Wild Notes Concert

As part of Wildlife Friendly Otley’s Art Exhibition, join us for this celebration of nature through music, delivered by 4 extraordinary performers:

Chris Brain is a Yorkshire-based folk singer-songwriter whose work sits firmly in the British pastoral tradition, shaped by close attention to place, memory and emotional nuance. Much of his work focuses on his love of and engagement with nature. He is a familiar voice on BBC Radio 6 Music and the BBC Radio 2 Folk Show.

https://chrisbrainmusic.com/ 

Sarah Smout is a cellist, singer, and poet whose work is rooted in a deep love of the natural world. Blending live-looped cello soundscapes, ethereal vocals, and evocative poetry, she creates immersive performances that speak to our connection with nature in a time of climate crisis.

https://www.sarahsmoutmusic.co.uk/

Amy-Jane Beer is a biologist, nature writer and campaigner. She’s a Country Diarist for The Guardian and a columnist for British Wildlife. She contributed to the 2018 People’s Manifesto for Wildlife as minister for Social Inclusion and Access to Nature. Her book The Flow: rivers, water and wildness won the 2023 Wainwright Prize for nature writing and her new picture book, A River Running Through You has been shortlisted for the Children’s Wainwright Prize. She is also a key member of the Right to Roam team, focussing on outreach, landowner liaison, river access, dog policy and creative direction.

Sarah and Amy-Jane will be performing an original piece that blends music and spoken word written especially for this event.

Matthew Hedley Stoppard lives in Otley, where he was the UK's first official Town Poet. He has three poetry collections published by Valley Press, including 'A Family Behind Glass', which was a Guardian Readers' Book of the Year, with a fourth on the way in early 2027. His poems are widely published, and he has appeared on BBC Radio 3, 4 and 6Music. His poem, ‘Roding’ highlights the responsibility of shared land ownership and taking care of species threatened by our actions - it is part of the interactive Otley Chevin Woodcock Walk.

70% of profits from ticket sales will go towards Wildlife Friendly Otley.

Tickets £19.99 (plus a small booking fee)

We want everyone to feel welcome at Otley Common. If you have any access requirements or need any support to attend this event, please get in touch with us before the day and we'll do our best to help. hello@otleycommon.org