Yorkshire’s first ever ThriddingsFest – Book your tickets now!
In 1919, Professor Frederick Moorman, one of the founding fathers of both the Yorkshire Dialect Society and the School of English at Leeds University, suggested how it would be a wonderful idea for Yorkshire to have a “Yorkshire Eisteddfod.”
As in Wales, this would be a festival of national/regional identity and culture, stressing use of the Yorkshire language, (in our case Yorkshire accent and dialect, or just Broad Yorkshire) but also the music, poetry, song, storytelling, dance and drama, inspired by Yorkshire’s unique landscape, history and culture. Wherever possible – but not exclusively so – this would be focused on young people, the next generation so vital to take forward Yorkshire’s proud sense of being a very special part of the North of England.
So, as part of Bradford’s vibrant City of Culture, this year The Yorkshire Society is supporting what we have named ThriddingsFest – a word coined form Yorkshire dialect to mean a Yorkshire version of an Eisteddfod. It will take place over the weekend following the main civic celebrations of Yorkshire Day August 1st which this year takes place in central Bradford and in Ilkley, undertaken as a partnership between Bradford City Council and the Yorkshire Society.
This is a pilot event, designed to demonstrate what can be done, in this case with minimal resource but a lot of enthusiasm, bringing people together for two days of celebrating our Yorkshire, reflecting not just one culture, but different heritages and backgrounds which in 2025 make up the rich tapestry that is modern Yorkshire.
This year our pilot event is taking place on 2nd and 3rd August in just one venue, in the beautiful surroundings of the lovely church of St Johns in Ben Rhydding, Ilkley, close to Ilkley Moor and also within Bradford District. Our special thanks are due to the Parish and Community of Ben Rhydding for warmly welcoming this first ever ThriddingsFest to their church. St John’s is easy to access in a sustainable way being about five minutes’ walk from Ben Rhydding station which has frequent, fast electric trains from Bradford and Leeds. Car parking is available in quiet residential streets nearby.
All are welcome to ThriddingsFest – for a Reet Good Yorksher Do! Further details from Vicki Warner: TheThriddingsFestGroup@outlook.com
DIGITAL BOOKLET – TAKE A LOOK AT THE EVENT AND PROGRAMME HERE
Ticket information
Tickets are sold through eventbrite and are only £5 per person, per day, plus a small booking fee. Click on the links below to buy your tickets. Children (under 16) accompanued by a ticket paying adult can attend for FREE.
WHAT’S ON?
Venue: St. John’s Church, Ben Rhydding, Ilkley. August 2 & 3, 2025
Saturday afternoon 2pm – 6pm August 2
Session One: Yorkshire Tunes – Music and words from Young Yorkshire
A programme to celebrate Yorkshire’s rich and varied musical heritage.
A highlight will be a Piano Recital Piano by Shubhan Iyer a gifted young Indian pianist who lives in Huddersfield. Shubhan’s will include works by young Horbury composer William Baines (1898-1922) and Bradford’s own Frederick Delius (1862-1934), but pieces by some of the great late Romantic composers in whom Shubhan specialises. In complete contrast there will be some stunning traditional Indian music by a young Bradford Gurdwara band, songs from two young Bradford-based Roma choirs, and even a young Bradford Rapper.
Tea interval/art stalls from Yorkshire artists and crafts people.
Saturday evening 7pm – 10pm (ish) August 2
Session Two: Songs of the Ridings
What do you mean – Yorkshire? Popular Yorkshire singer-songwriter, poet, campaigner for all things Yorkshire Eddie Lawler opens our Songs of the Ridings session with a programme of highly entertaining music, poems and songs – all with a strong Yorkshire focus. Eddie will be followed by guest contributions from several well-known singers and ensembles from the West Yorkshire area.
Sunday August 3: Yorkshire Words – Poetry, Drama and Songs
Session Three: 2pm – 6pm Yorkshire Poetry and Folk Tale afternoon
Young Yorkshire Poets Celebrated Yorkshire author, poet, broadcaster and raconteur Professor Gervase Phinn will introduce the work of up to twelve young poets from all over Yorkshire. Contributors will be separated into primary and secondary school age categories, and be chosen to read their selected poem, celebrating any aspect of Yorkshire which inspires them.
A Garland of Yorkshire Poets. A taste and performance of the work of several successful established and published local poets who have been inspired in their work about one or more aspects of Yorkshire landscape, history or life. These will include Aqeel Parvez (Bradford) , Keith Fenton (Leeds) Bruce Barnes (Bradford), Mike Farren (Shipley), Emma Storr,(Leeds), Fenna Marshall (Leeds), Laura Strickland (Hellifield)
Folk tales’ o Yorkshire –John Billingsley of The Folk Lore Centre, Todmorden will introduce and read Yorkshire folk tales, including tales of Boggarts, to be followed by Robbie Martin and The Buttercups with songs and tales inspired by Yorkshire legends
6pm – 7pm Tea interval/art stalls from Yorkshire artists and crafts people. This will also include a bookstall where collection of poet’s work and some dialect collections will be on sale.
Session Four: 7pm – 10pm(ish) A Reet good Yorksher Neet – coordinated by the Yorkshire Dialect Society
An All Soul’s Night’s Dream. Burley Theatre Group present the first production for almost 90 years of a one act Yorkshire Dialect play (with boggarts!) by Professor Frederick Moorman (1872-1919) linguistic and folklorist, one of the founding fathers of the Yorkshire Dialect Society.
John Hartley of Halifax, a brief introduction by Rod Dimbleby Chairman of the Yorkshire Society about Yorkshire’s most prolific and popular dialect poet and storyteller, John Hartley of Halifax (1839-1915) with readings from his poems,
Callin’ Young Tykes: James Wraith youngest member of Council of the Yorkshire Dialect Society will give a short talk “A bit abaat West Ridin dialect i’ West Ridin dialect”
Songs o’ t’ Dales Singer-songwriters Nigel Broadbent (Bradford) and Jim Jarratt (Calderdale) will conclude our evening and ThriddingsFest with offer Yorkshire-inspired songs by themselves and others, including 1970s legend Bob Pegg. This will be followed by an open mike session for anyone to willing to sing, play or offer a poem about Yorkshire, and the session might well end with a rendering of Yorkshire’s (un)official national anthem, On Ilkla Moor Baht At.