LIVE 

WHALEBONE WITH JEAN ATKIN FOLLOWED BY OLI WILSON-DICKSON & DYLAN FOWLER

Friday 9th July 7.30pm

Arts Alive present a Winter Festival of stories and songs – featuring artists from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Friday evening 7.00 to 9.30pm. English Folk duo Whalebone are joined by poet Jean Atkin to perform ‘Understories’. ‘Understories’ is a brush with the new folklore of Shropshire. Here are urban, and rural, myths and tales just out of living memory. They are the common uncommon. Discover Shropshire’s last wolves and cloggers, its haunted roundabouts, pigs, railway lines and oak trees, not to mention the boy who burrowed under a church. ‘Understories’ is a delightful, grounded and musical collection of poems that reminds us – through its brightly singing stories – how history is ravelled around memory, community and habitation: that ‘this is living, this is.’

Following ‘Understories’, reknowned Welsh Folk group ALAW will perform. “welsh musicians don’t come more sensitive, accomplished and exploratory than this crew” fROOTS ALAW are musicians who bring a wealth of experience to a shared passion – the traditional music of Wales. From stirring songs to driving jigs – they communicate their music with relaxed humour and a genuine affection that is truly infectious.

Oli Wilson-Dickson – fiddle / voice

Dylan Fowler – guitar / voice

“Welsh musicians don’t come more sensitive, accomplished and exploratory than this crew” fROOTS

Dylan and Oli are two leading musicians who bring a wealth of experience to a shared passion – the traditional music of Wales. Whether unearthing rare gems or reimagining a well loved song, they treat their music with a deftness and sensitivity that is thoroughly absorbing. From stirring songs to driving jigs – they communicate their music with relaxed humour and a genuine affection that is truly infectious.

Saturday 10 July

Summer  Festival Saturday Lunchtime

Lunchtime stories – £12 per person to include light lunch

1.00 – 2.30 Join local storytellers as they tell tales over lunch.

Amy Douglas Award-winning author and storyteller, Amy Douglas tells traditional tales from Shropshire and Scotland. Fire and frost, fear and friendship, the stories we gather to tell in the dark of the year

Helen East and Rick Wilson

“Helen East and Rick Wilson have been ever-present throughout the renaissance of storytelling in England for the past 40 years. They tell traditional stories drawn from first hand experience of places  they have worked in and visited worldwide. They believe these stories to be as relevant as they have ever been, if not more so.

Helen and Rick have developed a very personal and informal style that transports the listener from the everyday world to those of the unseen and the impossible, drawing in comment and reaction throughout the journey. Together, they effect a subtle interplay of words, rhythm, movement and music. Drums pace the narrative, melody instruments deepen the atmosphere and song winds in and out of both”

Summer Festival- Saturday evening

‘ An evening of eloquent eccentricity ‘  Tickets £12.     7.30pm

WENDY WEATHERBY & SANDY BRECHIN AND MICHELLE BURKE & JAMES ROSS

“an evening of eloquent eccentricity”. From Scotland, two of the country’s most versatile and popular musicians, Wendy Weatherby (vocals, cello) and Sandy Brechin (accordion) will play a mixture of traditional and original material. And join internationally acclaimed artists, singer-songwriter Michelle from rural East Cork, Ireland and pianist and composer James, for a smattering of Parlour songs, new songs, tunes and shenanigans.

Wendy Weatherby and Sandy Breichin

Wendy Weatherby (Vocals, Cello ) and Sandy Brechin ( Accordion ) are two of Scotland’s most versatile and popular musicians, playing a mixture of traditional and original material.

Michelle Burke and James Ross

Join internationally acclaimed artists singer-songwriter Michelle from rural East Cork, Ireland and pianist and composer James, for a smattering of Parlour songs, new songs, tunes and shenanigans.

Please read our Covid 19 Audience Procedure info HERE