Loweswater Village Hall

14/01/2025

05/01/2025

Old Baby Mackerel are one of the UK's largest and best-known Bluegrass bands, playing high-energy, foot-stomping Bluegrass featuring a fantastic line-up of renowned UK Bluegrass musicians. Over the last few years they have sold out UK tours and venues, headlined multiple international Bluegrass festivals, been played on BBC 6Music, as well as at Glastonbury and other large UK festivals, and been featured in the British Bluegrass News magazine with a five-page article and cover photo.

Be prepared to be transported back in time and space to early 20th century North America where songs dramatized the small town fascination with locomotion, love, violence and the veneration of bootleg liquor.

Their music uses banjo, mandolin, guitar and double bass to get knees bouncing and elbows swinging to the sweet harmonies, blistering solos and driving rhythm of the authentic Bluegrass sound.

“I’ve always got time for a bit of banjo”
Cerys Matthews BBC 6 Music on playing our track Salty Dog Blues
BBC Music - Glastonbury, From The Fields, Cerys Matthews - A Joyous exploration: Glastonbury

“That's the first Bluegrass track I've played on Upload and I love it, so, so good!”
Adam Crowther, BBC Radio Bristol

“A fine band of musicians and entertainers who would be at home playing in any holler in Appalachia. Real crowd pleasers with every tune and song they perform.”
Richard Hurst, N. Ireland Bluegrass Music Festival Organiser

Socials
https://www.instagram.com/oldbabymackerel/
https://www.facebook.com/oldbabymackerel

Footage
https://youtu.be/l8qrKWN8m4M
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7wKDgFMWGJ/
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7oHgFmMC2u/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWNjziw1eu8

25/11/2024

A huge thank you to everyone who performed at, and supported, our very successful Magnificent Melbreak Showcase on November 1st. A very appreciative audience thoroughly enjoyed two hours of very entertaining performance art from fellow members of our community. Who knew there was so much local talent. Some performers are already planning for a repeat Showcase next year!
After the carol singing around Loweswater on the evening of Tuesday December 17th we would like to invite members of the community to join us for some seasonal food and drink at a Christmas Gathering, from 8.00pm. Whether you are carol singing or not, we will be delighted to see you. There is no entry charge – donations to the NSPCC are encouraged.

29/10/2024

We have a full programme of musical, theatrical and recital entertainment lined up for our Magnificent Melbreak Showcase – at 7.30 on Friday November 1st, with contributing local talent from all ages, including solo musicians & singers, Cumbrian dialect & local stories, shadow show & ghost stories, with novelty and comedy performances. The evening will conclude with a sing-along for all to join in. £5 entry at the door, (cash or card), including refreshments, (tea/coffee). Licensed bar from 7.00pm and at the interval. We look forward to welcoming you.

03/08/2024

29/06/2024

Thank you to everyone who supported our evening of Abba music with Cath and Emma on May 31st. A full and very enthusiastic audience enjoyed the music and dance of the Abba era. Our thanks to Cath and Emma for a fantastic evening.
The next social event for your diary is Sunday July 14th – Men’s Final Day at Wimbledon. We will be showing the entire televised coverage of the Men’s Final, live, whilst serving strawberries and cream with Prosecco, (or alternative). If you’re a tennis fan, this is an afternoon not to be missed. For full details please see the poster on our website and this page.
We are delighted to announce that we have secured our next Arts Out West event on Thursday September 26th at 7.30, when we will be welcoming an evening of “Gertrude Lawrence: A lovely way to spend the evening”. This production was nominated for an Edinburgh Fringe Festival Off-Fest award in 2023 and is performed by the wonderful Lucy Stevens who previously brought us a brilliant evening of music from Kathleen Ferrier. For full details please watch out for posters appearing in noticeboards and on our website & page soon.
Don’t forget the Magnificent Melbreak Showcase - on Friday November 1st, for an evening of local talent, of all ages. If you can play a musical instrument, sing, dance, act or perform, either on your own or with a group of friends or class mates, we would love to hear from you. If you would like to take part, please contact Val Bell on 07918 882175 for further details.

28/05/2024

For those who get their Link delivered early, our next community social event will be on Friday May 31st when you are warmly welcomed to enjoy an evening of Abba music with local musicians and vocalists Cath and Emma, (8.00 ‘til 10.30). If you haven’t already got your ticket, (£10), you can pay at the door – cash or card. For full details see our website & page.

Our next community social event will be on Sunday July 14th – Men’s Final Day at Wimbledon. We will be showing the entire televised coverage of the Men’s Final, live, whilst serving strawberries & cream and Prosecco. If you’re a tennis fan, this is an afternoon not to be missed.

Looking ahead, we are pleased to invite entries for the Magnificent Melbreak Showcase - on Friday November 1st. If you can play a musical instrument, sing, dance, act or perform, either on your own or with a group of friends or class mates we would love to hear from you. This is not a competition, but simply an evening of performances, each lasting 3 to 5 minutes, by members of the community of any age. It doesn’t matter if you are a new starter or a seasoned performer, it would be great to hear from you. Please contact Val Bell on 07918 882175 for further details.

The Village Hall Committee is working hard to maintain a programme of enhancing the facilities available for its hirers and are pleased to announce that the hall now has a ceiling-mounted projector and a 2.5m x 2.5m screen, enabling any picture and sound output from a laptop to be displayed in the hall – ideal for meetings, presentations, live links using the hall’s WiFi etc. In addition, the hall has now been awarded a licence for the sale of alcohol, which means that hirers no longer have to apply for their own Temporary Event Notice in order to serve alcohol, and we will, where appropriate, be serving alcohol at community events.

19/04/2024

Do you play a musical instrument, sing, dance or act? If so, we would like to invite you to take part in an evening of performance arts by members of our talented community on Friday November 1st. It doesn’t matter if you are a new starter or a seasoned performer, we would love to hear from you. Please contact Val Bell on 07918 882175. More details to follow.

Another date for your diary is Sunday July 14th – Men’s Final Day at Wimbledon. We will be showing the entire televised coverage of the Men’s Final, live, whilst serving strawberries & cream, and tea. If you’re a tennis fan, this is an afternoon not to be missed. Full details to follow.

If you live in the Loweswater area and would be interested in the formation of a community-based purchasing group for heating oil, with the collective benefit of a volume discount and reduced rates for boiler servicing, please contact Lyn Furniss on 01900 85147 or [email protected]

Our next community social event will be on Friday May 31st when you are warmly welcomed to enjoy an evening of Abba music with local musicians and vocalists Cath and Emma. For full details see the poster and our website.

17/03/2024

Thank you to everyone who supported events in the hall over February and March.

On February 24th we enjoyed the exhilaration of a Ceilidh, led by accordionist and caller Alison Riley. Such was the enthusiasm for dancing “Strip The Willow” down the full length of the hall that we had to dance it a second time before the end of the evening! Thank you Alison for a thoroughly enjoyable Ceilidh.

The Mother’s Day Afternoon Teas, held on March 10th, was, for a second year, a sell-out event. Mums, with families of all ages, enjoyed a sumptuous, traditional afternoon tea in stunning surroundings. Requests have already been made for tickets to next year’s event!

On March 16th a large and very appreciative audience was treated to the Arts Out West presentation of David Mynne’s one-man performance of Canterbury Tales. Based on his unique and very amusing interpretation of Chaucer’s medieval England, David’s skilfull script and comedic improvisations entertained us with some amazing tall tales. Thank you David and Arts Out West.

10/03/2024

Ready for Mother’s Day afternoon teas

07/03/2024

Tickets are still available for the unique and highly amusing interpretation of "Canterbury Tales" on Saturday March 16th at 7.30 in Loweswater Village Hall.

Please see our post on January 15th for a full review of this hilarious performance.

For tickets, please contact Penny on [email protected] or on 01946 862200.
We look forward to welcoming you.