By Joshua Robinson –
An annual, multi-venue music festival, Onwards aims to lead audiences through Huddersfield town centre’s grassroots music venues, showcasing a carefully curated programme of live music from the 23rd to the 24th of September.
Onwards Festival began in 2016 fulfilling a concept conceived by event organisers Sam Hodgson & Noah Burton of a live music experience that would move audiences around town in a ‘pub crawl’ style. Popular demand caused the Onwards Festival to grow, involving more venues and acts each year.
Following a two-year hiatus of the 2020 and 2021 festivals, the Onwards Festival was awarded Arts Council England and Kirklees Council Year Of Music 2023 support to bring the festival back, bigger and better.
This year the festival will take place across the weekend of the 23rd & 24th of September 2023, moving between 6 independent venues, with performances from 16 musical acts guiding audiences on a journey through different genres.
The festival offers:
- Funk
- Afrobeat
- Blues bands
- Jazz
- Soul
- Folk
- Acoustic performances
Onwards aims to champion local talent, premiering new works and unveiling visual art and sound installations.
Saturday Lineup:
People attending the Saturday festivities will progress through the town before descending upon the headline act, Klonk. An 8-piece party band crafting stone cold killer cuts out of klezmer, balkan, funk, jazz, metal and hip-hop.
Klonk
Other notable performances throughout the day will take place in the Victorian Byram Arcade by jazz vocalist Ruby Wood who has an upcoming EP release with First Word Records, and Amaya – a duo featuring Carnatic singer Supriya Nagarajan and Duncan Chapman on flugelhorn and electronics who are inspired by new ideas, forms and aesthetics from across the world.
Earlier in the day audiences will be treated to Afrobeat funksters Plantfood and the powerhouse blues stylings of Wadcutter Blues. Day tickets can be purchased giving access to all events on the Saturday for just £15.
Sunday Lineup:
Sunday’s lineup boasts acoustic performances throughout the afternoon taking place alongside a newly commissioned collaboration between illustrious ‘bare knuckle soul’ singer Thabo and The Huddersfield Ukrainian Singing Troupe.
Sound artist Chris Ruffoni’s sculptural sound installation which responds in real time to the environment will hang in the trees of New Street to create an immersive, contemplative and organically shifting texture of sounds.
Headlining Sunday’s proceedings is Mr Wilson’s Second Liners who blend New Orleans brass with 90’s club classics and will be proudly stepping out in uniformed style as they channel the spirit of the 24 hour party people and get audiences dancing into a joyful frenzy. Events for Sunday are individually ticketed.
Mr Wilson’s Second Liners
Tickets:
To buy tickets for the festival, please visit: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/onwardsfestival
More information and full line up of artists and venues can be found on the festival website. Please visit: https://www.onwardsfestival.com/
Loading ...