THE two-week long Swaledale Festival is an annual celebration of music and arts, which kicks off on May 23, the Saturday of the late May Spring Bank Holiday. Venues are mostly churches, chapels, village halls and heritage sites like Richmond’s Georgian Theatre Royal and Gayle Mill near Hawes. All are within in the alluring landscape of the three northernmost Yorkshire Dales – Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale.

With a primary emphasis on classical music, the Swaledale Festival attracts artists from all over the world, and regularly commissions new work. There is a strong young artists platform, as well as an extensive programme of education and community activities which has resulted in several awards, including the Prime Minister's Big Society Award last year.

This year’s highlights includes the King's Singers, Royal Northern Sinfonia, James Gilchrist, Skampa Quartet, Tenebrae Consort, Liane Carroll, Kathryn Tickell, Black Dyke Band, Adam Hart-Davis, the Railsplitters, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and the Urban Folk Quartet.

Joe Broughton, Paloma Trigás, Tom Chapman and Dan Walsh are The Urban Folk Quartet. Since forming in 2009, their unique approach to folk music has captivated audiences thanks to high-energy performances across the world.

A new studio album, The Escape, shows off material that the band has crafted over the course of their first year with their latest member, banjo player, guitarist and singer Dan Walsh.

For the full Swaledale Festival programme of events and ticket information visit swaledale-festival.org.uk

For details of the Urban Folk Quartet Escape Tour go to theufq.com

Helen Brown

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