AS A CD sleeve designer, John Haxby has built up a wealth of music business contacts over the past 20 years.

He has worked on 850 sleeves so far, liaising with musicians to finalise
designs. And some, such as Mercury Prize-winning folk artist Eliza Carthy, have now become personal friends.

So when John launched a new venture to bring the folk music he loves to the Frazer Theatre, which he thinks is an "under-used" facility in "a great little place," he was very well placed to do so.

Sell-out

Indeed, Eliza Carthy was one of the first acts John brought to the theatre under the banner of Kula Productions, which he founded last year with Mike Addison, a member of the Knaresborough Players, who own the theatre.

And following sell-out gigs by both Carthy and Martin Simpson last year,
John and Mike are now aiming to put on a folk music night at the Frazer
Theatre every month during 2009.

Names

Big names already signed up include Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick,
John Tams and Barry Coope and Deborah Bonham, younger sister of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham.

Jazz singer Claire Martin, who appeared at Harrogate Theatre this week,
will play as part of this summer's feva festival, supported by Eric Clapton's bass player Laurence Cottle and top jazz musician Jim Mullen.

Also playing during feva are two up-and-coming acts for whom John has
recently designed CD sleeves. Maeve O'Boyle, a 19-year-old Glaswegian
with a KT Tunstall vibe, and Laurance Traverso, said to be a rival to James Blunt and David Gray, will be performing a double bill on August 22.

John is currently in negotiations with Bob Fox for October, while Ralph
McTell was lined up for June but had to pull out to finish recording his
album.

Lovely

"People want to come and play here," says John.

"They love the theatre. It's a nice size with 127 seats so it's quite an intimate place.

"After the Martin Simpson and Eliza Carthy gigs, they went round everybody, signing CDs, and Deborah Bonham will undoubtedly do that too
when she plays next month.

"Martin and Eliza both want to come back. Martin said the Frazer Theatre
was such a lovely place to play – and that's what we want because that's how you get people; they pass the word on about the theatre."

Incredible

The impressive line-up is already attracting fans not just from Knaresborough and Harrogate, but also York, Thirsk and even Hull.

"The response so far has been incredible," says John.

"We are detecting there's a strong following for this type of music."

The venture has also enabled John to meet some of his favourite artists.

He says: "I'm booking people that I really admire; they are great
musicians.

"I've been a fan of Dave Swarbrick for years but I've never met him, even though I've done a couple of sleeves for him.

"So I thought the only way would be to book him for a gig!"

Resource

Kula's success is welcomed by the Knaresborough Players, who are trying
to develop the Frazer Theatre into an arts and cultural resource.

Shirley Holden, chairman of the Knaresborough Players, says: "We have got a lot of people working very hard to promote the theatre but people
look at you more seriously when you get the big names in.

"It has a knock-on effect."

As well as the Kula gigs, the Frazer Theatre is used for a range of events, from music to the spoken word, drama to art, film to talent
shows.

Rival

John says: "It's nice to be a little bit of a rival to Harrogate – we can never compete, but we can do our own thing."

He adds: "The final thing to say is that we rely on people supporting the theatre. People can get a bit blase about it but they shouldn't take it for granted."

Gigs

Forthcoming Kula Productions' presentations at Frazer Theatre. . .

February 27: Deborah Bonham supported by Roger Davies.
March 20: Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick. Sold out.
April 17: John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett.
May 8: Maggie Bell and Dave Kelly.
July 3: John Tams and Barry Coope.
August 21: Claire Martin with Jim Mullen and Laurence Cottle (part of feva).
August 22: Maeve O'Boyle and Laurance Traverso.
Please note, all gigs take place on a Friday. All tickets are £15, except Claire Martin £16 of which £1 goes to feva, available at
www.kula-productions.com or from Rummages, High Street, Knaresborough.

Contact

Visit www.kula-productions.com

If you would like to use the Frazer Theatre, please contact Geraldine
Gordon on 07531 341391 or email Ggordon1920@aol.com.