Sat 12th Jan The Civic Arts Theatre, Oswaldtwistle presents 'The Elves and the Shoemaker'
A party for the 5 to 8 year olds will be followed by a performance of 'The Elves and the Shoemaker' by The Civic Arts Theatre of Oswaldtwistle. Unlike our 'normal' First Saturday events, our 'pantomime' commences at 2pm, doors open at 1.30pm.
Children £6 (including a drink), accompanying adults £3.
Sat 2nd Feb Leos Strings - website
For an evening of classical music, stage and on-screen favourites and more recent hits such as Oasis and Coldplay. Something for everyone.
"What can I say? Your quartet was a triumph! The number of people telling us how much they enjoyed your playing is growing. From my point of view, an unqualified success."
"I can’t thank you enough for the most amazing performance and I am so sorry that I didn’t say thank you and a good bye on the day. Your performance and the excellent acoustics filled the Great Hall with the most beautiful sound and it really did make the day extra special for us."
Sat 2nd Mar Tom McConville with David Newey - website
Making his third appearance is Tom McConville who was born and brought up on Tyneside in the North East of England. He’s one of the leading fiddle players of our time. A virtuoso musician and fantastic singer, his rich and warm voice makes his interpretation of traditional and contemporary songs greatly admired by singers throughout the world. You will also hear David Newey's 'incredible, unique guitar playing'.
In great demand as a performer, session musician and teacher; playing the fiddle is his lifelong passion and he has achieved every player’s dream of creating his own unique, instantly recognizable sound.
His live performances combine a rollercoaster of musical delights from fast, rhythmic dance tunes , through beautiful slow airs and of course, great singing. All presented with his inimitable sense of humour and style.
Sat 6th Apr Chris Newman and Máire Ní Chathasaigh (pronounced Moira Nee Ha-ha-sig) - website
This celebrated partnership of "one of the UK’s most staggering and influental acoustic guitarists" (fROOTS) with "the doyenne of Irish harpists" (SCOTLAND ON SUNDAY) and recipient of Irish music’s most prestigious award, are coming to play at our Village Hall again.
Chris and Máire are thrilled that a recent performance has just been awarded “Concert of the Year” and Chris named "Male Musician of the Year" in the 2019 Live Ireland Awards!
Sat 4th May Joanna Lavelle is Joyce Grenfell
Choice Joyce is a personal tribute show to the life and work of Joyce Grenfell performed by Lancashire Actress Joanna Lavelle. The show demonstrates the range and versatility of this writer singer and actress it includes old favourites like the nursery school sketches and Stately as a Galleon together with less well known and thought provoking monologues like Lally Tullet.
This amateur production of “Joyce Grenfell Sketches” is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH LTD.
Sat 1st Jun Tackler’s Brew - youtube
Tacklers’ Brew are returning to Whalley Village Hall with a new line-up following the departure of Geoff Stott to live in Scotland. We are pleased to welcome Les Hammond on guitar and vocals.
Les has been in the music business since his teenage years (now a long time!) and has played in folk clubs in and around London, played bass in the cabaret band Volume 5, and guitar in the folk bands Focal Point and Hamlin.
Since their last visit in 2017, Tacklers’ Brew have been putting a smile on people’s faces all over Lancashire with their own brand of music and daft tales. Pete, Les and Rawden are looking forward to another great night at Whalley Village Hall, so come and join in the old favourites along with some new songs. You are promised a fun night!
Sat 6th Jul The Civic Arts Theatre, Oswaldtwistle presents 'We’re going on a Bear Hunt'
A sensory storytime experience, suitable for young ones. Based on the well known story. Meet the characters too! Unlike our 'normal' First Saturday events, this special show commences at 2pm, doors and bar open at 1.30pm.
Sat 17th Aug Gaynor Sutcliffe - youtube
We are pleased once again to welcome local lass Gaynor Sutcliffe. Western Valley Hot Club team up as a ‘one off’ with Moravia’s top Dixie land musicians Jan Holena (clarinet/saxophone) and Marek Bukyovan (trombone) along with Liverpool’s very own Tony Dolman on drums to create a 6 piece Western swing and 1940’s swing bonanza.
If you thought they were impressive before, the big band will blow you away with their high energy and charisma, exhilarating and mind blowing solos, and a foot tapping night not to be forgotten in a long time.
A promise to send guests away elated and an evening not to be missed!
Sat 7th Sep Lostock Hall Brass Band - website
It was over 70 years ago that the Lostock Hall Memorial Band was formed, although things were a little different back in those days. In 1948, the drive and dedication of local businessman Bert Dearden brought about the forming of the "Four Lane Ends Band".
Since then, the band has developed into a respected local band whose image has been synonymous with the development of young players. Lostock Hall Memorial Band is very active with marches, concerts, and contests ... playing a wide variety of music from traditional brass, music from films/shows and some great sing a long foot tapping tunes.
Sat 5th Oct Doc Harvey and the Philistans - youtube
Doc Harvey and his minions The Philistans have presented their extraordinary range of lost songs of Lancashire before at Whalley Village Hall. Now they are coming back with more strange lost songs to confound sanity, defy intuition and create musical havoc. Come and be astounded as they use brass, whistles, keyboard, accordian and guitar to open your disbelief to the hidden world of Lancashire esoterica.
Sat 2nd Nov Jim Tracy entertains - webpage
Making a welcome third appearance at our Hall is Jim Tracy, who has been singing country music around the UK for quite a few years now. If you like to just sit back and listen to the likes of Jim Reeves, Willie Nelson, George Jones, Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash, Ray Price, Slim Whitman, Bob Wills and many, many more, then you can't go wrong. I'm sure he could be persuaded to play some other traditional classic country or some of the new up to date country-line dance songs.
Sat 7th Dec Trovatori - www.trovatori.com
They may have moved away from Whalley but we have again managed to entice back professional opera singers Darren Clarke and Caroline Lester who make up the acclaimed singing duo Trovatori for an early Christmas treat, with songs from opera, the West End and more, plus a few popular festive songs and carols!
Darren studied at the Royal Northern College of Music. His singing career has taken him to opera houses and theatres in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, Canada, and Europe. He is also an accomplished Lieder singer. Caroline studied composition at Durham University and reached the final stages of Channel 4’s Operatunity and ITV’s Search for a Soprano. She has performed numerous operatic roles and has appeared in many oratorios and concerts across the UK, Europe and the United States.
They regularly perform as guest artists onboard luxury cruise ships as well as the luxury Thomson Gold and Thomson Couples resorts across Europe to great acclaim. They also appear across the UK in concert halls and theatres as well as at corporate events, music festivals, hotels and private events.
Sat 14th Dec Open-Air Nativity
Whalley is to hold its first open-air nativity with carols, mince pies, mulled wine, a snow machine, a donkey and sheep.
All the family are welcome. We start our procession at Whalley Abbey 6pm.
Wrap up warm, bring an umbrella and your singing voices. Let's get into the Christmas Spirit. It's £6 for adults and £3 for the children.