George Boomsma

We're delighted to welcome the fabulous GEORGE BOOMSMA back to Otley to headline the opening session of Otley Music Festival 2024. Otley Music Festival is a community-based 10 day event that celebrates the town's extraordinary musical talent but also features some nationally acclaimed performers. All profits go to local charities. Further details of the festival can be found here: https://otley-music-festival.co.uk/ GEORGE BOOMSMA is a singer songwriter from Northallerton, North Yorkshire. Having been honing his song-writing craft and live performances over the past decade, George has been quietly gaining some well-earnt attention and acclaim. His pure voice and tumbling guitar make for a bewitching combination, with a maturity and poetic lyricism that have left audiences around the country entranced. His songs reflect on themes from navigating relationships, family, self-acceptance, grief, finding a path forward despite uncertainties, and the weather (mostly rain). He has been invited to support and perform alongside many established artists such as Richard Thompson, Scott Matthews, Katherine Priddy, Gaby Moreno, Kathryn Williams, The Travelling Band, Chloe Foy, Jefferson Hamer, Emma Langford and Martha Tilston. On top of these live performances, his music been featured on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, RTE Radio 1 and BBC Radio Ulster. 2022 saw George perform at the prestigious Glastonbury Festival, A UK tour accompanying Katherine Priddy, a slot at the acclaimed Port Fairy Folk Festival in Australia and also a trip to Kansas City for the Folk Alliance International conference. He has also been chosen as one of the four artists to be a part of this years English Folk Expo's Artist Mentorship Programme, which will help to support and develop George's career throughout 2023. Other highlights include performances at Latitude Festival, Moseley Folk Festival, a musical appearance on UKTV?s Taskmaster and a featured track on Japanese TV show ?Terrace House?. Whilst 2020 saw much of the world grind to a halt, George Boomsma got busy, using the time to write and record two exciting new 4 track EPs. 'Chinatown' & ?What?s Left Behind? were recorded live to tape at Echo Zoo Studios and feature not only George?s effortless vocals and masterful acoustic guitar, but also the addition of a string quartet, adding an extra warmth and movement to his transporting songs. The production process has carefully maintained the characteristic saturation and crunch of tape recording, giving the tracks an exquisitely vintage sound not often heard in modern releases. Released in the following two years, both EPs are undoubtedly a step up from George Boomsma?s previous releases, both in terms of song-writing and production, solidifying his place as one to watch in 2023. https://www.georgeboomsma.com/ "Rather lovely..." Mark Radcliffe "A sensational guitarist and a beautiful singer-songwriter, a name to watch." Moseley Folk Festival "If it were possible for Nick Drake and Thom Yorke to collaborate, it might sound something like this." Fresh On The Net "Songs of exquisite beauty, with a voice that could melt ice caps... gorgeous stuff." Bob Fischer, BBC Tees For this special concert, George will receive superb support from the highly regarded WYCHBURY. Leeds-based Wychbury are a contemporary folk duo of guitarist Che Bradley and vocalist Rhiannon Kenny. Despite being in their early twenties, they have been playing together for over a decade and their deep musical connection is palpable on stage. Their intimate performances are a blend of traditional folk songs and their own material which sounds equally as timeless. The delicate storytelling of Rhiannon?s vocals and the clarity and inventiveness of Che?s guitar playing have made them favourites on the emerging Leeds folk scene. During the summer of 2022 the duo performed at Glastonbury Music Festival on the Greenpeace Stage, Gate to Southwell Festival, The Green Gathering, Hartlepool Folk Festival and Moseley Folk and Arts Festival. The pair have also received endorsements from the BBC Radio Folk show, The Durbervilles where they performed an exclusive live session. https://wychburymusic.wixsite.com/wychbury https://www.facebook.com/Wychbury/