Adrian's festival work has been varied, from appearing as himself with his band 'Spendlow', to appearing as Adrinskald, a popular character from the Viking Festival in York. As Adrinskald, he has appeared at every Jorvik Viking Festival and event since they first commissioned him nearly three years ago.
Future
Festival work
A recent suggestion that festival organisers incorporate my storytelling evening
at Williams Bar into their schedules has resulted in a staggering 6 festival
organisers responding favourably. A special night will be created at Williams
Bar and fitted in to the programme.
Outreach - available for educational and community events.
Past Festival work
The River festival of York - commissioned me to create a model of the river with each part producing a story.
The Festival of Light in York - a commission from York’s Literary Officer called Shadows of an Ancient City Shine.
Jorvik Viking festival - a collaboration project with Arts Action York and York Archaeological Trust.
Otley Black Sheep Festival 2005 - Just a chat about my experiences really. Well we were a bit kind of fringe I suppose. The main thing that happened was my band turning up to do a short spot and discovering it was just us all evening.
The
River festival of York.
The River festival of York commissioned me to create a model of the river
with each part producing a story. Follow the trail of Margaret and how her
family brought the cocoa beans to the chocolate factories, A whole world of
folklore, country lore and magical myth travel with us along the way. Suitable
for the very young too.
The
Festival of Light in York.
The Festival of Light in York saw a commission from York’s Literary Officer
called Shadows of an Ancient City Shine with sunrises, sparks of life and
a whole city of York on a table. All ages and families too. (Best in the dark)
Jorvik
Viking Festival.
Essence of Journey, a collaboration project with Arts Action York and York
Archaeological Trust to bring artists, storytellers, writers, children and
community groups together in an exciting interactive creative way. The culmination
being performances and displays of created banners during the Jorvik Viking
festival.
Grants are being awaited for the after schools and community parts of the
project in the mean time however you can join in by engaging services: Sessions
of storytelling and gathering with a specially created essence of journey
group, work items from which will go on to the Viking festival. Talk to Jane
Stockdale for more info on his work for them - jstockdale@yorkarchaeology.co.uk
Experience a visit
from Colin the Kobold, discover the mythic being within.
Outreach
I am available for educational and community events, Viking Arts weeks or
what ever you the reader desires. This can be by direct contact with me or
by negotiation with the outreach team at the Jorvik Centre. See the Jorvik
/ ARC section on the collaboration page. Jorvik
Festival 2007 - Digital
Art
Otley Black Sheep Festival 2005
Just a chat about my experiences really. Different to other years. Is
this the thirteenth? It was almost like I was at an alternative festival.
Back to camping again which is good cos there are lots of pals there. That
is the first weirdness though. I was showing off to Dan Webster and more so
to our good pal Louis a first time visitor about how I am world famous in
Otley. This is absolutely true. People have been known to apologise for talking
to me. Or have talked about me as if I aren’t really there. You know
that thing that happens when you are a performer, really odd this one, people
say I like you or I don’t like you. You wouldn’t go up to some one
who didn’t perform just sat in a pub and say excuse me but no harm meant
or anything but I don’t like you.
Anyway I digress. I am painting a totally unreal image there, based on just
a few thousand responses, (and none of them said they didn’t like me)
the main feel is of us all being a great big band of pals. People coming up
and kissing you, acting as if no time has passed and saying this is your baby.
Not one CSA approach this year at all. Well we were a bit kind of fringe I
suppose. Dan was booked by the Junction where he often performs and I brought
the band along and we camped, but not with artists passes (Well I did obviously
cos I know the printer). So the Friday us three chaps headed off not for concerts
as such but more for jiggly jiggly. We had to put up with each others company
in the end. And even then Dan had to rugby tackle me. But we didn’t get
what we wanted well we try sometimes, it was like we were in Otley on the
wrong friday. I didn’t see anyone I knew all night. Funny actually the
people in the pubs know me. What I mean is regulars in the pubs who haven’t
anything to do with the festival who I have just seen when I’ve been
in there. I suppose 13 years of popping in a pub every year makes it so a
guy in his usual corner goes hyer Adrian. The landlady looked at me funny
though. I was squashed in a corner under the telly and she seemed to be thinking
That Adrian has cracked at last. We popped in there the next day and I mentioned
watching the boxing. She couldn’t understand how I had watched it from
under the telly. So I explained I had seen it in the reflection in a painting
opposite. This helped her to understand a lot better because she had thought
I was really keen on the art. I had been sat there staring at a print of flowers
going Yes, Go on, Nice one, Rubbish!
The round up bit is actually the poems. I don’t want to repeat stuff
I have done in the past so I go through my work and tot up all the stuff I
have written since last year. I have written - wait for it - four hundred
poems in the last year. Yes four hundred poems. Two of them are good.
The main thing that happened was my band turning up to do a short spot and
discovering it was just us all evening. We had had one jam together and we
ended up improvising over twenty numbers. Well it wasn’t quite just us,
there were two or three poets did a short spot and one or two even nicked
the band for a bit. Samantha and Wendy (Jane couldn’t make it) were wonderful.
But no need today that everyone could tell you that. So well in fact that
the audience kind of lifted their bums of their seats a bit when they clapped
as if to say we aren’t clapping him its them lasses we like. It’s
a good job they don’t have any material or they would be getting rid
of me straight away. Hang on - They improvise - Oh no
PS I can’t sleep night for thinking of that Pete of Suitcase Circus with
a mouth full of ping pong balls. The man is a certifiable genius. And he says
he wants to get proactive and work with me in the future. Festival organisers
take note. Actually we did work really well together. Where did I put that
ping pong ball?
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