Ninebarrow, the award-winning Dorset-based folk duo, Jon Witley and Jay Labouchadiere, who have been captivating audiences all over the country with their innovative take on folk music, are coming to St James Church, Kingston, on Saturday, October 31.
“We’ve been looking for the right opportunity to put on a concert in St James ever since we recorded one of the tracks for our debut album there last year,” says Jon Witley. “It’s got acoustics to die for.
“So…we’d like to invite you to spend Hallowe’en with us! Avoid those pesky trick-or-treaters and come and immerse yourself in an evening of Dorset folk music, in one of the most beautiful buildings in the Isle of Purbeck!”
Doors will open at 7pm on Saturday, 31 October, and the music will start at 7.30pm. Drinks will be served from seven and in the interval in return for donations to help preserve this unique Grade 1-listed church. Tickets costing £9 plus a booking fee of 90p can be obtained online or at a cost of £11 on the door.
On Sunday afternoon, 29 November, the Church plays host to a West Gallery Carol Concert, a programme of carols, folksongs, dance tunes and stories from South Dorset led by folksinger and actor Tim Laycock and Mellstock Band serpent player Phil Humphries.
The group was formed by Artsreach three years ago to explore the musical heritage of the South Dorset Ridgeway area and surrounding communities. Hence the repertoire includes Thomas Hardy’s Old Bockhampton Carols such as ‘Remember Adam’s Fall’ and ‘Rejoice, Ye Tenants of the Earth’as well as ‘The Mariner’s Hornpipe’ and Hardy’s favourite fiddle tune ‘Enrico’.
Tickets for the concert, which starts at 4pm, cost £7.50 or £5 for under-18s and can be bought from the box office on 07720 784269 or from the Village Shop in Langton Matravers. As the concert heralds the onset of Christmas, mulled wine and mince pies will be served in return for donations towards the upkeep of the historic St James Church.
Robin Stringer