Welcome to the Howden Festival - 2008

Albert Alchemy
An exciting blend of humour, magical tricks and circus skills to entertain children of all ages. Albert will be helped by his tall friend Tom the Fool who will be stilt walking in the Market Place during the morning.
Saturday 13th September - Shire Hall, 2.30pm £3 (age 3 and over)

The Purcell Singers
Since being formed in 1994 by conductor and organist Mark Ford the Purcell Singers has become one of London's leading choirs and has performed extensively in major venues such as Southwark, St Alban's and St Paul's Cathedrals. The choir has a wide repertoire ranging from Gibbons to Britten via Bach and Poulenc. As well as concert and recital work the choir has a strong reputation in session and recording work. This evening they will perform Rachmaninov's 'Vespers'.
CHORAL SPECTACULAR - Saturday 13th September - Howden Minster, 7.45pm £12 (£10)
EVENSONG - Sunday 14th September - Howden Minster, 3.30 and free

‘Howden Comedy’

‘Howden Comedy’ returns to ‘Howden Festival’ for the third consecutive year, and assures to follow in the footsteps of previous successes, with more hilarious comedy than you can shake an above-average-length stick at!
Over the years, ‘Howden Comedy’ has featured acts that have gone on to appear regularly on TV, written BAFTA nominated comedy programmes, performed at the ‘Royal Variety’ and won countless awards for comedy, as well as having many successful solo shows at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Last year’s sell-out show featured comedians from Channel 4’s ‘Phoenix Nights’, award-winners, and the very best in new comedy talent. This year’s show promises to top the last, with three top-class comedians and a compere. (The line-up will be updated on the Howden Festival website as it is confirmed)

Sarah Millican:
The first act confirmed for Howden Comedy is Sarah Millican.
Sarah Millican is one of the top female stand-ups on the circuit today. Sarah has established herself as a crowd-pleasing act with well written material and a gentle delivery style which disguises her cutting observations on life, love and moving back in with your parents.

Winner: Amused Moose Comedy Awards 2005
Runner Up: So you think you’re Funny 2005
Runner Up: Funny Women 2005

Sarah has also recently been nominated for the coveted if.comeddie Best Newcomer at this year’s Edinburgh Festival for her debut show ‘Sarah Millican’s Not Nice’, which has received fantastic reviews: “…she surely has one of the highest gags-per-minute counts on the Fringe, with punchlines arriving every few beats with unwavering punctually. The effect of such an onslaught is irresistible, and laughs come thick and fast.” - **** Chortle
"…this sweet voiced Geordie has a winning style." – Chortle
"She had the audience roaring in recognition" – BBC Tees
“One of the hottest things in stand up” – Herald

Compere:
Resident compere and local comedian, Ian Smith, will be hosting the event. Since last year's Howden Festival, Ian has received a judge's commendation in the 'Otherside New Act of the Year Award' 2007 and reached the semi-finals of the 'Amused Moose Laugh Off' 2008. He is currently in the final of 'Hull Comedy Festival Comedian of the Year' and 'Chortle Student Comedy Awards'. The latter of which will take place at the Edinburgh Fringe, where he has also been chosen to appear in the 'official sell-out 2007' show, 'Amused Moose Hot Starlets'. He has also appeared on, arguably one of the worst TV channels, 'Nuts TV' and has written for BBC supported website, 'Audiotheque'. "Dark but cerebral comedy… deliciously repugnant" - Black Comedy at the Black Swan, "Had my jaw aching from laughing so much" - The Courier.

Sunday 14th September - Shire Hall, Start 8pm (Doors Open 7.30pm)
Tickets: £7/£5

David Houlder, Organist
Although born in Liverpool with strong Lancashire roots David is now based as Sub-Organist at Leeds Parish Church where he combines daily services, directing two choirs and a freelance career as a recitalist and accompanist. He is in great demand as accompanist to choral societies on both sides of the Pennines. His programme will include works by Saint-Saens, Bach, Vierne, Wood, Franck, Vaughan Williams, Bairstow and Jackson.
Monday 15th September - Howden Minster, 12.10pm Free

Matthew Read, Horologist
Internationally known local horological historian, clockmaker and conservator talks on the links between our locality and John Harrison, famous for his maritime chronometers and the quest to establish longitude.
Monday 15th September - Shire Hall, 6.00pm £5 (£4)

Hallgate Chamber Orchestra
Under conductor Carey Williams the Hallgate Chamber Orchestra has developed over the last 27 years from a small group of church musicians to an ensemble playing music of the baroque and classical periods as well as forays into the romantic and 20th century repertoire. Their programme will be drawn from works by Bach, Handel, Arne, Elgar and Vaughan Williams.
Monday 15th September - Howden Minster, 7.45pm £12 (£10)

Claire Jones - Harpist
Winner of the Welsh national Eisteddfod in 2006 harpist Claire Jones is currently a Masters student at the Royal Academy of Music. She has performed at the Welsh Assembly, Houses of Parliament as well as for royal audiences before being appointed Official Harpist to HRH the Prince of Wales. Earlier this year, playing with the ECO she premiered 'The Lazarus Requiem' by Patrick Hawes at the Cadogan Hall in London. Her recital will include works by Tchaikovsky and Bach.
Tuesday 16th September - Howden Minster, 12.10pm Free

Mike Smith
Mike Smith will be performing a series of poems written after a short visit to Lagos, Nigeria at the end of October 2004 with his colleague and friend Ben Brunwin. The poems tell the two men's stories as they experience the shock of what they encounter and are variously funny, dramatic, wistful and angry.
Tuesday 16th September - Shire Hall, 6pm £5 (£4)

Trinique
A truly unique combination of instruments, percussion, harp and clarinet. Dewi Ellis Jones, Claire Jones and Rhys Taylor will play their own arrangements of works by, amongst others, Saint-Saens, John Rutter and Paul Reade.
Tuesday 16th September - Howden Minster, 7.45pm £12 (£10))

Dewi Ellis Jones, Percussionist and Composer
Dewi graduated from the University of Wales, Bangor and went on to be awarded a doctorate having studied with Simone Rebello and Dame Evelyn Glennie. He is the first full time solo percussionist in Wales with other commitments in orchestral and brass band work. He is principal percussionist with Ensemble Cymru and also teaches at Bangor. His recital programme will include works by Dame Evelyn Glennie and Keiko Abe.
Wednesday 17th September - Howden Minster, 12.10pm Free

Anneliese Emmans Dean with John Rayson, 'Buzzing'
Join prize winning poet and photographer Anneliese as she performs her fun multi-media show celebrating the amazing variety of minibeasts scuttling and fluttering around her garden.
Comic poems and musical interludes add up to edu-tainment for all the family.
Wednesday 17th September - Shire Hall, 6pm £5 (£4)

Elizabeth Altman
Elizabeth Altman is well known to Yorkshire audiences not only as a renowned soloist but also as artistic and musical director of the 'English Camerata' and for her leading role in many East Riding musical events. Elizabeth is also in demand as a choral conductor and chamber player. She is also Co-founder of the highly regarded chamber music courses established by English Camerata Soloists currently hosted by Uppingham School.
Wednesday 17th September - Howden Minster, 7.45pm £12 (£10)

Rhys Taylor - Clarinet.
Graduating in 2005 Rhys was awarded the Ysgoloriaeth BrynTerfel the following year. Today Rhys is in demand as a Musical Director, but he still loves to move audiences with his arrangements. He will include works by Johannes Brahms and Joseph Horovitz .
Thursday 18th September - Howden Minster, 12.10pm Free

David Jones -Piano.
David is Official Accompanist for the RNCM.

A Good Reed
How low is low? Find out in A Good Reed? As four examples of bassoonery plumb the depths of the woodwind section and breathe life into the bassoon and its partner in crime the contrabassoon.
Thursday 18th September - Catholic Church, 6.00pm £5 (£4)

Eduardo Niebla
Hailed as one of the world's great guitarists, Eduardo Niebla takes to the stage with his internationally acclaimed quartet to present a dazzling repertoire of 'stunning flamenco jazz' (The Sound). Continally seeking out new musical terrain Eduardo Niebla has traversed the worlds of pop, jazz and world music, collaborating with such diversepartners as sitar maestro Nishat Khan, George Michael, Lol Coxhill and Craig David.
Thursday 18th September - Shire Hall, 7.45pm £12 (£10)

Emma Dogliani (Soprano)and Lilian Wilson (Piano)
Emma studied with Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge and made her solo debut with Royal Opera in 1998. She has since developed a wide repertoire of operatic roles, concert work and recitals both in the UK and on the continent. Lilian, though born in the Yorkshire Dales, lived and studied in Australia before returning to the UK. She works extensively as a recitalist, accompanist and director of operas. Both have a strong commitment to working with young musicians and singers.
Friday 19th September - Howden Minster, 12.10pm Free

Jack Sheffield
Jack grew up on the tough Gipton Estate in Leeds, went on to train as a teacher at St John's College, York. He became a headteacher of two schools and was Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at Bretton Hall before becoming a full time writer with a successful first book 'Teacher,Teacher!'
Friday 19th September - Methodist Church, 6.00pm £5 (£4)

Bamboleoband
With decades of live playing experience Bamboleoband bring the true latin-rumba style of the Gypsy Kings to their repertoire including the full catalogue of hits including Bamboleo, Volare, Djobi, Djoba and many more.
Friday 19th September - Shire Hall, 7.45pm £12 (£10)

Bernard Nield
Local Historian and author, Bernard Nield takes you on a guided tour of Howden's buildings illustrating the history of the town and incorporating the recently introduced blue plaque trail.
Saturday 20th September - Market Place, 2.00 to 4.00pm Free

Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band
Starting life as the South Elmsall Village Band, Carlton Main Frickley Colliery Band now stands as one of the most celebrated exponents of the art. The Band has consistently found success in County, National and International competitions. Their programme this evening, featuring 'new signings' is bound to please.
Saturday 20th September - Howden Minster, 7.45pm £12 (£10)

The Box Office for this years festival is:
The Shire Hall Shop,
11-13 Market Place,
Howden,
DN14 7BJ
Tel: 01430 432510

This years ticket prices are:
Lunchtimes "Free"
Events at 6.00p.m. £5 & £4
Events at 7.45.p.m. £12 & £10
Children's (Sat 22nd Sept. at 2.30.p.m.) £3 age 3 years and over
Season tickets £65

Tickets are now available for this years festival from the box office.

If you would like to sponsor any of this years events please get in touch by emailing us on enquries@howdenfestival.com.