HOWDEN LIVE is a volunteer-run, charity registered, organisation with a fundamental ethos of " enjoying live entertainment in the company of others".
In 1984, Howden school joined with Howden Parish Council to promote touring theatre and some music, subsidised by the then Lincolnshire and Humberside Arts. In 1986 Howdenshire Live arts was formed. In 1988 Remould Theatre Company joined with HLA to produce the hugely successful community play, 'Reap The Whirlwind' as a consequence of which Howdenshire Live Arts, mark 2, was launched.
Image: Chris Difford
Over the years the emphasis shifted more towards music and towards the Shire Hall as the main venue, with a period of time seeing a lot of folk/world music,morphing into a sustained jazz age and then a natural progression to the inclusion of blues and folk. Running alongside all this there is also comedy, childrens theatre and drama.
All of this underpinned by funding from Howden Town Council The Arts Council, East Riding Of Yorkshire Council and Jazz Yorkshire.
We are constantly seeking to improve the Howden Live experience by updating and sometimes replacing sound and lighting equipment etc. Because of our volunteer-run, charity registered status, the only way we can do this is to plough profits from successful events and regular raffles back into the pot. We have found the most reliable of the two to be raffles, so if someone approaches you to buy a ticket at an event, please be generous!
A majority of musical events are presented with the audience seated at red cloth covered, candle lit tables. 100+ nights see a small part of the raked seating being utilised, more of those please! The overall effect is one of atmospheric intimacy, commented on by audiences and artists alike.
Image: SAHB
An indication of the quality of artist appearing in Howden is this list, Lillian Boutte, Alan Barnes, Herb Geller, Julie Edwards, the Groundhogs, Stan Webbs Chicken Shack, Linda Smith, Acoustic Strawbs, Waterson:Carthy, Mr Benn, Lindisfarne Acoustic, Paul Jones and Dave Kelly, Geno Washington, Kiki Dee, Snake Davis, Jim Diamond, Martin Simpson, Ian McMillan, Wilko Johnson, Chris Farlowe, Midge Ure, The Sensational Alex Harvy Band and Chris Difford.
This is by no means an exhaustive list and, whilst these are all well known names in their respective genres, we should not take anything away from the very, very high standard of other artistes and productions appearing at the hall.
To borrow a quote from a review of the Blue Bishops.... "It is my opinion that word of mouth is spreading good things about the Shire Hall-not just amongst the potential audience, but also within the bands on the UK blues scene"...... It would be reasonable to suggest this is a reputation which is prevalant amongst folk, jazz,indie and theatre audiences, in fact anyone who knows a good thing when they see it!
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Image: This rabbits not for disco dancing
Because of the increasing number of things going on in the Shire hall organised by Howden Live we are seeking to establish 'teams' of people to help out with front of house, promotions etc.
We have made a stuttering start to this already but if you fancy helping out in any way please make yourself known, either by phone or at one of the events you might attend. Just seek out any Howden Live person, we are dead easy to spot, just look for people with a haunted, hunted look about them.
Equally if you have any ideas about something you might like to see on in Howden feel free to come along to one of the fairly frequent open meetings to pitch your thoughts. If it is possible to help sort something out, we will.
A new departure for this year will be the introduction of some high quality drama productions, watch this space!
If you have ever been put off by labels on music or theatre please open up your eyes and ears and give us a whirl, you really would have to travel a long, long way to find anything comparable and of such high quality.
Please visit this site regularly as there is a fairly constant change of style, information and new events, it also keeps Mark happy. Keep an eye out for the rabbit.
Registered charity no. 1051928.
Image: Midge Ure
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