FAQs
THE EVENT
HERD is a free-to-attend musical and sculptural odyssey of epic proportions.
Devised by composer Orlando Gough and produced by leading arts production company, Artichoke, HERD will take place in various locations around Kirklees during July 2023 as part of Kirklees Year of Music.
This KYOM23 flagship project is a ground-breaking collaboration between artists, musicians and hundreds of schoolchildren and community members.
Tuesday, 11 – Sunday, 16 July 2023
The Mother Sheep, Aina, will be in St George’s Square, Huddersfield from Tuesday, 11 to Sunday, 16 July.
Her flock of oversized sheep will appear in different places across Kirklees during the week and come together in St George’s Square, Huddersfield on Saturday evening 15 July, where they will sing themselves to sleep from 20:00 to 24:00. On Sunday 16 July, you can visit the HERD in St George’s Square from 12:00 midday and stay for the grand finale from at 17:00.
HERD is a major new event produced by Artichoke as part of Kirklees Year Music. The project is supported by Kirklees Council, Arts Council England and the National Lottery Heritage Fund and many other funders and supporters. Please see our supporters page here.
Yes, the event will be completely free for the public to attend.
No, HERD is free to attend and no tickets are needed during the week or for the finale.
On Friday 14th July, some sheep will take to the water on the Broad and Narrow Canals around Huddersfield. On Saturday 15 July, several sheep will travel on top of vehicles through Batley, Cleckheaton and Dewsbury. The whole HERD will arrive in St George’s Square on Saturday evening, and sing themselves to sleep from 20:00-00:00 (midnight). Come and join them!
On Sunday 16 July, you can visit the HERD in St George’s Square, Huddersfield, from 12:00 midday. Don’t forget to stay for the HERD grand finale, which will take place in St George’s Square on Sunday 16 July at 17:00, with hundreds of performers singing five new songs for Kirklees.
Outside of urban areas, What Three Words is a more accurate way of pinpointing locations and ensuring people are able to find the sheep. You don’t need to download the app just click on the What Three Words next to the location and it will open the map on their webpage.
Aina, the Mother Sheep, in St George’s Square is every 15 minutes. The sheep out in wild will be constant from 11:00-20:00. Soundscapes are generally 20-25 mins long on constant loop
On Sunday 16 July, at 17.00 around 350 musicians, choirs and bands, all of whom have been involved in recording the HERD soundscapes, will come together to perform five new songs for Kirklees. Don’t miss it!
Huddersfield has a wide selection of cafes, restaurants and bars to choose from. Explore some recommendations in the local area here.
Please bear in mind that some of the HERD locations around Kirklees are off the beaten track and no refreshments will be available.
Dress for the weather and wear comfortable footwear. Please bring your own water and use refillable containers.
If you have a query about HERD, and can’t find the answer here, please email HERD@artichoke.uk.com ,which is regularly checked.
Businesses and residents that may be affected by the event have been contacted directly by letter.
There will be road closures in place on Peel Street in Marsden on Thursday 13 July and around St George’s Square on Sunday 16 July. Residents and businesses affected by the closures have been contacted with details of how they will be impacted.
We encourage visitors to use public transport wherever possible. If arriving by car is unavoidable, there are short and long stay car parks located a short distance away at Huddersfield Bus Station, Bath Street, Brook Street and Cambridge Road. There are further car parks located near to St George’s Square.
Where possible we strongly advise that you use public transport to arrive at HERD. Car parking is available. There will be road closures around St George’s Square.
You can find our interactive map and full details of the locations on the Plan your Visit page.
Public toilets will be available adjacent to St George’s Square on Sunday 16 July.
Please bear in mind that some of the HERD locations around Kirklees are off the beaten track and there may not be public toilet facilities available.
Join the HERD mailing list by visiting the HERD website homepage and clicking ‘sign up’.
ACCESSIBILITY
Information about the individual sites and accessibility including which have accessible parking can be found on the Plan Your Visit page. Wheelchair users can view the finale performance on Sunday f16 July from a signposted wheelchair access area.
Please contact access@artichoke.uk.com with any questions.
MORE ABOUT HERD
The history of Kirklees is rooted in the textile industry. Wool and water brought succeeding generations to work in the mills, who brought with them their own unique musical traditions. HERD weaves a captivating tale of movement and sound, industry and labour, and pays homage to the profound influence of the wool trade on the rich tapestry of Yorkshire and its people.
The musical sheep sculptures are designed and created by Huddersfield-based artist Dave Young, in collaboration with heritage craft practitioners. They are made from a variety of materials including textiles, willow, salvaged and recycled junk.
Aina, the Mother Sheep, is 4.5m high. The rest of the sheep range from between 1m-3m in height.
Each sheep has been fitted with specially programmed speakers to play their soundscapes. The sound design is by Sebastian Frost and John Del’Nero.
The sheep sculptures all have their own unique sound and character, and are each named after the ancient sheep-counting song, Yan Tan Tethera, which is derived from the Celtic Brythonic language.
The sheep names are: Aina, Bumfitt, Covero, Dix, Eddero, Fethera, Giggit, Hant, Ix, Jiggit, Kindra, Ludd, Methera, Nant, Odra, Pethera, Qethera, Ranadik, Sesan, Tethera, Umphit, Vedero, Wix.
900 local schoolchildren have been involved in helping to design and decorate Kindra, one of our 23 sheep.
As part of the schools’ programme for HERD, primary school pupils have been taking part in workshops to learn the words and music to Yan Tan Tethera. They will perform the song to Kindra as she visits Kirklees schools during the week that HERD takes place.
HERD features Ruby Wood, Thabo Mkwananzi, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones, Supriya Nagarajan, Huddersfield Choral Society, Huddersfield Community Gospel Choir, Shepley Singers, Hade Edge Brass Band, Skelmanthorpe Brass Band and many more incredible musicians.