Ilkley Live is back for 2025, now in its fifth year and bigger and better than ever!
The original festival was the brainchild of local resident Dan Hammond, who had a simple idea to gather a few fellow ‘hobby musicians’ to play music in their gardens for the enjoyment of friends and family. Each year since then, the festival has grown in size and popularity: it now spans a whole weekend, with over 90 bands requesting a slot, more and more venues in the town offering up space for performers, and increasing numbers of people coming to be part of this music-filled event that is now a favourite fixture on Ilkley’s social calendar.
Towards the end of 2024, Ilkley Live gained charitable status, its overarching aim to encourage and promote community cohesion and harmony through a shared love of live music. Now much more than just a one-day event, Ilkley Live - in partnership with popular local venues the Clarke Foley Community Hub, Ilkley Playhouse and the Bandstand - is proud to be promoting a series of regular live events throughout the year. The aim is to support and promote local people who want to create, perform or simply listen to live music, appealing to people of all ages and musical tastes and putting Ilkley on the map as a music town.
The Ilkley Live 2025 season kicks off on Friday 14 March with an evening of fabulous live music at the Clarke Foley Community Hub in Ilkley. Local legends, The Bluesouls, will be performing a mixed set of compelling and foot-tapping Motown, soul, stax and blues. With lead guitar, percussion and two saxophones, teamed with bluesy vocals and smooth harmonies, this popular band will have the audience singing along and dancing the night away! The Gatsbys are a well-known local duo with a loyal and ever-growing fanbase. Maria’s soulful voice and Chris’s virtuoso guitar skills offer the audience a perfect blend of original material and classic covers of hits from Dolly Parton to Deacon Blue.
Tickets are available from the Clarke Foley Community Hub or on the door. The show starts at 8.30pm and promises to be a night to remember!
Other exciting events to look forward to in 2025 under the banner of Ilkley Live include:
Buskers’ Festival on 3 May, featuring performers at various spots around Ilkley.
Garden Music Festival, 11-12 July, once again filling the gardens, streets and commercial venues in Ilkley with an eclectic mix of live music.
Yorkshire Day music event, 1 August.
Blues Night Festival in November at the Ilkley Playhouse, showcasing the very best of the Blues with three fabulous bands: Blue Pig Boogie Band, Ben ‘Blue’ Waters and Steel Knees Bertie.