search
date/time
Lancashire Times
A Voice of the Free Press
frontpagebusinessartscarslifestylefamilytravelsportsscitechnaturefictionCartoons
No cookies. No tracking. No advertising.
all articlesBooksComedyDanceFestivalsFilmMusicOperaTheatreVisual arts
In conversation with Mogwai's Barry Burns
Grammy Award-winning producer John Congleton joined Mogwai in the studio as they recorded their upcoming album, The Bad Fire, in Lanarkshire. A Scottish colloquialism for Hell, The Bad Fire draws inspiration from a series of tough personal moments that the band found themselves in following on from their chart-topping tenth album, 2021’s As The Love Continues. The band continued to work through this, leading to the creation of The Bad Fire: a collection of songs that forego nostalgia and easy victories, once again finding Mogwai pushing forward with some of the most beautiful and explosive songs of their career. In support of the record, Mogwai will embark on a world tour throughout 2025. To learn more, we caught up with the band's Barry Burns.
Mogwai Photo: Steve Gullick
Interview
Books
Mick Herron Awarded CWA Diamond Dagger
Mike Herron
Mick Herron is the 2025 recipient of the Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger - the highest accolade in the genre. The award recognises authors whose crime writing careers have been marked by sustained excellence, and who have made a significant contribution to the genre.
1:00 AM 24th January 2025
Visual arts
WOVEN Festival Returns To Kirklees For 2025
Assorted embroideries from Kirstie Macleod Spiders web), Mariel Osborne, Hand Lock and FanSina 2009 - 2020 Photo:_Sophia Schorr-Kon
WOVEN, the biennial festival celebrating textile heritage and innovation in Kirklees, will take place from 1 to 30 June 2025. Established in 2019, the festival has helped communities across Kirklees celebrate the region’s textile heritage and find out more about the future of textiles in the region and further afield.
4:12 PM 23rd January 2025
Review
Franz Ferdinand - Still In Prime Condition With Triumphant Manchester Return
Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
Franz Ferdinand
When Franz Ferdinand rose to prominence over twenty years ago, the Scottish band brought a much-needed boost to the indie-guitar rock scene with their brand of melodic songs laced with barbed wire hooks and youthful exuberance.
6:04 PM 22nd January 2025
Harmony Works Secures £3.5m
Canada House
Harmony Works Trust has secured £3.5 million in funding from Arts Council England to transform the historic Canada House in Sheffield city centre into a vibrant new home for music education.
1:00 AM 22nd January 2025
Opinion
Poem Of The Week: October Dawn By Ted Hughes (1930-1998)
October Dawn October is marigold, and yet A glass half full of wine left out To the dark heaven all night, by dawn Has dreamed a premonition Of ice across its eye as if The ice-age had begun its heave. The lawn overtrodden and strewn From the night before, and the whistling green Shrubbery are doomed. Ice Has got its spearhead into place.
1:00 AM 20th January 2025
Interview
In Conversation With Harriet
Often compared to the legendary Karen Carpenter, storytelling songstress Harriet is set to celebrate ‘70s nostalgia as she kicks off her extensive 2025 UK headline tour later this month, having completely sold out all her live shows last year, and with 2024 culminating in three special Christmas shows in London as special guest of former Pop Idol winner Will Young. For Harriet, this new headline UK tour presents an opportunity for personal rediscovery: to dig deep into her record collection and reconnect with the songs that first inspired her to pursue a life in music. To learn more, we caught up with Harriet.
1:00 AM 20th January 2025
Interview
In Conversation: Jason Donovan Doin' Fine 25
It’s been 36 years since Jason Donovan released his first single, the No.5-charting Nothing Can Divide Us. Already a star through his role as Scott Robinson in Neighbours, he followed this hit up with a string of successful releases, including the Kylie Minogue duet Especially For You, and the chart-topping Too Many Broken Hearts and Sealed With A Kiss. Currently touring with The Rocky Horror Picture Show, he’s recently announced he’s going back on the road next year, for the Doin’ Fine 25 tour.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Visual arts
Claire Baxter’s Beautiful Worlds Of Art
Andrew Liddle talks to a Harrogate lass voted one of the Most Popular Published Artists.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Books
‘There She Stands / As If Alive’: The Marriage Portrait By Maggie O’Farrell
Artis-Ann 
Features Writer
This novel is loosely based on Robert Browning’s poem My Last Duchess which itself is based on what is known of the true story of Alfonso, Duke of Ferrara, who was believed to have murdered (or ordered the murder of) his young wife, Lucrezia di Cosimo de Medici.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Review
Albums: Tremonti The End Will Show Us How
Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
He appears to possess a talent for crafting melodic rock tunes with a hint of Black Sabbath and contemporary bands like Nickelback, Black Stone Cherry, and, predictably, Alter Bridge.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: Anna Lapwood
Andrew Palmer
Group Editor
The recording showcases a choir operating at exceptional levels of musicianship. Under Lapwood's direction, their sound is characterised by immaculate tonal control, masterful dynamic balance, and phrase-shaping that would impress in any context, let alone from young performers.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: Dvořák Symphonies 5 & 6
Andrew Palmer
Group Editor
If this release is any indication, the MSO's complete Dvořák cycle promises to be a significant addition to the catalogue, offering fresh perspectives on these less familiar symphonic landscapes.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: William Walton Complete Song Collection
Here, rising soprano Siân Dicker and pianist Krystal Tunnicliffe present a compelling case for Walton's overlooked contribution to the English art song repertoire.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Interview
From Pop Idol To Producer: Gareth Gates Takes Centre Stage In A New Chapter
Group Editor Andrew Palmer caught up with Gareth Gates at York Barbican ahead of two new shows he is bringing to the north.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: The Brüggen Project - Lucie Horsch
What sets this album apart is Horsch's extraordinary deployment of fifteen different period recorders – ranging from sopranino to tenor – each bringing its own distinct voice to the carefully curated repertoire. The inherent fragility of these historical instruments adds an element of dramatic tension; some pieces could only sustain two complete takes before risking damage to these precious artifacts.
1:00 AM 18th January 2025
Music
The Wombats & Ocean Colour Scene Announced To Headline 'At Trentham'
Trentham has announced that The Wombats will headline the opening night of a brand-new concert series, At Trentham, on Thursday 29th May 2025. The concert series forms part of the Stoke 100 celebrations, they will be joined by Pale Waves and Red Rum Club, delivering an unmissable night of live music against the stunning backdrop of one of the Midlands’ most iconic outdoor venues.
5:02 PM 17th January 2025
Review
It's Easy To Love Life With Opera North
Richard Trinder
Managing Editor
Stephanie Corley as Susan Cooper. Photo: James Glossop
Opera North's production of Weill and Lerner's Love Life has opened at Leeds' Grand Theatre. With all the classic showbizzy razzmatazz you might expect of a Weill and Lerner piece, this one allows Opera North to let its collective hair down and explode with American cheesiness.
9:56 AM 17th January 2025
Books
‘Where There Are No Men, There Cannot Be Motives Accessible To Men’*. Clifford D. Simak’s The Visitors
James Goodall
Features Writer
I discovered Clifford D. Simak’s The Visitors while browsing classic sci-fi art on Twitter/X. They say you should never judge a book by its cover, lest you discard a potential classic in error. An uninspiring dust jacket won’t always reflect the quality of the pages within; conversely, a jazzy sleeve won’t guarantee a literary masterpiece. Intrigued, I decided to seek out a copy.
1:00 AM 15th January 2025
Colin Neville’s Decade Of Art For The People
Andrew Liddle
Guest Writer
When Colin Neville began his big arts’ project in Bradford, he little imagined that its tenth anniversary would fittingly coincide with the 2025 City of Culture status. ‘What started as a small local project confined to Silsden is now district wide. I thought it would keep me busy for a few weeks, and here we are - a decade on.
1:01 AM 14th January 2025
Festivals
Bradford 2025: The UK City Of Culture Rises With A Spectacular Launch
Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
Photo: David Levene/ Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture
For the last twelve months, Bradford has been having a bit of a spruce-up in readiness for a year in the limelight as the UK City of Culture 2025. Despite the upheaval that comes with renovation and refurbishment, many residents have referred to Bradford as the City of Clutter. Will it all be worth it? Ask that question in twelve months time, and you might have an affirmative answer.
1:00 AM 14th January 2025
King Effers &The Puncturists Heading For Sheffield
In 2019, having got fed up with censorship and silly social media algorithms, Sheffield’s long standing politico-punks The F*kwits changed their name to King Effers, perhaps a little easier on the tongue. Mr Keef and Chris (The F*kwits) were joined by Tank (Freekspert) on drums, and Muzz (Artery/Faerground Accidents) on bass.
1:00 AM 13th January 2025
Music
Heinous Whining Presents...
And now for something completely different! What a way to start my live music adventures for the year, taking in a Heinous Whining Presents event for the first time. I’ve been aware of the Heinous Whining events for a while but had not been to one. As a goal for the year, I went to Wharf Chambers in Leeds in the freezing weather for the first event.
1:00 AM 13th January 2025
Books
Poem Of The Week: Waiting For Spring By Robin Hargreaves
Waiting for Spring No song rides on the chill breeze this morning and the oak and hazel keep their buds tight, tucked up their sleeves like tiny hands. I’m counting the impatient days with only the nodding snowdrop to show for winter’s end. It can’t be long until the bracken uncurls to breathe the wild garlic and the bluebells play their blue notes under the wind-borne curlew’s call.
1:03 AM 11th January 2025
Review
Albums: Crossbone Skully - Evil World Machine
While the album is described as a concept album, each song stands up in its own right, from the title track, which also comes with the deep drum sound of Def Leppard, to the Alice Cooper-like Ima A Bone Machine.
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Visual arts
From Stainforth To Saltburn – A Yorkshire Artist’s Journey Of Self-Discovery
Andrew Liddle
Guest Writer
Saltburn from the cliffs - Andy Hawkins
Andrew Liddle talks to a local artist whose paintings of the Heritage Coast win countless admirers
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Visual arts
York Minster To Be Illuminated With York Wildlife For Colour & Light 2025
York Minster
York BID has announced the return of the acclaimed Colour & Light, set to transform the iconic South Transept of York Minster from Wednesday 12th February to Sunday 2nd March 2025. This year’s free event will celebrate the beauty of York’s wildlife, creating an unforgettable event for all ages, and highlighting the city’s heritage and creativity.
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Interview
The Gaffa Tapes Tour: Mark Thomas In Conversation
Mark Thomas Photo: Tony Pletts
You’re known for your political comedy, do you think comedy is an ideal platform to raise issues? Yes. Comedy is one of the few places where freedom of speech allows us to say what we want. Indeed it encourages us and expects us to do that.
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: Wolf Hall - Wolf Hall - The Mirror And The Light
Andrew Palmer
Group Editor
How does Debbie Wiseman do it? Her scores are always alluring, drawing the listener into the heart of the story. She manages to capture the essence with compositions that seem to radiate presence and make time stand still while at the same time having an immediacy.
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Music
Classical Music: Busoni Violin Sonatas & Four Bagatelles
Lombardi’s dynamics in the 'Andante piuttisti grave' are perfectly judged, and as she lifts her hands from the keys, Dego rounds off the short movement with aplomb. The pair masterfully expresses the quiet ending.
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: Brahms early & Late Piano Works
Brahms early & Late Piano Works Llŷr Williams Klaviersonate in f minor Op. 5; Klavierstücke Op. 118; Fantasias Op. 116; Variations on a Theme by Robert Schumann Op. 9; Drei Intermezzi Op. 117; Klavierstücke Op.
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: Schubert Piano Works, Vol. 7
Playing a Steinway Model D (578 346) concert grand, he captures the spirit of the sonatas, delivering each one’s character with meticulous dynamics, lyricality, and vitality
1:00 AM 11th January 2025
Theatre
Sleeping Beauty Awakens At The Muni, Colne
Wisely, the Colne panto at the Muni Theatre runs during the first two weeks of the new year, and for 2025, Sleeping Beauty continues to light up the dark days of winter, bringing cheer to young and old with an enjoyable and entertaining show where the six performers—four dancers and two circus acts—give a refreshing slant on the whole panto experience.
8:43 AM 9th January 2025
Books
Children's Book Review: Sky Surfing: Adventures In A Poetry Balloon
Steve Whitaker
Literary Editor
Nothing is better calculated to contradict a critical adult view of a children’s poetry anthology than the small person at whom the book is aimed.
1:00 AM 8th January 2025
Books
Poem Of The Week: Winter Morning By Richard Meier
Steve Whitaker
Literary Editor
Winter Morning Shyly coated in greys, blacks, browns - to keep us out of sight of the cold - we weren't expecting this this morning: sun and shadows, like a summer's evening, like summer teasing.
6:42 AM 6th January 2025
Music
Magnum To Play Northern Show In Tribute To Their Late Guitarist And Songwriter
Magnum Photo: Rob Barrow
Few great bands can be identified in the first few bars of their songs. With their unique melodic skill, their tasteful instrumentation, the right balance of depth and catchiness, and, of course, that charismatic voice, Magnum falls into this category of rock royalty. The British rock band was eFormed in 1972 by songwriter/guitarist Tony Clarkin and singer Bob Catley.
1:00 AM 6th January 2025
Review
Albums: Now Eighties Dancefloor Synth
Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
The New Order track, Blue Monday, which opens up this double pack vinyl collection, became the biggest-selling 12” single of all time.
1:00 AM 4th January 2025
Books
Nature Connects: The Great Riverbank Robbery By Martin Kiszko
Watership Down meets Tales of the Riverbank meets Wind in the Willows - a walk along the river will never be the same again after you have read this novel.
1:00 AM 4th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: Franck Symphony In D Minor
There are some lovely sounds from the Berlin Philharmoniker, as the musicians bring out all the colour in this wonderful symphony through Barenboim's focus on tempi, allowing a number of beautiful moments with a warm depth to permeate.
1:00 AM 4th January 2025
Review
Classical Music: Mozart: Viola Concerto & Sinfonia Concertante
The textures of Mei's viola and tone, which are obviously different from the solo instrument Mozart originally wrote it for, offer a sound that is no less full of colour, and the vibrato adds another dimension.
1:00 AM 4th January 2025
Film
Silver Screen Weekly - What's Coming Up At The Cinema From Friday 3rd January
Our film critic and media correspondent has been looking and trawling the new releases. Here's what you can see on the big screen this week.
1:51 PM 3rd January 2025
Theatre
Spend Spend Spend
Graham Clark
Music Features Writer
Rose Galbraith & Alex James Hatton Photo: Helen Murray
When Castleford's Viv Nicholson won £152,319 (equivalent to £4.3 million in today's money) on the football pools in September 1961 with her husband Keith she became a famous figure. When asked by the media what she was going to do with her winnings, she replied, “Spend, spend, spend," but after the champagne stopped flowing, money didn’t always bring happiness.
12:00 PM 3rd January 2025
Visual arts
The National Science And Media Museum Will Be Displaying Its First Digitally Born Object, A Meme
The object is a social media post originally created by The Museum of English Rural Life (The MERL) part of the University of Reading in 2018. The meme features an image of a large Exmoor Horn ram from their photography collection, taken in 1962, with the caption “look at this absolute unit”.
2:59 PM 1st January 2025
Music
Creativity Under Pressure: Bradford Cathedral Announces Events For First Third Of Bradford 2025
Tickets are now available for events taking place between January and April 2025 at Bradford Cathedral as part of the UK City of Culture year. The first wave of events at Bradford Cathedral during the first four months of the UK City of Culture year have just been announced, and will include a play, a talk, tours, an exhibition, music recitals, and much more.
2:36 PM 1st January 2025
Remembering Johnnie Walker
Johnnie Walker IMage: BBC Radio 2
Johnnie was right there at the beginning of pirate radio in the sixties, with his career starting on Swinging Radio England before moving on to Radio Caroline. After this he went on to join Radio 1 in 1969 until the mid-seventies. You always knew that Johnnie was more interested in the music he played than becoming a star himself.
8:43 AM 1st January 2025
Review
Top Gigs Of 2024
This has very much felt like a bit of a vintage year for me, gigs-wise. Totting up and reflecting back has been an exercise in revelling in the enjoyment of live music that I’ve experienced across 2024.
6:20 AM 31st December 2024
Music
Best 60 Albums of the Year 2024 - 20 to 1
2024 has seen the debate of chart relevance sparked once again. With numerous albums having seen several songs peak in the Top 10 of the Singles chart due to streaming figures in their initial week, many have deemed the charts redundant. Whether you agree with those discussions or not, we thought we would share our own chart for you. This is our official run down of our Top 60 albums of 2024...
12:00 AM 31st December 2024
Music
Top 60 Albums of the Year 2024 - 40 to 21
2024 has seen the debate of chart relevance sparked once again. With numerous albums having seen several songs peak in the Top 10 of the Singles chart due to streaming figures in their initial week, many have deemed the charts redundant. Whether you agree with those discussions or not, we thought we would share our own chart for you.
1:00 AM 30th December 2024
Music
Top 60 Albums of the Year 2024 - 60 to 41
Although a 2023 release, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess has not just dominated our playlist, but everyone's playlist in 2024. While it does not qualify for our countdown, it would have certainly been in the upper echelons had it been released this year. To celebrate, here is one of the stand-outs.
10:41 PM 28th December 2024
Books
Christmas Poem Of The Week: Unto Us A Child is Born By Beth Brooke
Steve Whitaker
Literary Editor
Image by Birmingham Museums Trust on Unsplash
Unto Us A Child Is Born Triptych egg tempura on oak panels Traditional as a devotional aid, this triptych of the birth of Christ is re-presented in the modern idiom: pregnancy test in Mary's hand, Joseph in running kit, this is a low key Annunciation. In the central panel the Holy Infant, delivered by Caeserean section, is handed to his mother by an angel in scrubs.
1:00 AM 24th December 2024
more
Page created Fri Jan 24, 07:00pm