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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Jazz @ Rise: Jamie Taylor and Jamil Sheriff
The musical association and friendship between Jamil and Jamil goes back over twenty years, and they have performed together in settings ranging from intimate small groups, through to large ensembles such as Jamil’s own big band. Performing here as a duo, they hope to channel some of this shared history and musical empathy, taking inspiration in the process from great jazz piano/guitar collaborations such as those of Bill Evans with Jim Hall and Fred Hersch with Bill Frisell.
One of the UK’s most respected jazz guitarists, Jamie Taylor's swinging, lyrical playing has seen him perform at legendary London venues such as Ronnie Scott’s, The Vortex, and The Troubadour, along with many other jazz clubs across the country and beyond. He has worked with a long list of top-flight jazz musicians from Europe and the US, amongst them Wayne Escoffery, Sebastiaan DeKrom, John Goldsby, John Stowell, and Baptiste Herbin. Jamie is also very active as a teacher, and is a Principal Lecturer in Jazz Guitar at Leeds Conservatoire.
“Appreciate him, guys. He's world class.” Two-time DownBeat award winning US guitarist John Stowell
Jamil Sheriff is a celebrated jazz pianist, composer, and educator based in Leeds. Over the past two decades, he has established himself as a significant figure in the British jazz scene, known for his innovative compositions and skilful, expressive playing. Jamil’s career is marked by a diverse range of projects, from leading his own ensembles, such as the Jamil Sheriff Octet and Big Band, to collaborating with prominent British jazz musicians. His discography showcases his versatility, with acclaimed albums like Daydreams and Places Like This receiving praise for their melodic sophistication and compositional depth.
“Excellent northern pianist who brings together a range of classic , contemporary and urban approaches.” The Times -
SOBAR!
SOBAR is back! Our sober dance night (with a brilliant mixtape soundtrack) returns by popular demand - after a fantasric and bust inaugural event back in January. Tickets fly for this so don't delay. Come and be part of this lively friendly evening for a night out you won't regret. Whether you are sober, sober curious, off the booze or just fancy something a bit different, you are very welcome to this unique and uplifting alcohol-free night - the first of it's kind in York!
- 22/03/2025
18:11:00
Exhibition
Free
Art of Protest launch
A celebration of the mural! Join us to celebrate Acomb's new artwork.
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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 March.
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).
- 29/03/2025
18:00 - 23:00
DJ Nights
Free
Dusko
Join us for Dusko — a night of house music through the decades in a chilled-out café setting. These 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, 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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STEW!
Join us at the Bluebird Bakery for York Together’s first community dinner, STEW.
This event will be held on the 2nd April 2025 from 6:15 pm - 9 pm.
For only £6 a ticket, attendees will enjoy delicious stew (and delicious Bluebird Bakery bread!) and hear from people making a difference in their community.
Three people will have just four minutes each to pitch their community grassroots project idea in front of the audience.
There will then be a vote on which project will most benefit York.
100% of the money raised through ticket sales will go into a prize pot. This will be shared between the pitchers, with the majority going to the winner.
Why come along?
At a time when society can feel divided and people’s civil rights are being threatened, let’s come together, enjoy warming food and make new connections.
We have 64 tickets to sell for £6 each. If we sell all available tickets at this price, the audience will collectively raise £384 for good causes.
£100 of the raised cash will be split equally to fund the two 'runner-up' projects, and the remaining amount will be given to the winner.
If you can, please consider paying more for your ticket to boost the amount in the prize pot.
Read more about STEW on York Together's website.
Email [email protected] if you have any questions. - 04/04/2025
18:00:00
DJ Nights
Free
Resurrection - Indie Revival
Playing the best Indie tunes from the 80's & 90's.
- 05/04/2025
18:00:00
DJ Nights
Free
Jammin' @ rise - with guests
Sweet reggae music is back with our brilliant residents Alli Lou & Tinkermuffin.
- 06/04/2025
15:00-21:00
Family Friendly Activities
Free
BYO Vinyl
Bag your 30 minutes of fame! Spin your tunes at our BYO Vinyl Sundays - now going monthly, 1st Sunday of the month.
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Robin Simpson - a children's storytelling event
Storytelling and craft event aimed at kids 5 and above. Ever been interested in making your very own shadow-puppets? Using simple items that you’ll find around the house (or in the recycling bin) Storyteller Robin Simpson will lead an exciting workshop on how to do just that! After watching Robin tell the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, he will take you through the step-by-step process of making your own shadow theatre and puppets. With easy to follow instructions, Robin can help you create characters and everything needed for your very own story. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
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Cuchulain's Nana - a storytelling event with Lara McClure
ou might know that Cuchulain was a mighty warrier in iron age Ulster. What you don't know yet is that his Nana was a hundred times mightier! Performance storytelling with an edge of tempered steel.
Tickets on sale now!
Doors at 7.30pm. Show starts at 8.30pm. Open seating. Bar snacks and full bar available. - 11/04/2025
18:00:00
DJ Nights
Free
Uptown Funk
Uptown Funk - (Acomb’s uptown isn’t it?!) - Expect funk and soul classics along with some great new tunes and edits.
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Will Dreyfus
For reasons known only to Will Dreyfus and God, it has been four years since his last solo originals show.
Now, for reasons known to neither of them, he’s back.
Laugh, cry and most importantly shut up for an hour whilst the locally renowned Hyde Family Jam frontman and alcoholic takes you on a musical journey through love and good life.
Will will be joined for the first time live by his recording band “Friend of a Friend” and Americana heartthrob troubadour Dan Webster.
Please, please come! - 19/04/2025
7-11
Live Music
TROPICA! Live! York Latinos
TROPICA! is proud to host the energy and talent of York Latinos for a great show at rise. Are you ready for a bit of Salsa? York Latinos performs some of the most popular rhythms of Cuba and Latin America such as Son, Cha Cha Cha, Salsa, Merengue and many others. Don't forget your dancing shoes!
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“YISF presents Alexander Wright's HAMLET SHOW”
I've got an idea for a show about HAMLET, and a version of HAMLET at the same time.
And about us doing it all together.
It's about us all having a cup of tea together, reading a play together, and having a good
chat about where and how we are in the world together. It's about us all
doing something together, at a point where bits of the world are trying to tear us apart.
It's about our existential place in the world, and about feeling so isolated amongst so
many people.
And I'd like you to come be a part of it.
Alexander Wright is an internationally award winning writer and storyteller from a little
village just north of York. As one half of Wright&Grainger his work has been performed
across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Bali, India and Off Broadway including sell out
shows at Sydney Opera House, Soho Boulevard and The Festival of Colour. He is also
the director and adapter of the immersive production of The Great Gatsby, the UK's
longest running immersive show, which ran variously in York, London, Dublin and New
York alongside productions in Wales, Belgium and South Korea.
"Wright is the best storyteller in town" - Stage Whispers for HELIOS
His previous work includes ORPHEUS, HELIOS, THE GODS THE GODS THE GODS,
BEULAH, BABYLON and HALF MAN || HALF BULL. -
Rise Up! A celebration of poetry & the spoken word
RISE UP! Join us as we welcome Rachel Long, Minal Sukumar & Ioney Smallhorne. Rachel Long founded and ran Octavia Poetry Collective for Women of Colour, which was housed at the Southbank Centre, in London, from 2015 to 2020. Her debut collection, My Darling from the Lions (Picador, U.K, 2020 / Tin House, US, 2021) was shortlisted for the Forward Prize for Best First Collection, The Costa Book Award, The Rathbones Folio Prize, and The Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year Award. The US edition featured in the New York Times Book Review, and was named one of the 100 must-read books of 2021 by TIME. Minal Sukumar is a fiction writer and poet from Bangalore, India. Her work has been featured in The Bombay Review, Gulmohur Quarterly, and the Hyderabad Literary Festival's publication, Khabar. She co-founded the spoken word collective, Mouth of Word, and has performed original poetry in India, Ireland and the UK. Currently, Minal is a PhD researcher and Wolfson Scholar at the Centre for Women's Studies, University of York. Ioney Smallhorne is a writer, poet, performer and educator from Nottingham. Her craft is ignited by her Jamaican heritage, fueled by the tapestry of the Black British experience, and smoulders with the essence of womanhood. Ioney is an alumni of Goldsmith College’s MA in Creative Writing & Education, Obisidan 2023, and is an Inscribe writer. Shortlisted for the Caribbean Small-Axe prize 2016, and for the Sky Arts/Royal Society of Literature Fiction Award 2021. Winner of the Writing East Midlands/Serendipity Black Ink Writing Competition 2021 and longlisted for the Moniak Mhor, Emerging Writer award 2024. She was the 2022 New Art Exchange resident artist.
- 02/05/2025
18:00:00
DJ Nights
Free
Resurrection - Indie Revival
Playing the best Indie tunes from the 80's & 90's. Food available from 6pm
- 10/05/2025
6-11pm
DJ Nights
Free
Reminisce
Come & join us for a night of 90s R&B
- 16/05/2025
18:00:00
DJ Nights
Free
On My Way
Our Northern Soul residency with Michael Toy & Dan Guest (Brighton Beach). Expect Northern soul classics along with some upbeat Motown to get you moving. Don't forget your talcum powder! Food available from 6pm
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Bella Gaffney - support from Jake Robinson
Bella Gaffney (of The Magpies) is a folk troubadour whose music seamlessly weaves together original compositions and traditional tunes from both British folk and Americana traditions. Winner of the prestigious 2016 Celtic Connections Danny Kyle Award, Bella is celebrated for her folk-inspired songwriting and unique arrangements of traditional pieces.
In 2023, Bella released her latest album, ‘Reflections,’ which beautifully captures the essence of connections formed during the lockdown period. Her singles, ‘Fair and Tender Ladies’ and ‘Blood in the Earth,‘ featuring duets with Sam Kelly and Leesa Gentz (Hussy Hicks), received widespread acclaim and BBC radio airplay.
Apart from her solo endeavors, Bella is a vital member of the folk band The Magpies, lauded as ‘effervescent’ by The Sunday Times. The Magpies have garnered national and international recognition, including a live session on BBC Radio 2 and hosting an annual sold-out festival.
Bella’s live performances are a captivating journey through folk storytelling, leaving audiences with earworm melodies, foot-tapping rhythms, and smiles from her off-beat humor. Her work has been praised by critics and fellow musicians alike, with Americana UK calling her album “a compelling collection” and Mike Harding hailing her as a “great singer, great guitarist, [and] really interesting songwriter.” The Daily Mail describes The Magpies music as “folk with finesse.”
Local legend Jake Robinson will be providing support for this gig. Jake sings soulful interpretations of popular folk classics and jazz inspired original songs. - 24/05/2025
19:00-10:30
General
Supper Club: Eylem's Kurdish Kitchen
Our Supper Club returns, this time its hosted by Eylem who will be bringing a taste of her Kurdish Turkish cuisine to Acomb!
More events coming soon!