Forget about listening to ourselves. In the age of data, algorithms have the answer, writes the historian Yuval Noah Harari
©Janne Iivonen
For thousands of years humans believed that authority came from the gods. Then, during the modern era, humanism gradually shifted authority from deities to people. Jean-Jacques Rousseau summed up this revolution in Emile, his 1762 treatise on education. When looking for the rules of conduct in life, Rousseau found them “in the depths of my heart, traced by nature in characters which nothing can efface. I need only consult myself with regard to what I wish to do; what I feel to be good is good, what I feel to be bad is bad.” Humanist thinkers such as Rousseau convinced us that our own feelings and desires were the ultimate source of meaning, and that our free will was, therefore, the highest authority of all.
Now, a fresh shift is taking place. Just as divine authority was legitimised by religious mythologies, and human authority was legitimised by humanist ideologies, so high-tech gurus and Silicon Valley prophets are creating a new universal narrative that legitimises the authority of algorithms and Big Data. This novel creed may be called “Dataism”. In its extreme form, proponents of the Dataist worldview perceive the entire universe as a flow of data, see organisms as little more than biochemical algorithms and believe that humanity’s cosmic vocation is to create an all-encompassing data-processing system — and then merge into it.
We are already becoming tiny chips inside a giant system that nobody really understands. Every day I absorb countless data bits through emails, phone calls and articles; process the data; and transmit back new bits through more emails, phone calls and articles. I don’t really know where I fit into the great scheme of things, and how my bits of data connect with the bits produced by billions of other humans and computers. I don’t have time to find out, because I am too busy answering emails. This relentless dataflow sparks new inventions and disruptions that nobody plans, controls or comprehends.
But no one needs to understand. All you need to do is answer your emails faster. Just as free-market capitalists believe in the invisible hand of the market, so Dataists believe in the invisible hand of the dataflow. As the global data-processing system becomes all-knowing and all-powerful, so connecting to the system becomes the source of all meaning. The new motto says: “If you experience something — record it. If you record something — upload it. If you upload something — share it.”
Dataists further believe that given enough biometric data and computing power, this all-encompassing system could understand humans much better than we understand ourselves. Once that happens, humans will lose their authority, and humanist practices such as democratic elections will become as obsolete as rain dances and flint knives.
When Michael Gove announced his shortlived candidacy to become Britain’s prime minister in the wake of June’s Brexit vote, he explained: “In every step in my political life I have asked myself one question, ‘What is the right thing to do? What does your heart tell you?’” That’s why, according to Gove, he had fought so hard for Brexit, and that’s why he felt compelled to backstab his erstwhile ally Boris Johnson and bid for the alpha-dog position himself — because his heart told him to do it.
Gove is not alone in listening to his heart in critical moments. For the past few centuries humanism has seen the human heart as the supreme source of authority not merely in politics but in every other field of activity. From infancy we are bombarded with a barrage of humanist slogans counselling us: “Listen to yourself, be true to yourself, trust yourself, follow your heart, do what feels good.”
©Janne Iivonen
In politics, we believe that authority depends on the free choices of ordinary voters. In market economics, we maintain that the customer is always right. Humanist art thinks that beauty is in the eye of the beholder; humanist education teaches us to think for ourselves; and humanist ethics advise us that if it feels good, we should go ahead and do it.
Of course, humanist ethics often run into difficulties in situations when something that makes me feel good makes you feel bad. For example, every year for the past decade the Israeli LGBT community has held a gay parade in the streets of Jerusalem. It is a unique day of harmony in this conflict-riven city, because it is the one occasion when religious Jews, Muslims and Christians suddenly find a common cause — they all fume in accord against the gay parade. What’s really interesting, though, is the argument the religious fanatics use. They don’t say: “You shouldn’t hold a gay parade because God forbids homosexuality.” Rather, they explain to every available microphone and TV camera that “seeing a gay parade passing through the holy city of Jerusalem hurts our feelings. Just as gay people want us to respect their feelings, they should respect ours.” It doesn’t matter what you think about this particular conundrum; it is far more important to understand that in a humanist society, ethical and political debates are conducted in the name of conflicting human feelings, rather than in the name of divine commandments.
. . .
We are already becoming tiny chips inside a giant system that nobody really understands
Yet humanism is now facing an existential challenge and the idea of “free will” is under threat. Scientific insights into the way our brains and bodies work suggest that our feelings are not some uniquely human spiritual quality. Rather, they are biochemical mechanisms that all mammals and birds use in order to make decisions by quickly calculating probabilities of survival and reproduction.
Contrary to popular opinion, feelings aren’t the opposite of rationality; they are evolutionary rationality made flesh. When a baboon, giraffe or human sees a lion, fear arises because a biochemical algorithm calculates the relevant data and concludes that the probability of death is high. Similarly, feelings of sexual attraction arise when other biochemical algorithms calculate that a nearby individual offers a high probability for successful mating. These biochemical algorithms have evolved and improved through millions of years of evolution. If the feelings of some ancient ancestor made a mistake, the genes shaping these feelings did not pass on to the next generation.
Even though humanists were wrong to think that our feelings reflected some mysterious “free will”, up until now humanism still made very good practical sense. For although there was nothing magical about our feelings, they were nevertheless the best method in the universe for making decisions — and no outside system could hope to understand my feelings better than me. Even if the Catholic Church or the Soviet KGB spied on me every minute of every day, they lacked the biological knowledge and the computing power necessary to calculate the biochemical processes shaping my desires and choices. Hence, humanism was correct in telling people to follow their own heart. If you had to choose between listening to the Bible and listening to your feelings, it was much better to listen to your feelings. The Bible represented the opinions and biases of a few priests in ancient Jerusalem. Your feelings, in contrast, represented the accumulated wisdom of millions of years of evolution that have passed the most rigorous quality-control tests of natural selection.
©Janne Iivonen
However, as the Church and the KGB give way to Google and Facebook, humanism loses its practical advantages. For we are now at the confluence of two scientific tidal waves. On the one hand, biologists are deciphering the mysteries of the human body and, in particular, of the brain and of human feelings. At the same time, computer scientists are giving us unprecedented data-processing power. When you put the two together, you get external systems that can monitor and understand my feelings much better than I can. Once Big Data systems know me better than I know myself, authority will shift from humans to algorithms. Big Data could then empower Big Brother.
This has already happened in the field of medicine. The most important medical decisions in your life are increasingly based not on your feelings of illness or wellness, or even on the informed predictions of your doctor — but on the calculations of computers who know you better than you know yourself. A recent example of this process is the case of the actress Angelina Jolie. In 2013, Jolie took a genetic test that proved she was carrying a dangerous mutation of the BRCA1 gene. According to statistical databases, women carrying this mutation have an 87 per cent probability of developing breast cancer. Although at the time Jolie did not have cancer, she decided to pre-empt the disease and undergo a double mastectomy. She didn’t feel ill but she wisely decided to listen to the computer algorithms. “You may not feel anything is wrong,” said the algorithms, “but there is a time bomb ticking in your DNA. Do something about it — now!”
Authority will shift from humans to computer algorithms. Big Data could then empower Big Brother
What is already happening in medicine is likely to take place in more and more fields. It starts with simple things, like which book to buy and read. How do humanists choose a book? They go to a bookstore, wander between the aisles, flip through one book and read the first few sentences of another, until some gut feeling connects them to a particular tome. Dataists use Amazon. As I enter the Amazon virtual store, a message pops up and tells me: “I know which books you liked in the past. People with similar tastes also tend to love this or that new book.”
This is just the beginning. Devices such as Amazon’s Kindle are able constantly to collect data on their users while they are reading books. Your Kindle can monitor which parts of a book you read quickly, and which slowly; on which page you took a break, and on which sentence you abandoned the book, never to pick it up again. If Kindle was to be upgraded with face recognition software and biometric sensors, it would know how each sentence influenced your heart rate and blood pressure. It would know what made you laugh, what made you sad, what made you angry. Soon, books will read you while you are reading them. And whereas you quickly forget most of what you read, computer programs need never forget. Such data should eventually enable Amazon to choose books for you with uncanny precision. It will also allow Amazon to know exactly who you are, and how to press your emotional buttons.
Take this to its logical conclusion, and eventually people may give algorithms the authority to make the most important decisions in their lives, such as who to marry. In medieval Europe, priests and parents had the authority to choose your mate for you. In humanist societies we give this authority to our feelings. In a Dataist society I will ask Google to choose. “Listen, Google,” I will say, “both John and Paul are courting me. I like both of them, but in a different way, and it’s so hard to make up my mind. Given everything you know, what do you advise me to do?”
©Janne Iivonen
And Google will answer: “Well, I know you from the day you were born. I have read all your emails, recorded all your phone calls, and know your favourite films, your DNA and the entire biometric history of your heart. I have exact data about each date you went on, and I can show you second-by-second graphs of your heart rate, blood pressure and sugar levels whenever you went on a date with John or Paul. And, naturally enough, I know them as well as I know you. Based on all this information, on my superb algorithms and on decades’ worth of statistics about millions of relationships — I advise you to go with John, with an 87 per cent probability of being more satisfied with him in the long run.
“Indeed, I know you so well that I even know you don’t like this answer. Paul is much more handsome than John and, because you give external appearances too much weight, you secretly wanted me to say ‘Paul’. Looks matter, of course, but not as much as you think. Your biochemical algorithms — which evolved tens of thousands of years ago in the African savannah — give external beauty a weight of 35 per cent in their overall rating of potential mates. My algorithms — which are based on the most up-to-date studies and statistics — say that looks have only a 14 per cent impact on the long-term success of romantic relationships. So, even though I took Paul’s beauty into account, I still tell you that you would be better off with John.”
Google won’t have to be perfect. It won’t have to be correct all the time. It will just have to be better on average than me
Google won’t have to be perfect. It won’t have to be correct all the time. It will just have to be better on average than me. And that is not so difficult, because most people don’t know themselves very well, and most people often make terrible mistakes in the most important decisions of their lives.
The Dataist worldview is very attractive to politicians, business people and ordinary consumers because it offers groundbreaking technologies and immense new powers. For all the fear of missing our privacy and our free choice, when consumers have to choose between keeping their privacy and having access to far superior healthcare — most will choose health.
. . .
For scholars and intellectuals, Dataism promises to provide the scientific Holy Grail that has eluded us for centuries: a single overarching theory that unifies all the scientific disciplines from musicology through economics, all the way to biology. According to Dataism, Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, a stock-exchange bubble and the flu virus are just three patterns of dataflow that can be analysed using the same basic concepts and tools. This idea is extremely attractive. It gives all scientists a common language, builds bridges over academic rifts and easily exports insights across disciplinary borders.
©Janne Iivonen
Of course, like previous all-encompassing dogmas, Dataism, too, may be founded on a misunderstanding of life. In particular, Dataism has no answer to the notorious “hard problem of consciousness”. At present we are very far from explaining consciousness in terms of data-processing. Why is it that when billions of neurons in the brain fire particular signals to one another, a subjective feeling of love or fear or anger appears? We don’t have a clue.
But even if Dataism is wrong about life, it may still conquer the world. Many previous creeds gained enormous popularity and power despite their factual mistakes. If Christianity and communism could do it, why not Dataism? Dataism has especially good prospects, because it is currently spreading across all scientific disciplines. A unified scientific paradigm may easily become an unassailable dogma.
If you don’t like this, and you want to stay beyond the reach of the algorithms, there is probably just one piece of advice to give you, the oldest in the book: know thyself. In the end, it’s a simple empirical question. As long as you have greater insight and self-knowledge than the algorithms, your choices will still be superior and you will keep at least some authority in your hands. If the algorithms nevertheless seem poised to take over, it is mainly because most human beings hardly know themselves at all.
Yuval Noah Harari is the author of ‘Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow’, published by Harvill Secker on September 8. He will be speaking in London, Cambridge, Manchester and Bristol. For more information go to po.st/HomoDeusEvents
Illustrations by Janne Iivonen

Yuval Harari on big data, Google and the end of free will


For thousands of years humans believed that authority came from the gods. Then, during the modern era, humanism gradually shifted authority from deities to people. Jean-Jacques Rousseau summed up this revolution in Emile, his 1762 treatise on


How a song about trading places revived Kate Bush’s career
The female face of pop in the 1980s was Madonna, the ultimate material girl and America’s least convincing virgin. Pop’s feminist heart and soul, however, floating in an undoubtedly sensual but altogether more spiritual world, was that British original and high priestess of interpretative dance Kate Bush. Every woman artist ever after labelled “kooky” by male rock critics — from Tori Amos and Björk to Bat for Lashes and Florence and The Machine — cites Bush as an influence.
Bush burst into the charts at the age of 19 with 1978’s “Wuthering Heights”. At 27, though, she was at risk of becoming a has-been in the middle of that brash decade, the 1980s. Her fourth album, 1982’s The Dreaming, had flopped, and she needed a hit.
Having left London for a 17th-century farmhouse in Kent, Bush spent as much time composting as composing. Yet the songs that germinated in this rural idyll would grow into her most commercially successful album, Hounds of Love, released on September 16 1985. That August’s lead single, all galloping drums and insistent groove, was “Running Up That Hill”, its distinctively wonky riff — like someone wiping a particularly sticky windscreen — the product of Bush’s fascination with the Fairlight CMI synthesiser.
“Running Up That Hill” is a song about trading places, an implicit plea for romantic equality (“Tell me, we both matter, don’t we?” Bush sings) that soon evokes a more profound idea: how can we ever know what another person is thinking or feeling? And to gain that insight, it takes the old notion of a Faustian bargain up an almighty notch. Bush’s initial title was “A Deal with God”, but her record company persuaded her that this would be anathema in countries with strong religious beliefs. The single, then, is just “Running Up That Hill,” although the album tracklist includes “A Deal with God” in parenthesis. Either way, it was manna from heaven for Bush’s career: Hounds of Love knocked Madonna’s Like a Virgin from the top of the UK album charts.
Thirty years on, “Running Up That Hill” still resonates. You couldn’t find two more divergent covers than the spry electropop offered in 2015 by the Toronto band Beams, who appear to base their synth sound on their apartment’s doorbell, and the woefully gruff hard-rock mauling presented this year by the Norwegian Jørn. (Give that man a lozenge, quick.)
Before those versions, there were Placebo’s murky and ominous whisperings in 2003, apparently raking over the Satanic coals (which sort of misses the point), and, from the same year, the horribly windy Dutch band Within Temptation’s symphonic-metal farrago (with possible pan pipes).
Podcast The Life of a Song: Running Up That Hill Listen to an audio version of this article, with clips from the songs
Much better are Chromatics’ skittering, late-night ambient cut from 2007 and Wye Oak’s mellow, bluesy live session for the AV Undercover website in 2014, which draws out its fundamental yearning.
“Running Up That Hill” also gives its name to an entire Kate Bush covers album in aid of “pro-choice reproductive rights”; somewhat incongruously, the self-styled “One Man Wolf Pack” from Oakland, California, Casey Chisholm, plays the number as a strung-out cyber-dirge.
The song endures because it addresses our insecurities. As Bush said in 1985, it’s about “the strength that is created between two people when they’re very much in love, but that strength can also be threatening, violent, dangerous”. Proof of the track’s qualities came in 2012 on a global stage. Bush re-recorded the vocal to her original 12-inch remix for a climatic part of the closing ceremony of the London Olympics. It was a stirring demonstration of soft power — both Britain’s and that of pop itself.
Photograph: Alamy

The Life of a Song: ‘Running Up That Hill’


The female face of pop in the 1980s was Madonna, the ultimate material girl and America’s least convincing virgin. Pop’s feminist heart and soul, however, floating in an undoubtedly sensual but altogether more spiritual world, was that British


It’s the best screen drama of the week but it overcomes a lot to get there. Like its rock-clinging heroine (Blake Lively), stuck out at sea while menaced by killer marine life, The Shallows is at bay from brutal predators: in this case its own implausibilities or sleights of storytelling. Director Jaume Collet-Serra (Unknown, Run All Night) and writer Anthony Jaswinski have only themselves to blame.
The young woman mourning her late mum comes to an isolated Mexican cove to surf, careless alike, it seems, of stranger danger or murderous sea forms. Neither she nor we spot the big floating whale carcass out in the bay, attracting birds and worse — because in the introductory long shots it isn’t there. And how come no one sees or hears our protagonist the first time she waves and shouts for help? The bay is not that large and the beach not empty.
Never mind. Three idiocy-strikes are allowed in a movie before a shout of “out”. And this movie soon gets better. Gulp your doubts and follow the imperilled girl into adversities that turn this summer shark dish, if not into Jaws, then into a twisting, biting, exciting loner-in-crisis drama. It’s a recruit to modern cinema’s growing roll-call of solo survival yarns. (Redford in a yacht; Reynolds in a grave; Bullock in space.) The 86 minutes speed along. The shark is the most convincing in recent memory. Best of all, there’s Lively.
Part of us knows us that this leggy blonde star has been thrown to us as audience bait. A large expanse of glistening thigh becomes the main injury locus after the first attack. But Lively is better than a bimbo. We know her from thinking thrillers (The Town), from Woody Allen (Café Society ) and from her ability to suggest that a Blake brain goes along with the Blake body. Her character’s brain delivers the denouement here: one clever enough to heal the film after much good has been done already — by the vibrant editing and visceral sequences of predator/prey hide and seek — to pick the dodgy stitching out of the early coincidence and contrivance work.

The Shallows - film review: ‘Twisting, exciting’


It’s the best screen drama of the week but it overcomes a lot to get there. Like its rock-clinging heroine (Blake Lively), stuck out at sea while menaced by killer marine life, The Shallows is at bay from brutal predators: in this case its own


A first feature film is always an event, at least for its maker. With his amazing The Childhood of a Leader the 28-year-old Brady Corbet, a modestly known American screen actor (Thunderbirds, Funny Games, TV’s 24), sets up conventional audience expectation and throws the book at it. The “book” may be small, a same-title 1939 Jean-Paul Sartre story about the infancy of an imagined demagogue, but the impact still smacks and thrills.
Sharp-honed irony is mixed with assaultive power. The last of four sections is like a Shostakovich scherzo come to life: manic, martial, sarcastic. The camera gyrates around a city’s skyline with abstract-expressionist verve while Scott Walker’s music delivers a febrile homage to the Russian composer’s Eighth Symphony.
The preceding episodes — “First Tantrum”, “Second Tantrum”, “Third Tantrum” — are directed with a grandeur both classical, or mock-classical, and ferocious. The little boy (Tom Sweet) is a blond, angelic-looking terror born to a US diplomat (Game of Thrones’ Liam Cunningham) and his German-born wife (Bérénice Bejo). We are in a mouldering palatial mansion outside Paris during the peace negotiations after the first world war.
The boy throws stones at locals leaving church (as the young Mussolini did) and that’s just the start. The more that the script, by Corbet and his wife Mona Fastvold, sets in place a pre-Versailles Treaty atmosphere of fragile political expectancy, the more the boy runs amok or anarchic in this china shop. Like Sartre’s infant hero he’s guided by some infernal or supernal instinct of revolt. Sometimes he won’t speak, sometimes he won’t stop speaking. He shows up near-naked at a dinner. He locks himself away to read Aesop’s Fables, that allegorical child’s guide to human nature and frailty. He spurns a private tutor (Stacy Martin) but rages at the dismissal of a long-serving maid (Yolande Moreau) who has become his protector.
Corbet’s film never gets bombastic in its symbolism. Yet the boy stands, we know, for that growth of vicious political bewilderment in between-wars Europe that led to totalitarianism. The mansion’s sickly grandiosity is explored by the camera as if we are trapped in some Marienbad of geo-historical crisis and catastrophe-doomed global resolve. Is it an overambitious directing debut? Perhaps. But how much better than underambitious. And bully for the 2015 Venice Film Festival judges who gave this picture about the breeding of a bully the Lion of the Future prize.

The Childhood of a Leader - film review: ‘Amazing’


A first feature film is always an event, at least for its maker. With his amazing The Childhood of a Leader the 28-year-old Brady Corbet, a modestly known American screen actor (Thunderbirds, Funny Games, TV’s 24), sets up conventional audience


An exhibition at New York Botanical Garden celebrates the influence of gardening on American Impressionism
©Robert Benson Photography
Gardening and painting are longstanding allies. In London this spring, the Royal Academy’s massive exhibition, Painting the Modern Garden, delighted huge crowds and concluded with Monet’s famous canvases of water lilies. Impressionist painters have a very special relationship with gardens, but the French master-artists are not the whole story. Until September 11, the New York Botanical Garden is staging Impressionism: American Gardens on Canvas, another of its trademark shows of art, poetry and specially commissioned plantings that evoke a place and period.
Up in the Bronx, the garden is in fine late-summer form for its 125th anniversary. Its Impressionist show is fascinating, especially for those of us who encountered American artists such as Childe Hassam in the Royal Academy and wondered who on earth they were. The NYBG’s concise catalogue places them in a lively social and cultural context. Its contributors include several of the scholars who have pieced together this subject in the past 20 years. If you cannot get up to the Bronx or to the Taubman Museum of Art in Roanoke, Virginia, where the show’s paintings will move from February 17 to May 14 next year, the catalogue is an excellent resource for garden lovers.
The years from the 1880s to the 1920s are its main span. Studies of English garden history in this period focus on Gertrude Jekyll and the birth of colour planning, but the great lady was first inspired by the Barbizon school of French painters and earlier French theorists, not by Impressionists such as Monet. She seems unaware that US gardeners on the East Coast also included notable women. Like herself, they favoured cottage garden flowers, in their case flowers from the colonial era. Whereas her Surrey garden is now best known through paintings by minor English artists in an Edwardian sentimental style, their American gardens are preserved in works by much better painters, people who had had direct contact with French Impressionism. Jekyll never visited Monet, but by the 1880s US painters had settled at Giverny almost on his doorstep. One family, the MacMonnies, made a flowery garden which a visitor described as the most beautiful in the entire place. The best-known painting of it does not support the claim. Monet himself avoided the American colony.
When they returned home, painters among them applied the new style to American gardens that they visited. Like Monet, some were gardeners too, owning houses with names like Phloxdale, filled with border phloxes for the holiday season. Others went off during summer holidays and lodged in gardens that could be painted in an Impressionist style. “Painting holidays” are not at all a new invention. The NYBG exhibition shows the garden of one Florence Griswold in Old Lyme, Connecticut, which became a renowned colony for artists. It also displays early views of the Hamptons before the rich and famous took over. Meanwhile, poetry boards around the garden evoke effusive writing about flowers in the same period, long before my gardening columns existed. Bedding schemes in and around the main conservatory show favourite flowers of the era, updated by clever selection of modern varieties.
The three prongs of the show meet in its prize exhibit, Celia Thaxter, who died in 1894. She was the daughter of a lighthouse keeper but grew up to be a poet, gardener and garden writer on Appledore island off New Hampshire. In this rocky landscape she grew hundreds of poppies from seed and somehow kept hollyhocks upright within sight of the open sea. She wrote florid poems, forgotten in Britain but featured aptly on the NYBG’s poetry boards where they keep company with others by Robert Frost. Thaxter was also a journalist and a prose author on flowers whose flowery style precedes Norah Lindsay in England or the effusive Reginald Farrer, king of alpine plants.
©Portsmouth Athenaeum
She did not paint, but her links with American Impressionism became extremely close because she and her small garden fascinated the French-trained artist Childe Hassam. During his many visits he painted flowers that she would pick and arrange. He had been christened “Frederick”, but she persuaded him to change to “Childe”, presumably for its Byronic resonance. By illustrating her garden book, An Island Garden, Hassam brought images of Appledore to fascinated readers who loved the idea of a lady of nature living in a cottage on an island’s cliffs. Like other canny hostesses when short of money, Thatcher sold Hassam’s paintings to visitors by showing them on her cottage’s walls.
His well-known portrait of her is carefully stylised. It is based on a black-and-white photo which makes it clearer that her protruding backside is due only to her dress and its underpinning. She is picking a flower, as often, but is not attired for practical gardening. Two years before her death, she is painted in a white dress with streaks of lavender blue, repeated on the fence behind her. The paint is piled up in impressionistic brush strokes but a silvery crescent-shaped comb is shown in her hair. It was her hallmark, echoing her description of the seeds of marigolds as “crescent-shaped” and waiting to grow into “mimic suns”. Hassam duly adopted her emblem. He signed his later pictures with a crescent-shaped device.
©Robert Benson Photography
“We went off to Appledore to see her garden”, Todd Forrest, head of NYBG’s Living Collections, told me, “but there is none of her planting left.” The show’s flowery display had to work from books and the painted record and to stage a composite, evocative effect. The genius of past shows, Francisca Coelho, has risen to the challenge, tempering colours and plants and changing them weekly to outwit the hottest weather under glass. In her mind’s eye a first grouping of blue delphiniums and azure-blue, balloon-flowered Platycodons could suggest the sea, leading on to groups of bright yellow from sunflowers and rudbeckias and to cool white groups of Zinnia Polar Bear, modern improvements of families which Thaxter’s writings romanticise.
When the show opened, the central walkway was packed with multicoloured poppies, Thaxter’s signature plant. Coelho had grown 10,000, a spectacular sight, followed by gladioli and lilies, other Thaxter favourites, which will extend the show into its final weeks. They lead up to the specially commissioned façade of a wooden-boarded cottage, complete with a porch and a view on to flowery salvias and a new small buddleia called Wisteria Lane. Thaxter and Hassam would have loved it.
In long boxes outdoors, Coelho has opted for brilliantly chosen annuals which we can all learn to use in our own gardens. White-flowered Catharanthus has yet to catch on in Britain, and until I saw her modern types of Celosia, or cockscomb, in shades of burgundy red, I would have left this family to glower by the seaside on Appledore. She treats watering and colour planning as fine arts, so I had to ask her if she would have employed Thaxter as an intern. “No,” the modern maestro answered, “but I could have given her a job — to pose.”
Photographs: Robert Benson Photography; Portsmouth Athenaeum

Gardens that made an Impression on US artists


Gardening and painting are longstanding allies. In London this spring, the Royal Academy’s massive exhibition, Painting the Modern Garden, delighted huge crowds and concluded with Monet’s famous canvases of water lilies. Impressionist painters have


Ireland will on Tuesday be ordered to claw back billions of euros from Apple, triggering one of the world’s biggest tax disputes and a political showdown between Europe and the US.
Based on an obscure 1991 Irish tax ruling issued for Apple, then a struggling computer maker, the Brussels competition decision has the potential to transform how corporate tax avoidance is policed in Europe.
The order to recoup back-taxes is expected to potentially be big enough to ricochet into the US election campaign, overshadow Apple’s latest product launch next week, and set in train a landmark legal battle.
Ireland and Apple strongly deny any wrongdoing and see the decision as an egregious example of over-reach by the EU’s executive arm that will not stand up to scrutiny in court.
What is the dispute over?
At the heart of the matter are tax arrangements that helped Apple pay an ultra-low rate of just 4 per cent on nearly $200bn of foreign profits it has earned over the past 10 years.
Apple’s lightly-taxed foreign cash mountain is the biggest of any US multinational.
The $187bn it held outside the US in 2015 accounts for a big share of the $1.2tn that US multinationals have parked offshore, in the hope that US tax reform will eventually cut the cost of repatriating the profits.
So far, Apple’s foreign profits have been lightly taxed.
What is the commission’s complaint? Why was Apple’s Irish arm so important?
About 90 per cent of Apple’s foreign profits are earned by Irish subsidiaries, which are highly profitable because they hold rights to Apple’s intellectual property.
But these Irish entities paid little tax because they were not tax resident anywhere — a usual structure that exploited differences between the US and Irish definitions of residence.
The European Commission is targeting the arrangement on the grounds that it gave Apple an undue tax advantage that distorted competition. It alleges this amounted to illegal state aid, a breach of the EU’s unique restrictions on state support to companies.
While it builds on similar commission tax decisions recently served against deals for Starbucks in the Netherlands and Fiat in Luxembourg, the Apple case is by far the biggest and most significant.
What is Apple’s position on the investigation?
EU investigators have examined how Apple paid a tax rate of less than 1 per cent on European sales in some years. But the company insists it pays every cent of tax owed in every jurisdiction.
Tim Cook, Apple’s chief executive, told the Washington Post in the past month that the tax structure deployed in Ireland was applicable to all companies and that it was not unique to Apple. In other words, Apple gained no special treatment in Ireland and therefore enjoyed no selective state aid.
With some passion, he personally pressed the company’s case with Margrethe Vestager, EU competition commissioner, in January. He also says the company is the biggest taxpayer in the US. “And so we’re not a tax dodger. We pay our share and then some.”
How will Ireland respond?
Ireland’s position is that any arrangement which gave tax advantages to Apple that were not available to other companies would have been illegal in Irish law. The country’s corporate tax regime has proved controversial with France and Germany.
Still, the Dublin authorities have taken a succession of steps in recent years to unwind the most contentious elements of the regime. Such moves include the elimination of the “stateless” tax structure deployed by Apple to minimise its tax rate in Ireland. Like Apple, Ireland is set to appeal the ruling in the European courts.
Why is the US so irked by the case?
This is more than a struggle between Brussels, Apple and Ireland. At the root of political concern in Washington is anxiety that profits are held abroad by US companies. In theory at least, forcing Apple to pay back taxes to Ireland would reduce the pool of money that might ultimately be taxed in the US.
Last week the US Treasury accused the commission of behaving like a “supranational tax authority” that threatened international tax reform agreements through the inquiries. This was on top of a direct plea from Jack Lew, Treasury secretary, to Jean-Claude Juncker, commission president, to reconsider the investigation. Earlier this year the Senate finance committee urged Mr Lew to consider a double tax rate on European companies if Apple was ordered to pay back taxes to Dublin.
What are the wider implications?
Appeals against the ruling will take years to resolve. But ultimately if the commission prevails in court, the decision will reset the balance of power on tax policy in Europe.
While governments will still be able to set their own tax rates, the commission will have established itself as a watchful referee of how national rules are implemented.
And the example of Apple — and its multibillion-euro bill in back taxes — will be a warning to big global companies to put their affairs in order, at least in Europe.
Success on appeal for Apple and Ireland might relieve some of that pressure, and give national governments more leeway.
But until then it threatens to upset US-EU relations, potentially further hampering already difficult talks on a trade deal. And for the moment, the commission’s ruling will stand as a severe blow to exotic avoidance strategies.


Ireland will on Tuesday be ordered to claw back billions of euros from Apple, triggering one of the world’s biggest tax disputes and a political showdown between Europe and the US. Based on an obscure 1991 Irish tax ruling issued for Apple, then a


Bon Jovi, Coldplay and U2 tribute bands plus top local acts will play Doncaster Fake Festival at Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, August 6.
A rocking line-up of world-class look and sound-a-likes will be headlined by Bon Jovi Experience, Coldplace and New2.
South Yorkshire's latest young indie blues band Sundance, who play a mix of their own material and crowd pleasing covers by the likes of Oasis and Arctic Monkeys, are one of five local support acts along with Nick Aslam's Rebel City Revival.
Promising to be the hottest ticket in town, festival-goers will have the opportunity to enjoy a full day and night of live music at the stadium inside a huge big top style marquee - which means it goes ahead whatever the weather,
There will be a variety of food and entertainment stalls in true festival style. Parking is available, but there is no camping at the festival site.
Fake Festival, which is celebrating its tenth year, features professional ‘touring-grade’ tribute bands that look, sound and move like the real rock-stars.
Home grown support bands include Barnsley four-piece Sundance, who recently took Tramlines by storm after featuring on BBC Music Day. They are Harry Walker (vocals/lead guitar), Kyle Grattan (drums), Owen Keane (rhythm guitar) and Jamie Darbyshire (bass).
The band's riffs and swagger belie their young years and they harbour a not-so-quiet confidence that's sure to take them places. Check out and like their Facebook page facebook.com/sundancemusicuk, follow on Twitter @sundancemusicuk and visit their YouTube page - CLICK HERE
Nick Aslam's Rebel City Revival, whose inspirations range from Kiss, David Bowie and Oasis, will perform original music including their debut single Night Train - see www.nickaslam.com, his Facebook page www.facebook.com/NickAslam or follow on Twitter @NikAslam
Doncaster Fake Festival provides a friendly environment that caters for all ages, says Mark Hughesman, of Doncaster Rovers FC, who are hosting the event.
He said: “This year celebrates 10 years of Fake Festivals. It promises to be a fabulous day of live music and we can’t wait to start the party.
"Bring your friends and family, young and old, and catch up with those you haven’t seen in a while. It’s going to be a fun-packed day with the music and bar in the marquee and the entertainments arena just outside with a variety of food stands and games.”
Coldplace
Jez Lee, owner of Fake Festivals, said: “It’s hard to believe that Fake Festivals started out in a small Lincolnshire village 10 years ago and now tours around the UK.
"I can clearly remember the day, and never imagined it would take off like it has. I’m really proud to be able to say we are the UK’s only touring tribute festival, and that we have kept it community-led to, and not sold out to commercial pressures that a lot of festivals experience nowadays.”
DONCASTER FAKE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE: Times are an estimate only.
12.30pm Doors open
New2
1.15pm Local support bands
5.45pm New2
7,45pm Coldplace
9.45pm Bon Jovi Experience
BUY TICKETS: Advanced tickets are adult (18-plus) £21, young people (10 to 17 years) £11, family (two adults/two young people} £53, children uo to nine years, free. Buy online at www.fakefestivals.co.uk or from selected retailers listed on the website. You can register, after your purchase, for a discounted ticket to The Big Fake Festival in September.
FREE DRINK: Enter the festival before 2pm on the day and bosses will give you a drink token that can be exchanged for one bar drink or two soft drinks.
Sundance - one of five home-grown bands supporting tribute acts at Doncaster Fake Festival.
FACEBOOK: For Doncaster Fake Festival updates, to invite friends, family and tell everyone you're going, follow and visit the official Facebook page - CLICK HERE.
TWITTER: Follow the dedicated Doncaster Fake Festival Twitter account @fakedoncaster
THE BIG FAKE FESTIVAL: Each Doncaster ticket can be used to redeem a 50 per cent discount on a ticket for The Big Fake Festival 2016, September 2 to 4, 2016 - at Thoresby Park, Nottinghamshire. The three-day, end-of-season festival features all 20 tribute bands that perform on the Fake Festivals tour.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Sundance's latest demo Haze is free to stream or download - CLICK HERE
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story PREVIEW: Bon Jovi, Coldplay and U2 tributes at Doncaster Fake Festival Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


Bon Jovi, Coldplay and U2 tribute bands plus top local acts will play Doncaster Fake Festival at Keepmoat Stadium on Saturday, August 6.


PREVIEW: Bon Jovi, Coldplay and U2 tributes at Doncaster Fake Festival


MARTYN MOXON believes the pain of Yorkshire’s defeat in the final of the 2012 T20 competition can help spur them on to go one better this time.
Yorkshire lost by 10 runs to Hampshire in the final at Cardiff on their only previous appearance at Finals Day.
Yorkshire's Azeem Rafiq
They have waited a long time to erase the memory of that setback, and director of cricket Moxon feels it will drive the players on at Edgbaston today.
“It was tough losing that final, and it whetted the appetite to try and win the tournament in the future,” said Moxon.
READ MORE - David Willey is aiming to give Yorkshire the edge
READ MORE - Lyth’s knock the spark for Yorkshire’s white-ball momentum, says Lees
READ MORE - Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps
READ MORE - Chris Waters: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid in danger of becoming a wasted talent
“Clearly it’s taken longer than we would have liked to get back there, and I think it’s a great opportunity for us, given the team that we’ve got on paper, to go one step further and hopefully win the competition.
“With our England players available, we’ve got a very good team, but clearly it’s about what happens on the day.
“T20, in particular, is all about how you perform on the day, and there’s four good teams involved, each of which is capable of winning it.”
Yorkshire take on Durham in the second semi-final at 2.30pm. Notts and Northants meet in the first semi at 11am, with the final taking place at 6.45pm.
“Durham are a very good team,” said Moxon.
“They’ve got match-winners in the likes of Ben Stokes and Mark Wood.
“We’ve got to be at our very best and, if we are, we can certainly beat them and hopefully go all the way and win the thing.
“The T20 is something we haven’t won before, so it’s important to us, and it would be nice to get that monkey off our backs.”
That Yorkshire even have a chance of erasing the memory of 2012 is a minor miracle given that they were bottom of the North Group at the halfway stage.
Yorkshire won only one of their opening seven games before winning six of their last seven to reach the quarter-finals.
“T20 is all about finding a method and I think that we’ve found it,” said Moxon.
“It’s taken hard work and, to a certain extent, failure for us to find it, because clearly the things that we were doing at the start of the competition weren’t working.
“From a batting point of view, we’ve worked on the areas in which we’re trying to strike the ball. They’re much better areas now.
“We’d found ourselves getting into trouble by playing too square of the wicket, so, as a consequence, we are hitting the ball a lot straighter now.
“It’s probably taken too long to change and rectify, but that’s been the biggest thing as far as the batting is concerned.
“Bowling-wise, having the skills that are required, the change-ups, and having the ability to bowl the change-ups (different deliveries) that are needed at various times in the innings, we’ve got better at that as well.
“As for our fielding, I think that’s been outstanding generally.”
Moxon was particularly pleased with Yorkshire’s fielding when Glamorgan were clinically beaten by 90 runs in the quarter-final in Cardiff.
David Willey laid the platform with a swashbuckling 79, proving again why Yorkshire were so keen to sign him last winter to improve their white-ball cricket, and the bowlers did the rest in a fine team performance.
“We brought our A-game to the quarter-final,” said Moxon.
“We were outstanding in the field, as good as you can get, and the ruthless way we went about our business was superb.
“David Willey set the tone with the bat, and we signed him precisely because we wanted to improve our one-day form immediately.
“Long-term he can have an impact in red-ball cricket too, but he’s made a big difference to our T20 side.”
Another player who has made a big difference is Azeem Rafiq, the off-spinner who returned to the club in mid-season after almost two years out of the professional game.
It is no coincidence that Yorkshire’s T20 resurgence can be traced back to Rafiq’s arrival.
“It has been a team effort to get to Finals Day, but Rafiq has done exceptionally well and he’s a great competitor,” said Moxon.
“He creates a buzz in the field as well as bringing his bowling skill, and he’s been a big factor in our improvement.
“Bottom line is, we’ve worked really hard to try to find the right method in T20.
“There’s been a lot of frustrations along the way, a lot of disappointments, and hopefully the lads can get some silverware now to show for their hard work.”
Twenty20 Finals Day build-up: Page 7

T20 Finals Day: Yorkshire inspired by their past failures


MARTYN MOXON believes the pain of Yorkshire’s defeat in the final of the 2012 T20 competition can help spur them on to go one better this time.


Chart-toppers including B'witched, S Club stars, 911, The Hoosiers and Toploader will play at Summer Sounds concerts in Leeds on Saturday and you could see them for FREE.
We have 100 family tickets to be won - that's four tickets each - to either the day or night show of your choice in Millennium Square on August 6, 2016.
Check out the official web site for full details and how to buy tickets at www.summersounds.info
Worried About Ray and Goodbye Mr A hitmakers The Hoosiers, plus Dancing In The Moonlight stars Toploader and support Jamie Gilder will perform at the first concert, from 11.30am to 2pm.
B’Witched, famed for their number one hits C'est la Vie, Rollercoaster, To You I Belong, and Blame It On The Weatherman, head up the night slot, from 7.30pm to 10.30pm.
Sharing the later bill is S Club Party, featuring Jo and Bradley from S Club 7, who topped the charts with songs including Bring It All Back and Don't Stop Movin, along with A Little Bit More stars 911, Damage and Sweet Female Attitude.
B'witched
Both shows, which are standing only and presented by Livewire Events, are in a specially-created outdoor arena complete with licensed bar and catering, in the heart of the city.
WIN FAMILY TICKETS
Tickets are still available at £20 each - details below - but we have 50 family tickets for the day show and the same for the night concert to be won, in a free entry draw by email or Twitter.
But hurry - we are giving away five family tickets for each show every hour throughout the day from Friday, August 5, 10am.
The Hoosiers
Please note, only one entry per person, per show, allowed every hour.
HOW TO ENTER
For your chance to win four tickets for the day time concert, to see The Hoosiers, Toplader and Jamie Gilder, email your full name, age, address, mobile, landline and email details, with #JPCompSSDAY in the subject field to info@summersounds.info
Or follow @GW1962 and retweet any of this #JPCompSSDAY tweets.
Toploader
For your chance to win four tickets for the night time concert, to see B’Witched, S Club Party, 911, Damage and Sweet Female Attitude, email your full name, age, address, mobile, landline and email details, with #JPCompSSNIGHT in the subject field to info@summersounds.info.
Or follow @GW1962 and retweet any of this #JPCompSSNIGHT tweets.
Gate for the daytime show open at 10.30am, with performances from 11.30am. Gates for the evening concert open at 6.30pm, first band on 7.30pm.
Please only enter if you can definitely attend.
Winners will be notified throughout the day and entry will be via guest list names on the gate.
Each family of four winning party must include at least one supervising adult. transport not included. Johnston Press usual terms and conditions apply, see www.johnstonpress.co.uk/competition
* Guarantee your tickets - buy now at www.summersounds.info also see whatson.leeds.gov.uk , call 0113 376 0318 or buy in person from City Centre Box Office at The Leeds Town Hall (open 10am -6pm Monday to Saturday).
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story WIN: 100 family tickets to Leeds Summer Sounds pop and rock shows Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


WIN: 100 family tickets to Leeds Summer Sounds pop and rock shows


Punk duo Slaves say they may be unable to live up to the name of their forthcoming album and Take Control of the 'wild' Leeds Festival crowd this weekend.
Drummer vocalist Isaac Holman and band mate Laurie Vincent, on guitar and vocals, play Leeds Festival main stage on Sunday after Reading Festival on Saturday.
And they say northern fans are often more wild than anywhere else in the country.
"I don't know if we can take control of the Leeds crowd but I'll give it a good old go," laughed Isaac, promising fans 'blood, sweat and laughs'.
AUDIO: Listen to Slaves star Isaac Holman's exclusive chat with Graham Walker - CLICK HERE.
"We are a southern band so we did a bit better down south at first. But the northern crowds are even more wild for us now than down south sometimes. I think Leeds is going to go off.
"It's completely what I live for. I love playing live. It's the only time my mind goes quiet and I feel comfortable when I step out on stage. The more people there the merrier."
GET LEEDS AND READING FESTIVAL APP: Daily set times for Reading and Leeds Festivals are now live on the R&L App - iTunes and Android.
Slaves are on the same bill as Red Hot Chili Peppers. Imagine Dragons and Courteeners.
Other superstar bands playing this weekends include Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, Foals, Disclosure, The Vaccines and Chvrches - along with rising local stars, such as South Yorkshire's own Radio 1 hitmakers The Sherlocks. Leeds Festival is set to attract around 80,000 people.
Isaac, who also revealed they still get starstruck, said it will be a highlight of their year which also includes a 15 date UK headline tour in November and the release of next album Take Control on September 30.
Isaac added: "Sometimes you get starstruck. Me and Laurie definitely do fanboy some people we meet. But the more you get into the scene you realise everyone is just a person and it becomes a little bit more normal.
"We've worked our way up through the stages. Being main stage is like another level - Leeds and Reading were the festivals we went to when we were younger and I don't think we ever imagined we would be on the bill let alone on the main stage. It's brilliant."
Slaves, from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, will be laying waste to venues across the country as they launch into a full UK tour in November. Yorkshire dates include Leeds O2 Academy on Tuesday, November 15 and Sheffield O2 Academy, on Friday, November 25.
See full tour, ticket details and album download links links below.
Slaves earned a reputation for themselves as one of the UK’s fiercest live acts with their constant touring and festival appearances off the back of last year's debut album, Are you Satisfied?
Their next hit album in waiting was part recorded at Jackson Browne’s studio in Santa Monica, California.
Take Control was produced by one of the legends of early hip hop and New York punk, Mike D who, says Laurie, “Became like another member of our band – we can safely call him our friend, which is just surreal!”
The album finds the young pair sharpening up their skills, both in songwriting and in execution and sounding heavier in places.
Several tracks on the album were recorded on vintage equipment used by the Beastie Boys on their classic records, Including STD’s PhD’s, Angelica and Consume Or Be Consumed.
Recorded back home in London, Steer Clear was a collaboration with another hero, Baxter Dury, who lent his distinctive vocals to a duet with Isaac.
Slaves first emerged in 2012, working their way up through the local toilet-venue circuit to become one of the success stories of 2015.
The band’s debut album Are You Satisfied? smashed in to the UK top 10 and earned the band huge critical acclaim. Thanks to their charismatic mash-up of punky urgency and silly humour, they bagged Kerrang!’s Spirit Of Punk award and NME’s Best Video award (for Cheer Up London), while also securing nominations for the Mercury Music Prize, and for Best New Band at Q and NME.
Along the way, they’ve won the hearts of The Streets’ Mike Skinner, stolen the show on last year’s NME tour, had Skepta join them on stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and toured with Jamie T and Wolf Alice – the latter in America in March, after which Wolf Alice’s drummer Joel Amey bunked off to California to play on new track People That You Meet.
Pre-order new the album now to get a free download of Spit It Out, first single from the album, at youareallslaves.com - you can also order at iTunes, Amazon or Google Play.
VIDEO: Check out Spit It Out, the first single off the album - a snapshot of their manic daily lives in Tunbridge Wells and New Cross - CLICK HERE.
Leeds Festival Ticket Information
Weekend tickets are £205 + £8 booking fee = £213 total Day tickets are £59.50 + £7 booking fee Early entry permits - £20 (No booking fee) Campervan permits - £75 (No booking fee) Lockers - £16 (No booking fee)
Slaves 2016 UK Tour dates (All shows 14 +)
Thu 10 Nov 2016 – Bexhill - De La Warr Pavillion - UK
Fri 11 Nov 2016 – Truro - Hall for Cornwall - UK
Sun 13 Nov 2016 – Cardiff - University Great Hall - UK
Mon 14 Nov 2016 – Cambridge - Corn Exchange - UK
Tue 15 Nov 2016 – Leeds – O2 Academy - UK
Thu 17 Nov 2016 – Newcastle – O2 Academy - UK
Fri 18 Nov 2016 - Glasgow – Barrowland - UK
Sat 19 Nov 2016 – Birmingham – O2 Academy - UK
Mon 21 Nov 2016 – Bristol – O2 Academy - UK
Tue 22 Nov 2016 – Leicester - O2 Academy - UK
Wed 23 Nov 2016 – Nottingham - Rock City - UK
Fri 25 Nov 2016 – Sheffield – O2 Academy - UK
Sat 26 Nov 2016 – Manchester - Albert Hall - UK
Tue 29 Nov 2016 – London - Shepherds Bush Empire - UK
Wed 30 Nov 2016 – London - Shepherds Bush Empire - UK
MORE:
VIDEO & 360 PHOTO: Biffy Clyro intimate gig for lucky Leeds Festival fans
VIDEO: Leeds Festival preview
AUDIO: Take plenty of wet wipes, says 'Mr Leeds Festival' Frank Turner
Leeds Festival 2016: What we know so far about this year’s line-up

AUDIO: 'I don't know if we can Take Control of wild Leeds Festival crowd', jokes punk stars Slaves


Punk duo Slaves say they may be unable to live up to the name of their forthcoming album and Take Control of the


Sorry, we're having problems with our video player at the moment, but are working to fix it as soon as we can
Yorkshire's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks had a muddy great time at Leeds Festival - they drew a crowd of more than 6,000 fans then camped out with them.
The Sheffield indie four piece turned down a five star hotel and proved they are a real band of the people.
After packing out the Festival Republic stage they decided to pitched a tent in one of the muddy camp sites.
360 PHOTO: Take a look around the muddy camp site where hundreds of music fans also pitched their tents at Leeds Festival - CLICK HERE.
Frontan Kiaran Crook, aged 20, revealed: "We played our set then decided to camp through the night. We had an option to go into a five star hotel, with a jacuzzi and everything, but we decided to camp.
"We just love it."
He then joked: "We ended up camping next to the Red Hot Chili Peppers- I could hear Anthony snoring.
"But no, seriously, we love it. We love a bit of mud. We just thought, we might as well have the full festival experience."
Melvin Benn, Reading and Leeds Festival boss, said: "I didn't know The Sherlocks went and pitched up in the camp site. It doesn't surprise me. It's what my kids do. They want to be in the public camp site. Anybody who thinks the VIP area is the place to be, I can tell you it's a bit more boring."
Other Yorkshire bands who played at Leeds over the weekend included Sheffield's The Wired and Liberty Ship, Leeds band Dusk, Fighting Caravans, York based Faux Pas and many more.
The Sherlocks played to over 6,000 people then camped out with fans in muddy fields at Leeds Festival.
The Sherlocks, also featuring Kiaran's brother, drummer Brandon, 23, guitarist Josh Davidson, 22, and his brother and bassist Andy, 17, recently played the biggest music festival in the world, SXSW in Austin, Texas.
They also played at Reading Festival at the weekend but said Leeds, their Yorkshire homecoming, was the highlight of their year.
Kiaran added: "Leeds Festival is really important to us. It's given us a chance to pick up new fans. We had a blast. The tent was packed. It exceeded what we thought it would be.We're going on tour next month, starting in Brighton and finishing in Stockton, with a sold out gig in Leeds.
"It would be nice to do the NME/Radio 1 stage next year, I think that's where we are heading."
The Sherlocks at Leeds Festival
Brandon added: "We are at home when playing Leeds festival. Now we need to get an album out while we've got momentum behind us."
The Sherlocks, who will record their debut album later this year, begin a 16-date UK headline tour later this week, including a sold out show at The Wardrobe in Leeds, on Tuesday, September 20.
For full dates and tickets visit thesherlocksmusic.co.uk
The Sherlocks on stage at Leeds Festival

EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Leeds Festival stars The Sherlocks camp in mud with fans


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To celebrate the release of Suicide Squad - in cinemas August 5 - Warner Bros Pictures and Cineworld Sheffield have teamed up with us to offer you the chance to win film merchandise and tickets.
Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated super villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity.
US intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do.
However, once they realise they weren’t picked to succeed, but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?
Hot on the heels of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice comes the third film in the DC Comics movie universe.
An all-star cast including Will Smith as ace assassin Deadshot, Margot Robbie as the deranged Harley Quinn, Cara Delevingne as the mysterious Enchantress and Jared Leto as the Joker help bring this legendary comic book series to the big screen. Look out for a cameo from Ben Affleck’s Batman.
Cineworld Sheffield will be screening this 15 cert film - only suitable for people aged 15 and older - in IMAX 3D, 4DX, VIP and normal 2D, with special midnight launch screenings. Full details at www.cineworld.co.uk/films/suicide-squad
WIN PRIZES:
We have some amazing prizes to be won including exclusive replicas of the cane used in the film by The Joker.
Our three first prize winners each get one of the canes plus a pair of tickets to see Suicide Squad on the Imax 3D screen at Cineworld Sheffield.
Three runners up each get a film merchandise bag and a pair of tickets to see the film at the cinema in 4DX.
Five other other runner up get a pair of tickets to a general screening at Cineworld Sheffield.
For a chance to win simply FOLLOW Graham Walker on Twitter @GW1962 and retweet any of his tweets featuring the hashtag #JPCompSS16 or email him - one email per person - with your full name, age, address, phone numbers and email details, with #JPCompSS16 in the subject field, at graham.walker@jpress.co.uk
Deadline is Friday, August 5, 2016, 10am.
Tickets will be for screenings at Cineworld Sheffield and from Monday, August 8, 2016, subject to availability, during this original theatre release period only. Film certification rules apply. This is a 15 certificate film. Usual Johnston Press terms and conditions apply see www.johnstonpress.co.uk/competition
* For official film social media news and more check out the hashtag #SuicideSquad on Facebook at facebook.com/suicidesquaduk, Twitter @SuicideSquadWB and Instagram at @suicidesquadmovie
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story WIN: Suicide Squad film merchandise and Cineworld Sheffield tickets Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


To celebrate the release of Suicide Squad - in cinemas August 5 - Warner Bros Pictures and Cineworld Sheffield have teamed up with us to offer you the chance to win film merchandise and tickets.


WIN: Suicide Squad film merchandise and Cineworld Sheffield tickets


YORKSHIRE’s dream of winning the treble is over, but first team coach Jason Gillespie insisted that his players will come back fighting as they target the next best prize of a league and cup double.
Yorkshire failed in their attempt to win the NatWest T20 Blast for the first time when they lost by seven runs to Durham in the semi-final at Edgbaston on Saturday.
However, Gillespie’s men are still in the hunt for a hat-trick of County Championships and they are through to the Royal London Cup semi-finals for a second successive season, with Yorkshire determined to put behind them their T20 heartbreak.
“We were bitterly disappointed to lose the T20 semi,” said Gillespie, “but there’s still everything to play for in the next few weeks.
“We’re still in the 50-over comp and the Championship, and we’ll dust ourselves down and crack on.
“We can look back on the T20 campaign by and large with a lot of pride, considering the way that we started the tournament (Yorkshire won only one of their first seven games before winning six of the last seven to reach the knockout stages).
“It’s a tough one to take, losing the semi, but there’s still plenty to fight for in the next few weeks, and I know that the lads will bounce back strongly.”
Yorkshire came up against a world-class display from England pace bowler Mark Wood, who captured a T20 career-best 4-25 from four overs after Durham scored 156-6 in the second semi-final, Northants beating Nottinghamshire by eight runs in the first semi-final.
Wood twice took two wickets in three balls – including the key scalps of England batsmen Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance – after Ben Stokes had earlier top-scored with 56 on his return to the Durham side after a calf injury.
“Mark Wood bowled beautifully,” said Gillespie, with Wood following that performance with 1-25 in the final against Northants, who went on to take the trophy with a four-wicket win.
“We were going along quite nicely and then we lost two quick wickets (Bairstow and Ballance), and we didn’t quite recover from that.
“I certainly felt that it was a gettable total, especially with the strength and depth of our batting line-up, and we should have chased those down.
“We can look at all sorts of reasons as to why that didn’t happen, but the facts are that we didn’t get the runs and Durham played very well.”
With hindsight, Gillespie felt that Yorkshire might have made more of an effort to see off Wood, although that was clearly easier said than done.
The 26-year-old right-armer, who only recently returned to action after ankle surgery, was bowling at 90mph and he would have been a handful for any opposition.
“Maybe we just needed to soak up the pressure a little bit more and get through his (Wood’s) spell, knowing that he only had four of the 20 overs, and maybe there are some lessons to be learned there,” said Gillespie, whose side take on Surrey in the semi-finals of the Royal London Cup at Headingley on Sunday.
“We just weren’t able to win the key moments, and Wood took the wind out of our sails.
“Any cricket watcher could see that he was used very well by the captain; he was brought on to take wickets and put the pressure on us, which is exactly what happened.”
Yorkshire captain Alex Lees echoed Gillespie’s sentiments at the end of an encouraging T20 campaign for the club overall, with Yorkshire having only once previously reached Finals Day.
Lees hit the second-highest score of 22 on a day when Adam Lyth (64) led the Yorkshire chase.
“Woody tipped the scales, and when you twice get two wickets in one over, it certainly puts the opposition on the back foot,” said Lees.
“We’re bitterly disappointed, and I just think that we lacked somebody in the middle order to make a contribution.
“Overall, we had a good tournament after everyone had written us off after the first few games, and we showed strength of character to come back and qualify and reach Finals Day. That’s testament to the group of players that we have, and the lads’ work ethic and prep was second to none.”
Attention now returns to the Championship, with Yorkshire going into tomorrow’s game against Notts at Scarborough in second place in Division One, 26 points behind Middlesex with a game in hand.
Finals’ Day report: Page 9.

Yorkshire vow to hit back after T20 defeat


YORKSHIRE’s dream of winning the treble is over, but first team coach Jason Gillespie insisted that his players will come back fighting as they target the next best prize of a league and cup double.


AT this moment in time, the County Championship title race looks like going right down to the wire.
From the outside, you cannot help but look at the last game of the season versus Middlesex at Lord’s, although there is still a lot of cricket to be played up until then and Middlesex got over the line in good fashion this week and are playing some good cricket.
When you get to this stage of the season, you talk about holding your nerve and we have been there before.
READ MORE - Yorkshire inspired by their past failures
READ MORE - David Willey is aiming to give Yorkshire the edge
READ MORE - Lyth’s knock the spark for Yorkshire’s white-ball momentum, says Lees
READ MORE - Chris Waters: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid in danger of becoming a wasted talent
For us, Leesy is coming into some form and Lythy is and me now as well and, hopefully, we can use that to really start hitting our straps.
I was happy to contribute with 83 in the Roses game at Old Trafford. I wanted three figures and was desperate to get there, but I did occupy the crease for a long period of time and in the context of the game, it was an important knock and I was pleased to get runs.
Coming to the business end of the season, I had said before that we can get our players in form, then it sets us up nicely.
I was pleased to contribute. In the context of the game, there was a lot of rubbish flying around on the field and it was nice to shut up a few of their lads.
We needed 219 from 30 overs at tea on the last day, but decided that the target was just too much and shook hands on the draw.
You have to trust the batsmen out there, I guess, and their decision and the pitch was deteriorating.
There was quite a lot of spin and with our left-handers in the top-order, it was probably a bridge too far. And I think that it was a good statement with us being none down as well.
The last thing we wanted to do was be holding out for a draw, seven or eight wickets down or something like that and it was a decent statement from us, even though we didn’t play our best cricket at times. We came out with our heads held high.
If we had been chasing 150 or 160 going into that last 18 to 20 overs, then it would have given us a good chance. We just felt it was too many to chase.
I don’t think that Lancashire would have gone for it either, to be honest.
Overall, it was a solid draw, although I was a bit disappointed with the way we bowled on the morning of day two as I thought we were exceptional on day one and held our lines and lengths and were patient.
All that hard work was undone by poor bowling on the second morning and it really put us behind the eight-ball.
But the encouraging thing is we got past the follow-on and got back into the game.
Azeem Rafiq, Jack Leaning and David Willey all got their Yorkshire caps before the game and it was a fantastic moment.
The best part of my job is to give caps out like that and see what it means to the lads.
In particular, you could see it for the two lads who have come right through the age groups. To eventually get a Yorkshire cap; you could see the emotion in their faces when they received them.
It was good for David, too. He is starting to win games for us now in the short-ball format, although he probably has not played as many red-ball games as he would have liked and has had a few injury niggles and going into that Old Trafford game, he had a hamstring injury.
But he is starting to win games of cricket and that is why we signed him; for us to be in the hunt – in the white-ball Twenty20 and 50-over competition.
It’s finals day today in the T20 and I am looking forward to it and am going down there and will be in and around the squad.
It is a big day for the club and we want to keep our name in the hat for all three formats and trophies.
Obviously, I would have been liked to have been a part of the white-ball stuff. But when you look down the team sheet when all the international players come back, it is a bloody tough side to get into!

Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps


AT this moment in time, the County Championship title race looks like going right down to the wire.


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Whitby Town have captured Luke Bythway from Marske United.


THERE is a fine line between wanting Yorkshire to do well but not wanting them to do so well that it cuts short a visit to Scarborough.
Such concerns must have crossed the minds of the Yorkshire crowd yesterday when the hosts were busy ripping through the Notts’ batting line-up with the ease of piranhas devouring their victims.
But after dismissing Notts for 94 on the stroke of lunch, after they had started day two on 38-2 in reply to their own first-innings 282, Yorkshire chose not to enforce the follow-on despite a lead of 188, thereby ensuring that the game could not be over inside two days, which had seemed eminently plausible.
As owners of local guest houses and hostelries no doubt turned cartwheels of joy, so too did those Yorkshire members who adore it at North Marine Road, with 84 per cent of them having voted in a recent survey conducted by the club to retain two Championship games there from next season.
With Yorkshire having to take one match away from Headingley or Scarborough due to changes to the fixture list, it can be taken as read that the decision will come down in the seaside town’s favour, but that is not to say that many of those Scarborough devotees were not a little baffled as to why Yorkshire – their bowlers fresh and their opponents fragile – opted to increase their lead in glorious sunshine.
It is the modern way, of course, not to enforce, and it is unlikely to make a jot of difference to the result, with Yorkshire set to close the gap to five points on leaders Middlesex with a win here, and Notts looking every inch like relegation material.
Yorkshire followed up with 200-4 in 61 overs in their second innings, Gary Ballance, the captain, scoring an unbeaten 75 to stretch the lead to a lofty 388.
Even with dodgy weather forecast today, Yorkshire’s fourth Championship victory of the season would seem as much of a formality as high and low tide.
Regardless of the question as to whether to enforce, that Yorkshire were even in a position to do so was tribute to a rousing recovery from 51-6 on day one.
Magnificent contributions from Andrew Hodd, Azeem Rafiq and Jack Brooks were mainly responsible for a revival completed by Yorkshire’s four-pronged pace attack of Brooks, Ryan Sidebottom, Tim Bresnan and Steve Patterson, who needed just 25.5 overs on the second morning to winkle out the last eight wickets.
The tone was set – as it so often is – by the venerable Sidebottom, who belied his 38 years with a splendid exhibition of swing bowling from the Peasholm Park end to take 3-5 in 12 balls and reduce Notts to 52-5.
Michael Lumb, the former Yorkshire batsman, was drawn forward and caught behind by one that shaped away; Steven Mullaney was lbw playing across the line; and Samit Patel was caught upper-cutting high to Bresnan at first slip.
Sidebottom would have had a fourth wicket with the score on 59 but Bresnan dropped a low chance at first slip, with Brendan Taylor not then off the mark.
But it was only a temporary setback for a Yorkshire side who made equally light work of the mid-to-lower order.
Chris Read miscued an attempted pull off Brooks to cover; Brett Hutton edged Brooks low to Adam Lyth at second slip; Taylor’s luck finally ran out when he played on an attempted drive off Patterson; Luke Wood flashed in foolhardy fashion at Bresnan and was caught behind, and an innings caked in collective embarrassment ended when Luke Fletcher helped Bresnan to Jack Leaning at third slip.
That Yorkshire would bat again was betrayed by the sight of openers Lyth and Alex Lees sprinting off the ground to strap on their pads, and they safely negotiated the one over that remained before lunch.
After the break, the cricket grew steadily soporific as the 5,000 crowd watched Yorkshire increase their lead in the way of builders systematically adding bricks to a house.
Lees added 30 bricks before he was lbw to Hutton, ending a first-wicket stand of 72, and Lyth followed shortly after for 41, caught and bowled by Wood off a leading edge.
Lehmann and Ballance added 61 in 22 overs before Lehmann slogged Samit Patel straight up in the air to Wood at mid-on.
Ballance, dropped on 20 when he pulled Fletcher to a diving Tom Moores at mid-wicket, advanced to a 113-ball half-century that included eight fours, and Leaning helped him add 57 before being stumped.
Play was halted seven overs early due to bad light with swooping seagulls ready to reclaim the outfield once the cricketers had left for the evening.

Yorkshire v Notts: Seaside air leaves Gary Ballance in mood to play on


THERE is a fine line between wanting Yorkshire to do well but not wanting them to do so well that it cuts short a visit to Scarborough.


TWENTY-four hours after announcing that he had been ruled out of the one-day series against Pakistan through injury, England yesterday announced that David Willey, the Yorkshire all-rounder, is to rejoin the national squad after all.
In a statement on Sunday, the England and Wales Cricket Board said that an X-ray to Willey’s left hand, his bowling hand, had “not excluded a significant injury”, casting doubt on his participation for the rest of the season considering that the summer has only a month or so to run.
But a second scan yesterday revealed that there is no fracture to the hand that Willey injured when he was struck by a fierce return drive from Mark Stoneman, the Durham batsman, during NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day at Edgbaston on Saturday.
It is now being suggested that Willey could even feature in the second one-day international at Lord’s on Saturday, with the five-match series starting in Southampton tomorrow.
Jake Ball, the Nottinghamshire seamer who was called up to replace Willey, will stay with the national squad and therefore be unavailable for the County Championship game against Yorkshire at Scarborough, which starts this morning.
Stuart Broad, the England pace bowler, has also been withdrawn from Notts’ squad for the fixture at North Marine Road pending a scan on his left ankle.
Both second-placed Yorkshire and bottom club Notts are depleted due to injuries and international calls as they each look to bounce back from losing in the T20 semi-finals.
Alex Lees, the Yorkshire one-day captain, said that there was no time to dwell on that setback as the county champions seek a win that would significantly strengthen their hopes of a hat-trick of titles.
“We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves because there’s some big games coming up in the next five or six weeks, starting with Notts,” said Lees.
“It’s a massive game against a team who have struggled for form this year, and if we can play our brand of cricket, I’m sure that we’ll put pressure on them over the four days.”
Lees said Yorkshire are relishing the chance to get Saturday’s disappointment out of their system.
“The opportunity to get back up and running in a different competition with a win, and so soon after the disappointment of Saturday, is a great incentive,” he said. “We need to show the character that this group has become renowned for in recent years.”

Second scan clears Willey for action as Yorkshire get ready for Notts


TWENTY-four hours after announcing that he had been ruled out of the one-day series against Pakistan through injury, England yesterday announced that David Willey, the Yorkshire all-rounder, is to rejoin the national squad after all.


ONE man who deserves plenty of credit for Yorkshire’s progress to Finals Day is Alex Lees.
The 23-year-old opening batsman, who took over the leadership of Yorkshire’s one-day sides last December, has helped mastermind a stunning turnaround in form which sees Yorkshire as favourites with most bookmakers to lift the trophy.
As a young and inexperienced captain, Lees must have felt the pressure of Yorkshire’s poor start to the tournament more than most.
READ MORE - Yorkshire inspired by their past failures
READ MORE - David Willey is aiming to give Yorkshire the edge
READ MORE - Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps
READ MORE - Chris Waters: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid in danger of becoming a wasted talent
But he has shown great character and maturity to help get their campaign back on track, and he said he is relishing the chance to lead them out at Edgbaston today.
“Definitely. It’s always an honour to represent the White Rose, so the opportunity to lead the side in a Finals Day is massive,” said Lees, who is Yorkshire’s youngest full-time limited overs captain having taken over the role from Championship leader Andrew Gale.
“I’ve not been to a Finals Day as a player before, but I have watched a few on television.
“The atmosphere is always electric, and I can’t wait to get out there and, hopefully, we can play some good cricket and entertain the crowd.”
Yorkshire go into today’s event with confidence high after seven wins in their last eight T20 games.
Lees attributes the transformation to the players discovering a sense of belief.
“We were obviously disappointed with the early-season results, but we never felt that we were far away from playing some very good cricket,” said Lees.
“I think the turning point in our white-ball cricket this season was Lythy’s (Adam Lyth) knock against Northants at Scarborough (in the Royal London Cup).
“He played with real freedom that day, and that has given the rest of the squad confidence to go out and express themselves in both competitions.
“We’ve got a lot of talented players, and everyone understands their roles and we’ve backed ourselves and taken a very positive approach, looking to put as much pressure as possible on the opposition.
“Hopefully, we can take take approach into the semi-final against Durham.”
Lees is expecting a tough test against a Durham team boosted by the return of England’s Ben Stokes. But he believes that his own side have more than enough firepower to beat them.
“Durham are a very good side with some very experienced players who know their games inside out,” said Lees.
“We will have to play very well to defeat them and to progress to the final, but we know that we have the players on the day to do just that.
“We’ve been playing some great T20 cricket at just the right time, and I’m confident in the strength of our team. Everyone’s been contributing, and it’s a proper team effort to get to this stage.”
No-one has contributed more than Lees, who is Yorkshire’s leading run-scorer in the tournament with 272 at 22.66.
He is just ahead of David Willey, who has hit 269 runs at 29.88, while Lyth, Jack Leaning and Kane Williamson have also scored more than 200 runs for the county in this year’s competition, with Williamson having featured briefly as an overseas player before rejoining New Zealand for international action.
Tim Bresnan leads Yorkshire’s wicket-taking list with 20 at 16.20, with spinners Adil Rashid (14 at 18.85) and Azeem Rafiq (13 at 18.69) coming next on the chart.
“I feel like I’ve been hitting the ball nicely all season,” said Lees, who made 85 and 114 not out in the draw against Lancashire in the County Championship at Old Trafford last week.
“It was nice to get some runs in the Roses game, and, hopefully, I can take that form into the semi-final.”

T20 Finals Day: Adam Lyth’s knock the spark for Yorkshire’s white-ball momentum - Alex Lees


ONE man who deserves plenty of credit for Yorkshire’s progress to Finals Day is Alex Lees.


Yiorkshire's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks proved a big hit at Reading Festival last night and are now heading home to do it all again - today they play Leeds Festival.
They top along list of big name local breaking local bands - including The Wired, Fighting Caravans and Faux Pas - who are being showcased at Leeds.
Local talent is joining the the likes of Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy - who played Leeds last night - Foals and Disclosure, who perform tonight, and Red Hot Chili Peppers who will close Leeds Festival this Bank Holiday weekend.
For more about Leeds Festival and tickets availability visit www.leedsfestival.com
The Sherlocks, singer songwriter Kiaran Crook, 20, brother and drummer Brandon, 23, guitarist Josh Davidson, 22, and his brother and bassist Andy, 17, recently played the biggest music festival in the world, the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.
But this is the biggest showcase weekend for the Bolton Upon Dearne indie quartet who have over 700 gigs to their name and have also just completed their first UK headline tour, selling out venues around the country, with their latest single Last Night getting lots of Radio 1 airplay.
Last year Kiaran, Brandon, Josh and Andy drew a huge number of fans before Sunday lunchtime at Reading, but a coveted evening slot on this year’s popular Festival Republic stage meant the crowds in the south were even bigger.
On a scorching summer evening the temperature in Berkshire was almost as high as the anticipation for the band of brothers’ 30 minute seven song set.
At exactly 5.45pm the lads, playing it cool as always, bounded on stage to kick off with single Last Night followed by favourites Escapade and Heart of Gold.
They continued with epic new song Candle Light, Live for the Moment and finished with Chasing Shadows as two giant beach balls flew back and forth across the arena.
Will You Be There?, which had one of its first plays at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, was another soaring highlight.
The huge Reading turn out for Yorkshire's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks
Almost all the sides to the huge festival tent were drawn back meaning the Sherlocks’ sound carried beyond the tent poles. More and more joined the audience as the gig went on and by the end of the set the place was rammed.
“That was astonishing” frontman Kiaran told us as he came off stage.
“Last year was truly memorable, but this year Reading has taken it to another level. We’re seeing crowd reactions we'd only ever seen in the north before.
“We love it down here and now we're buzzing even more for Leeds.”
* The Sherlocks play The Festival Republic stage at Leeds Festival 5:45pm, Saturday August 27 and tour nationwide in September. More at thesherlocksmusic.co.uk.

Leeds Festival: The Sherlocks rock Reading ahead of Yorkshire homecoming


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Whitby-built boat Resilient was put through its paces in sea trials last Friday night.


NO-ONE is better qualified than David Willey when it comes to the T20 Finals Day experience.
Yorkshire have been there only once, but this will be Willey’s fourth appearance, having made it three times with previous club Northants.
In 2009, Willey was part of the side that lost by seven wickets to Sussex in the semi-final.
READ MORE - Yorkshire inspired by their past failures
READ MORE - Lyth’s knock the spark for Yorkshire’s white-ball momentum, says Lees
READ MORE - Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps
READ MORE - Chris Waters: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid in danger of becoming a wasted talent
He was just 19 years old and had an unremarkable match; he did not bat as Northants totalled 136-6, and then he bowled two wicketless overs for 16 runs.
In 2013, Willey had the antithesis of an unremarkable match when Northants beat Surrey by 102 runs in the final.
He opened the batting and scored 60 from 27 balls with six fours and four sixes, and then he took 4-9 from 2.3 overs, finishing the match with a hat-trick when he dismissed Zafar Ansari, Jon Lewis and Chris Tremlett.
Willey was on the losing side last year when Lancashire beat Northants in the final by 13 runs.
He took 2-21 from four overs as Lancs scored 166-7, and then he hit 24 from 21 balls as Northants replied with 153-6.
As no other Yorkshire player has been to Finals Day more than once, his experience will be invaluable as Yorkshire seek to win the competition for the first time.
“I guess so,” said Willey, who left Wantage Road for Headingley during the close season.
“My primary role with regards to the move to Yorkshire was to try and help improve the club’s one-day cricket, and, hopefully, we are starting to make improvements.
“There will be expectation on me to perform (at Finals Day), but that’s the case with any one-day game.
“It’s a big day out and a great day out, particularly if you’re part of the team that lifts the trophy.”
Willey, one of four Yorkshire players who appeared in the World T20 final against the West Indies in April, along with Joe Root, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid, has made a habit of performing on the big stage.
He did it again when helping Yorkshire book their place at Edgbaston with a 90-run win over Glamorgan in the quarter-final in Cardiff, thumping 79 from 38 balls with seven fours and six sixes.
“I like to perform on the big occasions,” he said.
“Against Glamorgan, I didn’t really have a plan; I just tried to give myself a chance to clear the ropes, and a couple of loose deliveries gave me a platform.
“We’re all looking forward to Finals Day, and fingers-crossed we can win a couple more games and get the trophy.
“We’ve got all our England lads back, which will make it a massive headache for the coaches to pick 11 players.”
The man with the headache is first-team coach Jason Gillespie, who has an embarrassment of riches at his disposal.
But you can bet that one of the first names on his team sheet will be Willey, who has a proven record for lighting up Finals Day.
“Dave’s the type of player who can change a game,” said Gillespie, whose side take on Durham in the second semi-final, with the winner playing Northants or Notts in the final.
“We’ve seen what he’s done for Northants in the past, and he can pick up wickets early and swing the ball, score quick runs and he’s always in the game.
“That’s what I really like about him, and he’s brought a lot to our team.
“We’re delighted to have him because he’s such a positive guy, happy to challenge his team-mates – which is really healthy – and very competitive, too.”
Willey’s all-round ability gives Gillespie flexibility.
He is effectively three players in one – good with the bat, ball and in the field.
“To have someone who’s great in the field, who whacks them like he does, and who opens the bowling gives us so many extra options,” said Gillespie.
“It allows us to play an extra batsman as well.
“The start he gives us with the bat is fantastic, and it’s something we probably haven’t had in T20 for a while.
“It showed with his performance at Cardiff, when people could see why we were so keen to secure his services.”
Gillespie encourages all of his players to speak in the dressing room and Willey will address the team prior to Finals Day.
Yorkshire are keen to tap into his knowledge and know-how in an effort to gain an extra edge.
“Some of our lads haven’t been to Finals Day before, and it will be good to get Dave’s thoughts in the team meeting,” said Gillespie.
“His knowledge of it will be important, and something that we can draw on, and Dave’s the type of player who steps up when needed, and hopefully he can show everyone how good he is again.
“We’ve got a lot of match-winners in our side, and it’s going to be fantastic
“There was a lot of drive and ambition from everyone at the club to get this far in the competition after everyone had written us off – that was a really good motivating tool for us – and we’re just pleased as punch to be in with a shout.”
Ben Duckett hopes Northants can sneak under the radar again, having been part of the Steelbacks side which defied the odds to win the tournament in 2013 and fell at the final hurdle against Lancashire 12 months ago.
Northants face Notts Outlaws in the first semi-final today and are the only side involved in Finals Day who have previously won the competition.
Left-hander Duckett says confidence will be high despite their lack of high-profile players.
“We haven’t got any international stars. Finals Day will be interesting to see who is talked about – Yorkshire,” said the 21-year-old Duckett.
“We just keep going under the radar but smost of our guys love the pressure. We just go out and enjoy ourselves.”

T20 Finals Day: David Willey is aiming to give Yorkshire the edge


NO-ONE is better qualified than David Willey when it comes to the T20 Finals Day experience.