Ilkley Live ‘An amazing and uplifting event’

Friday, 18 July 2025 13:21

Sand Dollar appeared on the Martinez stage

Ilkley was treated to two days of wonderful live music and glorious sunshine last weekend as Ilkley Live’s Community Music Festival celebrated its fifth year - the biggest yet!

Over 140 performances took place from midday on Friday 11th to late evening on Saturday 12th July, with singers, DJs and instrumentalists delivering a wealth of musical genres - from traditional klezmer through folk and blues, to punk, rock and new wave - ensuring that there was a musical style to suit everyone!

[Kathryn Longbottom at The Flying Duck]

The balmy summer weather saw open-air venues like the Bandstand, Martinez at Grove Park, the Riverside, Ilkley Tap and the Ticket Office particularly popular. People perched on benches, deckchairs, grassy areas and rugs to soak up the music and enjoy the relaxed community atmosphere.

[Ey Up Klezma play on Ilkley Bandstand]

Instruments of all shapes and sizes were to be heard at over 20 venues around the town, with saxophones and trumpets, guitars and banjos, flutes, drums, keyboards and percussion, interspersed with choirs and solo vocalists, DJ sets and a cappella groups. Original compositions and well-known, much-loved covers kept audiences entertained until late into the evening on both nights.

[Backspace performed in Alpkit]

Garden stages - the original inspiration for this festival ‘for the community by the community’ - proved as popular as ever, welcoming large and enthusiastic audiences who were equally happy to sing along and mingle with old and new friends.

[Andrea Mann on the Man Cave stage]

Visitors to the popular and busy stages at the Flying Duck were treated to a non-stop mix of blues, Motown. soul and rock, while venues that were hosting for the first time, including the Tinker Gallery, the Manor House, Alpkit and the Clarke Foley Community Hub, hosted a mellow selection of acoustic, indie and folk performances that were warmly received by audiences and passers-by alike.

[Kevin Leather at the Tinker Gallery]

Dan Hammond, the festival’s founder, would like to thank everyone involved in making this year’s festival such a success, Dan said:

“The heart of the festival is the community and it was thrilling to see so many people enjoying performances all around the town. We have big plans to support local musical events throughout the year.

“Donations from this year’s festival audiences and venues will be used to cover the costs of the festival, such as insurance, to put on more musical events in Ilkley, and to provide resources and equipment to enable more people in the community to have a go at making and enjoying live music.”

[Mike Burtoft (right) and the festival sound crew]

The dates for next year’s Ilkley Live Community Music Festival have already been announced, with the event once again taking place over two days, on Friday 10th and Saturday 11th July 2026.

Details of other live music events planned for the rest of this year, including a Community Sing and a Blues Festival in the autumn, will be shared in the coming weeks.

More from Local news

Two special parkruns in Ilkley for Christmas

As well as the usual Saturday morning East Holmes Field parkruns, the team in Ilkley will host two special events on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
Changes to bin collection dates over Christmas

Residents are being urged to take note of alternative bin collection dates over the festive period so that they don’t miss them.
Entries close in three weeks for tenth Ilkley Business Awards

Organisers of the 2026 Ilkley Business Awards are reminding businesses within LS29 that entries close on 9th January 2026 – and there will be no extension.
Airedale NHS microbiology staff announce December strike

Microbiology workers at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust have announced plans to take industrial action later this month, citing concerns about pay and working conditions.
Classic Victorian thriller next at Ilkley Playhouse

Classic Victorian thriller Gaslight opens in the Wharfeside Theatre at Ilkley Playhouse on 15th January, Caroline Mutton previews this and more highlights for the start of 2026.
Review: Ilkley Concert Club, James Newby & Jong Sun Woo at King's Hall

Geoffrey Mogridge reviews Ilkley Concert Club, James Newby & Jong Sun Woo, King’s Hall, Ilkley, Wednesday, 10th December 2025.
Ilkley's Christmas church advent and carol services

As we prepare for Christmas all the churches in Ilkley have been busy with carol and advent services.
Community group praises council’s swift response to moor fly-tipping

Last week a serious case of fly-tipping was reported along Moor Road by the Cow & Calf. Items included building materials, bath, toilet and cabinets.
Ilkley charity brings community Christmas cheer

Over 100 local residents enjoyed an early Christmas treat when volunteers from Ilkley Good Neighbours, accompanied by 6th-form students from Ilkley Grammar School, delivered gifts to their homes.
Frantic bidding war for Burley-In-Wharfedale auction property

A three-bedroom terraced house in Burley-in-Wharfedale has been sold using Dacre, Son & Hartley’s auction service and generated a vast amount of interest with dozens of viewings and 131 bids.
Success again for local nursery

Esscroft Private Nursery in Burley-in-Wharfedale has been named Nursery of the Year at the prestigious Yorkshire Prestige Awards 2025/26, winning the coveted Legacy Award.
Route Revealed for Rudolph's Tractor Run this Sunday

Rudolph's Run is coming back on Sunday 21st December, with over 200 decorated tractors set to light up the streets of Yorkshire's villages and towns and the route has been revealed.
10 week A65 roadworks for essential drainage works start January

Developers of the new housing project on Skipton Road in Ilkley say essential drainage infrastructure works will mean a lane closure of the A65 for approximately 10 weeks.
Join Ilkley Civic Society for its Christmas walk

Ilkley Civic Society is inviting walkers to a ‘Find Your Way around Ben Rhydding’ heritage walk on Saturday 27 December from 11am.
Local charity refocuses its mission as demand for children’s mental health support surges

Local children’s charity, The Principle Trust Children’s Charity, has announced a strategic refocusing of its work to place greater emphasis on supporting children experiencing mental health challenges, as concerns continue to grow across the region.
Airedale emergency department 'exceptionally busy' with flu cases rising

Airedale Hospital says its Emergency Department is exceptionally busy and staff are having to prioritise the sickest patients.
The Box Tree recognised as one of the best restaurants in Leeds

The Box Tree restaurant in Ilkley is celebrating after being included in The Telegraph’s list of the 21 best restaurants in Leeds.
Swing into Christmas promises an evening of festive favourites

It’s full steam ahead for The Northern Swing Orchestra as they prepare for their forthcoming festive concert ‘Swing into Christmas’, on stage at The Kings Hall in Ilkley on Friday 19 December 2025.
Local dads raise £11,892 to support Airedale Hospital and Community Charity

Will Schaffer, Sam Prus, Martyn Stocker, Joe Smith, and Dan Chadwick - all from Ilkley - took on the 82-mile Dales Way walk with a goal to complete the challenge in under 36 hours.
Second leg of 'magical' Santa tour starts on Friday

The Ilkley & District Round Table is celebrating a hugely successful start to this year’s Santa Float with hundreds of families stepping outside to greet Santa and support local causes in Addingham, Valley Drive and Ilkley Town Centre.