Puzzle Hall Inn

Merry Quizmas!
2024-12-22 16:00 - 18:00 (Europe/London)
Get your thinking caps firmly on for the music quiz of the year! There will be top quality prizes for the winners and the satisfaction of trampling your opponents into the dust. All in the best spirit of the festive season of course. Teams limited to 4 players.

Kimber's Men
2024-12-21 21:00 - 23:00
Captivating audiences with their fabulous harmonies and amusing banter since the year 2001, KIMBER’S MEN have performed at folk and shanty festivals throughout the length and breadth of the UK from Portsoy in the North to Jersey in the South and from Liverpool to Harwich in the West and East.
The boys are regular performers at festivals throughout Europe and Scandinavia, honoured to be invited annually to Appingedam, Enkhuizen and Rotterdam in Netherlands, Vegesack, Bremen in Germany, Ostende in Belgium and Paimpol in France along with many performances in Ireland and Greece. They have performed at Fano in Denmark many times and played at Egersund and Stavanger in Norway.
KIMBER’S MEN are hoping to tour the USA and Canada, after numerous invitations, and were very proud to have been chosen to headline the first ever shanty festival in Australia in 2019 where they toured the South and West coast from Albany to Bunbury, Pinjarra, Perth and Freemantle.
In the UK KIMBER’S MEN have featured twice on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and also starred in BBC2 and BBC4’s production of ‘’Sea Songs ‘’ with Gareth Malone.
The boys have also, for many years, crewed the Tall Ship Stavros S Niarchos as deckhands and Shantymen on voyages around the UK and Europe although Neil is the only true sailor amongst them.

Marie Franc + Start To Run
2024-12-20 20:00 - 22:00
Marie Franc are a a six-piece Manchester group with their own richly beguiling modern take on classic dream pop with a unique blend of sultry pop vocals and intricate instrumentation. Their sound draws from a diverse range of influences including folk, jazz, rock, and country, resulting in a captivating musical experience. Their lyrics touch upon themes of love, history, nature, folklore, and sexuality, adding depth and dimension to their music.
‘intricate, gentle, and ominous in the best way possible’ – Alabaster De Plume ‘Amazing, incredible strange presence’ – Crackd Magazine

Start To Run are a four piece band from Hebden Bridge who marry punchy drum beats with rich guitar, dreamy synths and layered vocals to create hooky indie pop with a wistful sad girl dreaminess in a way that’ll capture your heart.
A 2023 write up they were described us as “making a worthy contribution to the most enduring of genres: Sad Disco Anthems”.

French Fridays
2024-12-20 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-12-13 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-12-06 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-11-29 17:30 - 18:30, 2024-11-22 17:30 - 18:30
An informal group to practice your conversational French – Everyone welcome!

Ginger's Christmas Open Mic & Jam
2024-12-19 20:30 - 23:00
Ginger’s Christmas Open mic & Jam at the Puzzle Hall Inn – Sowerby Bridge 8.30pm onwards and upwards…
These nights are an Open Mic with Jam session capabilities where everyone is pretty much guaranteed a chance to play & are peppered with moments of absolute joy & magic!
This one is also fancy dress so if you fancy come along incognito.. lend an ear or two or play your heart out, it should be a great night!
This session will be hosted by Maddy Brooks
Everyone and anyone welcome, get yourselves down to play, sing, say and listen!
We have a PA installed, plus mics, stands and DI boxes available to use.

Chess Night
2024-12-16 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-12-09 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-12-02 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-11-25 20:00 - 23:00, 2024-11-18 20:00 - 23:00
All welcome for this casual but serious evening of chess.

Hit The Decks
2024-12-15 15:00 - 18:00
An open decks afternoon for any aspiring djs who want to share their skills on the wheels of steel with the rest of us. Bring along your records and we’ll provide the decks.

Outside The Box
2024-12-14 21:00 - 23:00
“Spirited trad, Scottish themed folk/bluegrass tunes with three part harmonies and shenanigans”
Outside the Box are a Calderdale based trio featuring Mark Paramor on guitar, Justin Graham on accordion and Daz Jones on bass. Coming from a background of ceilidh, strict time Scottish Competition, New Orleans Second Line Jazz, Folk and Punk bands they put their own feel to songs and tunes old and new. Add beautiful and full throated three part harmonies, Outside the Box bring foot tapping energy, glorious tunes and sing-along choruses.
You can check out some of their work here:https://www.facebook.com/outsidetheboxband3/
Free entry on the doors, artist donations welcome.

Annalies Monsere + Geraldine Snell
2024-12-12 20:00 - 22:00
Annelies Monseré (Belgium)Experimental minimalist drone folk on Horn of Plenty records. https://horn-of-plenty.bandcamp.com/album/i-sigh-i-resign
Geraldine Snell (Hebden Bridge)Hypnotic dream pop conjured from looped vocals and keyboard by Hebden Bridge artist and musician.http://geraldinesnell.com
at Puzzle Hall Inn, 21 Hollins Mill Lane, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 2RF 8pm – 10pm (live music)
FREE ENTRY with donations for bands gratefully accepted. Live music done in time for trains back to Leeds / Manc. Supported with funds from Arts Council England.
— Further Info —
As a member of Ghent’s experimental music scene, over the past two decades Annelies Monseré has slowly refined a singular approach to musicality, moving from the sparse, instrumental piano works that defined her early career, toward increasingly complex arrangements of instrumentation that offer a central place to her own voice, issued by noteworthy imprints such as BlueSanct, Morc Tapes, Stroom, three:four, and Horn of Plenty. Like her work within the widely celebrated ensemble, Luster, as well as Distels (her duo with Steve Marreyt) and Hydromedusae (her duo with Jessica Bailiff), Monseré’s solo efforts establish a strikingly beautiful and remarkably unique territory that elegantly balances between rigorous experimentalism, minimalism, drone, and folk.
Her new album, ‘I Sigh, I resign’, retains the intimacy of earlier work with its close-mic’d keyboards and vocals that capture every breath. Folk and early music are at the core of her sound but the palette of piano, organ, bass guitar, cello, synth and drum machine make it very much a document of the here and now.
The cover features Annelies’s sketches referencing female artists from the Dutch Golden Age who, highly revered at the time, now serve as mere footnotes to Rembrandt, Vermeer et al. The cover sets the tone for the music within which deals with power structures, toxic environments, and questioning (his)tories.
Standout tracks include the pounding rhythm and choir-like voices on ‘Salt’ as well as the tense folk/post-rock of ‘Simple Fractures’ (co-written with her Luster bandmates). The album’s most tender moment is a cover of Jean Ritchie’s Appalachian ballad ‘One I Love’ played and sung by Annelies and her ten year old son.
‘I Sigh, I Resign’ is an intimate piece of work that explores personal and general themes which, having played-out for centuries, are still depressingly relevant. Despite the suggestion of defeat in the title, ‘I Sigh, I Resign’ is an affirming and defiant manifesto for growth and liberation.
Live, she will be joined on stage by Tim Depraetere, who also performs solo as Goldscammer, on vocals, bass and guitar.
Daryl Worthington wrote about ‘I Sigh, I Resign’ (2024) in The Wire ‘Past and present, personal and historic, dreamlike and mundane merge into flickering yet coherent constellations. Monseré’s music creates spaces where everything haunts everything else. A place where the past doesn’t disappear but leaks into the present. That might sound disorientating, but her songs render it eerily gorgeous.’ And Boomkat wrote ‘Monseré has always made her own distinctive kind of folk music; as entwined with Codeine’s hushed slowcore as Nico’s icy expression. Here, she sounds completely unlocked – after two decades of cautious experimentation, she finally draws with more deliberate strokes – and the effect is mesmerising.’
https://www.annelies-monsere.net/
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Geraldine Snell
A multifaceted artist, musician, author, filmmaker and facilitator hailing from the Wild West Yorkshire, Geraldine’s melodic, meditative, mellifluous music makes mesmerized audiences slow down and soften to the precious vulnerability and medicinal potential of creative expression.
Her sound is tender, ethereal, and hypnotic, channeling similar vibes to Grouper, Julee Cruise, Laurie Anderson, Portishead, Tirzah, Cocteau Twins, James Blake, Bat for Lashes, fka Twigs, Bjork, Lael Neale, Angel Olsen, You’ll Never Get To Heaven, & Beach House.
With recent highlights ranging from the release of second album Light & Love LIVE (produced on a creative retreat awarded by Britten Pears Arts Trust) and Cocoon: Eclosion EP with Debugger to performances at Spice of Life Soho, Katzpace London, and festivals across the UK, watch this space for new releases and shows leading up to her third album overlove, co-produced with Richard Knight, across 2024.
http://geraldinesnell.comhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oqZsx3igEUhttp://geraldinesnell.bandcamp.com �

Kogumaza + XAM Duo
2024-12-08 16:00 - 18:00
Kogumaza (Notts/Shrops – Low Point Records) Long-anticipated regeneration of the UKs finest drone-rock trio featuring members of Wolves of Greece, Rattle, Haress, Little Girl With Cherries. https://kogumaza.bandcamp.com/
XAM Duo (Sowerby Bridge) Modular synth and alto sax electronic explorations from Matt Benn (Holodrum) and Chris Duffin (Holodrum/Yard Act). Releases on Sonic Cathedral and remixed by the likes of James Holden. https://xammusik.bandcamp.com/album/xam-duo-ii
FREE ENTRY with donations for bands gratefully accepted.

Fire Tower 4
2024-12-07 21:00 - 23:00
Fire Tower 4 is a collective of improvising musicians from a variety of musical backgrounds, who work without preset material or structure producing music created in the moment and never to be repeated. With a sound that shifts and gently mutates over time, each FT4 gig evolves through the interaction between musicians in an act of instant composition, with influences drawn from kraut rock, minimalism, techno, psychedelia, hip-hop and jazz, no two Fire Tower 4 performances are the same.
www.facebook.com/firetowerfour

Doogle + Wonkypuss
2024-12-06 20:00 - 22:00
Doogle are an exciting new band from Huddersfield making waves with their mixture of classic indie pop hooks and youthful energy.

WonkyPuss are a much loved fixture of the Calderdale music scene spreading joy and bemusement in equal measure with their own unique brand of energetic anti folk full of ramshackle charm.

Folk Night with Ragged Trousers
2024-12-05 20:00 - 23:00
This month we welcome – Ragged Trousers
Ragged Trousers are a three part male harmony group from North West England. We have a long history of singing and playing traditional songs together going back to school days. The songs we are drawn to are largely those concerning social injustices, either cultural or political, and the plight of ordinary people.
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
2024-12-04 19:00 - 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!

Clothes Swap
2024-12-03 18:00 - 20:00
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!

Acoustic Singaround Session
2024-12-01 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 Calvert.In 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.

Yellow Goose Dance
2024-11-30 21:00 - 23:00
Yellow Goose Dance brings you seven of Huddersfield’s finest musicians, playing catchy, original songs, with sweet harmonies, rock solid beats and sizzling horn section. Expect sultry Latin beats, lively ballroom numbers and maybe even something heavier. This band plays it all!

Jazz Night with Anna Chandler
2024-11-28 20:00 - 23:00
Tonight the Puzzle House Band are joined by multi-saxophonist Anna Chandler. One of Anna’s favourite instruments is the bass saxophone, it’s rarely seen or played, let’s hope it’s available on this gig!

Puzzle Poets
2024-11-26 20:00 - 23:00

Sorry Cancelled - Ultimate Thunder + Lands & Body
2024-11-23 20:00 - 22:00
Sorry, this gig has been cancelled by the artist due to illness.

Ultimate ThunderPost-everything learning disability-forward avant space rock a la Hawkwind, The Fall, PiLhttps://ultimatethunder.bandcamp.com/
Lands & BodyFormer That Fucking Tank men making loud instrumental guitar and drums un-rock
8pm (prompt start) – 10pm
FREE ENTRY with donations for bands gratefully accepted. Done in time for trains back to Leeds / Manc. Supported using public funding from Arts Council England.

Ultimate Thunder are the Leeds learning-disabled / neuro-divergent band who made the news recently when their funding was cut. This is their second album collaborating with producer/ musician James Mabbett (Napoleon IIIrd). ‘The Fall meets Hawkwind’ description still fits but there is so much more to this band and it’s a great punk/experimental album in its own right, says Ged Babey.
This is not a novelty record.
This is just a great album full stop. One of the best of the year.
Behind the scenes at Louder Than War I’ve been fighting for it to be the coveted ‘Album of The Week’ only to be over-ruled by dictatorial middle-management as supposedly Big Special and Arab Strap are deemed more important and of wider-interest to our hipster readership. I threatened to resign, hinted at blackmail, intimated violence, the lot, but there was no swaying them….If this isn’t the most immediate, exciting and original 2020’s slice of dance-punk since ‘Jobseeker’ and ‘We Live Here’ I don’t know what is….

Kinaara + Warm Parts
2024-11-22 20:00 - 22:00
Kinaara, meaning water’s edge, weave together strands of Punjabi folk, Anglo Celtic epics, dark folk and Indian classical elements. The Leeds duo feature the haunting vocals of Satnam Galsian and Johnny Hogg’s electric guitar.
‘…you can hear Punjabi sounds– but there’s also folk, rock and jazz. Sometimes all at once’. Local Sound Focus
Combining Krautrock, Shoegaze and electonica into a psychadelish rush, Warm Parts are a new Calderdale based band with a fast growing reputation. Warm Parts will have you grooving and swooning in equal measures.

Scott Wainwright
2024-11-17 16:30 - 19:00
Scott Wainwright is a Yorkshire based singer-songwriter and instrumentalist. His music draws from various musical genres including Blues, Gospel, Folk, Jazz and Hip Hop as well as various ‘World’ musics, such as African, Hawaiian and Indian.
Working with acoustic finger style and bottleneck guitar, harmonica and occasional ukuele, Scott draws on his wide love for these types of music and celebrates the joy of pure creativity.
Writing and performing both vocal and instrumental pieces, Scott records regularly and now has a vast and diverse back catalogue of material. He has released numerous albums, EP’s and singles over the years, which have ranged in style from ‘Electric Blues and Hip Hop’ fusions (Every Man Has His Critics), to solo instrumental guitar workouts (What We Cannot Hold). In between these releases there have been regular bouts of ‘Lo-Fi’ folk (All That Glitters is Not Gold) and the odd dabbling as an acoustic balladeer (Whispers from a Kind River), whilst often drifting through the more experimental country blues sound that can be found on his ‘Strangers Here’ album.
