Upcoming News & Special Events

“The only band to have been asked back 8 times consecutively – because they’re so good!” Swaledale Festival

Taking the audience on a musical journey around the World, English instrumental duo The Hut People (Sam Pirt and Gary Hammond) have firmly established themselves as one of THE best loved, entertaining and best-loved acts on the UK folk scene today.

Mixing global rhythms with folk tunes from Quebec to Spain, Scandinavia to Sussex and everywhere in between, this is a quirky celebration of our rich musical heritage – and it works so well!

This is a show like nothing you’ve ever seen before – expect feel-good dancing tunes, audience participation, step dancing, Quebecois foot-percussion (whilst playing the accordion!) and humour aplenty.

In 2017, The Hut People released their 4th studio album on the Fellside label entitled 'Routes'.

Tunes forging pathways and routes underground; across the oceans and traversing motorways. Infectious melodies and foot-tapping rhythms packed into containers laden with grooves from South Africa, Quebec and across the globe; North, South, East and West.

‘Routes’ is their most expansive and thoughtful journey yet. Jump on board and enjoy the ride.

“a bewildering array of percussion and accordion-fired compositions….truly infectious…

"Their own tunes are remarkable for their inspiration... Throughout, the music is full of life, designed to raise a smile" RnR

"There's so much going on that you hear something new each time it is played. Sam Pirt's accordion leads all the tunes, whilst percussionist extraordinaire Gary Hammond provides an amazing array of textures and colours. Routes certainly brightens up the dull grey days of winter, but will be just as good a listen for the rest of the year…Remarkable" THE LIVING TRADITION

“The festival season is nearly upon us, and with The Hut People gracing many of this years bashes, their infectious ‘World Folk’ will surely be winning them many new fans” SONGLINES “This is a brilliantly unique sound – a duo of piano accordion and percussion defiantly unbounded by British traditions as they stride into world music.” THE SCOTSMAN

"The Hut People are not afraid to play around with sounds and rhythms whilst remaining true to the spirit of the slips, jigs and reels, creating a refreshing and toe tapping set of contemporary folk that puts a smile on your face." ROCK SOCIETY MAG
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From 6am to midnight we will fill The Chipping Hall and The Chipping Club Rooms with an amazing celebratory mix of music, readings, performances, art demos, talks, lessons, song and dance. We promise a wonderful day for the community - refreshments will be available all day.

LINE UP

Chipping Hall
6am music for a new day
7am An Angels' Guide to Working with the Power of Light. Recorded readings and music by Mairi Campbell.
7.30 Film - Up Tyley - Moments in Time 2011 [95 mins]
9.00 Emma Dickson - Dance Workshop
10.00 KLB Samba Band march through Wotton into The Chipping Hall
10.30 Art in the Hall - public demos from Rob Collins, Jane Lampard, Nicola Hill, Barry Walding, Lynne Clarke
11.30 music with Vicky Cooper & Richard Toller [tbc]
12.00 Wotton Dramatic Society play
1pm Poetry with Rosie Bailey, Mark Pasco and Roger Gunning
2pm Blues/jazz jam with Mark Tolfree and friends
3pm Jazz recital with South Cotswold Jazz Club
4pm Jon Rodriguez sessions - Dance for fitness + Dance instruction

6pm A short Dance film by Emma Dickson
6.10pm music from B.A.N.D.
7pm music from Torsten Tolfree, Izzy & Daisy
7.30pm music from Eloise Whitbread
8pm opera recital from Meghan Stratton
9pm music from James Aldridge
9.30 music from Magerison
10pm longest note contest - more entries,result.
10.30pm Round the Edge Choir
12am CLOSE

Chipping Clubroom
9am Longest note competition
10am Voice work, voice-healing workshop with David Barker
11am Meet Your Councillors - an opportunity for constructive dialogue with Town, District and County Councillors invited.
12.30pm Lucy Orton
1pm Wotton Art Group - display and demos
3pm poetry with David Barker & friends
4pm Ecobricks workshop
5.30pm Gong bath set-up
6pm Gong Bath - £10 per person . Please purchase your tickets below.
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Gavin Thorpe grew up in Wotton-Under-Edge before moving to Bristol to pursue his dream of becoming a professional singer/songwriter. He was spotted in 2001 by a talent scout and went on to sign a seven album deal with Atlantic Records. His folky, britpop-esque style has led to his music appearing on a major motion picture and countless TV pro-grammes worldwide.

We are thrilled to welcome him “home” for this very special performance.

Supported by one of Wotton's finest songstresses Lauren Walker
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From 8pm once a month (every second Friday)

Free entry, donations welcome, bar open, PA provided

Bringing the benefit of jazz as an art form to the local community and to multiple levels of ability. All instruments/vocalists will be made welcome. If you can play the blues and want to have a crack at jazz – this is for you! If you want to come and just listen that is fine too. Jazz Jam Sessions are led by John Cook, Shairon Lloyd, Peter Neale and JJ Shaw.
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Six times BBC Radio 2 Folk Award nominee

BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Singer of the Year’ 2017

“The finest singer of his generation” Mojo Magazine

“A voice in a million” Geoff Lakeman

More than simply a folk-singer, multi award winning singer-songwriter, musician and proud Devonian Jim Causley is an all-round entertainer and during the past decade Causley has been nominated no less than six times for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award. Last year he was nominated as “Singer of the Year” at the 2017 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, he won the Spiral Earth Singer of the Year award in 2014, presented his own folk music show on BBC Radio Devon and in 2015 he worked with BBC TV historian Dr Sam Willis to create the music for his show 'Highwaymen, Outlaws and Villains' and was asked to perform his song about Dartmoor tin mining 'Pride of the Moor' on BBC TV's Countryfile - Dartmoor Special. 2017 was also the centenary of Jim’s relative; the celebrated Cornish poet Charles Causley and award winning filmmaker Jane Darke made a specially commissioned biographical film about the poet which aired on BBC4 TV on 1st October as part of the Centenary celebrations. The soundtrack to the film was composed entirely by Jim and featured music from his 2013 album ‘Cyprus Well’ of musical settings of Charles’ work.

Since the release of his debut album in 2005, Causley’s unique voice and persona have helped him become one of the most well-loved and respected figures of today’s contemporary roots and folk scene. A prolific collaborator, Causley is hugely admired for his work with iconic groups The Devil’s Interval and Mawkin:Causley as well as playing, touring and recording alongside Waterson:Carthy, John McCusker, Eddie Reader, Graham Coxson, Shirley Collins, Michael Morpurgo, Show of Hands, Kate Rusby, David Rotheray of Beautiful South fame and many more. He was described by Mojo Magazine as “the finest singer of his generation” and they put Forgotten Kingdom in their Top Ten Folk Albums of 2016 list. Westcountry father of folk Geoff Lakeman described Causley as possessing “A voice in a million” in a recent interview in the Western Morning News, some accolade indeed!

Jim Causley's ‘Evening with’ concerts give a full night of beautiful singing, moving ballads, hilarious ditties and everything in between. Drawing equally from traditional repertoire, modern songs as well as his own compositions and settings of poems by his relative, the celebrated Cornish poet Charles Causley. All accompanied on piano and various accordions and served with a gurt dollop of Westcountry humour, an evening with Jim is an evening not to be missed!
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