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New Season at the Ridings 12th September, 2025  YAA White Rose Centre    Gig, 24th October, 2025.   Report Phil Barr Videos Jane Barr, Joe Fisher Photos Janr Barr      The first gig at this Leeds venue since the changing of the guard and a proper test of resilience it turned out to be too! As […]

Wakeylele Rovers Return  10th October, 2025 Report Phil Barr video & photos Phil Barr Another Saturday Night? Well, yes and no – yes in that it was on the song list, but no, in that this was a Friday morning in October when Wakeylele assembled in the Ridings all well prepared, thanks to Pop’s thorough

New Season at the Ridings 12th September, 2025       (by our Suffolk correspondent) Report Phil Barr videos Joe Fisher photos by Barbara     Another unsettled looking forecast for a Friday in September failed to disturb the stoic band that is Wakeylele as they presented once more at the Ridings shopping centre, this time under

Wakefield Bids Merry City Festival 23rd Aug 2025s  9th Aug, 2025 Report Phil Barr videos Carol Flatters, Jane Barr photos David Blackburn, Carol Flatters Wakeylele headlining at the Merrie City Festival on a Bank Holiday weekend –  pull the other one… and yet here we were on a proper stage, with an array of professional

Summer at The Ridings  9th Aug, 2025 Report Phil Barr videos Jane Barr High summer and a high turn – out from the Wakeylele Band as they arrived at their home ground in the Ridings. With David stepping back from a distinguished career at the helm, it was Pop’s turn to front the band, and

Report by Philip Barr Videos by Thelma Srivastava. Philip Barr Wakefield Hospice Gig              Another gig in a busy summer schedule, this one significant in that it was David’s final one as leader before he steps back from the frenzy to take a more than well-earned rest and then maybe

High Summer at The Ridings  5th July, 2025 Report Phil Barr video & photos Phil Barr Following revised guidelines on band dress, the likes of Sue, Maria and Mags had to put on hold their plans to stun the Ridings in Red but if they can wait until December, I just happen to have three

Wakeylele at Thorpe Audlin Summer Fair   29th June, 2025 Report Phil Barr video Joe Fisher photos Phil Barr Late June with the thermometer rising as we arrived at Thorpe Audlin’s village sports ground – the question on everyone’s mind being what would other members of the band be wearing to keep the heat at bay; David

Horbury Street Fayre 14th June    Report Phil Barr. Videos jenny Sidebottom, Joe fisher, jane Barr   Mid – June in a small but lively market town in Yorkshire, the grey clouds rolling back as the warm sun makes a move to break through and the promise of an enjoyable and productive day for all

Report Philip Barr, Photos Phil Barr,Video Joe Fisher     Members of the Wakeylele band arrived outside the imposing bulk of the Ash Grove building on a showery, not very summery afternoon in confident mood fresh from their recent success at Whitaker Grange.     Inside was a spacious hallway which included large pictures and photos

Videos by Mike Sidebottom Another visit to Whitaker Grange in Ossett, to play for a receptive audience where we are always well received. So successfull was the performance that it prompted Band leader David Broadbent to post the following message afterwards on Whatsapp “Well done everyone for making today’s gig so enjoyable. Special mention to

A musical bonanza was in prospect as we passed the Strawberry Fields Primary School in Garforth just before we arrived at the imposing looking venue on the High Street with the flamboyant leader of the Leeds group already exhibiting his ukulele skills as he walked up and down the road advertising the GULP event.  

YAA Gig at the Ridings, 29th April 2025. Springing into Action  By Phil Barr Photo’s, video Joe Fisher Our present leader referred to the opening paragraph of March’s Ridings report as a ‘masterpiece’ so I briefly pondered whether to frame the quote and put it on the mantlepiece. Then I thought, no, that looks a

Ridings Gig            To begin… another traumatic week on both the wider and domestic political front – firstly I think it’s best that everyone is wary of mistakenly sharing classified information on this app as we don’t want, as an example, those Houthis in Yemen finding out what our set list