Ilkley based promoters Village Pavilion are hosting two events in October exploring the folklore of Ilkley.
The first event on Thursday 3rd October is ‘Shadow over Ilkley’, a talk by Dr Phil Legard, a senior lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. Delving into the contemporary manifestations of the weird on the moors, including UFOs, cloaked spectres, serpentine goddesses, chaos magicians, psychic questers, pagans, and neo-antiquarians amidst the gorse and standing stones!
Following this on Saturday 5th October is an evening of music and performance at the Manor House with Folklore Tapes. The Folklore Tapes collective is an ongoing exploration of the vernacular arcana of Great Britain and beyond, traversing the myths, mysteries, magic, and strange phenomena of the old counties via abstracted musical reinterpretation and experimental visuals. The driving principle of the project is to bring the nation’s folk record to life, to rekindle interest in the treasure trove of traditional culture by finding new forms for its expression.
For this event the collective will showcase a new bespoke performance for the intimate setting, performing an immersive portmanteau of five excerpts from the book ‘The Witches and Fairies of Nineteenth-Century Ilkley’. Featuring encounters with Changelings, Red Caps, bathing fairies and the selling of witch’s tongues. This will be performed with modified projectors, torch puppetry, hand-built musical instruments, and automata.
Support comes from local three-piece Hexama and folk singer Stephanie Hladowski plus special guests Hwaet magazine.
Village Pavilion have been awarded funding to deliver these events in the latest round of Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants from Bradford Council. Don’t miss their very special September event at the Ilkley Moor Vaults with Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman. Andrew Wasylyk’s gloriously transportational live shows have seen him nominated for ‘Best Live Act’ at the Scottish Alternative Music Awards, whilst his albums have been heaped with critical acclaim. This new collaboration with BAFTA winner Tommy Perman promises to be a night not to be missed.
Tickets to all upcoming Village Pavilion events are available via Eventbrite.
Follow Village Pavilion on Instagram @VillagePavilion and on Facebook to hear the latest news.
The ones to watch at Lexus Ilkley Open 2026
Paws for Manorlands raises £1,600+ for local hospice care
The Hub announces its Ilkley Live Music Festival line-up
Norton & Townsend tailors moves to new boutique showroom
RE-Play comes to Ilkley Manor House
Local community rallies around local teacher diagnosed with rare brain cancer
Leeds United chose Ilkley Moor for new shirt launch
Free train tickets to help families beat the 'back to school' squeeze
First look at new Airedale Hospital plans
Yorkshire Day returns to Ilkley with two-day cultural celebration!
Wildlife filmmaker returns to Ilkley in 2027
Charity Breakfast Rave and Seafood Festival on Ilkley bar's menu
Ilkley Veterans take on England this weekend!
Local councillors call for "extraordinary meeting" ahead of national Grooming Gang inquiry
'Massive ego, tantrums, and vanity' in next Burley Theatre Group production
Experience a vibrant summer of art and culture at Ilkley Manor House
Acclaimed nature writer to visit Grove Bookshop
Ilkley branch next for successful Keighley bakery
Village will come together for annual Duck Race
Four new padel courts planned in Ilkley as the sport grows
