The Rebel Girl Next Door at hannah festival
Andrew Wilson, organiser of hannah Festival, celebrating great stuff in the North, writes about why he’s chosen some of the music featured in the four day festival of art, music, ideas and beers …
I know Missy Tassles through her fantastic cartoon stories. Here’s a lovely one about a magical New Year’s Day. Every day should end with “Car Picnic!”
And it was through her that I first learned about the now legendary and lost fish tank in the hole in the road in Sheffield, which appeared on the Wondrous Place blog.
When I heard she was making music, both in an art rock band called Flying Wing and by herself as The Girl Next Door, I couldn’t wait to hear what she sounded like. She didn’t post any music online for ages, and I could never get over to Sheffield on the days she was playing live (public transport policy is an issue that we tackle at hannah festival).
But then a few days ago I found she’d put some music on Soundcloud, and as soon as I heard it I wanted to ask her to play at hannah festival, and I’m very pleased to say she’s agreed!
Missy is just one of the singer songwriters playing at The Hard Way Up, an all day acoustic music event at the Grove Inn, including Hayley Gaftarnick, Bella Gaffney, Izzy, Accordianna, Kat Luxford, Misko and more to be confirmed.
The Hard Way Up is dedicated to the spirit of rebellion, and inspired by suffragette and rebel Hannah Mitchell, whose autobiography is called The Hard Way Up.
The event features an introduction to rebellion from acclaimed Hebden Bridge author Jill Liddington who will tell the secret story of the Rebel Girls, West Yorkshire’s young suffragettes, including 16 year old mill girl Dora Thewlis, the ‘Baby Suffragette’.
The Hard Way Up is on Saturday 15 June, 4.00pm to 11.00pm at The Grove, Back Green, Holbeck, LS11 5PL. An it’s free!
As well as The Hard Way Up, the music programme of hannah festival also features a night of bands at Wharf Chambers programmed by Obscene Baby Auction on June 13, and Silent Landscapes: Place, Music & the Days of Nick Drake on June 16.