Post by leoroberts on Nov 17, 2014 9:54:59 GMT
NEAR Kirby Stephen - but actually in the middle of nowhere!
The Acoustic Tearoom in Kirby Stephen, Cumbria has a long history of providing a venue for live folk music. I'd been once before (to see Show Of Hands) in the dim and distant past so was excited to discover that Brian Willoughby & Cathryn Craig had been booked to play.
Further investigation showed that this wasn't to be held in the Masonic Hall itself but at Augill Castle, a country house hotel a few miles out of town. Ticket price included a meal and my eldest daughter Heather said she was up for a bit of a road trip so I booked us a couple of tickets and inputted the postcode on the SatNav.
Cumbrian postcodes can sometimes cover square miles of land so I was chuffed (and mightily relieved) when we were taken straight there and even managed to nab the last spot in the (small) car park in front of the house. Apparently Brian and Cathryn weren't so lucky and had to double back having missed it when their satnav told them to turn left into a road that didn't exist...
We were warmly welcomed into the venue, gave our menu choices to our host (I opted for lamb tagine whilst Heather went with Aubergine en Croute or something - both picking apple and plumb crumble with custard for dessert) and made our way to the bar to get a drink.
To get to the bar we had to pass through the 'music room' where the stage was already set for the evening
Drinks in hand we went back to the dining room where chargers had been set at two long tables with seats for about 40 folk. It was a bit like eating at Hogwarts! Heather and I quickly spotted that we were significantly under-dressed and even I brought down the average age of the gathering...
I suppose we shouldn't have expected anything different from the clientele at a venue such as this so we just kept our heads down and ate our (delicious) food although there seemed to be an audible group 'tut' as I mopped up me gravy with a piece of bread, albeit artisinal bread, I'm sure.
Having said that, people were polite and relatively chatty and I quickly forgot that I wasn't wearing tweed (I'd forgotten my new flat cap) and we moved in to the music room to make sure we got good seats for the concert. It was explained to us that the folk who run the Acoustic Tearoom were winding down and had been on the lookout for another venue to take some of the strain and couple who live in, and run, Augill Castle had stepped up to the plate. Good on 'em!
Cathryn and Brian were introduced and were straight into their first set. It was clear that they had a number of good friends in the audience which helped keep the atmosphere relaxed and put everyone, Heather and me included, at our ease as we sat back and listened to the sublime music in the intimate, but impressive, surroundings.
There was a short break for people to replenish their glasses and Brian kindly came over and had a chat with us. Spending some of his time in the States, I asked him if he kept instruments over there. Of course he does. Heather said he must have almost as many guitars as me - which gave us both time to cough and splutter! Brian is looking to thin his herd out a little as there are some instruments which he says just won't be played enough - I'm keeping my ears open for that!
Brian began the second set with a review of how he'd got to where he he'd got to before playing "Fingers Crossed" - the choon he wrote as an 18 year old that started him on the journey. He then invited Cathryn back on stage and off we went again. Over the two sets they played most of the songs we'd come to hear - finishing with "I Will", a song that has brilliant words and a really grunty guitar riff to hook you in and keep you there.
22:45 arrived all too soon - with Craig & Willoughby ending the evening with their traditional rendition of "My Window Faces The South"
A fantastic evening, as ever. The acoustics in the room were superb although it maybe says a great deal about the venue and clientele that there wasn't a raffle. Seriously, a folk club without a raffle? It'll never catch on!
Cathryn and Brian are coming to the end of their tour (only a few dates left this year) before taking a well earned break until February. If you're able to go and see them, it's well worth making the effort.
So, to finish - a gratuitous chandelier shot...
The Acoustic Tearoom in Kirby Stephen, Cumbria has a long history of providing a venue for live folk music. I'd been once before (to see Show Of Hands) in the dim and distant past so was excited to discover that Brian Willoughby & Cathryn Craig had been booked to play.
Further investigation showed that this wasn't to be held in the Masonic Hall itself but at Augill Castle, a country house hotel a few miles out of town. Ticket price included a meal and my eldest daughter Heather said she was up for a bit of a road trip so I booked us a couple of tickets and inputted the postcode on the SatNav.
Cumbrian postcodes can sometimes cover square miles of land so I was chuffed (and mightily relieved) when we were taken straight there and even managed to nab the last spot in the (small) car park in front of the house. Apparently Brian and Cathryn weren't so lucky and had to double back having missed it when their satnav told them to turn left into a road that didn't exist...
We were warmly welcomed into the venue, gave our menu choices to our host (I opted for lamb tagine whilst Heather went with Aubergine en Croute or something - both picking apple and plumb crumble with custard for dessert) and made our way to the bar to get a drink.
To get to the bar we had to pass through the 'music room' where the stage was already set for the evening
Drinks in hand we went back to the dining room where chargers had been set at two long tables with seats for about 40 folk. It was a bit like eating at Hogwarts! Heather and I quickly spotted that we were significantly under-dressed and even I brought down the average age of the gathering...
I suppose we shouldn't have expected anything different from the clientele at a venue such as this so we just kept our heads down and ate our (delicious) food although there seemed to be an audible group 'tut' as I mopped up me gravy with a piece of bread, albeit artisinal bread, I'm sure.
Having said that, people were polite and relatively chatty and I quickly forgot that I wasn't wearing tweed (I'd forgotten my new flat cap) and we moved in to the music room to make sure we got good seats for the concert. It was explained to us that the folk who run the Acoustic Tearoom were winding down and had been on the lookout for another venue to take some of the strain and couple who live in, and run, Augill Castle had stepped up to the plate. Good on 'em!
Cathryn and Brian were introduced and were straight into their first set. It was clear that they had a number of good friends in the audience which helped keep the atmosphere relaxed and put everyone, Heather and me included, at our ease as we sat back and listened to the sublime music in the intimate, but impressive, surroundings.
There was a short break for people to replenish their glasses and Brian kindly came over and had a chat with us. Spending some of his time in the States, I asked him if he kept instruments over there. Of course he does. Heather said he must have almost as many guitars as me - which gave us both time to cough and splutter! Brian is looking to thin his herd out a little as there are some instruments which he says just won't be played enough - I'm keeping my ears open for that!
Brian began the second set with a review of how he'd got to where he he'd got to before playing "Fingers Crossed" - the choon he wrote as an 18 year old that started him on the journey. He then invited Cathryn back on stage and off we went again. Over the two sets they played most of the songs we'd come to hear - finishing with "I Will", a song that has brilliant words and a really grunty guitar riff to hook you in and keep you there.
22:45 arrived all too soon - with Craig & Willoughby ending the evening with their traditional rendition of "My Window Faces The South"
A fantastic evening, as ever. The acoustics in the room were superb although it maybe says a great deal about the venue and clientele that there wasn't a raffle. Seriously, a folk club without a raffle? It'll never catch on!
Cathryn and Brian are coming to the end of their tour (only a few dates left this year) before taking a well earned break until February. If you're able to go and see them, it's well worth making the effort.
So, to finish - a gratuitous chandelier shot...
Jo whoever he is.
