Chapel Allerton Festival presents: CAFÉ RUN 2026
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Chapel Allerton Arts Festival
Folk Roots Fringe presents:
CAFÉ RUN 2026
The Café Run takes place on the Saturday 5th September 2026 afternoon from 2pm where a number of singer/songwriters will move around performing 30 minutes at various cafes and bars in Chapel Allerton to help provide a festival community atmosphere in the village.
Promo video for the Cafe Run:
Come on down, buy a drink, relax and listen to some great music hopefully in the sun!
And bring a friend or two with you!
Acoustic Music will be provided by:
NICK BATTLE
Top singer/songwriter ex member of the 80s bands After The Fire and Writz. Has released 4 recent albums of Americana-influenced songs. Nick has worked with Spice Girls, George Benson, Take That, Boyzone ... and written songs with Natasha Bedingfield, Gary Barlow, David Grant ... His songs have been recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck, Sir Cliff Richard, Michael Ball ...
"prolific songwriter" “songs that touch the human heart"
Nick Battle's albums can be found at: https://nickbattle1.bandcamp.com/music
ESTHER COLMAN
Esther is a singer, pianist, cellist, and songwriter based in Leeds. Esther’s musical tastes and influences are varied – her musical background is in classical music, particularly choral singing and orchestral cello playing, but she has also sung and played in swing, jazz and funk bands and in her local church. Esther started songwriting around the age of eleven to help her make sense of the world around her and has always found songwriting to be a faithful friend on life’s meandering journey. She loves writing introspective and reflective music which draws on classical, folk and jazz influences. Esther Colman's single release can be found at:
JON HIRST
Jon Hirst’s songwriting and performance style heavily lean into intimate, narrative-driven storytelling. His acoustic work features intricate fingerpicking, often blending traditional English and American folk flavours with traces of contemporary and traditional folk, blues and Americana. Hirst co-wrote the track "Each Moment" alongside Sasha Lazard & Mark Hootman. The song was subsequently tracked and recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville under the direction of producer Phil Madeira, the longstanding keyboardist for country music legend Emmylou Harris. Hirst’s albums can be found at: jonhirst.bandcamp.com
MICHAEL WALKER
Michael Walker is a Leeds-based singer, guitarist, and prominent street culture advocate. He is widely recognized for his extensive work as a street performer and for his leadership in safeguarding public spaces for artists. His performances incorporate acoustic storytelling heavily influenced by classic bands like The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, blended with Latin American musical influences from his childhood years spent growing up in Paraguay. He refined his self-taught guitar and vocal techniques by earning a Performing Arts degree from the University of Liverpool. Walker has spent nearly two decades busking across the UK, initially starting his street-performing journey alongside his late brother in 2006. Michael Walker on YouTube:
The above 4 singer/songwriter artists will appear at these Chapel Allerton venues:
Caffe Nero
Chapel Allerton Library
The Woods Bar
Seven Arts Courtyard
On Saturday 5th September 2026 afternoon from 2pm to 4pm
As a bonus, the Cafe Run will also feature a special extra at 1.30pm at the Seven Arts Courtyard:
THE BRIGGATE MORRIS DANCERS
Briggate Morris is a local folk dance group from Leeds, West Yorkshire, that performs North West-style morris dancing and welcomes new dancers and musicians of all experience levels. You can follow their updates on the Briggate Morris Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/82897008606/
PHOTOGRAPHS
As usual there will be volunteer photographers/videographers at this event taking photos/videos for festival publicity. Hopefully that is all ok, but if you have any objections, please contact the organiser or speak to the photographer.
Free Admission. Turn Up and Put a Donation in the Bucket.
Or scan the QR Paypal Code provide on the day.
MORE INFO AT: https://chapelallerton.org.uk
Promo for the popular Folk Roots Fringe:
featuring the background song by singer songwriter John Hebden RIP who played the Cafe Run in 2023.
Documentary Style Introduction to the Folk Roots Fringe:
Folk Roots Fringe presents:
CAFÉ RUN 2026
The Café Run takes place on the Saturday 5th September 2026 afternoon from 2pm where a number of singer/songwriters will move around performing 30 minutes at various cafes and bars in Chapel Allerton to help provide a festival community atmosphere in the village.
Promo video for the Cafe Run:
Come on down, buy a drink, relax and listen to some great music hopefully in the sun!
And bring a friend or two with you!
Acoustic Music will be provided by:
NICK BATTLE
Top singer/songwriter ex member of the 80s bands After The Fire and Writz. Has released 4 recent albums of Americana-influenced songs. Nick has worked with Spice Girls, George Benson, Take That, Boyzone ... and written songs with Natasha Bedingfield, Gary Barlow, David Grant ... His songs have been recorded by Engelbert Humperdinck, Sir Cliff Richard, Michael Ball ...
"prolific songwriter" “songs that touch the human heart"
Nick Battle's albums can be found at: https://nickbattle1.bandcamp.com/music
ESTHER COLMAN
Esther is a singer, pianist, cellist, and songwriter based in Leeds. Esther’s musical tastes and influences are varied – her musical background is in classical music, particularly choral singing and orchestral cello playing, but she has also sung and played in swing, jazz and funk bands and in her local church. Esther started songwriting around the age of eleven to help her make sense of the world around her and has always found songwriting to be a faithful friend on life’s meandering journey. She loves writing introspective and reflective music which draws on classical, folk and jazz influences. Esther Colman's single release can be found at:
JON HIRST
Jon Hirst’s songwriting and performance style heavily lean into intimate, narrative-driven storytelling. His acoustic work features intricate fingerpicking, often blending traditional English and American folk flavours with traces of contemporary and traditional folk, blues and Americana. Hirst co-wrote the track "Each Moment" alongside Sasha Lazard & Mark Hootman. The song was subsequently tracked and recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville under the direction of producer Phil Madeira, the longstanding keyboardist for country music legend Emmylou Harris. Hirst’s albums can be found at: jonhirst.bandcamp.com
MICHAEL WALKER
Michael Walker is a Leeds-based singer, guitarist, and prominent street culture advocate. He is widely recognized for his extensive work as a street performer and for his leadership in safeguarding public spaces for artists. His performances incorporate acoustic storytelling heavily influenced by classic bands like The Beatles and Simon & Garfunkel, blended with Latin American musical influences from his childhood years spent growing up in Paraguay. He refined his self-taught guitar and vocal techniques by earning a Performing Arts degree from the University of Liverpool. Walker has spent nearly two decades busking across the UK, initially starting his street-performing journey alongside his late brother in 2006. Michael Walker on YouTube:
The above 4 singer/songwriter artists will appear at these Chapel Allerton venues:
Caffe Nero
Chapel Allerton Library
The Woods Bar
Seven Arts Courtyard
On Saturday 5th September 2026 afternoon from 2pm to 4pm
As a bonus, the Cafe Run will also feature a special extra at 1.30pm at the Seven Arts Courtyard:
THE BRIGGATE MORRIS DANCERS
Briggate Morris is a local folk dance group from Leeds, West Yorkshire, that performs North West-style morris dancing and welcomes new dancers and musicians of all experience levels. You can follow their updates on the Briggate Morris Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/groups/82897008606/
PHOTOGRAPHS
As usual there will be volunteer photographers/videographers at this event taking photos/videos for festival publicity. Hopefully that is all ok, but if you have any objections, please contact the organiser or speak to the photographer.
Free Admission. Turn Up and Put a Donation in the Bucket.
Or scan the QR Paypal Code provide on the day.
MORE INFO AT: https://chapelallerton.org.uk
Promo for the popular Folk Roots Fringe:
featuring the background song by singer songwriter John Hebden RIP who played the Cafe Run in 2023.
Documentary Style Introduction to the Folk Roots Fringe:
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Where is it happening?
Seven Arts Leeds, Leeds, United Kingdom
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
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Host or PublisherChapel Allerton Arts Festival
