French Fridays
2025-05-09 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-05-16 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-05-23 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-05-30 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-06-06 17:30 - 18:30, 2025-06-13 17:30 - 18:30 (Europe/London)
An informal group to practice your conversational French – Everyone welcome!

Dan E Malone + Nicky Bray's Musical Menagerie + Secret Pockets
2025-05-09 20:00 - 22:30
Dan E Malone is a singer songwriter from Todmorden, now residing in Leeds. The first record he ever bought was Living Doll by Cliff Richard and the Young Ones and he has been writing his own novelty hits ever since. He would never describe his act as musical comedy because everybody hates musical comedy but it’s musical comedy.
“Wry and witty songs – with a dash of the silly – Danny’s obtuse observations will certainly make you laugh, and might even make you think! A unique and thoroughly charming chap.” Seven Live
“John Shuttleworth’s spiritual nephew “ Silky
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063643564717 https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcbd_AZhL3_JBaqFjHJpL2g
Nicky Bray is a humorous musical storyteller who aims to put smiles firmly on faces. She explores weird and wonderful subject matter while experimenting with different musical styles: from upbeat ukulele odes to internal organs, to multilingual animal-inspired electro-pop, to football-themed a cappella with audience spot prizes.
She enjoys the beauty of simple chord progressions coupled with catchy vocal melodies, being playful with language, rhythm and rhyme, and incorporating creative ways to involve the audience. Her performance style is visual and energetic; she never misses an opportunity to whip out a prop, and her collection of comedy headwear is ever-expanding. She has been called many things, including “a burst of energy and life” and “kind of like if Björk were a children’s TV presenter”.
https://www.facebook.com/nickybraymusic
Secret Pocket’s songs will have you encountering mermaids, zombies. werewolves and robots as they struggle to make sense of their lives. His songs are bittersweet concoctions of pathos and humour delivered in a rollicking anti-folk style.

Roger Davies & His Band
2025-05-10 21:00 - 23:00
Roger Davies and his dynamic acoustic folk/rock band have recently enjoyed a succession of sold out shows, graced the stage of the Great British Folk Festival, performed live sessions for various regional BBC radio stations and are currently recording their second album.
Dubbed ‘The Yorkshire Songwriter’ by BBC Radio Leeds after writing a selection of songs inspired by aspects of West Yorkshire, Roger formed the band after accompanying Fairport Convention on a 30 date UK tour in 2016. Since then, Roger and his band have honed their craft into one of the most engaging, entertaining and accomplished shows on the live music circuit.
Further information is at www.rogerdaviesmusic.com

Improv@The Puzzle
2025-05-11 13:00 - 16:00
Audience and players VERY WELCOME. These are open playing sessions where weird and wonderful pieces are improvised by the group using some light direction and guidance on the playing.
Donations welcomed: Bring Instruments and if needed little amplifiers and come down and join in with the improvisations. Arrive by 1.30pm to be ready to play at 2.00pm.
No previous experience needed. Any questions? Feel free to message.

Richard Royle
2025-05-11 16:30 - 18:30
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…

Chess Night
2025-05-12 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-05-19 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-05-26 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-06-02 20:00 - 23:00, 2025-06-09 20:00 - 23:00
All welcome for this casual but serious evening of chess.

Start To Run + Project Charlie
2025-05-16 20:00 - 22:00
Start to Run is a band born out of the isolation of covid lockdowns and then the rediscovered joy of jamming and writing music with friends. The music they create is a finely crafted balancing act between their warmly melodic and upbeat tendencies and their darkly introspective lyrical concerns. their self described “Sad Disco Anthems” merge Philly style lead & indie rhythm, with 80’s keys, synthy bass and melodic vocals to create a sound that’ll steal your heart.
‘a blanketed bundle of gently shimmering mid-Nineties indie, a la St Etienne or The Auteurs.’ – Dirty Sunbeams
https://www.instagram.com/starttorunband/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/7BRM0xOldt5qtMKuLvLKVl…

Project Charlie are a three-piece acoustic band with songs that are unashamedly pop with shades of punk and indie. Not out of place on a playist with Crowded House, R.E.M or Talking Heads their upbeat, punchy and melodic songs are full of memorable harmonies and heartfelt lyrics that’ll get your toes tapping and your voices singing along.
https://www.instagram.com/project_charlie_band/

Kate McDonnell
2025-05-17 21:00 - 23:00
Kate McDonnell is a singer-songwriter from the US who plays her guitar upside down and backwards, and sings with her whole being. She has performed at the Newport Folk Festival and Kennedy Center and on the Mountain Stage radio program and WXPN’s “World Café”. Her award-winning songwriting has been singled out for praise by The Village Voice and the Boston Globe. Kate is thrilled to announce her 6th recording TRAPEZE (Sept 2024), for which she has received some prestigious awards. Her 5th recording BALLAD OF A BAD GIRL (2021) included such musical luminaries as Jerry Marotta and Tony Levin topping Folk DJ charts at #5 upon its release. Kate took a 15-year hiatus from professional music, earned her MSW, and worked with troubled children before resuming her music career.
“Enchanting and Affecting.” – RnR Magazine
“Kate McDonnell is an exceptional artist.” – Americana Highways
https://katemcdonnell.com/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565143782512#

Calderdale Big Band
2025-05-18 16:00 - 18:00
The Calderdale Big Band started life in June 2002 under the name of The Calder Valley Youth Dance Orchestra (C.Y.D.O.) the brain child of local musician and teacher Derek Southcott, who was at the time lead trombone with the Sid Lawrence orchestra and Roy Sparrow a local big band enthusiast and our band legend!! The idea behind the orchestra was to provide an alternative outlet for young musicians to play in other than concert bands and brass bands.
We perform the Big Band sounds of Glenn Miller, Tommy Dorsey, Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Ted Heath and more, through the 1930s, 40s, 50s through to the present day. Our extensive repertoire includes jazz standards, R’n’B, charleston, rock and roll, latin, dance and contemporary music.

Technical Difficulties - Experimental Music Open Mic
2025-05-21 19:00 - 23:00
*Please Note – Technical Difficulties will be on the third Wednesday of the month from now on*
Technical Difficulties is Sowerby Bridge’s original experimental music open mic held on the third 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!

Heavenphetamine + Protem
2025-05-23 20:00 - 22:00
Heavenphetamine
Japanese Psych Punk Band from Tokyo.Since 2021 based in Tbilisi.
Influenced by 60- 70’s psychedelic rock, 80’s Post Punk and Acid house mainly but is able to feel the Japanese musical element as spice like “wasabi”.
Protem
Stefan B has been producing electronic music on and off for a number of years. Under the moniker of Protogonos he has regularly produced cinematic and ambient soundscapes – some of which have been released on CD by DiN records. Recently he has returned to his love of rhythmical compositions but under the alter ego of Protem. In doing so, he found himself looking backward in time to his personal recollections of local people, places and events. So, he has decided (or been persuaded) to showcase these studio tracks from the album he released last year entitled ‘From Cradle To Rave’.
The instrumental pieces are a musical fusion inspired by Kraftwerk and Philip Glass, as well as the early electronic dance scene of the nineties.

The Memphis Cruisers + Scott Wainwright + The Tragettes
2025-05-24 17:30 - 23:00
The Memphis Cruisers – 7.45pm
Scott Wainwright – 6.45pm
The Tragettes – 5.30pm

The Memphis Cruisers are a hard working rockabilly band hailing from the wild west of Yorkshire (otherwise known as Bradford). Covering a range of rockabilly songs from the likes of Gene Vincent and Elvis Presley, to The Stray Cats, Matchbox and Imelda May. With their witty banter,”feel good” vibes and rollicking energy no toes will remain untapped.
“They know how to create a fantastic atmosphere and had people shaking their hips and tapping their feet” Yorkshire Live
“A top-class rockabilly band!” – The York Press

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.
A number of Scott’s songs have been given the remix treatment, taking his rural blues style into Dubstep and Synth-wave genres.

The Tragettes are Jim and Andy from the The Tragics doing a bit of moonlighting without telling the rest of the band.

Dan's Girlfriend Album Launch & Puzzfest
2025-05-25 13:00 - 21:00
1:00 start! A splendid day’s entertainment with:
Dan’s Girlfriend
Burgz
Chris Manley
The Weedwackers
Neontown

Poetry & Spoken Word Evening
2025-05-27 20:00 - 23:00
On the fourth Tuesday of the month the music stops and we pay attention to the spoken word. There has been poetry at the Puzzle Hall since the Nineties, with breaks when the pub was closed.

Sometimes we are a small seminar group bringing work we love, and want to discuss, including our own writings. If we get bigger numbers we can get out the microphone and make it an open mic. Everyone is welcome.

There are many kinds of poetry nights: poetry slams, formal invited poets with an audience, open mics, spoken word events. We are often another kind of gathering: talking about poetry, why we write, what we read, themes and differences.

Jazz @ The Puzzle with Rod Mason's Elements
2025-05-29 20:00 - 23:00
Saxophonist Mason and his band Elements, are all set for another barnstorming tour de force, comparable only to their last gig here at the Puzzle.
One of the most popular bands on the jazz scene today, with it’s powerful and uncompromising material, Elements compelling array of music covering just about the entire spectrum of contemporary jazz, is delivered with great energy, commitment and impeccable musicianship.
Band leader and composer Mason is a vibrant and compelling performer who has appeared alongside many of the UK’s best known stars including Alan Skidmore, Pete King, Don Weller, Art Themen, Guy Barker and Gerald Presencer. He often tours in mainland Europe and features at many of the UK’s top festivals.

The Revelator Band
2025-05-31 21:00 - 23:00
The behatted behemoths of Victorian Gothic Voodoo Blues return to one of their very favourite stomping grounds with intent to commit musical mayhem yet again. Anything could happen and probably will. Starting 9pm sharp, free admission.

Acoustic Singaround Session
2025-06-01 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 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.

Dead Belgian - Age of the Idiot Tour 2025
2025-06-05 20:00 - 23:00
Dead Belgian are a Liverpool-based band playing the music of Jacques Brel. They began life in 2007, inspired to share Brel’s music with all who would listen. Each member brought their own influences to the band, from European folk to progressive rock, stripping the songs to their bare bones and fattening them up again using a ramshackle drum kit, ukulele, guitar, accordion, saxophone, mandolin, clarinet and flute. Dead Belgian have developed a playful and inventive sound that meshes dense melodic patterns, demonic waves of intensity and passages of sparse frailty with vocals that have drawn comparison to Edith Piaf, Anthony Hegarty and Nico.
It is a sound unique to themselves while still capturing the beauty, passion and humour of the original work, a rousing and rowdy back-porch reinvention of Jacques Brel’s honest and poetic stories
“’Bringing the songs of Jacques Brel to an English speaking audience with near missionary zeal’ ”— Liverpool Daily Post April 2010
“If you like the idea of Nico/Edith Piaf singing Jacques Brel backed by the Arcade Fire, get to the next Dead Belgian gig.”— Stuart Wilks-Heeg , twitter March 2012

The Broken Frame + Gabrielle Gee
2025-06-06 20:00 - 22:00
Manchester and Huddersfield based 4 piece guitar band, The Broken Frame, blend together elements of alternative rock and pop music, with influences from early Bombay bicycle club to Pine Grove to The Beach Boys. Only being formed last year, The Broken Frame have many upcoming gigs and are also working on recording and releasing their original songs in the near future…

Gabrielle Gee is a Manchester-based singer-songwriter known for her raw honesty, emotive lyrics, and stripped-back sound. At just 18, she’s quickly gaining recognition in the UK indie scene for her deeply personal songwriting and distinctive voice, drawing influence from artists like Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Adrienne Lenker.

Madame Claude + Wino
2025-06-07 21:00 - 23:00
Madame Claude are a 5 piece band from Saddleworth who mix ska, rocksteady, reggae and even disco to form their own inimitable style. With support slots for The Beat, Selecter, Cast and Bad Manners under their belt don’t miss this opportunity to catch the band Pauline Black calls ‘the most exciting and original ska band in years’
“A band of vibrant musical tastes both fierce and smooth in voice and ska-jumping rhythm” – Saddleworth Independent
https://www.instagram.com/madameclaude.official/

Bradford’s Wino is the brainchild of former Fling guitarist/songwriter and resident dreamer Jack Winn. With his band in tow they create psychedelic indie rock with visceral punk energy and a nod to the sound of 90’s nostalgia. Think Beck if he’d been brought up in a a back to back in Bradford rather than the urban sprawl of LA.https://www.facebook.com/j.wino21/https://www.instagram.com/winobfd/
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61572297756977#

Floating World Pictures + Helicopter Quartet
2025-06-08 16:00 - 18:00
Floating World Pictures‘Loud Ambient’/Improv trio from London feat. members of Snapped Ankles https://floatingworldpictures.bandcamp.com/
Helicopter QuartetMelancholic soundscapes from Leeds violin, guitar and synth duo https://helicopterquartet.bandcamp.com/music
FREE ENTRY with donations for bands gratefully accepted.

— Further Info —
Floating World Pictures is led by Chestnutt, producer & member of Snapped Ankles (The Leaf Label) and graphic/sound artist & instrument builder Raimund Wong. It has an ever-changing flexible lineup for adapting to different contexts & acoustic environments, but its current optimal trio includes:
Sophie Lowe – drums, percussion, clarinetChestnutt – analogue synthsRai Wong – cassette 4-track, live instruments treatment
While the recorded output has detailed non-quantized production at its heart, the live setup, punctured by a heavy rhythm section, is driven by improvisation and collective gestures within the framework of cassette tape-loops manipulations, live signal processing and analogue synthesis provided by the duo. Alongside a shifting cast they spin a sensuous, densely populated soundscape: grounding drones and flowing waterfall synths, a rainforest of hisses and a thrumming hive of life while in the distance the metallic snaps of drums conjure people working. Fragments of found dialogue, melodies and environmental sounds navigate impressionistic passages, focussing the performance as a way of searching and recontextualising.
Previous and ongoing collaborators / guests:
Alabaster DeplumeCharles Hayward (This Heat)Danalogue (The Comet Is Coming)Clementine MarchAkihide Monna (Bo Ningen)EmanativeCathy Eastburn (Southbank Gamelan Players)Charles Prest (Noon Garden/Flamingods)Francesca Ter-Berg (Fran&Flora)Kamal Rasool (Flamingods)Phil MFUAndy Channing (Lila Cita/Unrest Work & Play)tyroneisaacstuartJon Tye (Lo Recordings/Ocean Moon)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUPNYwF2PSIhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjpyUh00ENE
——
“It’s a small world we live in. I was delighted to find when reading about Helicopter Quartet that they are two musicians I am quite familiar with from another time in my life. Over the years I have shared a bill with both Catscans and We Sell Seashells (Helicopter Quartet‘s predecessors), both of which were incredible acts: huge-sounding, complex and ultimately entertaining. One thing I noticed when Catscans began performing was that they appeared to have less members than before. It seems that the group has since dissolved even further into what we have before us today: Chrissie Caulfield on violin & synth duties and Michael Capstick on guitar and bass.
‘Helicopter Quartet’ is the product of two dedicated musicians, full of ideas and inspirations. The pair have been writing together for an incredibly long time so there is no doubt in their musical ability. I have witnessed firsthand the immense force to come from Caulfield’s violin when screaming through a wall of sound and I have seen Capstick’s guitar create and enforce this wall in top form. “
Jake Murray for Echoes and Dust
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-SLOdehhBg
