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Shortlist For Mcdermid Debut Award 2026 Revealed

Harrogate International Festivals has announced the shortlist for the McDermid Debut Award for new UK and Irish writers. The winner will be revealed on the opening night of the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, Thursday 23 July.

P.ublished 21st May 2026

Manchester Founder Sees Jewellery Company On Big Screen

Jan Birley Photo: Mary Davies Photography

Jewellery company KOUREE has signed a product placement deal with Hot Flash, a new British comedy celebrating midlife women. Hot Flash tells the story of an accidental entrepreneur who triumphs despite imposter syndrome, brutal menopause symptoms, and the challenges of being a forty-plus single mum.

P.ublished 20th May 2026

Music

King Of The Waltz Flies Into Blackpool

The ‘King of Waltz’ flies into Blackpool Dance Festival looking for couples to dance the world Legendary Dutch violinist André Rieu visits the 100th Blackpool Dance Festival to recruit couples for his spectacular world tour celebrating his 80th birthday.

P.ublished 20th May 2026

Interview

In Conversation: St.Arnaud

Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent

Images courtesy of St.Arnaud

Edmonton’s St.Arnaud has always occupied a space where sincerity and self-awareness collide, but with the new single Love You! (For Real), Ian St.Arnaud sharpens that tension into something irresistibly groove-driven.

P.ublished 20th May 2026

Music

Settle Orchestra Concludes Celebrated Season With The French Connection

Following two sell-out concerts earlier this season, the Settle Orchestra closes its 2026 programme with a vibrant celebration of French elegance and classical brilliance, featuring Mozart’s celebrated “Paris” Symphony alongside works by Debussy, Ravel and Poulenc under the baton of Andre Chan.

P.ublished 20th May 2026

Festivals

Science Meets Royal Scandals At Raworths Salon North!

Raworths Salon North returns with star-studded line-up at The Crown Hotel. The latest instalment of Raworths Salon North – dubbed the "night out for your brain" – comes to The Crown Hotel, Harrogate, on Thursday 4 June, featuring an all-female line-up of award-winning speakers.

P.ublished 19th May 2026

Music

Two Organists Share Saltaire Wurlitzer Console For Summer Concert

Two familiar faces from the UK theatre organ circuit will share the console at Victoria Hall, Saltaire, on 14 June at 2.30pm, in the first of three joint concerts on the venue's celebrated Wurlitzer this year.

P.ublished 18th May 2026

In Conversation: Alyssa Bonagura

With a career that spans songwriting hits, international touring and acclaimed collaborations, singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer Alyssa Bonagura is entering an exciting new chapter.

P.ublished 18th May 2026

Review

The Magic Of A Good Song: Tara Maclean

Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent

Photos: Jeremy Williams-Chalmers

Occasionally you see an artist, and they just capture your heart in a way you'd never anticipated. Tara MacLean may be a quarter of a decade into a recording career, but as she spends time exploring her Irish and Scottish roots, the Canadian singer/songwriter has been spending more time on these shores and has been building a strong British fanbase.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Music

The Mini Magic Flute

Liz Coggins
Features Editor

Opera North’s bitesize version of Mozart’s The Magic Flute returns to festivals and arts venues across the North this summer offering a fairy tale opera for all the family. Mini Magic Flute packs fun, fantasy and enchanting music into a 40-minute story, making it perfect for all ages to experience their first taste of opera.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Forget The Form Book — This Eurovision Final Is Anyone's To Win

Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent

After two wildly different semi-finals, the stage is finally set for what feels destined to become one of the most unpredictable Eurovision Grand Finals in years. If Semi-Final One felt like a cautious warm-up, Semi-Final Two blew the contest wide open — and now the bookmakers, fan polls, and even long-held assumptions about the winner suddenly feel far less certain.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Visual arts

Review: Van Gogh: The Immersive Experience In York

Steve Whitaker
Features Writer

Photo by Janay Peters on Unsplash

An episode of Doctor Who of several years ago featured a cameo role for Vincent Van Gogh. Uplifted from the Arles of the 1880s by the good doctor, and deposited in the present-day Musée d’Orsay, the artist is reunited with many of his canvasses at an exhibition curated by an art expert (Bill Nighy).

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Review

Albums: Peter Gabriel - Live At Womad 1982

Available for the first time, Peter Gabriel’s performance at the WOMAD festival in The Showering Pavillon at The Royal Bath and West Showground near Shepton Mallet in July 1982 provides a perfect reminder of what was to become a legendary performance.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Interview

In conversation: Fiaa Hamilton

Immersed in music since childhood, Fiaa Hamilton was just eight years old when she became a carer for her mother – a time when songwriting provided her with a therapeutic outlet of her own. Three years later she was in foster care, and music again proved to be important, this time as a way to express her emotions as her life changed so dramatically.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Music

Classical Music: Mozart Horn Concertos

Who could fail to be charmed by a Mozart horn concerto? All four were composed for Joseph Leutgeb (1732–1811), the Vienna-born virtuoso who built his reputation in the imperial capital before settling in Salzburg, where he and Mozart became firm friends – and the butt of some of the composer's most affectionate teasing.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Interview

In Conversation Ella Clayton

Ahead of the release of her second album Could It Be You?, East London singer-songwriter Ella Clayton is entering a bold new chapter. The record captures the emotional complexity of modern relationships, self-doubt and personal growth through eleven intimate, soul-soaked songs.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Review

Classical Music: Schubert Symphonies 5 & 6

Andrew Palmer
Group Editor

There is no denying that Järvi is a master of detail, and precision is again the hallmark here. He and the Bremen players conjure a sound world of real elegance and composure, and the minutiae are laid out with such clarity that the effect becomes quietly infectious. The result is the melodious young Schubert in the company of a conductor who has his own pronounced view of what the music wants to say.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Review

Albums: The Hoosiers Compassion

Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent

What may initially have been dismissed by some as playful eccentricity has matured into a distinctive artistic voice — one capable of adapting to changing musical landscapes without losing its character. The album may not demand attention in a loud or dramatic way, but its warmth, sincerity, and understated craft make it one of the band’s most quietly rewarding releases.

P.ublished 16th May 2026

Morrissey Announces Northern Concerts.

Morrissey's influence and music legacy are irrefutable. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in British pop as well as one of the greatest lyricists of his generation, Morrissey has achieved 25 top ten album placings in the UK: 15 solo and 10 with The Smiths. His 1992 concert at the Hollywood Bowl broke The Beatles' record as the fastest-ever sell-out at the Bowl.

P.ublished 15th May 2026

Visual arts

Setting The Stage: 70 Years Of The Eurovision Song Contest Opens At The National Science And Media Museum

The National Science and Media Museum hasunveiled new temporary exhibition Setting the Stage: 70 Years of the Eurovision Song Contest, going behind the scenes of the world’s largest live televised music event. The exhibition invites visitors to explore the technological history and innovation at the heart of the competition, contributing to its enduring legacy today.

P.ublished 15th May 2026

Blackpool Dance Festival Celebrates 100 Glorious Years

The Blackpool Dance Festival 2026 has seen competitor entries almost double to 9,197, as the centenary year draws dancers from more than 50 countries to the iconic Empress Ballroom. The Winter Gardens is preparing for the world’s largest and longest-running dance competition, which takes place from 16th–29th May 2026 in the Empress Ballroom.

P.ublished 15th May 2026

Interview

In Conversation Everyone Says Hi

Riding the momentum of their acclaimed self-titled debut album, indie-pop supergroup Everyone Says Hi return with their first release of 2026, the shimmering new single Just Like That. Lifted from the band’s forthcoming sophomore album, due later this year, the track leans into a warm, psychedelic indie sound packed with groove, texture and undeniable hooks.

P.ublished 15th May 2026

Festivals

Festival Expansion Celebrated At Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival 2026

Harrogate International Festivals has announced the launch of the Swift Half Stage at the Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, the world’s largest celebration of criVme fiction, taking place in Harrogate, 23-26 July.

P.ublished 15th May 2026

Festivals

Whitby Lit Fest Start New Charity Chapter As More Authors Announced

Whitby Lit Fest marks a new exciting chapter as it’s been granted charitable status. The festival, which launched last year, was created to celebrate Whitby’s literary heritage, as well as connect readers to contemporary writers and inspire readers and visitors alike. The second Whitby Lit Fest takes place 19 to 22 November.

P.ublished 14th May 2026

Music

Haircut 100 - No Short Cuts In York

Graham Clark
Music Correspondent

Photos: Graham Clark

In the early eighties the face of Nick Heyward, singer and guitarist with Haircut 100, was a regular feature on the front cover of pop magazine Smash Hits, not to mention on the bedroom walls of their female fans. Fast forward over forty years on, and Heyward, along with the rest of the band, appeared to have aged well as they took to the stage at the York Barbican.

P.ublished 14th May 2026

Theatre

Legally Blonde: Guilty As Charged For High-Energy, Feelgood Factor

Sharon Cain
Lifestyle & Leisure Editor

Amber Davies as Elle Image by Matt Crockett

I must have had my own blonde moment when the highly acclaimed Legally Blonde film with Reese Witherspoon hit our screens in 2021, grossing 142 million dollars worldwide and shaping fashion trends. Determined not to let the 2026 stage production pass me by, I was at the front of the queue for the upbeat romantic comedy and its timeless appeal.

P.ublished 13th May 2026

Theatre

Single White Female Behind You All The Time

John Kitching
Writer

Hedy (Kym Marsh) and Allie (Lisa Faulkner) – Photo: Chris Bishop

You know that a play has hit the spot when you’re so engrossed that you find your inner voice screaming, ‘Can’t you see what she’s doing!’ Single White Female hits that spot and more as we are transported into the world of flat sharing, full of suspense, deception, and barefaced lies.

P.ublished 13th May 2026

Music

Eurovision Semi Final 2

Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent

Semi-Final 2 feels like the more unpredictable of the two Eurovision semi-finals this year. While there are a handful of songs that look like near-certain qualifiers, much of the line-up sits in that dangerous grey area where staging, live vocals, and running order could make or break a country's chances.

P.ublished 13th May 2026

Music

James Morrison Rediscovered On Tour

Twenty years ago James Morrison released his debut album, Undiscovered - a collection that was packed full of memorable and melodic songs, all delivered in his trademark raspy and soulful voice. The record was a huge commercial success around the world, being the launchpad for a career that has flourished vividly since.

P.ublished 13th May 2026

Visual arts

Spectacular ‘Luminarium’ Brings Magical Experience To Harrogate

Luminarium – a giant walk-through art installation – will bring colour, calm and sensory bliss to The Stray in Harrogate this summer. Created by the world-renowned Architects of Air and designed by Artistic Director Alan Parkinson, this monumental inflatable structure, designed to be gentle, inclusive and open to everyone, will transform The Stray from 11 to 14 June.

P.ublished 13th May 2026

Interview

In Conversation: Charmian Devi

Canadian/British artist Charmian Devi is entering a bold new chapter following the release of her debut solo album Diamond Hour in May 2026. After living in Montreal, New York City and London, she has now relocated to Brighton, UK, where she is continuing work on her second album, Till Eternity Breaks.

P.ublished 13th May 2026

Interview

In Conversation: Midge Ure

Few artists have CVs that read as impressively and variedly as Midge Ure's. From his emergence from the Glasgow music scene in the mid-seventies via the group Slik, whose debut single Forever and Ever reached Number One on the singles charts, to then becoming a member of the punk group The Rich Kids, and then a few years later, he diversified musically with Ultravox.

P.ublished 12th May 2026

Theatre

Pioneering Yorkshire Theatre Companies Join Forces For Exciting New Collaboration

(L-R) Alex Mitchell, Silent Uproar artistic director, and Cheryl Martin, artistic director of Red Ladder Theatre Company, Leeds, 2026 Photo: Mark Ratcliffe

Red Ladder Theatre Company and Silent Uproar – two boundary-pushing theatre companies – are delighted to announce an exciting new partnership, showcasing the North of England’s rich seam of playwriting talent.

P.ublished 12th May 2026

Music

Grassroots Music Venues Unite For Everywhere At Once Weekend

More than 400 grassroots music venues across the UK will unite from June 26 to 28, 2026, for Everywhere At Once — a three-day celebration staged on what would have been the Glastonbury Festival weekend. From Falmouth to Aberdeen, over 2,000 artists will perform across hundreds of live music events, spanning genres and showcasing the diversity of Britain's music scene.

P.ublished 12th May 2026

Theatre

Kynren Reveals Latest Details Of Spectacular Viking Live Show Ahead Of Summer Opening

Land of the Vikings will feature combat and dramatic stunts

A large-scale Viking battle show featuring fire, combat, stunts and a community torn apart by internal conflict will be one of the headline attractions when Kynren – The Storied Lands opens on 18th July.

P.ublished 12th May 2026

Sixteen Bands, Two Stages, One Perfect Day

Ian Street
Gigs Correspondent

Little GrandadPhotos: Ian Street

Goldsounds is undoubtedly one of my favourite music days of the year. One day, one venue, 2 stages, 16 bands ! A joyous celebration of new music and bands. I knew very little about most of the bands playing and had done no pre-listening, so it was just a question of oscillating between the rooms to catch as many bands as possible across the day.

P.ublished 11th May 2026

Music

Conan Gray Casts A Spell On Manchester's Devoted Coneheads

Conan Gray has only once graced the UK official Top 20 singles, back in 2020 with the anthemic Heather. However, while the album that spawned his biggest commercially successful UK single, Kid Krow, reached number 30 in the official album charts, each subsequent release has charted higher than the previous.

P.ublished 11th May 2026

Music

Eurovision 2026: Semi-Final One Predictions

The road to the Grand Final begins with what looks set to be one of the most competitive and eclectic semi-finals in recent Eurovision memory. Semi-Final One offers everything Eurovision fans could ask for: riotous party anthems, dramatic ballads, polished radio pop, bold staging concepts, and even a closing burst of metal.

P.ublished 11th May 2026

Review

Sporty Spirit Soars As Melanie C Electrifies Manchester

Back in the day Victoria Beckham was involved in a famous chart tryst with Sophie Ellis-Bextor as she launched her solo career with the Dane Bowers/True Steppers collaboration Out Of Your Mind. Fast forward 26 years, and Melanie C is currently locked into a big chart battle with KNEECAP as both acts attempt to achieve their first-ever #1 charting album in the UK.

P.ublished 11th May 2026

From Living Room To Arena: The Gladiators Live Experience Brings The Iconic Show To Life

Back in 1992, ITV launched their equivalent of the hit US series, American Gladiators. While the show had done well Stateside, there was little anticipation that the UK equivalent, Gladiators, would become the 8-series phenomenon that ended in 2000 with a diminishing viewership of around 6 million.

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Music

In conversation: Leo Sayer

Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent

Leo Sayer

After more than five decades on the road, beloved British music icon Leo Sayer is preparing to return to the UK in autumn 2026 for what will be his final full nationwide tour. While he insists he is not retiring completely, Leo says the tour marks the end of an era as he begins to slow the pace of live performances after 54 years on stage.

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Books

'Yes, M’lady': A Thorn in the Rose By Samantha Lee Howe

Artis-Ann
Features Writer

When the book arrived, I flicked through it initially and spotted the phrase, ‘Mel…the motorbike’ and thought this may just be for me. The prologue is set in London in 1941 and we’re introduced to Mel Greenway, on her nineteenth birthday, the day ‘the letter’ dropped through the letterbox, the letter inviting her to enlist.

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Review

Albums: Now That’s What I Call 70’s Soul

Graham Clark
Music Correspondent

This comprehensive four-CD compilation concentrates mainly on the first half of the seventies when soul music was at its peak.

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Review

Classical Music: Brahms & Contemporaries, Volume 3

Andrew Palmer
Group Editor

This release is another triumph in what has been a marvellous three-volume traversal, and the news that Kaleidoscope's exploration of Brahms alongside his lesser-played contemporaries is to continue beyond the piano quartets — pairing the master with further unjustly neglected voices — is very welcome indeed. On this evidence, one can hardly wait.

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Review

Classical Music: Lionel Rogg Organ Works

Born in Geneva in 1936 and Professor of Organ at the city's Conservatory until 2002, Rogg has also been a composer of quietly persistent originality, and it is to this side of his work that Anne Page now turns in a thoughtfully chosen recital for Regent. The programme she has assembled covers a wide range. At one end sit the modest Neuf pièces brèves; at the other, the substantial Hommage à Takemitsu, the radiant Yorokobi-Pièce Joyeuse, and two virtuoso toccatas, which frame the disc with an appropriate flourish

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Music

Genius, Construction, Or Carefully Managed Myth?

I remember watching a television documentary in which George Martin, speaking quite matter-of-factly, referred to Yesterday as something he had ‘written’ - while a caption on the screen attributed the song to John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Music

Albums: Eurovision Song Contest 2026

The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest is now literally just around the corner. The bookies have been favouring Finland ever since Linda Lampenius and Pete Parkonnen romped to victory with Liekinheiten at this year's edition of Uuden Musiikin Kilpailu. However, with 35 entrants competing to take the crown from Austria's JJ on May 16, there is plenty of new music to discover at this year's contest.

P.ublished 9th May 2026

Interview

In Conversation: Tara Maclean

Singer-songwriter Tara MacLean is bringing something special to the UK this May with her Songs & Stories Tour—a series of intimate performances that promise more than just music. Known for her soulful voice and deeply personal songwriting, Tara blends melody with storytelling, inviting audiences into the heart of her creative journey.

P.ublished 8th May 2026

Review

Miss Saigon - The Million Dollar Musical

Phil Hopkins
Commissioning Editor

MISS SAIGON Company. Photo Danny Kaan.

Miss Saigon received a standing ovation last night……and so did every other musical I have seen this year. But only Miss Saigon truly deserved the public accolade it received. Sadly, Britain’s Got Talent, and the like, have cheapened musical theatre into a sea of whoops and undeserving, disingenuous standing ovations.

P.ublished 7th May 2026

Music

In conversation: Deco

Jeremy Williams-Chalmers
Arts Correspondent

Photo courtesy Deco

Deco return with Dreamhouse, the serotonin-soaked title track and first single from their forthcoming second album: a confident, uplifting statement that introduces a bold new chapter for the Nottingham-born five-piece.

P.ublished 7th May 2026

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