YorkLife Festival
Showcasing talent in York
Saturday 2nd & Sunday 3rd April, 11am to 9pm. Parliament Street, York.
A free open event for York residents to enjoy, organised by Make It York.
See the lineup - Saturday 2nd April | Sunday 3rd April
Enjoy over 30 acts, musicians and interactive workshops at York’s new Spring festival, YorkLife. The festival will showcase local talent in the city in the form of musicians, performers, comedians and much more!
Festival headliners include home-grown talent The Howl & The Hum, who recently graced the stage of York Minster and performed to a sell-out capacity crowd, and Huge, who describe themselves as the ultimate party band, playing well known hits with their four-piece brass band completed of two saxophones, a trumpet and trombone. They headline the main “YorkLive” stage which hosts a programme curated by York’s Music Venue Network showcasing local artists, including Bull, Kitty VR, Flatcap Carnival, Hyde Family Jam & many more.
Experience a range of interactive sessions held by local organisations such as theatre workshops, instrumental workshops, face painting, comedy and dance performances, as well as local circus acts!
Take in the ambience and enjoy a refreshing drink at a York Gin bar inside the stretch tent on Parliament Street, along with an open seating area with a view to the main stage.
This is a free event and there is no need to book tickets in advance. YorkLife is organised by Make It York, with support from the City of York Council’s ARG funding - which aims to support businesses impacted by Covid-19. The programme of events for YorkLife has been curated with York residents in mind and to support the city's recovery from Covid.
See the Line Up
Saturday 2nd April
Fantastic Faces Face Painting
Fantastic Faces are providing WOW Factor faces at this years event! The expert team of face and body artists allow you to express yourself and become whoever, or whatever you'd like to be!
Time: 11.00am - 5.00pm
Location: Facepainting Workshop Tent
Innovation Entertainment ‘Circus Workshops’
Fun skill-building challenges such as unicycling, juggling and various other fun circus skills. A great family-friendly way to share moments and build memories.
Time: 11.00am - 4.00pm
Location: Circus Workshop Tent
Drumming with Mark Barfoot
A fun and inclusive drumming session for children and families using a mixture of djembe drums and hand percussion.
Time: 11.00am - 11.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Thunk-It Theatre
Explore the process of creating your own dream city through drama, singing and crafting, perfect for anyone aged 4-11.
Time: 1.00pm - 1.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
York Wire Skylines with Gemma Wood
Join Gemma Wood, a York-based visual artist, as you’re immersed and transformed into the depths of your curiosity.
Time: 2.00pm - 2.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Marnie Glum
Live music from Marnie Glum
Time: 2.30pm
Location: Music Stage
York Mix Quiz
Ben and Laura will be bringing their much-loved Game Wheel live to YorkLife, giving you a chance to win badges for York Races' Tribute Weekend on May 21st-22nd with a chance to see Abbamania or Majesty Queen!
Time: 3.00pm - 3.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Pennine Suite
Live music from Pennine Suite
Time: 3.30pm
Location: Music Stage
The Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts
A fun taster session for young budding singers, dancers, actors or filmmakers in this PQA session.
Time: 4.00pm - 4.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Wounded Bear
Live music from Wounded Bear
Time: 4.30pm
Location: Music Stage
The JORVIK Viking Takeover
A 45 minute interactive presentation about various aspects of Viking life in the 10th century!
Time: 5.00pm - 5.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Flatcap Carnival
Live music from Flatcap Carnival
Time: 5.30pm
Location: Music Stage
Burning Duck Comedy Club Presents
Stepping out of The Crescent, Burning Duck Comedy brings you 90 minutes of Live, back-to-back comedy.
Time: 6.15pm - 7:15pm
Location: Tent Stage
Kitty VR
Live music from Kitty VR
Time: 6.30pm
Location: Music Stage
HUGE
Live music from HUGE
Time: 7.30pm
Location: Music Stage
Sunday 3rd April
Fantastic Faces Face Painting
Fantastic Faces are providing WOW Factor faces at this years event! The expert team of face and body artists allow you to express yourself and become whoever, or whatever you'd like to be!
Time: 11.00am - 5.00pm
Location: Facepainting Workshop Tent
York Wire Skylines with Gemma Wood
Join Gemma Wood, a York-based visual artist, as you’re immersed and transformed into the depths of your curiosity.
Time: 11.00am - 11.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Innovation Entertainment ‘Circus Workshops’
Fun skill-building challenges such as unicycling, juggling and various other fun circus skills. A great family-friendly way to share moments and build memories.
Time: 12.00pm - 4.00pm
Location: Circus Workshop Tent
Ukulele Workshop with Christian Topman
Join Christian Topman, co-founder of the arts barge project and bass player, to learn how to play fun tunes on the Ukulele.
Time: 12.00pm - 12.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Big City Flashmob Rehearsal
Courtesy of the Big City Flashmob and York Dance Space. Learn the choreography on the YorkLive stage at 12pm, practice at home!
Time: 12.00pm
Location: Music Stage
Big City Flashmob - Parliament St
Take part in the flashmob on Parliament Street at 12.45.
Time: 12.45pm
Location: Parliament St
Thunk-It Theatre
Explore the process of creating your own dream city through drama, singing and crafting, perfect for anyone aged 4-11.
Time: 1.00pm - 1.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Big City Flashmob - St Helen's Sq
Join the flashmob at St Helen's Square at 13.30.
Time: 1.30pm
Location: St Helen's Sq
York Festival of Ideas
Prepare to be inspired as you enjoy a preview of York Festival of Ideas, one of the largest free festivals of its kind in the UK. From mind-reading to crime and punishment, and the bass guitar to plasma, don’t miss a range of interactive talks.
Time: 2.00pm - 2.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Bargestra
Live music from Bargestra. An all inclusive community band from The Arts Barge Project about 25 strong. We play a wide range of styles, incorporating improvisation, classics and new music.
Time: 3.00pm
Location: Music Stage
Say Owt Poetry Workshop
Meet Henry Raby, a York-based performance poet, as he teaches you how to make quick and fun poetry and become craftier with your words.
Time: 3.00pm - 3.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Beatboxing with Matty Groove
In this exclusive workshop, Matty will share his knowledge and secret techniques into the unusual art of beatbox.
Time: 4.00pm - 4.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Floral Pattern
Live music from Floral Pattern. Led by Myles Noble, Floral Pattern play a unique blend of Modern and Classic jazz-infused tunes varying from Roy Hargrove to Oscar Jerome to Moses Boyd.
Time: 4.00pm
Location: Music Stage
London Magician and Card Reader, Chris Wall
Be amazed with a 60-minute performance from Chris Wall and his mind-reading magic!
Time: 5.00pm - 5.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Hyde Family Jam
Live music from Hyde Family Jam
Time: 5.00pm
Location: Music Stage
Trueman & The Indoor League
Live music from Trueman & The Indoor League
Time: 6.00pm
Location: Music Stage
Say Owt Back-to-Back Performance
Say Owt present a back-to-back poetry slam from their collective of ‘gobby northern poets’.
Time: 6.15pm - 7.45pm
Location: Tent Stage
Bull
Live music from Bull
Time: 7.00pm
Location: Music Stage
The Howl & The Hum
Live music from The Howl & The Hum
Time: 8.00pm
Location: Music Stage
