Puzzle Hall Inn

Jazz Night with Emma Johnson's Gravy Boat
2024-10-31 20:15 - 23:00 (Europe/London)
Free admission, collection towards the band taken, please be generous if you can.

Emma Johnson’s Gravy Boat
Led by saxophonist and composer Emma Johnson, Johnson’s Gravy Boat are a cinematic, melodic instrumental band based in Leeds.
The band won the Peter Whittingham Award to record their debut album, Worry Not, which was released to great acclaim in 2021 and was described as ‘an exciting prospect indeed’
by Jazzwise Magazine.
Since then, they’ve completed a national tour, and recorded their second album – Northern Flame, (2023), which, following their self-released CD Worry Not, confirms Johnson as a singular
and exciting talent.
“Emma Johnson and her Gravy Boat are one of the most refreshingly imaginative and perfectly configured acts in contemporary Jazz” – Neil March

Chess Night
2024-10-28 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-10-21 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-10-14 20:00 - 23:00
All welcome for this casual but serious evening of chess.

Captain Of The Lost Waves + Miss Airedale + DJ
2024-10-26 20:00 - 23:00
Join the Captain of the lost waves, a free thinking radical and alt folk troubadour and his 2nd in command Miss Airedale for an evening on the high seas of dark folk pop where the waters are sometimes choppy, sometimes calm but always an adventure…’

French Fridays
2024-10-25 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-10-18 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-10-11 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-10-04 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-09-27 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-09-20 17:30 - 18:30
An informal group to practice your conversational French – Everyone welcome!

Clothes Swap
2024-10-20 13:00 - 15:00
We’re back… and this time we’re staying! Every third Sunday at the Puzzle you can swap your clothes for something new (to you!)
Entry is £1.
Bring up to 6 items of clothing (in clean and wearable condition) and swap away! Or you can buy up to 3 items for £1 each! OR you can just pop by and donate whatever you can afford.
This is a non-profit event with all proceeds going to Overgate Hospice and Fire & Water Cultural and Community Hub.
Come down and see if there’s anything you fancy!

Richard Royle Band
2024-10-19 21:00 - 23:00
Richard Royle is a Halifax based guitarist and vocalist specialising in bottle neck slide guitar. As a multi instrumentalist Richard has performed with various bands and acts locally but now has turned his attention to performing his original material.
A mix of folk, blues, soul and jazz his music centres around intricate guitar work which comprises bass, rhythm and lead parts all wrapped up in one guitar.With inspiration coming from greats such as Ry Cooder, Sam Cooke, Robert Johnson and many more Richard’s music is raw, honest and genuine.
Free entry, donations towards events always welcome…

Northlight
2024-10-12 21:00 - 23:00
Northlight is a project put together by Martin McGroarty, a songwriter and musician who has many years of songwriting and performance behind him. Martin currently lives in the Calder Valley and the other singers and musicians on the album are friends from around there. The songs are a mixture of those written by Martin, co-writes and one cover of a Welsh song written by Catrin Gerallt who also co-wrote a couple of the other songs.
You’d expect somebody with Martin’s experience to produce, along with the musicians and singers collaborating on this, to make something that is musically great – and there’s some fantastic playing on this album, vocally impressive and really well produced and arranged. So I’ll start by saying it is, there’s no song on this that doesn’t impress. The songwriting – both the words and tunes (so to speak) – is equally as impressive. Style wise the songs range from jazzy R’n’B to folk.

Open Mic Night with Maddie Brooks
2024-10-10 20:00 - 23:00
Everyone is welcome, from musician, spoken word, stand up comedy to magicians! If performing isn’t your thing then you’ll still enjoy coming down to see the variety of acts.

Undead Comedy with Mike Manera
2024-10-08 19:30 - 21:30
An evening of Stand Up. Mike is an Edinburgh award winner and you may have seen him TV shows such as Take The Mic and The Joan Rivers Position. We are promised some new material and new comedians!

Chess Night
2024-10-07 20:00 - 23:00
Everyone welcome!

Acoustic Singaround Session
2024-10-06 13:00 - 16:00
Join us at the Puzzle Hall Inn, the 1st Sunday of each month for an acoustic afternoon informal singaround. All persons of all ages and skill levels welcome.
Hosting, will be the incredible Dave CalvertIn his own words: “Everyone is welcome to come along and sing, play, join in or just listen, the beer is great, as is the atmosphere. Its a lovingly restored, community owned pub which is continuing it’s long history of music events.”
Entry is free, hope to see you there.

Savak (USA), The Unit Ama & DJ Clean Shirt
2024-10-05 20:00 - 23:00
SAVAK (USA)post-punk group from New York City – ex-Obits, The Cops, Holy Fuck. “a potent and pointed agitpop racket which manages to balance the dark and moody with the catchy as fuck.” – VICE https://savak.bandcamp.com/album/flavors-of-paradise
The Unit Ama (Newcastle)Adventurous free-running post-hardcore / post-punk / jazz trio from the North East pushing the guitar/bass/drums/vocals envelope for more than twenty years.https://theunitama.bandcamp.com/album/toward
and DJ Clean Shirt (Heavy Crates, Love Gun, Sex Beat) selecting post-punk, rock and ambient tunes throughout the evening.

FREE ENTRY with donations for bands gratefully accepted. Live music finished in time for trains back to Leeds / Manc. Supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

The Lunabarge Trio
2024-10-04 20:30 - 23:00
As part of our ‘How Much Stuff Can We Cram In A Car?’ mini-tour.
LunaBarge bring their upbeat, stomping, indie-folk, original songs to the Puzzle Hall.

Folk Night with The Muthers
2024-10-03 20:00 - 23:00
“The Muthers bring folk, pop, and indie tunes together in a wonderful array of arrangements. With harmonies that are sometimes joyful other times haunting and a multi instrumental line up, expect some re-worked classics that’ll have your toes tapping and your voices a singing.”
Free entry, donations toward events and artists always welcome.
For those who may be unsure of the public transport situations, here are some useful details…
Trains:If you’re travelling towards Halifax / Bradford / Leeds, the last train leaves Sowerby Bridge at 00.05.If you’re travelling up the Calder Valley, and onwards to Manchester, the last train leaves Sowerby Bridge at 23.23.Please allow 15 minutes to walk from the pub to the station, and please check, on the day of travel,that the times have not changed, or that strike actions are being planned.Bus:There’s a 579 bus to Halifax that leaves Station Road at 23.48, just a few minutes’ walk from the Pub,however, give yourself plenty of time, as it’s the last bus, it can be pretty sharp in setting off.

Technical Difficulties EMOM
2024-10-02 19:30 - 23:00
Technical Difficulties is Sowerby Bridge’s original experimental & electronic music open mic held on the first Wednesday of each month.
FREE ENTRY
Please send us a message if you want a slot!
We have a PA installed, two tables and somebody to plug you in…
Whether you’re into alternative hip hop, dark ambient, free jazz, freak folk, beat poetry or drone rock come on down, plug yourself in and let your freak flag fly!

Chess Night
2024-09-30 20:00 - 23:00
Chess and beer. Is there a better combo?

Kuschty Rye
2024-09-29 16:30 - 19:00
Purveyors of Rustic Rock n Roll ; inspired by the God Father of Rustic Rock n Roll, Mr Ronnie Lane.

Hot Club Of Halifax
2024-09-28 21:00 - 23:00
The Hot Club of Halifax; a fresh and exciting collective of Jazz musicians offering dynamic and charismatic renditions of songs and tunes from the Django Jazz repertoire.
An eclectic feast !
A substantial helping of deep and dirty swing interlaced with thoughtful arrangements of Jazz and Latin infused standards and the occasional traditional Gypsy waltz for good measure’ ( The Big D)
Free entry on the doors, donations towards artists and events always welcome.

Jazz Night -Blue Note Tribute
2024-09-26 20:30 - 23:00
The Puzzle House Band presents:–
A Tribute to Blue Note Records.
The iconic record label has produced so much brilliant music over the years. Music from, for example, Art Blakey, Horace Silver, Joe Henderson et al. Jazz musicians just love to get together and play this music. So we’ve put together a fantastic group of musicians, led by bassist Baxter, who will raise the Puzzle’s roof.
Rich Jones – Keyboards Paul Baxter – Double bassSteve Hanley – drumsStanley Lawrence -TrumpetKyran Matthews – Tenor saxophone
Paul Baxter Baxter’s bass playing has everything: propulsive in ensembles and dextrous in solos. His arco (bowing) achieves a singing, sonorous elegance that’s a real treat to listen to.
Kyran MatthewsSaxophonist Matthews is an eclectic musician whose career has spanned many genres.Taking his influence from the transcendent intensity of such seminal artists as John Coltrane, Joe Henderson and Kenny Garrett, his playing has been described as “powerful and majestic”(The Jazz Mann), “explosive” (Jazz Views) with “thunderous lines” (Jez Nelson).
For those who may be unsure of the public transport situations, here are some useful details.
Trains:If you’re travelling towards Halifax / Bradford / Leeds, the last train leaves Sowerby Bridge at 00.05.
If you’re travelling up the Calder Valley, and onwards to Manchester, the last train leaves Sowerby Bridge at 23.23.
Please allow 5 minutes to walk from the station to puzzle and 15 minutes to walk from the pub to the station, and please check, on the day of travel, that the times have not changed, or that strike actions are being planned.
Bus:There’s a 579 bus to Halifax that leaves Station Road at 23.48, just a few minutes’ walk from the Pub,however, give yourself plenty of time, as it’s the last bus, it can be pretty sharp in setting off.

Puzzle Poets
2024-09-24 20:00 - 23:00
Puzzle Spoken word is an opportunity for any Poets, Writers and Creatives to come and share and listen to all forms of spoken word arts; poetry, short stories or anything spoken word! We welcome all persons from all walks of life, and even if you’ve not got anything to perform, come down and experience some fantastic creative works.

Chess Night
2024-09-23 20:00 - 23:00
Everyone welcome.

Dearthworms & The Seven Inches
2024-09-21 20:00 - 23:00
DearthwormsA Sheffield based DIY post-punk / wonk rock band with interests in weird sex, insects, and strange pathetic men. Based at Hatch.
“You’ll find Eddie Argos’s absurdist yelp and Parquet Courts’ inscrutable wit in the third single by this new Sheffield guitar band, which slips between frenzy and playfulness.” – The Guardian on “Rorthide” Single
“The bizarre and wonderful world of Dearthworms unfurls in spectacular fashion through their debut album Sapsucker… a spectral void of jagged noise, discordant rhythms and ferocious intensity all of which blend into a magnificent piece of art which needs your attention.” – Louder Than War, Album of the Week
https://dearthworms.bandcamp.com/
The Seven Inches –
The Seven Inches explore genres such as rock, folk, showtunes, exotica and disco. Catchy melodies, exciting rhythms and interesting lyrics.
“Think The Moldy Peaches, Noel Coward, Le Tigre and Jonathan Richman and you’re halfway there. Honest yet humorous pop songs complimented by a dash of theatre, home-made props and unceasing energy makes a gig about more than just music.” – The Culture Vulture
“You have to wonder sometimes why a band like The Seven Inches aren’t world famous” – Ablaze!
https://theseveninches.bandcamp.com

Trevor Watts - Eternal Triangle
2024-09-19 20:30 - 23:00
ETERNAL TRIANGLE
Trevor Watts – Saxophones/ ComposerVeryan Weston – Nord Electric KeyboardJamie Harris – Percussion

Contemporary jazz & world music. A project led and inspired by Trevor Watts.These compositions are founded on wonderfully complex and diverse rhythmic structures from Africa andSouth America as well as harmonies and melodies rooted in jazz and European music forms.
CD release “Gravity” on Jazz Britains “Jazz Now” label in March 2024
https://on.soundcloud.com/EiYwR4exS3aKWxzEA
https://on.soundcloud.com/i1GqMuBC6C8zUzLXA
Trevor has been on the scene since the early 60’s and has been at the forefront of Jazz & Improv music in all this time.As a founder member of the Spontaneous Music Ensemble in 1965, Amalgam in 1967, London Jazz Composers Orchestra around 1973, Splinters with Phil Seaman, Tubby Hayes, Stan Tracey. Jeff Clyne and John Stevens and so on.
Since those days he has played many festivals with his Moire Music groups, which also included theMoire Music Drum Orchestra.
Some of these for instance were the San Francisco Jazz Fest /Vancouver Jazz Fest/Seattle Jazz Fest/ Berlin Jazz Fest/ London Jazz Fest/ Singapore Arts Fest/Washington DC World Music Fest/ Glastonbury Fest/Womad Fest and so on……………..
Watts has also performed with, and amongst many others Archie Shepp/Steve Lacy/ Denardo Coleman with Jayne Cortez/Steve Swallow/ Irene Schweizer/ Don Cherry/ Bobby Bradford/Dave Holland/ Rashied Ali/ Peter Kowald/ Adama Drame (Burkina Faso)/ Cyro Baptista and so on.
He was instrumental in initiating the collaboration between his Drum Orchestra and Teatro Negro Barlovento(Venezuela) 35 piece group which played the Saalfelden and Crawley Jazz Festivals as well as concerts inS America and a BBC radio broadcast.
Trevor has had a long standing improvising duo with pianist Veryan Weston and another very different duo withPercussionist Jamie Harris, based on rhythmic & melodic ideas in the main. They were wildly appreciated at theSao Paolo Jazz Festival in Brasil some years ago and also in the Dominican Republic.
This sample of Watts’ newest venture called ETERNAL TRIANGLE which features Jamie Harris (Percussion)/ Veryan Weston (Kybd) and Trevor Watts (alto & sop saxes, compositions) and is made up from those two duos, you can hear at the above link. All the compositions are different, and we have never failed to gain anaudience’s excited interest whenever we play a concert.”
