rise @ bluebird is our Acomb evening arts venue.
The space regularly plays host to live music, spoken word, art exhibitions, theatre, comedy, family- friendly nights and much more.
Rise aims to be a vibrant and independently-run creative hub, driven by love and support from the local community - and an ardent sense of adventure.
Pop down and check us out - we’re looking forward to you helping shape this place just as much as we do.
Gallery
What's on
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DBC3
Hot off the festival circuit, DBC3 and special guests are back at rise. Electro Dub with Dandy Dizzle, Sis Ananda, Nikki H on vocal duties & Col J on melodica, DJ Minesh & Sister Ananda on the wheels of steel dropping reggae classics before 8pm and after DBC3s's live set.
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Blair Dunlop
“The busy crowd… is testament to Dunlop’s talents. Dunlop brings an air of tenacity while displaying a fine repertoire of well-crafted songs spanning traditional and contemporary. He’s determinedly taking the traditions of folk in his own direction” The Independent
Blair Dunlop is an award-winning British singer-songwriter and guitarist, who has released 5 albums, 2 EPs and toured around the globe.
Blair burst onto the scene with his debut album ‘Blight & Blossom’ in 2012, showcasing virtuosic musicianship and lyrical maturity, and was awarded a prestigious BBC Folk Award in the wake of its release. A string of critically acclaimed albums followed, along with headline tours and festival appearances in the UK, Europe, North America and Australia. ‘Gilded’ and ‘Notes from an Island’ were released on his own label and singles ‘The Egoist’ and ‘356’ received national playlist status on BBC Radio 2. Following this, ‘Trails: Queensland’ (2021), Blair’s first live album, documented a tour of rural Australia, playing for isolated communities. From Glastonbury to Tuscany, Queensland to Palestine, Blair has brought his musicality and storytelling to audiences young and old. Album five was released 24th May 2024.
“From the outside, when listening to the music of Blair Dunlop, you get the impression that though he’s something of a natural talent he continues to work hard to progress both his songwriting and musicianship…. you can hear the folk heritage coursing through his veins as well as the originality he brings to the genre.” Songwriting Magazine
“A cult hero whose work is adored by those who come across it”
Clash Music
“An adept guitarist whose epic songwriting instincts prevail on a personal-political fourth album”
MOJO
“Blair Dunlop’s fourth album finds him fully ensconced as a singer-songwriter of maturity and sophistication…
‘Notes From An Island’ really ought to give Blair Dunlop the wider exposure he deserves”
RnR Magazine
“On his fourth full length LP, ‘Notes From An Island’, he develops a more mature sociopolitical undertone to his music…
Blair Dunlop could help bring the genre back to the forefront of the UK music scene.”
Guitarist Magazine -
Pictish Trail
Pictish Trail, AKA Johnny Lynch, has just completed work on a brand-new album — a sticky, shimmering swirl of sound and slime (both metaphorical and literal). To celebrate, he’s embarking on a series of special solo shows, previewing songs from the forthcoming release. These intimate performances will see Lynch in raw, exploratory mode, armed with an acoustic guitar, a sampler, and a warped imagination — expect tenderness, weirdness, and a generous dollop of goo.
Based on the Isle of Eigg in the Scottish Hebrides, Pictish Trail is known for his wildly inventive electro-acoustic psych-pop. His 2022 album Island Family, his third for London’s Fire Records, drew acclaim from The Observer, The Times, Mojo, Uncut, Loud & Quiet, and BBC 6 Music. It was followed in autumn 2024 by Follow Footsteps — an EP of reworked Island Family tracks released via his own Lost Map Records, in conjunction with Fire. Recasting the euphoric-bucolic psychedelia of ‘Island Family’, ‘Melody Something’ and ‘Nuclear Sunflower Swamp’ through a softer filter — and complemented by a pair of incidental instrumentals — Lynch discovered delicately kaleidoscopic new resonance in the material.
Pictish Trail’s earlier albums Secret Soundz Vols. 1 & 2 (2008/2013) were gloriously eclectic slices of lo-fi folk-pop, later reissued on deluxe double-vinyl by Moshi Moshi in 2014. His third album Future Echoes (2016) received widespread acclaim and was shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year (SAY Award), winning the public vote, before being reissued by Fire in 2018. His fourth album, Thumb World, was released by Fire in 2020.
Pictish Trail has toured the world as both headliner and support for the likes of Belle & Sebastian, Pavement, Mogwai, Sea Power, and KT Tunstall. He’s performed at major festivals including Glastonbury (Park Stage), Field Day, Camp Bestival, Deer Shed, Celtic Connections, Blue Dot, the Edinburgh Fringe, and every single edition of Green Man Festival (22 and counting).
Outside his own music, Johnny is a key figure in the UK’s independent music scene. Through Lost Map Records, he has championed a diverse and idiosyncratic roster — helping to elevate artists such as Rozi Plain, Alabaster dePlume, Seamus Fogarty, Bas Jan, Callum Easter, and Free Love. -
Femme Fatale Faerytales: Mirror, Mirror
🪞✨ Mirror, Mirror ✨🪞
An enchanting evening of dark delights and feminist twists from Femme Fatale Faerytales 🌹
Still a work in progress — come be part of the magic as new tales take shape.
Meet the cat who got the cream, the dog who stayed home, and follow the faeries through a forest with no fear at all… 🌙 -
THE JAYBIRDS
York-based string band specialising in American roots music with a smattering of contemporary and original material. Blues and rags, old-time and bluegrass, featuring a balanced mix of ballads, breakdowns, and current fiddle tunes. The instrumentation includes guitar, dobro, fiddle, mandolin, and double bass. A quartet of multi-instrumentalists, the current line-up comprises:Pete Hull - guitar and dobro and vocals. Burt Sawdon - guitar, fiddle, banjo, and vocals. Marcia Mackey - double bass, fiddle, and vocals. Kevin Booth - mandolin, banjo, and vocals. Pete Hull and Burt Sawdon have been active on the York music scene for over 40 years, playing together throughout the 80s/90s in the highly successful and much-loved R&B combo Burt’s Band, together with playing as an acoustic guitar-based duo. Pete Hull is currently the leader of Bad Saloon, a York-based blues rock band. Burt has been the bass player for Steve Phillips and the Rough Diamonds for the past 15 years.
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Songs Without Borders: Adderstone & Soundsphere
Full folk immersion in joyous harmonies and leftfield stories from Soundsphere and Adderstone, to fire up your blood on a November night. Adderstone - music-threaded storytelling.
Hope and inspiration come from strange places, these days. Adderstone will fire up your blood with their unique blend of acappella and alt-folk songs telling the stories of ancient crones and mysterious ponds, revolutionaries and radical medieval nuns!
"Beautiful and powerful"; "Harmonies like butter"; "Your blend of song and spoken word make for such rich experience." Soundsphere - Three Voices ~ One Unique Sound.
"Each song a jewel ~ creative, passionate, beautifully sung". From the medieval to the contemporary, let Soundsphere take you on a fabulous journey with songs from around the world and through the ages, all arranged with stunning three part harmony and percussion. - 24/11/2025
Doors 7:30
Live Music
£20 adv
Lou Barlow
Forever in our hearts and forever at the heart of things, Lou Barlow is a founding member of Deep Wound, Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and The Folk Implosion. After a lifetime of creativity under various enticingly-named handles, including Sentridoh, Barlow now records under his own name. The directness of using 'Lou Barlow' rather than a recording alias results in similarly direct songwriting and, in particular, a directness and strength in the author's voice - one of the loveliest instruments in the independent music canon.
- 27/11/2025
5pm - 9pm
Family Friendly Activities
Free
Christmas Makers' Fair
The first of our two Christmas shopping evenings this year. Expect ceramics, plants, jewellery, print makers - all to assist with your Christmas shopping! Christmas hot chocolate as standard!
- 29/11/2025
18:00:00
DJ Nights
Free
Dusko!
Join us for Dusko — a pilot early-nighter of house music through the decades in a chilled-out café setting. These new nights will bring talented DJs to transport you right back to the old-skool clubbing scene - with classic uplifters, retro anthems and dirty beats. Pop down after work, grab a beer, catch up with mates and - when the music takes over - get yourselves on the dance floor. All with the promise of a full eight-hours of beauty sleep.* *any after-party activity is entirely at your own risk.
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Ellie Gowers
Ellie Gowers is a UK singer-songwriter blending contemporary acoustic sounds with the storytelling traditions of folk. Her 2022 debut album Dwelling by the Weir earned critical acclaim for its lyrical depth and ecological themes, praised by The Guardian and TradFolk. In 2024, her new EP - You The Passenger, received national airplay on BBC Radio 2, 6 Music, and the RADMAC show. With influences ranging from MIPSO to Jeff Buckley, her sound explores themes of distance, longing, and identity. An extended version of the EP arrives in autumn 2025, followed by a UK headline tour in November.
Doors 7:30pm - Music 8pm
“Full of delicacy, precision and gentle delight” The Guardian -- “Absolutely beautiful” Zoe Ball BBC Radio 2 -- “Really impressive” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 -
Winter Botanicals Lino Printing
We are thrilled to host illustrater Lara Aitkin for the second time this year - join us for a greetings card workshop, with all materials provided. Mulled wine and our famous frangipane mince pies available to purchase to make the evening extra festive.
- 02/12/2025
General
Bauble Painting Workshop
Join us for our wonderful annual bauble painting. Tickets on sale now.
- 05/12/2025
18:30 - 23:00
DJ Nights
Free
Resurrection - Christmas special
Playing the best Indie tunes from the 80's & 90's with a few Christmas Indie covers thrown in..
- 06/12/2025
19:00 - 23:00
DJ Nights
Free entry
Into the Groove Christmas Special
It might be too warm for your Christmas jumper as we expect that you will be dancing and singing at the top of your voices - Merry Christmas Everyone! All the best, classic Christmas tunes for your pleasure!
- 11/12/2025
5pm - 9pm
Family Friendly Activities
Free
Christmas Makers' Fair number two!
This Makers' Fair will host a whole new group of local and talented makers' for your shopping needs, for friends, or a gift to self! Please make sure you try our amazing frangipane mince pies...
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Baps and Buns Burlesque
We are thrilled to announce that York’s Burlesque Queen, Freida Nipples, is back at Rise this September.
Freida is an internationally award-winning burlesque artiste who will seduce you with astounding aesthetics and enthral you with her captivating stage presence.
Alongside her will be a selection of sensational cabaret artists. From drag queens to acrobats, you always know you will be in for a fun night at Freida’s shows which have been sell-out successes across York for the past six years, at venues such as York Theatre Royal, The Basement, Impossible and more.
So - prepare yourselves for an evening of debauchery & glamour in Acomb. The big question is, are you ready for it?!
Tickets include a welcome drink on arrival. (Non-alcoholic option available).
- 14/12/2025
15:00:00
Family Friendly Activities
Free
BYO Vinyl
Bag your 30 minutes of fame! Spin your tunes at our BYO Vinyl Sundays.
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CHRISTMAS PRESENCE
Weird and Wonderful Stories for the Festive Season with Lara McClure.
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John Osborne Presents: There Will Be Tinsel
With a stage covered in tinsel and Christmas lights, this is the perfect show for nights out in December with festive poems and stories that have proved popular at Christmas shows across the country. Step into the magic of the season with theatre-maker and Radio 4 regular John Osborne.
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Edwina Hayes
Doors 7:30pm - Music 8pm
One of the finest female singer/songwriters this country has produced in years. Edwina brings together English folk, Americana and the rich Northern singer/songwriter tradition to create a sound that’s truly her own.
Highly accomplished she’s toured with such notable performers as Jools Holland, Van Morrison, Nanci Griffith and Loudon Wainwright III to name just a few.
Edwina numbers Michael Parkinson and Mike Harding among her fans and the title track of her album Pour Me A Drink was covered by Nanci Griffith who calls her 'the sweetest voice in England'.
Her cover of the Randy Newman song Feels Like Home was featured in the Cameron Diaz film My Sister's Keeper and has since had over twenty million plays on Spotify and over fifty million plays on You Tube.
Edwina's 4th album Ruby Rose was released in 2022.
'The sweetest voice in England. A wonderful young woman, so gifted and full of song.' Nanci Griffith
'Haunting, honeyed, solo songwriter.' The Guardian -
Under the Lamp Post
Step into the darkly comic world of Under The Lamp Post, a captivating storytelling show for grown-ups from the award-winning Ilaria Passeri. Prepare for a unique journey sparked by a gift bag of ashes and fuelled by the eccentricity of a unique family. Ilaria masterfully blends poignant reflection with sharp wit, finding humour in unexpected places.
Imagine navigating grief with puppets, a particular kind of pickled onion, and the sort of inappropriate fancy dress that becomes a cherished and weirdly unforgettable memory.
There will be sad tears, and tears of laughter.
Produced by sitcom veteran Michel Jacob, his third show with Ilaria, Under The Lamp Post promises an evening of exceptional storytelling from an award-winning talent (Best Spoken Word, Manchester Fringe). Explore life, death, and the beautifully absurd in-between. -
Please Please You & Brudenell Presents Jeffrey Martin
Join us to welcome Jeffrey Martin to the rise @ bluebird stage. On a small corner lot in southeast Portland, Oregon, Jeffrey Martin holed up through the winter recording his quietly potent new album Thank God We Left The Garden. Long nights bled into mornings in the tiny shack he built in the backyard, eight feet by ten feet. What began as demos meant for a later visit to a proper studio became the album itself, spare and intimate and true. Recorded live and alone around two microphones, Jeffrey often held his breath to wait for the low diesel hum of a truck to pass one block over on the busy thoroughfare. During the coldest nights, he timed recording between the clicks of the oil coil heater cycling on and off.
Martin's fourth full length album, Thank God We Left The Garden comes out on Portland's beloved Fluff and Gravy Records Nov __. He produced and engineered it himself, recalling, "There was a magic quality to the sounds I was getting in the shack with these two cheap microphones, some lucky recipe of time and place that allowed my voice and the way I play guitar and the shape of these new songs to come together with the kind of honesty I was craving. "Whether singing about his own internal landscape, telling a story of someone else's, or reflecting on the elusive relationship between scarcity and contentment, Martin's writing never pushes the listener away, never points a finger. He sings of things we can all pin a memory on, holding the rough shorn gem of human experience up to the light. -
Luke Wright: Later Life Letter
Later Life Letter tells the story of Luke Wright’s adoption – the life he leads, and the one he might have done.
Wright navigates his audience through a warm and honest hour of poems and stand-up with the wit, pathos, and silliness that has made him one of the most popular live poets in England.
Expect raucous laughter, tear-stained cheeks, and a little smattering of drum n bass.
“A streetwise panache and a sardonic comic verve to rival Stewart Lee.”
★★★★★ Telegraph
“His poems shoot arrows through the heart, or leave you dazzled by their virtuosity” ★★★★★ List
“A highly original idea, expertly carried out.”
John Cooper Clarke
More events coming soon!