Ilkley’s Garden Music festival, Ilkley Live, returns on 12th and 13th July for its fourth year and it’s bigger than ever.
The number of acts has risen again and is now over 90 and the festival has expanded to cover two days to fit in all that music.
Music will fill the streets of Ilkley again as members of the community play and sing in gardens across town. The festival started in 2021 as a way to bring the community together after lock-down and was so popular that it has become an annual staple for the town.
The festival, which organisers believe to be the only one of its kind, is run by the community for community. Anyone can perform in their garden (or borrow one) and the program is published so that the public can walk from one garden to another to see music of their choice.
‘It has really taken off this year!’
says Festival Co-Director Dan Hammond
We have over 90 acts signed up which is a lot, even for a commercial festival. The festival is highly inclusive – anyone can play if they want to and the range of music has expanded too with everything from rock to Rachmaninoff so we hope to see an even bigger audience walking from place to place and soaking up the great atmosphere.
"The heart of the festival is the community. It is very much a do-it-yourself event. People have improvised stages, promoted their venues on social media, offered their gardens to performers and much more, it has been truly heartening!
"The festival is free to attend and performers play to benefit the community and to support our official charity, Outside The Box. Outside the Box runs a popular local café and brings a fresh approach to enabling adults and young people who have learning disabilities and other support needs to achieve more and have greater independence, choice and fulfilment in their lives. All commercial venues are generously donating to Ilkley Live and there will be a chance to for everyone to give on the day."
Anyone who wants to play can just sign up at www.ilkleylive.com.
The festival programme is also available on the same site at www.ilkleylive.com/programme.
You can hear more about Ilkley Live all next week (8-12 July) on the Your Ilkley breakfast show, Dan will be chatting to Nick Hancock.
Ilkley Fire Station welcomes hundreds for annual open day
Ilkley MP says lessons must be learned from A65 roadworks
Thrill-seekers' skydive raises £5,700 for children's charity
Ilkley nursing home opens new landscaped garden
Ilkley Half Marathon raises more than £55,000 for local good causes
Yorkshire children invited to nominate their parents to be 'slimed' on CBBC
Yorkshire Water completes A65 work two weeks early
Sir Gareth Southgate among sporting stars heading to Ilkley golf event
Ilkley wine merchant to open third venue in Haworth
Ilkley MP demands answers from Royal Mail over postal delays
Bard in the Yard returns to Ilkley Manor House this August
Community comes together in Ilkley to address young men's mental health
Record-breaking Ilkley Open serves up more than 1,100 matches
Ilkley Playhouse unveils packed season of drama, comedy, music and live entertainment
GALLERY: Thousands celebrate Yorkshire Day in Ilkley
MP criticises lack of progress on Ilkley roadworks as Yorkshire Water extends working hours
Right at Home celebrates official opening of new office
The Little Calf offer free play sessions
Ilkley Civic Society launches search for the town's best building and conservation projects
Addingham Beer Festival returns this October
