Literary Lunch with Peter Moor & Ed Kluz

This year we welcome two brilliant authors who have published two very different though related books.

We are delighted that Peter Moore, author of the recently-published Sunday Times Bestseller Endeavour has agreed to take the place of Imogen Hermes Gowar (who is indisposed) alongside artist Ed Kluz who will be talking about his book The Lost House Revisited.

Peter Moore’s previous book The Weather Experiment was also a Sunday Times Bestseller. BBC4 adapted it as a three-part television series and The New York Times included it in their 100 Notable Books of 2015.

Endeavour is about the famous ship of that name, built in Whitby, that carried James Cook on his first great voyage 250 years ago, visiting Pacific islands unknown to European geography, charting for the first time New Zealand and the eastern coast of Australia. According to Charles Darwin, she helped Cook add a hemisphere to the civilised world. Though Endeavour achieved fame with that voyage, it had many other lives before being scuttled in 1778 off Newport, Rhode Island during the American War of Independence. Recent news reports suggest that her remains have been discovered.

Peter Moore’s fascination with the ship’s constant mutability and her close involvement with so many significant events of the high-Georgian age, led him to write the book. He will provide a intriguing insight into a great age of discovery.
‘An absolute joy from start to finish, and surely my history book of the year.’ – The Sunday Times
‘Fascinating’ – Michael Palin

Artist Ed Kluz was brought up in Yorkshire and has recently returned to live and work here. His work includes book illustration, wallpaper, fabric design and 3-D objects but of late he has concentrated on artworks expressing his life-long passion, historic architecture, by reimagining great buildings – palaces, grand country houses and follies – that have long since been demolished, fallen into ruin or burnt down. He extensively researches contemporary sources and presents a highly theatrical vision realised through techniques – highly detailed collage and scraperboard chiaroscuro –that he has made uniquely his own. He has exhibited widely, most recently at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park with his very successful one-man show Sheer Folly and at The Lotte Inch Gallery in York.

His recent book, The Lost House Revisited, is lavishly illustrated with his own pictures alongside authoritative texts by Tim Knox (Director of the Royal Collection and former Head Curator of the National Trust), architectural historian Olivia Horsfall Turner and Ed himself.

Ed brings an unparalleled richness of knowledge and perception to his subject, which he communicates with wit and enthusiasm.

Ceilidh with the Capstick Ceilidh Band

Dance the night away at a fun-filled evening for everyone. A ceilidh is an ideal way to have fun with capstickfriends and let your hair down. Don’t worry if you think you’ve got two left feet. The music of Capstick Ceilidh will soon get your feet tapping, and their caller will walk you through the dances.

‘We are a ceilidh band based in Leeds, Yorkshire who play an exciting and wide range of folk music from across the British Isles, Ireland and America.’

Call My Wine Bluff

Six wines, three ‘experts’ – who is telling the truth? Pit your team’s (up to eight) taste buds against them or join a team on the night.
Includes French bread and cheese supper

Leeds Symphony Orchestra: Conductor - Martin Binks

Always a Festival favourite, we welcome once again the Leeds Symphony Orchestra with their conductor, Martin Binks.

Weber – Overture: Oberon
Franck – Symphony in D minor
Dvorak – Slavonic Dances

Other works featuring soloist Heather Jane Taylor (Soprano)

Folk Club – Fake Thackray

Jake Thackray was a singer-songwriter in the French tradition, a “chansonnier” but idiosyncratically English. Between 1967 and 1991 EMI produced 7 albums among 1,000 radio and TV shows. Since Jake died in 2002, John Waterson’s appreciation and love of Jake’s music has celebrated this life, his work and his genius. His songs are firmly rooted in Yorkshire: painfully funny, sad, tragic, rude, irreverent, incisive and happy.

Comedy Night with Shappi Khorsandi and Sarah Keyworth

Shappi Khorsandi is a very well-known stand-up, with a career that has taken her to all corners of the globe. She is known for her many TV & Radio appearances including Mock the Week, 8 Out Of 10 Cats, Have I Got News For You, QI and Just a Minute to name just a few! Currently touring with her hilarious new show Mistress & Misfit around the UK, she has taken a detour to be with us for our Festival!

Sarah Keyworth You’ll have seen her on Comedy Central, and the BBC. Now your chance to see this rising star’s debut hour as she tells you about her life with an important little girl and her battle against every expectation of what being a girl means. Think Girls Just Wanna Have Fun but British, deadpan and in no way similar. She’s been awarded ‘Funny Women’ runner-up.
‘Charming’ says the Independent

‘Welcome to Wetherby’ Day – Organised by the Town Council and by many of Wetherby’s voluntary organisations. This was an opportunity to show off many of the town’s hidden interest – the fire station, the bath house, the Old Man’s Parliament and others. The Festival was able to enjoy the atmosphere and use the town hall as the box office.

Festival Service – the mayor of Wetherby announced the results of the Scarecrow competition (won by the Wetherby Brewery after a big hit on Facebook).

Historic Wetherby – a 90 minute guided walk around the town to discover the fascinating history of Wetherby’s past.