Onwards Festival 2024 'Through The Valley'

Since 2016 Onwards Festival has been an annual Huddersfield town centre music and art festival. ​ For the first time ever the 2024 festival is happening in the Colne Valley. Come and join us for a full day of gorgeous music in the beautiful landscape between Slaithwaite and Marsden. It is a chance to celebrate the bands and venues that make Huddersfield a great place to see live music. Plus this year we have a few bands that have never played in Huddersfield before, but who we really believe in and think you will love. Travel together successively through a variety of the Colne Valley's independent music venues and experience live performances from some fine bands and musicians. Axis Valv-a-tron Marsden Mechanics @ 9:30pm The original Reggae Revival Sound System.With a lifetimes passion for Reggae records from the 60s/70s/80s, Dr. Valvatron is celebrating 40 years of Dj'ing in 2024. Expect a selection of Jamaican records played in the original way with the original sound of authentic vintage sound system. King Zepha Marsden Mechanics @ 8:30pm King Zepha is a singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer from Leeds. His live band sound features honkin' horns, thumpin' double bass, global rhythms, dub delays and raucous 3-part vocal harmonies. Hippo Zapato @ 6pm Hippo are an electronic/future jazz trio based in Bristol. They play improvised music buried in a nest of beefy electronics, bouncing rhythms and big riffs. “Mind-spinning Jazz Futurism... it’s exciting to see so much support for Hippo’s energetic combination of virtuosic improvisation and live electronics.” Georgie Buchanan & Alana Middleton Dark Woods @ 5pm Georgie Buchanan (harp, voice) & Alana Middleton (fiddle, voice) are a dynamic folk duo based in Leeds. Together they craft expressive musical landscapes of acapella harmonies, shimmering instrumentals, and storytelling that speaks of a heartfelt connection with the natural world and human connection. They perform traditional songs, material from Georgie's debut album 'Wise as a Fool', and a selection of fresh co-written compositions. Hebble on route @ 4pm Hebble are an eclectic world folk band with an unusual set of instruments that play lively, international traditional music in multiple languages. Hebble are Greek Bouzouki, Bodhran, and Cello + 3 vocals. They play English, Czech, Polish, Irish, Scottish, and Appalacian folk music. They also have a handful of original songs inspired by Yorkshire myth and landscape. Upbeat and alternative with twists of jazz and rock, and plenty of three-part harmonies. Mishra The Watershed @ 2:45pm Mishra are a global folk duo from the UK gathering international recognition, who draw together roots in UK traditional music with continent-spanning musical textures into a multi-limbed virtuoso performance. Performing finely crafted songs with stunning vocals and exhilarating instrumentals, Mishra span eclectic moods; from meditative raag inspired improvisations to high-energy celtic dance tunes underpinned by unstoppable percussive grooves, they create an unaccountably big sound for just two people. ​PENNY The Watershed @ 2pm Just a small town girl trying to make it in a big wide world. PENNY is a Huddersfield based artist with sweet and bewitching vocals, irresistible melodies and West Yorkshire charm. PENNY bares all in her songs, as she displays sentiments on toxic relationships and self worth. While supporting the likes of Sophie Ellis Bextor and Selah Sue, through a series of upbeat electro-pop ballads, PENNY tackles her dreams, her queerness, and her mental health journey, Caleb Grinsdale The Watershed @ 1:15pm Caleb first appeared on the Huddersfield music scene over 15 years ago at The Acoustic Club. Since then he has grown with scene, performed extensively both as a solo musician and with several bands, becoming well known among fellow artists. At Onwards 2024, he will be performing his most diverse set to date, a mixture of Vocals, Guitar, Piano and Spoken Word, all done with the signature and polish that has become synonymous with Caleb's music. ​