OTLEY Courthouse is the venue to see Nell Bryden on Saturday, June 25 (start time 8pm, tickets £20)
Native New Yorker Nell Bryden grew up in a bohemian artist’s loft in Brooklyn, her mother a classical soprano and her father an oil painter. She got her singer songwriter start in the folk clubs of Boston before moving back to try to conquer her hometown. When the Big Apple chewed her up and spat her out, she spent a decade in London honing her craft, touring Europe extensively, playing upwards of 250 shows a year.
Since then, her songs have been met with acclaim by BBC Radio 2 – which has playlisted 21 consecutive singles by her. She’s had songs covered by Cher and Susan Boyle, recorded an album in Ray Davies’ studio and also performed alongside Gary Barlow, Chris Rea, Counting Crows, KT Tunstall, and Duane Eddy. She’s even writing her debut novel.
She’s now gone back to her roots and followed in the sonic footsteps of her idols, Dusty Springfield, Aretha Franklin and Carole King, by using her new album to document the breakdown of her marriage. Themes of heartbreak, self-empowerment and resilience resonate throughout the album and her fascinating life story. It’s safe to say that Courthouse audiences are spoilt with the booking of this particular New Yorker!
On Thursday, June 30 Otley Courthouse in the venue for a lunchtime recital with Laura Barker-Bey (start time 1pm, tickets £6).
Our Lunchtime Recital will be a flute concert from the Courthouse’s centre-director Laura Barker-Bey.
An experienced flautist, Laura has ticked off appearances at the International Low Flutes
Festival in Washington DC and the European Flute Choir Festival in Poland.
Her Courthouse performance will be a selection of classical pieces inspired by nature and birdsong. They’ll be played on piccolo, flute and the growly timbre of bass flute!
Laura’s been running her own Flute Choir, ‘The Chamäleon Flute Ensemble’, for seven years, who during lockdown recorded many videos including a full advent calendar. The videos were viewed on every continent and lead to them being featured on BBC Radio Leeds.
There’ll be free tea and coffee too!
To book tickets visit www.otleycourthouse.org.uk, call our box office on 01943 467466 or pop into the Courthouse on Courthouse Street, Otley, LS21 3AN
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