Music - The Old Courthouse

Music @ The Old Courthouse

EVTN presents

14th February 2025

Carolyn Francis

Renowned Lakeland Fiddler Carolyn Francis has made a career of creating a living, inclusive, culture of traditional music rooted in Cumbria, in particular with Striding Edge Ceilidh band (http://www.striding-edge.org) and The Lakeland Fiddlers (https://www.facebook.com/LakelandFiddler1). With this solo project she uses a foot pedal to loop and layer these tunes, enhanced with occasional lyrics.

Briar & Bramble

Briar & Bramble are a contemporary folk duo composed of Mike Turnbull & Kate Hewson. Mike Turnbull is a multi-instrumentalist who has the knack for writing well crafted songs with a story to tell. With his trademark tenor guitar, influences are taken from his home region of the Lakes, around the UK & beyond. Together with Kate on mandolin & Shruti box, the Briar & Bramble sound & style is original modern folk ranging from melodic ballads to the more upbeat, catchy, singalong, festival style pleasers.

To book or reserve your seat

Tickets can be purchased online or reserved and paid for on the evening.

14^th March 2025

John Chambers

John Chambers; poet, experimental musician and singer songwriter John writes about the relationships between ourselves, time and place with a niche interest in public transport.

Tailgate Buskers

Fantastic fiddle harmonies guaranteed. Originally formed to busk as a fun fundraiser one Autumn sat on the boot of a car in Armathwaite, Tailgate Buskers loved playing together so much that they just kept at it and even gained some new members. Sometimes playing songs and tunes as an acoustic duo (fiddle/guitar/vocals), often performing and recording as a folk trio (fiddle/guitar, tin whistle/vocals), they perform as a four or five piece band, sometimes for ceilidhs. As they say “ …..any excuse to play and share the music that we love!”

Final EVTN concert of the spring season at The Old Courthouse, Shap

Singer, songwriter, Mark Griffiths opened the evening with some of his own compositions interspersed with his poetry inspired by his own observations of human behaviour – including a humorous recollection of stay in a caravan stay at Seahouses.

Four piece band, The Clifford Movement, provided an entertaining second half that included a hauntingly beautiful cover version of ‘Lady Marlene’ and many of their own compositions written in different musical genres about colourful characters of the Eden Valley, two being Poet Close and Col. Samuel Lacey. A recurring theme was that of strong, independent women, including Nanna Bainbridge (June and Gwen’s farming grandmother), Lady Anne Clifford and suffragist Catherine Marshall. For an encore the band provided a heartfelt rendition of ‘There’ll be peace in the valley’ and left a most appreciative crowd wanting more.

Music at The Old Courthouse, Shap 15th March 2024

Contemporary folk duo, Briar and Bramble got the evening off to a good start for a near capacity audience. Mike Turnbull on guitar and Kate Hewson on mandolin provided an entertaining set that included some of their own well crafted compositions – two with Eden Valley references, Appleby Fair and Pendragon Castle, two based on folk lore tales from the Cumbrian west coast Rum Tale and Betsy Jane and Burnt Horse Ridge, a tribute to the band also performing. In addition they played some cover versions including If I had a boat, recorded by Kate Rusby with the audience enjoying participation in the chorus. Janet Wood

Good live music at The Old Courthouse, Shap. If you get a chance to see Burnt Horse perform, go! 5 well blended voices, supported by guitar, violin, uke, flute and cello. The set included modern folk, 70s-80s covers, close harmony a capella. Sound level exactly right for the venue. We could hear every word of the lyrics too -not something one can say for every performer – with very little USA ‘twang’ even in American songs like Woodstock. Sue Millard

EVTN 19th January

An appreciative audience had a great evening with Pete Garnett and John Chambers.

Pete, a masterful accordion player from Moniaive, south west Scotland, plays infectious melodies and intricate harmonies that are influenced by the rich tapestry of European and World folk music. He included some of his own compositions inspired by things as varied as a corkscrew. potholes and a 1950s bus trip, played traditional tunes from Moldova and tunes by bands he admires from Belgium and Denmark.

John Chambers, singer songwriter, entertained us with his own compositions accompanied on the guitar. John writes about human emotions and relationships. In some cases John, to great effect, read the poem that had inspired him to write the song.

POSTPONED DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER