10pm RARE Collective DJs + Audiovisual – Eclectic mix of DJs and audio visual producers for PaintJam. Decks will be pumping out tunes while the paint dries 10am – 10pm Tulum Spirits Collective – Flying in from Mexico, mixologist Craig Feather serves up menu of luxury bespoke cocktails from 11am, preceded by non-alcoholic delights from 10am 11am – 8pm Streetfood
The Crooked Tap All weekend RARE Collective Urban Art Exhibition 10:30am – 12pm The Art of Kokodema Workshop – tickets required 12pm – 8pm Yuzu East Asian Street Food 12pm – 1:30pm Charlie Swainton – Live music 2pm – 3:30pm Amy & Rob – Live music 4pm – 5:30pm Craig Long – Live music 6pm – 7:30pm James Scanlan – Live music 8pm – 10pm Melting Pot – 90s’ Indie, Britpop & dance tribute
Acomb Methodist Church 10:30am – 2pm Bloom Baby – Fiona Price Baby Classes 11am – 2pm Music Therapy 12pm – 1pm Jazzy J’s – Live music 12:30pm – 6pm Cafe 1pm – 2pm Ten Thousand Pairs of Hands – Live music 1:30pm – 4:30pm Acomb Flower Guild – Adult & Child Workshops 3pm – 3:30pm Acomb Choir 3:45pm – 8:45pm Acomb Community Cinema
Explore Library 11am – 3pm Acomb History Group 4pm – 7pm Open Cinema: Hoppers – Cinema with popcorn (tickets required)
Acomb Front Street 11am – 3pm Art of Protest Street Art Workshops
Storyteller Lara McClure
Books & Bevs 12:30pm – 3:30pm Storytelling with Lara McClure
Fishpond Woods 2pm – 3:30pm Mini Beast Safari
The Fox 12pm – 8:30pm Posca Doodle Wall 12pm – 9pm Clucking Oinks Fried Chicken 2pm – 4pm The Mothers – Live music 4pm – 6pm Ten Thousand Pairs Of Hands – Live music 6pm – 8pm Steam Pigeon – Live music 6pm – 8:30pm Beermat Art Lost Property Collage
Inn on the Green 2pm – 11pm Open Mic Night
The Sun 3:30pm – 5pm BBQ 4pm – 8pm Fireball Rockband
The Hand 8:30pm – 11pm Pete Hale – Live music
Sunday, July 5
Fishpond Woods 10am – 11am Moth Reveal
Acomb Methodist Church 10am – 12pm Interactive Worship 12pm – 6pm Pop-Up Cafe 1pm – 4:30pm Crafty Fox Kids Club – Hands-on art & craft activities for two to four-year-olds 1pm – 4pm Bio-Diversity Collage – Reacting to ecological crisis 6pm – 8pm Art Speedquiz
West Bank Park 10am – 3pm Trapeze classes
Freida Nipples: Baps’N’Bingo at Rise@Bluebird Bakery
Bluebird Bakery/Rise 10am – 3pm Bluebird’s Sunday Ritual – Sunday specialties such as Bengali five-spice rolls, spinach & chickpea rolls, plus artisan pastries. 6pm – 8pm Baps’N’Bingo – Burlesque bingo with Dolly Trolly and Freida Nipples (tickets required) 8pm – 11pm Guilty Pleasures Disco – Closing party of pop bangers, disco, R&B & power ballads (tickets required)
Holgate Windmill 10am – 4pm Wind, Soil, Rock Art Installation – Video, sound and life-size puppet
The Crooked Tap All weekend RARE Collective Urban Art Exhibition 10:30am – 12pm Posca Pebble Art 12pm – 8pm Yuzu East Asian Street Food 12:30pm – 5:30pm Acomb Artists’ Kids Art Classes 12:30pm – 11pm Cask Ale Festival 6pm – 10:30pm AcombFest Closing Party – DJ Sola & Friends of RARE Collective
The Fox 12pm – 4pm Bush Craft and Nature Art – Session with Tom Rawson of Branch Out 12pm – 9pm Clucking Oinks Fried Chicken 2pm – 4pm Bare Brass Band – Live music 4pm – 6pm V2 – Live music
Inn on the Green 12pm – 5pm Sunday Roast – OMNI Darts challenge & simulators
The Carlton Tavern 1pm – 6pm PaintJam – Artwork continues 10am – 10pm RARE DJ Sets – Live music 10am – 5pm Tulum Spirits Collective – Flying in from Mexico, mixologist Craig Feather serves up luxury bespoke cocktails from 11am, preceded by non-alcoholic delights from 10am 11am – 8pm El Chappo – New takes on traditional Mexican from Sheffield, ahead of Mexico v England in the World Cup last 16 12pm – 3:30pm The Tavern Sunday Roast – Traditional roasts 9pm – 11pm Live World CupMega-Screen
Gateway Church 2pm – 4pm Little Green Fingers – Plant up container pot to take home
The Sun 4pm – 7pm BBQ 4pm – 7pm York Turnpike Trust – Five-piece band’sR&B covers
The Hand 5:30pm – 9pm The Dunwells – Leeds indie-folk/Americana band
Who’s who and what’s what at York Pride 2026 at Knavesmire
FESTIVALS full of Pride, ideas and comedy are the headline acts in Charles Hutchinson’s selection of culture in colourful bloom as May turns to June.
Putting the unity into community, love and equality: York Pride 2026, Knavesmire York, today, 11am to 7.30pm
THE 90-munite York Pride parade sets off from Parliament Street to Knavesmire at 12 noon for a full day of Pride, protest, visibility, music, cabaret, family entertainment and community celebration.
The main stage line-up features Nadine Coyle, Joe McElderry, Urban Cookie Collective, Nicki French, Michael Marouli, Roxanne Cooper, Sweet Like Sabrina, Heavenly Bodies, Jordan Smart, DJ Rory Hoy and York Stage’s cast of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. For full festival details, go to: yorkpride.org.uk. Entry is free.
Alexander McCall Smith: Discussing his books at York Festival of Ideas on June 7 at 6.30pm in Room PZA/103 in the Piazza Building, Campus East, University of York. Picture: Alexander McCall Smith Portraits
Festival of the fortnight: York Festival of Ideas, Place & Space, today until June 12
YORK Festival of Ideas 2026 explores Place and Space in more than 200 mostly free in-person and online events designed to educate, entertain and inspire.
Led by the University of York, the event features world-class speakers (such as Nicola Sturgeon, Clive Myrie, Dame Kelly Holmes, Alexander McCall Smith, Sally Wainwright and Sian Williams), performances, exhibitions, tours, family-friendly activities, a Michael Morpurgo celebration day and much more, with topics ranging from archaeology to art, history to health, politics to psychology, football to Manchester’s Music Soul. For the full programme, go to: yorkfestivalofideas.com.
Kiri Pritchard-McLean: Hosting the finale to Pocklington Arts Centre one-day Comedy Festival today
Comedy event of the week: Pocklington Comedy Festival, today, from 1pm
POCKLINGTON Arts Centre’s Comedy Festival opens with Seeta Wrightson’s work-in-progress (WIP) Fringe Preview of Middling at 1pm, followed by Out Of The Box at 2pm and Brennan Reece’s WIP Fringe Preview of New Jokes at 2.45pm.
Marcel Lucont presents Les Enfants Terribles – A Game Show For Awful Children at 4pm. Then come Tom Neenan’s WIP Fringe Preview at 4.30pm; Sarah Roberts’ WIP Fringe Preview at 6.15pm and the Mixed Bill finale at 8pm, bringing together Lou Wall, Marcel Lucont, Tal Davies, Pravanya Pillay and Raj Poojara, hosted by Kiri Pritchard-McLean. Box office: 01759 301547 or pocklingtonartscentre.co.uk.
“You sit here,” says Pierre Novellie, who will be standing over there at Theatre@41, Monkgate
Novellie idea of the week: Pierre Novellie, You Sit Here, I’ll Stand There, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, today, 5pm, tickets available, and 8pm, sold out
IT’S time for Pierre Novellie to do stand-up! It’s time for you to watch! “Why not just embrace that, for God’s sake?” he ask on his return to Theatre@41, Monkgate. “All earthly glories fade!
Novellie is co-host of the Frank Skinner, Budpod and Button Boys podcasts and has been seen and heard on World’s Most Dangerous Roads (Dave), The Mash Report (BBC2), Stand Up Central (Comedy Central), The Now Show and The News Quiz (BBC Radio 4). Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
The ELO Experience: Celebrating 50 years of Jeff Lynne songs at York Barbican
Tribute gig of the week: The ELO Experience, York Barbican, tonight, 7.30pm
IN 2025 Jeff Lynne’s ELO performed their last live shows on the Over & Out Tour. Now tribute act The ELO Experience are mounting their own 20th anniversary tour with a set of greatest hits and album gems spanning more than 50 years of Lynne’s music.
Between 1972 and 1986, ELO achieved more combined UK and US Top 40 hits than any other band, including 10538 Overture, Evil Woman, Living Thing, The Diary Of Horace Wimp, Don’t Bring Me Down and Mr Blue Sky. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
The book cover artwork for Fiona Mozley’s new novel, Awake Awake
Book event of the week: An Evening with Fiona Mozley, Awake, Awake, Waterstones, Coney Street, York, June 4, 7pm
“WHAT if you can no longer trust your memories,” asks York author Fiona Mozley in her third novel, Awake Awake, published on June 4 by John Murray.
Booker-Shortlisted for her debut Elmet, and now resident in Edinburgh, Fiona returns to her home roots to discuss her new meditation on memory, loss and moral courage in a York-located story that revolves around a woman haunted by vivid memories of things she suspects never could have happened.
Her hour-long talk will be followed by a Q&A between Fiona and the audience and a book-signing session will be held afterwards. Tickets: £6, Waterstones Plus Card members £5, at https://www.waterstones.com/events/an-evening-with-fiona-mozley-at-waterstones-york/york.
Molly Whitehouse and Dan Poppitt in rehearsal for Black Sheep Theatre Productions’ premiere of Love At First Bite
Premiere of the week: Black Sheep Theatre Productions in Love At First Bite, Theatre@41, Monkgate, York, June 4 to 6, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Saturday matinee
JOSH Woodgate directs Dan Poppitt and Molly Whitehouse’s seductive new work Love At First Bite, wherein dating can be hell, but what if one of them were a creature of the night?” What happens when Alan and Minnie meet at a speed-dating night? A spark flickers. Dates follow. Laughter lingers.
“Yet beneath the rhythms of a familiar rom-com, something waits in the dark,” say Poppitt and Whitehouse, who play the lovers in York company Black Sheep’s premiere. “One of them is a vampire – but the secret shifts. Each night, the actors trade fangs and the audience is left to wonder who is hunter, who is prey.” Blending sharp-fanged wit with a brush of gothic shadow, their play toys with romance, rewrites folklore and invites audiences to consider what it means to love…and to hunger! Box office: tickets.41monkgate.co.uk.
Charlotte Hanna-Williams, left, Jamie-Rose Monk, Seán Carey, Holly Sumpton and Christian Andrews in SplitLip’s Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical. Picture: Matt Crockett
Musical of the week: SplitLip in Operation Mincemeat: A New Musical, Grand Opera House, York, June 2 to 6, 7.30pm plus 2.30pm Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday matinees
THE year is 1943 and we are losing the war but, luckily, we can gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Singin’ In The Rain meets Strangers On A Train in SplitLip’s Operation Mincemeat, the Olivier and Tony award-winning musical take on the unbelievable true story of the twisted secret mission that won us the Second World War.
Bursting at the seams with chaos beyond invention, the question is: how did a dead body, a fake love letter and MI5 operative Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler? Let Christian Andrews, Holly Sumpton, Seán Carey, Charlotte Hanna-Williams and latest recruit Jamie-Rose Monk tell the tale. Box office: atgtickets.com/york.
Sofia Romano in Silver Stage’s murder mystery Club Mistero, on tour at Helmsley Arts Centre
Immersive murder mystery of the week: Silver Stage & Solent University presents Club Mistero, Helmsley Arts Centre, June 5, 7.30pm
LOSE yourself inside the dazzling but dangerous Club Mistero in 1920s’ New York City, where a flighty barman, outspoken diva, secretive showgirl, neglected wife and an owner with eyes on every corner all become suspects when someone is, seemingly, nowhere to be found. Clutch your pearls, ol’ sport, murder is afoot.
In the heart of a speakeasy, surrounded by deception and secrets, a web of betrayal, revenge and power is spun, whereupon tensions rise as the line between friend and foe is blurred, but who will survive the night? Silver Stage’s Evelyn Foy, George Mclean, Niamh Boyle, Sofia Romano and Borna Vitlov will keep you guessing to the very end. Box office: 01439 771700 or helmsleyarts.co.uk.
Navigators Art’s poster for On Location, on show at City Screen Picturehouse from June 7
Exhibition launch of the week: Navigators Art presents On Location, York Festival of Ideas, City Screen Picturehouse, York, June 7 to July 3, from 10.30am each day
ON Location, a free art exhibition of some of York’s finest visual artists, explores ideas of place and space, venturing widely beyond conventional landscapes. Open every day in the cafe and upstairs gallery from 10.30am, the show will be launched officially on June 8 from 6pm to 8.30pm in the gallery (free admission, no booking required, all welcome).
The Gold brick road leads to York Barbican for Shalamar on their 50th anniversary tour
Gig announcement of the week: Shalamar, The Gold Tour, Celebrating 50 Years, York Barbican, July 2, 7.30pm
FORMED in Los Angeles in 1976, Shalamar became a defining force in late-1970s and 1980s’ R&B, funk and dance music with 18 UK Top 75 hits, 11 Top 40 singles, four Top Ten hits and more than 25 million records sold worldwide.
Body-popping Jeffrey Daniel and Howard Hewett, from the classic 1982 line-up, are joined by Carolyn Griffey, the female lead vocalist since 2001, to perform A Night To Remember, Take That To The Bank, The Second Time Around, Make That Move, Dead Giveaway, There It Is, Friends and Dancin’ In The Sheets et al. Special guest will be Gwen Dickey, The Voice of Rose Royce. Box office: yorkbarbican.co.uk.
York Opera cast members for Die Fledermaus: back row, David Hartley, Olivia Turner and Stephanie Wong; front row, John Soper and Alexandra Mather. Picture: John Saunders
Birds of the week: Matt Sewell exhibition for RARE Collective at WET, Micklegate, York, from June 4 for six week
SHROPSHIRE artist, illustrator and author Matt Sewelll is the latest street art luminary to be showcased in RARE Collective’s collaboration with WET wine bar, in Micklegate, York, in aid of SASH (Safe and Sound Homes), the York youth homelessness charity.
“We’re really chuffed to have Matt return to York,” says RARE Collective exhibition organiser Sharon McDonagh. “If you came to the Vandalfest charity street art show last year, you would have seen his cracking bird mural on Floor 3 of the big disused office block in Low Ousegate.
“The exhibition opens on Thursday, June 4 at 5pm, but please note there is no preview party. Matt’s fabulous Riso prints will be on show and you can buy directly from the RARE online shop from Friday, June 5. A percentage of all sales will go to @sashyorks.”
Artist Matt Sewell
Sewell is an avid ornithologist, contributing regularly to the Caught By The River website and publishing the books Our Garden Birds, Our Songbirds, Our Woodland Birds, Owls, Penguins and A Charm Of Goldfinches And Other Collective Nouns.
He has illustrated for the Guardian, Barbour, V&A Museums, BBC, National Trust, Greenpeace, Big Issue and Levi’s and painted walls for Helly Hansen, Puma and the RSPB (Royal Society for the Protection of Birds). He has exhibited in Great Britain, New York, old York, Tokyo and Paris.
Under RARE Collective’s partnership with WET, artists and photographers exhibit their work in a six-week solo show. As well as at WET, work can be bought online both during and after the exhibition run at rarecollective.co.uk.
Sewell is also a musician, performing as Sewell &The Gong with Chris Tate and as the deep-cut compiler of the compilation series A Crushing Glow.
In Focus: York Opera in Die Fledermaus, York Theatre Royal, June 3 to 6, 7.30pm Wednesday to Friday; 4pm, Saturday
YORK Opera is marking not one but two milestones with John Soper and Elizabeth Watson’s production of Die Fledermaus next week.
This year is the company’s 60th anniversary and the 40th anniversary of its first appearance at York Theatre Royal: hence the summer production choice of Johann Strauss II’s party opera, wherein lavish host Prince Orlofsky seeks fresh amusement at his New Year’s Eve party. What better place for disguises, deception and revenge served with chilled champagne?
On an earlier occasion, Doctor Falke had been humiliated by his old friend Herr Eisenstein, who persuaded him to dress for a party as a bat [Die Fledermaus]. After much amusement and ridicule, eventually he was abandoned to wander the streets of Vienna.
Falke plots his revenge with a cocktail of hidden secrets, mistaken identities and a splash or two of champagne that leads to a comedy of errors that soon takes flight. Will the bat be revenged?
For an opera deemed the ideal introduction for those new to the genre, the cast includes an exciting mix of singers new to the group and familiar faces, singing an opera full of memorable tunes and comic moments in English.
Alexandra Mather and Olivia Turner will share the role of Rosalinda; likewise, Stephanie Wong and LaLa Marais both will play Adele, after the decision to double cast the lead roles was made in response to the high calibre of talent displayed at the auditions.
The cast also features Molly Raine (Orlofsky); India Ashberry (Ida); Hamish Brown (Eisenstein); Karl Reiff (Alfredo); Ian Thomson-Smith (Falke); Mark Simmonds (Frank); Alex Holland (Dr Blind);Helen Tomlinson (Melanie); Katie Cole (Faustine) and Lilah Payton (Felicity).
Directors Soper and Watson say: “Prince Orlofsky states ‘when you have seen one opera, you have seen them all’. This is definitely not the case with a York Opera production. Our Die Fledermaus bubbles with lively choruses, memorable music and revenge – served chilled – just like flowing champagne.”
They are joined in the production team by conductor Edward Venn. Box office: 01904 623568 or yorktheatreroyal.co.uk.
In Focus too: National Centre for Early Music presents Olivia Chaney, Sons Of Art: Purcell Revisited, York Festival of Ideas, NCEM, York, June 5, 7.30pm
Olivia Chaney
OLIVIA Chaney, York musician, Grammy nominee and haunting voice of Emerald Fennell’s “Wuthering Heights”, plays a sold-out concert for York Festival of Ideas tonight.
Olivia’s deep connection to the music of Henry Purcell runs throughout her life. Now comes Sons Of Art,her latest performance and album project highlighting the deep affinities between the Baroque composer and the modern singer-songwriter: a shared immediacy, a delight in word-setting and a fearless mix of high art and street culture.
For Olivia, this is not classical crossover but a radical reclamation – a conversation across centuries that feels startlingly fresh. Tonight’s show is part of a tour heralding the upcoming Purcell album, as this modern English songwriter, now 44, reimagines Purcell’s works in a refreshingly natural and contemporary way, alongside original compositions and a chamber ensemble.
“It’s kind of a home show, as I’ve lived in York for seven years,” says Olivia. “My now husband [George Younge] was a lecturer in medieval history at the university, but he’s quit to be a furniture designer and maker, with his workshop in Escrick, though we may be moving from York.
“For this concert, I’ve been corresponding with Delma (NCEM director Delma Tomlin] and thought how nice it would be to combine with the York Festival of Ideas.
“I’ve played a few shows in York before, but usually at the Sir Jack Lyons Concert Hall [at the University of York].”
Olivia, however, also took part in a poignant concert on February 28 at the NCEM, where Eliza Carthy and Special Guests performed The Songs of Martin Carthy in celebration of the Robin Hood’s Bay folk titan’s 60-year legacy.
“It was a really emotional night, and I did something – I wept,” she recalls. “We’d just done The Life & Songs of Martin Carthy, a huge event at EartH Theatre, in Hackney, in September put on with Jon Wilks, with all the great and good of the folk world, Maddy Prior, Billy Bragg, Peggy Seeger, Martin Simpson, Eliza, Martin, and video contributions by Paul Weller, Van Dyke Parks and Bob Dylan. That one was particularly moving, Dylan saying Martin was a huge influence on him.”
Since then, Olivia had been to America to record her next album. “I came home, jumped in the shower and headed to the NCEM to pay tribute to Martin. I hadn’t expected him to be there [given his health], but then I saw him shuffling out of the green room to watch the concert. It was such a moving night.”
Now, Sons Of Art finds Olivia renewing her creative partnership with New York producer-pianist Thomas Bartlett. “The first album I made with him was called Shelter,” she says. “I’d written it on the North York Moors at Hawnby – before I lived in Yorkshire – when I’d been touring heavily in America and wanted to get away from everything. I had a Bechstein piano that my friends helped me transport there, then I had this surreal experience of writing songs in this bucolic setting and then recording them in mid-Manhattan!”
The release of next album Circus Of Desire, was delayed by Covid’s intervention, being held back until 2024. In the hiatus, her Six French Songs EP emerged in 2023.
“My third album with Thomas [the aforementioned Sons Of Art] will come out next year, and this season’s shows are a signposting of the start of the project: one that I’ve wanted to do for more than a decade, revisiting Purcell.”
Meanwhile, Olivia’s profile has been heightened by the presence of her stark, haunting rendition of the 19th century traditional folk ballad Dark Eyed Sailor in a pivotal scene in Emerald Fennell’s outre film “Wuthering Heights”.
“In a sense, I can’t answer completely how it came about in that the director ‘stumbled across the song’, like how after I made Six French Songs, French director Andre Techine – who had Catherine DeNeuve in all his films – found my song Auprès de ma Blonde, one of the first things I put on YouTube, which I then re-recorded for him.” she says. “The film was premiered at Cannes but never got taken up, so I’ve never seen it.”
Back to Emerald… “Having seen other movies by both Andre and Emerald, I think they were each looking for music to drive their narrative, so maybe that’s why Emerld settled on Dark Eyed Sailor, which she decided would be in “Wuthering Heights” right from the beginning.”
What’s more, Emerald was insistent on using the version she had first heard, rather than a new recording. Namely, Olivia’s recording to harmonium accompaniment for BBC Radio 2’s The Folk Show, made on May 22 2013. “There’s something about the rawness of radio sessions, and that was my first ever live session for Mark Radcliffe’s show,” she says.
“I remember painting my nails on the way to the studio, and I guess that session was the beginning of me finding my sound, delving back into folk music.
“In a way it’s a surprise that Emerald hasn’t chosen something from my albums, but she ended up using the song twice, once when Cathy realises she has married the wrong man, and then later an instrumental version, orchestrating out my harmonium.”
How did Olivia react when she attended the premiere. “What was a big surprise was that I thought it might be a little bit imperceptible, or be swamped by all the other music [by Charli xcx], but I was struck by how spare it was, so that you could hardly hear my harmonium,” she says.
“Emily Brontë’s novel is in my top ten, and I thought, ‘how can they use this happy song?’, but Emerald uses it so cleverly, where it’s seven years since Heathcliff went away and has now returned, so the theme is fidelity, as so many songs about sailors and soldiers are.”
Olivia reckons Fennel’s previous work, Saltburn, is superior. ““Wuthering Heights” is so ambitious, so hard to pull off, but where it maybe fails is in its humour,” she says. “But then there is no humour in my work. I’m not into humour in my art. I like humour but I want to be moved by art.”
Olivia Chaney, Sons Of Art: Purcell Revisited, National Centre for Early Music, Walmgate, York, June 5, 7.30pm. SOLD OUT.
Olivia Chaney: back story
BORN in Florence to a writer and painter-turned-academic, Olivia grew up listening to everything from Prince to Joni Mitchell to Henry Purcell.
This eclectic mix of influences sparked a passion for song-writing that she nurtured at Chetham’s School of Music and The Royal Academy.
After showcasing at SXSW and a stint as lead singer for electronica outfit Zero 7, she signed with Nonesuch, leading to collaborations with Kronos Quartet and a Grammy nomination for Offa Rex, The Queen Of Hearts, a collection of Fairport Convention-era classics made with Portland, Oregon band The Decemberists in 2017.
Olivia’s first solo album, 2015’s The Longest River, produced by Leo Abrahams, was followed by 2018’s Shelter, recorded in New York City with producer-pianist Thomas Bartlett. Both explored inherited trauma, the clash of tradition and modernity and the paradoxes of love.
In 2023 came Six French Songs, her spontaneous set ofFrench chanson, from medieval ballad to 1960s’ pop, made over two summer evenings at Reservoir Studios with Bartlett and violinist Sam Amidon.
YORK street photographer Alison Jagger is the second artist selected by RARE Collective to exhibit at WET Bar & Plates, in Micklegate, York.
“Yorkshire born and bred, Alison has always had a deep connection with all forms of art,” says exhibition curator and York artist Sharon McDonagh. “However her main passion lies in street photography.”
As a solo traveller and self-confessed free spirit, Jagger draws inspiration from the urban landscape, whose vibrancy she loves to capture with her camera.
High Five, by Alison Jagger
“There is nothing better than waking up in an unfamiliar city and recording its character, colour and vibrancy through my curious lens,” says Alison, whose eye for detail and distinctive style has been featured in many online exhibitions.
The RARE Collective’s ongoing programme of solo exhibition at James Wall and Ella Williams’ indie wine bar and restaurant is run in aid of SASH (Safe and Sound Homes), the York youth homelessness charity.
First up was Leeds abstract surrealist Nicholas Dixon’s RARE v WET show; now After The Crowds will run until June 3.
York street photographer Alison Jagger
Here Alison Jagger discusses street photography, mobile phone cameras, Brutalist architecture and solo travels with CharlesHutchPress.
How did the exhibition at WET come to fruition, Alison?
“I was fortunate enough to be approached by Sharon McDonagh from @rarecollective. She asked me if I wanted to be involved in the exhibition, being a local street photographer. It was an absolute pleasure to work with such a professional and creative curator.”
What camera do you use and why?
“I use my mobile phone for most of my photography. I enjoy the immediacy and discretion it offers, especially for street photography, as it helps me capture authentic moments and atmosphere in a very natural way.”
Full Set, by Alison Jagger
What makes a good photograph?
“A good photograph is a combination of things, colour, tone, atmosphere and composition, but for me it also needs to tell a story or suggest a moment. I like images that make people pause for a second and feel something beyond what’s simply in the frame.”
Why have you called the WET exhibition After The Crowds?
“Because the photographs focus on the seaside in winter, what’s left when the tourists have gone home. I’m drawn to the quieter atmosphere, the empty spaces and the mood that appears once the busy summer season has disappeared and everything has essentially closed for business.”
Why do you enjoy travelling solo: what are the advantages?
“I’m very independent, and travelling solo allows me to explore places at my own pace. For photography especially, I find it easier to stay open to unexpected moments and simply follow my instincts. The whole concept of free spirit is how I love to live.”
Hang Cone, by Alison Jagger
How would you define street photography?
“Street photography is about capturing a moment where everything comes together- the light, mood, atmosphere and human presence. For me, it’s also about finding the extraordinary in ordinary everyday scenes and encouraging people to look at familiar things in a different way.”
Where would you like to photograph that you are yet to do so?
“A recent trip to Bratislava sparked my interest in Brutalist architecture and stark urban environments. I’d now love to photograph some of the well-known Brutalist locations in London.”
Where else will you be exhibiting in 2026?
“Moving forward in 2026, I will be involved in several more exhibitions curated by RARE Collective. Namely City Screen Picturehouse, York, along with artists Sharon McDonagh (spAm) and DJ Sola. Also I’ll be exhibiting at Acomb Fest in July.”
Jeff Clark: Creative director of Art Of Protest Projects
INTERNATIONAL mural artists will deliver York’s first creative mural festival at the Acomb Fest from July 3 to 5.
Run by Art Of Protest Projects and York & North Yorkshire Combined Authority, the three-day event will add up to 15 venues, four live mural paintings, ten art installations, more than 30 bands, DJs and performers, plus paint jam and spray battles, in a packed programme of creative events for all ages.
Watch the live paints with headliners including Australia superstar SMUG, known as “the world’s best photorealistic artist”; Sheffield muralist Peachzz, 2024 runner-up for Best Mural in the World; leading wildlife artist Curtis Hylton and returnee Acomb superstar Sledone.
“Look out for surprise renowned acts and secret pop-ups to follow for some pre-festival installations that will create a nature-inspired open-air art gallery,” says Art Of Protest creative director Jeff Clark.
Creative events and activities will be centred on Front Street, Acomb, with free street art workshops. Venues include Bluebird Bakery, SoJo, The Tap and The Fox, connecting all the green spaces and parks.
Each venue will have its own bespoke offer with individual tickets and availability being released on the Acomb Fest website, with live announcements to follow for details of bush craft, nature art, water art and artist talks.
Rare Collective will deliver DJs; nine artists will showcase their skills in live spray battles at the Carlton Tavern; a community cinema will run at Acomb Explore library and a spoken-word event at Book and Bevs.
A full programme of family-friendly free activities will be held at Acomb Methodist Church; That Acomb Arty Thing will host an artist market; the Gateway Church will mount art exhibitions and Fishponds Wood will run mini-beast trails.
Further events will be local history tours, light installations in Holgate Windmill and pop-up stalls run by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and York Civic Trust.
There will be specialist food and drink offerings throughout the festival, including Spirit Of Yorkshire and an international mixologist. Tickets and listings will become available at https://acombfest.co.uk/
Acomb Fest was shaped by speaking to more than 1,100 residents, leading to the theme of returning to nature. The festival was made possible by funding from York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund, Great Acomb Community Forum, City of York Council, York St John University, York and business and the community.
David Skaith, Mayor of York and North Yorkshire, says: “High streets are constantly changing, but they have, and always will be, hubs for our communities. That’s why I’m backing community-led projects across York and North Yorkshire.
“Like Acomb Fest, which will transform Front Street, Acomb, into an open-air gallery and event centre, creating legacy and vibrancy through co-production, talent development and sustainability.
“Residents and businesses understand most of what is needed in their communities, and I am proud to be backing their plans with my Vibrant and Sustainable High Street Fund.”
If you would like to be involved, please email acombfest.aop@gmail.com. Creative director Jeff Clark says: This is an inclusive project, so we would love to hear from community groups and businesses that would like to deliver activities during the festival or host events.
“We are keen to transform and uplift the area, so will be creating a wall library, so please get in touch if you have a wall to paint. We are here to celebrate local creatives so will be arranging a programme of events for artists to exhibit and be part of the festival.
“We are also keen for local musicians to come forward to perform at one of the local venues. There will be volunteer opportunities as well as the talent development programme.”
Leeds abstract surrealist Nicolas Dixon, outside WET, in Micklegate, York, where his exhibition launches the RARE v WET venture tomorrow
RARE, York artist and event organiser Sharon McDonagh’s new venture, will hold its launch party tomorrow at WET, the independent wine bar and restaurant in Micklegate, York.
Known as a key organiser of 2023 to 2025’s groundbreaking Educated Vandals, Rise Of The Vandals and VandalFest charity street art events in the disused office block on Low Ousegate, Sharon has teamed up with friend and fellow artist/DJ Sola as RARE Collective to continue their mission to champion the overlooked, the creatives, the independents and the underdogs while supporting York charities.
Opening tomorrow at 6pm, the first project is the debut RARE v WET art exhibition in support of SASH (Safe and Sound Homes), featuring Leeds abstract surrealist Nicolas Dixon, on show until April 22. Further solo exhibitions by artists from Yorkshire and beyond will be held there, from which a percentage of sales will go to the charity.
WET proprietors James Wall, left, and Ella Williams with RARE Collective organiser Sharon McDonagh and Leeds abstract surrealist Nicolas Dixon at Thursday’s launch
“RARE Collective will be collaborating with other creatives and businesses that rewrite the rules of events, art and community culture in York and are looking forward to working with Art of Protest, who are curating the forthcoming Acomb Fest in July,” says Sharon.
“I’m incredibly excited to launch this new venture and to have the freedom to collaborate with other creatives, curate exhibitions and street art events and organise collaborations and workshops through RARE Collective in support of SASH and other local charities. It carries the same ethos, passion and hard graft as before, just with a new crew and fresh energy.
“What drives me is the opportunity to use creativity and experience to bring people together: organising events, working with artists and creatives, and supporting young people and adults from all backgrounds to have a voice, share their work and raise funds that can genuinely make a difference.”
DJ/artist Sola: Linking up with Sharon McDonagh to launch RARE Collective
Sharon continues: “After working with SASH on our last two events, it’s a real pleasure to collaborate with their fantastic team again. Over the past three years, we’ve been humbled by the incredible artists, DJs, volunteers and businesses who have supported what we do, and we’re excited to continue building on that momentum.
“We’re also grateful to our sponsors, Mack and Lawler Ltd and York Digital Image, whose continued financial support makes these events possible.”
Looking forward to tomorrow’s launch, artist, DJ and RARE member Sola says: “It’s great to team up with Sharon and be part of RARE Collective. We’ve been friends for several years and I’m humbled to be able to present such an amazing array of local music talents, from DJs to producers, and help connect the dots between music and visual arts.
Nicolas Dixon at work on a mural
“As Sola, I combine all these elements when producing my own artworks and am excited for what lies ahead.”
WET was opened by Ella Williams and James Wall on October 15 last year. “At WET, we’re a tiny team – we’ve just taken on our first employee – running a wine bar/restaurant in the centre of York on Micklegate,” say Ella and James.
“We prioritise seasonal cooking in our small plates, with lots of offal and North Yorkshire produce. Our wine list focuses on smaller growers, lower intervention bottles and changes once a week. There’s a popular roast every Sunday, and regular vinyl nights keep things exciting.
RARE Collective artist and co-organiser Sharon McDonagh, left, with Pam Anthony and Aimee Harding from SASH
“We met working in hospitality and have always championed independents. We’re happy to be a part of an ever-changing and growing York food, drink and cultural scene. We are therefore really happy to be able to collaborate with RARE Collective to host art exhibitions in support of local youth homeless charity SASH.”
The first artist in the RARE v WET spotlight is Leeds-born, internationally acclaimed abstract surrealist Nicolas Dixon, whose murals and artworks are known all over the world.
Closer to home, his large-scale murals have become landmarks in Leeds, including at Kirkgate Market, Trinity Shopping Centre and the University of Leeds, as well as several Leeds United tributes, such as the 1972 FA Cup Winners mural at Elland Road and the iconic Bielsa the Redeemer mural at the Pet Lodge Superstore, on Oldfield Lane, Wortley, featuring former Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa in the style of Rio de Janeiro’s Christ the Redeemer statue.
Nicolas Dixon’s 2020 mural Bielsa the Redeemer on Oldfield Lane, Wortley, Leeds
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be teaming up with RARE Collective and WET in support of SASH for the first in a series of exhibitions at WET hosted by RARE,” says Nicolas. “Having worked with Sharon at last year’s charity street art event Vandalfest in York, it was a no-brainer when she asked if I’d like to be the first artist to exhibit for her exciting new collective.
“The show will feature a mixture of new and older work – prints and originals. It should look pretty special in this cool space on Micklegate. It’s great to be supporting SASH and hopefully raise some funds to contribute to the amazing work they do for the youth homeless community in York. Really looking forward to it. See you there.”
SASH says: “We are really excited to be able to work with Sharon again; she always goes above and beyond to ensure her projects come together and is an absolute pleasure to work with. She feels like an extension of the SASH team!
“Sharon always brings such a positive attitude and energy to make things happen, getting results and making a real difference to the lives of those around her and the communities she works with. Her new venture with Sola is a fresh take on what they have already built over the past few years and we are looking forward to working with RARE Collective.”
Among the works on sale will be original paintings of Pareidolia, Angels Gate, Untitled, Hook Lined And Sinkered, Beat In Time, VandalFest 01, VandalFest 02, No Input No Output, Shortcut and Calmer Shores, plus limited-edition prints of Cayatano’s Round Table, Chimera, Bielsa The Redeemer and Nightmare On War. For sales, contact sharon@rarecollective.co.uk.
Artist Nicolas Dixon
Nicolas Dixon: Back story
ABSTRACT surrealist, born in Leeds, whose work spans continents, with murals and artworks on display in Ibiza, Melbourne, New York, Barcelona, Antwerp, Sierra Leone, Tanzania and Goa.
His large-scale murals have become landmarks in Leeds, from Kirkgate Market to Trinity Leeds, University of York to Bielsa the Redeemer in Wortley, hailed by Goal magazine as one of the most famous murals in world football.
Alongside his international work, Nicolas has completed high-profile commissions, most notably being selected by Universal Studios as one of six artists to transform Brick Lane, London, into “Yellow Brick Lane” for the global launch of the film Wicked: For Good.
Nicolas Dixon‘s artworks on show at WET in York
Deeply bonded to the underground house music scene, Nicolas has collaborated with clubs in the UK and Ibiza, including Pacha and Octan, where his 50m mural was created atop the entire club, as well as working with DJ/producers such as Nightmares On Wax and Eats Everything.
He has partnered with Rhodes Music, inventors of the electric piano associated with Stevie Wonder, Paul McCartney, Elton John, Ray Manzarek and Ray Charles, creating a hand-painted edition of their MK8 model, along with a run of 40 limited-edition versions. He has collaborated with Technics too, hand-painting their iconic 1210 turntables.
The poster for Nicolas Dixon’s exhibition on all the walls at WET, Micklegate, York
Noted for his biomorphic shapes, bold colour schemes and instantly recognisable style, Nicolas has worked with major brands such as Adidas, Ribble Bikes, Disney/Star Wars, Jägermeister, BBC, Team GB and the NHS.
Last July, his first-floor collaboration with Bristol graffiti and street art pioneer Inkie was a highlight of VandalFest at Low Ousegate, York.
As an ambassador for the charity Last Night A DJ Saved My Life, he leads art workshops and mural projects with street-affected youth in Africa.
“We are the greatest in the land”: Nicolas Dixon’s mural of Leeds United’s 1972 FA Cup winners at Elland Road
