Tadcaster’s Riley-Smith Hall evoked its dance hall heyday with a special concert to mark the reopening of its main entrance on 15 May 2026. The iconic neo-classical hall, which was built in 1924 and has a sprung floor for dancing, had to close its main entrance for two months whilst a project took place to build new Yorkstone steps and symmetrical access ramps. The project has been partially funded by a £20,000 grant from the National Lottery Community Fund.
The venue reopened with a night of music and song featuring the York RI Golden Rail Band and guest singer Jessa Liversidge in ‘Ballroom to Broadway’, showcasing a programme of toe-tapping tunes including songs from musicals as well as ballroom and Latin numbers.
For the band, which performs regularly in Tadcaster, the occasion was also a chance to give conductor Nicholas Eastwood a fitting send-off as it was his final concert before departing to take on new opportunities. Nick, who was ‘rerecruited’ to lead Golden Rail in 2021 at an event in Tadcaster – having led it some years previously – has seen the band go from strength to strength under his baton.
“It’s been a collective few years of tremendous music-making and making some fantastic friends,” he said. “We’ve performed at the National Centre for Early Music, Joseph Rowntree Theatre, The Barbican, York Minster, Selby Abbey, York Citadel, and the band also played for my wedding.
“We’ve done a recording. We’ve celebrated the band’s 40th year in style. We’ve even been on television for a documentary series about Britain’s Greatest Railway Stations with Si King! The band has also performed two of my short story premieres and a host of my arrangements – and they’re just the highlights.
“Golden Rail has given so much to me, and I’d like to think I’ve managed to reciprocate. Personally, it was the countless funny rehearsals that made it - it’s been so much fun!”
Of the concert Nick says, “It was a pleasure to perform at the Riley-Smith Hall, a place that the band frequents each November as part of the town’s Remembrance Day parade. It was equally special to help mark a milestone within the hall’s history, as it completes its newest renovation.”
For Jessa Liversidge, a well-known local performer and singing leader who also leads the York Military Wives Choir, among others, the concert was an opportunity to renew her relationship with the band, who she first performed with in 2018.
“I love singing with a full brass band and I'm really glad to have had this collaboration with the York RI Golden Rail Band again. The last time we worked together we performed a concert in honour of those who were lost in or lived through WWI, a really moving event.
“This time, we performed a rather different set of songs - movie hits including Jesus Christ Superstar, Les Miserables and Chicago, an Elvis classic and even a James Bond theme! It was tremendous fun to work with this lovely group of musicians again in the wonderful Riley Smith Hall."