Monday, 13 June 2011

Benny Gallagher began his career writing songs for the Beatles' Apple label and he is holding a songwriting masterclass at the Trades Club on Thursday.

He cites the constant encouragement of his mate Paul McCartney as the biggest influence on his songwriting, which saw him win worldwide fame as half of Gallagher and Lyle. The duo had a string of massive hits in the 1970s, including the richly romantic 'Heart On My Sleeve' and 'I Wanna Stay With You'.

Since then he has worked with Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, Pete Townsend, Ronnie Lane, Elkie Brooks and even Sandy Denny and Fairport Convention. His songs have been recorded by Garth Brooks, Phil Everly, Ringo Starr, Simon and Garfunkel and - bizarrely - Status Quo.

He is a Companion of the Liverpool Institute of Performing Arts and was presented with his Award by LIPA's co-founder Paul McCartney, alongside fellow Companions, singer-songwriter Joan Armatrading and the architect of punk Malcolm MacLaren.

High class support comes from Kushty Rye, who fresh from a packed gig last month perform an acoustic set.

The last time Banco de Gaia played the Trades it was rammed with clubbers enjoying his unique fusion of Persian strings and prog rock, Tibetan songs and ecstatic techno.

Banco - aka DJ/remixer/dance music maestro Toby Marks - is back on Friday with a set ranging from cinematic ambient soundscapes to dance-floor shaking beats and bass.

The Subversion team are back on Saturday night using the mighty Grassroots subsonic rig to spin a heady mix of dub, drum'n'bass, dubstep and jungle.

"As well as being a good mate of the greatest songwriter of them all, Benny Gallagher is a consummate tunesmith and this is a rare chance to see a master at work up close," Trades Club spokesperson Paul Clarke told the Hebden Bridge Web.

"Banco de Gaia pulled out off an amazing show last year packed with his dance anthems, backed with awesome visuals, so it's a case of getting down early if you want to get in."