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Our Upcoming Events

Please see below information for some of our upcoming events or click to see our full calendar.

Out of The Blue - A Celebration of Joni Mitchell with Anne Gair

SATURDAY 4 MAY, 7.30pm-10.30pm

After a sell out shows at Biggar Little Festival and East Kilbride Arts Centre, Anne Gair and her band are taking the show on the road in 2024.

Here is what our audience members have said:

"Brilliant gig, super band!"

"It was absolutely brilliant!. Who knew someone other than Joni could do justice to Blue, I even said to the man next to me... I thought I preferred your take on her songs more "

"Thoroughly enjoyed it from start to finish. You (Anne) and the band were absolutely superb"

"Thank you for an amazing show! We loved every minute. Now we're sorry we can't make the next one"

Come and hear the whole of 'Blue' and other favourites inc Big Yellow Taxi, Both Sides now, River and many more with a full band inc Joni's trademark Appalachian Dulcimer.

Anne Gair - Vocals, Acoustic guitar, DulcimerMaria Quinn - PianoIan Murray - Double bass, GuitarJohn Inglis - Guitars, electric BassBilly Bowes - Drums, Percussion

TICKETS

TSYJO: JAZZ 

SATURDAY 18 MAY, 2pm - 4pm

A superb concert of music and improvisation by the talented TSYJO showcasing music by Miles, Ella, Piazolla,Gillespie, Basie and Duke Ellington.
The Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra has become synonymous with energetic performances that channel the creativity and excitement of big-band jazz, celebrating legendary jazz composers. Since Smith formed the youth orchestra in 2002 to create a free educational opportunity for Scotland's best young jazz musicians, it has forged over 125 masterful young musicians, many of them acclaimed award winners who have gone on to have successful national and international careers.
Join us on Saturday the 18th of May to hear an extraordinary concert of outstanding music and improvisation by the skilful TSYJO showcasing big-band music by Miles Davis, Ella Fitzgerald, Astor Piazzolla, Jaco Pastorius, Dizzy Gillespie, Count Basie, and Duke Ellington, plus a new composition by Jazzmeia Horn called Free Your Mind starring our singer Laura Oghagbon. Please enjoy a relaxed eveningwith talented young players and special guests.
Tickets- general admission £13.70
Youth Card Holders -£6.13
TICKETS

Wicked Little Letters

THURSDAY 23 MAY, 7:30pm - 10pm

When Edith (Olivia Coleman) and fellow residents begin to receive wicked letters full of hilarious profanities, foul-mouthed Rose (Jessie Buckley) is charged with the crime. However, as the town's women investigate the crime themselves, they suspect that something is amiss, and that Rose may not be the culprit after all.

TICKETS

AcousticCafeNight presents Beki Hemingway &  Randy Kerman

FRIDAY 24 MAY, 8pm - 10pm, THE GRANARY

Beki Hemingway, and her musical partner Randy Kerkman  fearlessly pulled up roots in Denver, Colorado and emigrated to Ireland during the fall of 2016 in order to undertake musical adventures, travel, and public service.

Settled in County Louth, Ireland, with stops in Chicago, Nashville, and Denver along the way, it has been said that Beki Hemingway writes and sings some of the “best songs you’ve never heard.”

Her long and varied career has found her singing in several bands, as well as singing live and studio backup vocals on everything from industrial to inspirational music. Things really clicked when she started collaborating with Randy Kerkman in the late 1990’s, releasing 5 CDs on the Minneapolis-based indie Salt Lady Records, performing up to 150 shows per year, and sharing the stage with nationally and internationally acclaimed singer/songwriters such as Aimee Mann, Shawn Colvin, and Duke Special. Her latest album. Earth and Asphalt, is a mixture of pop and americana with impressive song writing and superb vocals.

“Superb vocals, confident stage presence and impressive song writing.” LONESOME HIGHWAY

“An artist to look out for.” CHICAGO TRIBUNE

“Songs of relentless faith and charming insight.”  PRISM MAGAZINE

“Their last record Whins and Weather was a songwriting triumph but for me this one is a life work.”  STEVE STOCKMAN, SOUL SURMISE

Entry £10 including filter coffee, tea and tasty home baking.
Doors open 7.30pm, Children under 16 free.
Come early to avoid disappointment.
ENTRY at DOOR

The Stephen Gaughan School of Performing Arts presents Oliver!

SATURDAY 1 JUNE, 7pm - 9pm
The Stephen Gaughan School of Performing Arts is a Hamilton based school offering industry focused training for children and adults in Dance, Singing and Acting.

 We offer a range of classes in various techniques, including: Classical Ballet, Modern/Jazz and Acro.  Learners have the option of participating in examinations by some of the leading syllabi for performing arts training, such as: Acrobatic Arts, ABRSM and SQA.

SOLD OUT

The Wee Scottish Big Band with guest saxophonist, PAUL TOWNDROW

SATURDAY 8th JUNE, 7.30pm, Town Mill, Strathaven.

Tickets are live now, you can reserve yours...this is another great concert with wonderful musicians and a brilliant saxophonist 👍
Strathaven Town Mill Arts and Heritage Centre
PAUL TOWNDROW
“His album confirms the contemporary Scottish scene's membership of the world league.”
4 Stars **** John Fordham, The Guardian
“It's musicians like this that make one so optimistic for the future of jazz” Jazzwise
”Just full of excitement, full of edge and playing with all of the
heart that the music needs.”
Julian Joseph BBC Radio 3
"I have been an admirer for some time of Paul's assertive style on
alto and soprano saxophones and he leads a very integrated swinging
quartet.He is an excellent representative of the superb Scottish jazz scene."
Tony Dudley-Evans (UK jazz promoter)
Alto Saxophonist/ Composer / Arranger / Educator
Other instruments : Soprano Saxophone,Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Flute, Whistles,Clarinet
Saxophonist Paul Towndrow is best known as a bandleader of ensembles ranging from duo to sextet. From 2001-2021 he was a member of Scotland’s flagship jazz orchestra, The SNJO, before leaving the organisation to focus on solo pursuits. More recently he has worked as a composer and saxophonist for the groundbreaking Grit Orchestra. Performing professionally since the age of 15, and having spent his formative musical years studying on both sides of the Atlantic, Towndrow has become one the UK’s busiest musicians.
Paul has released six solo albums and has appeared as a sideman on many others. Much of his output is released on his own label, Keywork Records which was founded in 2005.
His live credentials include appearances with a diverse range of artists from jazz greats Branford Marsalis, Randy Brecker, and John Scofield, to Motown stars Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, soul legend Ben E King, and rock icons The Fratellis.
Once described in The Guardian as “A turbo-charged amalgam of all your saxophone heroes”, Towndrow has toured and recorded extensively in the UK and abroad, both under his own-name projects and others, such as with sensational US group The Bad Plus, New York based pianist David Berkman, Venezualan piano virtuoso Leo Blanco, jazz vocalist Kurt Elling, and jazz legend Benny Golson. In 2008 he was selected to tour Europe as part of the new European Colours Jazz Orchestra, a project comprising top jazz musicians from all over Europe.
In 2002 he won The Peter Whittingham Jazz Award resulting in his debut album ‘Colours’, and in 2003, reached the final of The World Saxophone Competition at Montreux Jazz Festival, winning the Public Prize (most audience votes) following his performance with the Geri Allen Trio.
As composer and arranger, Towndrow has written for ensembles of all shapes and sizes including music for TV and radio and arranging commissions for the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He has also developed compositional work with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra as part of Serious Productions' Air Time scheme. In 2013 he was commissioned to write music to celebrate 21 years of the London Jazz Festival. In 2014 he was commissioned to compose 'Pro-Am', his debut suite for double big band, to celebrate the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games.
Towndrow was commissioned in 2018 to compose a new work for Glasgow's Festival 2018. The result was 'Deepening The River', a 60 minute work for extended multi-genre big band. 'Deepening The River' was subsequently included in the 2019 programme for Celtic Connections Festival, with a studio recording of the suite released in 2020, and subsequently longlisted for the 2021 Scottish Album of The Year Awards. In 2023 he received a commission to compose for string quartet Glisk, as part of a project entitled Stories Of People & Trees.
In 2020 Paul premiered his first symphonic work 'Declaration' with the Grit Orchestra.
In 2022, Paul co-founded the international crossover touring group, Atlantic Road Trip, with Chicago based trumpeter Chad McCullough and Slovakian vibraphone master Miro Herak. In the same year he toured extensively with indy rock band The Fratellis, and recorded an new album for release in early 2023 entitled "Outwith The Circle"
Outwith the jazz genre, Paul has appeared on record releases by Hue & Cry, Sharleen Spiteri, Labrinth, The Fratellis, Del Amitri, Capercaillie, Calum & Rory MacDonald (Runrig), Isobel Campbell, Colin MacIntyre (Mull Historical Society), Sacred Paws,Ross Ainslie, and many others.
He has performed and toured with a wide range of artists including Macy Gray, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas, Ben E King, Average White Band, Jack Bruce, Texas, Sinkane, and many others.
Orchestral experience includes performances with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Ireland’s RTE Concert Orchestra, and Scotland's multi-award winning cross-genre Grit Orchestra.
One of Scotland’s foremost jazz educators, Paul is a former lecturer in Jazz Studies at The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, and RCS Junior Conservatoire (2009 - 2021). In 2008, he launched Jazz Futures, a performance platform and for aspiring young jazz musicians. The scheme was nominated for ‘Best New Project’ at the inaugural Scottish Jazz Awards. He has devised award winning workshops for Brass Jaw, including a sell-out Family Matinee at London's Wigmore Hall. Paul is the Musical Director of community ensemble, Byres Road Big Band. He was the creator, and course director of Glasgow Jazz Summer School from 2007-2014, and tours annually with Glasgow Jazz Festivals "All Stars" community workshop project. He remains committed to offer mentoring and guidance to musicians throughout the community, whenever possible.

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Strathaven Town Mill

Stonehouse Road, Strathaven, Lanarkshire. Registered charity number: SC010579