Wharfedale Poets have been off-line for a couple of years, but we have not been inactive. We have gained two new members - Mike Farren and David Hesmondhalgh - and have published two anthologies, about which there will be more in a future post.

In the mean time, there is a show coming up, featuring two members of Wharfedale Poets, along with great contemporary folk music in a beautiful and atmospheric setting.

The Manor House in Ilkley is the venue for this special evening of poetry and songs on the evening of Saturday 16^th June at 7.30pm.

The Moonbeams, the well known and loved contemporary folk musicians will bring their original songs from the Dales to the party. The Moonbeams are part of TheMoonbeam Collective, a community organisation that aims to celebrate the environment, countryside and rural life through the arts. They have just released their third album This Land and their 2015 album Watching Wildlife was critically acclaimed as well as being voted in the top 50 Daily Telegraph albums of the year.

Two members of The Wharfedale Poets will be reading from their work.  Colin Speakman is a well-known poet, author and environmental campaigner and Ilkley’s Mandy Sutter, as well as being an acclaimed poet, recently won a prestigious national short-storywriting award.

The Wharfedale Poets were established in 2010 and have since grown and reputation, counting published poets and national poetry prize winners amongst their numbers. They regularly give performances in the region and the group have produced four highly praised anthologies since 2014.

The latest, Music and Milestones (Ings Poetry, 2018) was published in April.

Jon Avison of The Moonbeam Collective said ‘We are looking forward to bringing our music to Ilkley and it is a particular joy to be able to play at The Manor House and share the evening with The Wharfedale Poets. The combination of poems and music always works well’

Colin Speakman of The Wharfedale Poets said: “It will be a real privilege and pleasure to share a platform with Moonbeams. Music and poetry are sister arts, and what better way to celebrate a summer evening in the Yorkshire Dales than with wonderful music and words”.

The evening starts at 7.30pm and tickets available on the door cost £6 and include a free glass of wine.