One of Africa’s leading traditional drumming groups, the Kakatsitsi Master Drummers from Ghana, combine with Mbilou, a ceremony leader, spiritual healer, musician and dancer from Gabon to present a unique...
Kirsty is making a very welcome return. She was one of the first musicians to ever play at Upfront and she has returned several times. This occasion will be part...
Solo acoustic guitar & vocals performance. There is no doubt that after 45 years as a professional musician Martin is, right now, better than ever. Widely acknowledged as one of...
A DICKENS OF A CHRISTMAS SUPPER EVENING Friday 20th December at 7pm Actor and writer Peter Macqueen will read excerpts from some of the Charles Dickens Christmas stories. Joy, laughter...
Featuring Paddy Rogan, Sam Robinson & Uncle Carbunkle. Traditional Folk, Acappella Song, Blues & beyond. Please come and support Upfront Arts Venue and the local musicians who have not been able to...
Upfront Arts Venue is looking forward to kicking off our 2021 music program with a bang. We welcome back one of our favourite acts Rob Heron with his new duo...
A family friendly Reggae Sound System social gathering for the love of Reggae, Dancehall, Roots, Dub, Rocksteady, Dubwise & Ska music.Hosted by North Fire Sound - authentic reggae sound system.Family...
We are looking forward to welcoming back old friends of Upfront Arts Venue For a knees up, dancing folk music session with one of the top live trios in the...
URGENT UP-DATE Due to a band member having Covid we have had to cancel our original date of 9th October. New date as below. If you have already booked tickets...
The Real Story of Christmas as Revealed in - "THE SCROOGE DIARIES" - Peter Macqueen ‘Marley was dead: to begin with. There is no doubt whatever about that.’“Oh no he...
Local Selectors Session Once again we come together after the festive period to raise the vibes and enjoy some quality music on a lovely hand build sound system with the...
An intimate evening with The Rob Heron Duo. Hosted in the barn gallery at Upfront Arts Venue with limited tickets available.Rob Heron and Tom Cronin don’t care what genre you...
Playing on the custom built reggae sound system North Fire Sound Aba Shanti iSound of Jah Lighting & ThunderPlus support DJs This is a special opportunity to witness one of...
"The League of Ukulele Gentlemen are an exciting and dynamic quartet. Over the past few years (a slight hiatus over the last 20 months!) they have been thrilling audiences all...
A unique band which tastefully blends folk and world music Solana’s rich and inventive sonic tapestry is anchored by a deep respect for traditions rooted in all corners of Europe...
Friday 10th June at 8pm Critically acclaimed guitarist and composer Richard Durrant returns to Upfront as part of his popular 27-day Music for Midsummer tour 2022 At this concert Richard...
“Sometimes it takes a global pandemic to slow down and focus on the fundamentals. When Ben Caplan lost the opportunity to tour and create with the regular cadre of musicians...
(Roots Garden Records, Worldwide FM) Manasseh soundsystem was built in 1985 by a group of friends and finished on the Sunday morning of Notting Hill Carnival. With the aim of...
N’famady Kouyaté is a young energetic master musician from Guinea (Conakry), who relocated to Cardiff (Wales) in 2019. A talented multi-instrumentalist who wowed audiences across the UK and Ireland during...
We are pleased to welcome An Dannsa Dub for their first major performance in Cumbria. Music is one big conversation. And few bands live at the heart of it like...
“A sublime fusion that combines pastoral dreaminess with the heat of highlife and Afrobeat sounds” Songlines “Such interesting influences… beautiful” Cerys Matthews Me and My Friends play soulful, poignant music...
Eduardo Martin, the Grammy nominated and multiple life-time achievement award-winning Cuban guitarist and composer, joins forces with fellow award-winning, London based Cuban musician, Ahmed Dickinson - a guitarist described as...
The South African roots of Cape Town born pianist/composer Philip Clouts have inspired a voyage of discovery that has lead him to soaking up the joyful passion of Caribbean calypso,...
Come an enjoy a first time exclusive performance as Tamsin Elliott brings her new music project to Cumbria. "There is a rich thread of collaboration throughout, one which both celebrates...
We have a series of three Antique Fairs over a three month period. 26th September & 31st October. Whether your taste is jewellery, ceramics, glass, fine art, toys, militaria or...
Described by Folk Radio UK as ‘weaving an especially compelling magic’, and 'showing British acoustic music in its best possible light’, Northumbrian duo The Brothers Gillespie make music that is...
Very special guests Mungo's Hi Fi DJ set. Long time friends of North Fire Sound. Now a well known name in reggae & dubwise music across the globe. Mungo's have...
Hedera is a new Bristol-based quintet of instrumentalists brought together by a desire to lean into the slower and more delicate side of European folk traditions. Their growing repertoire draws...
For the first time we are inviting a guest sound system and crew. Mighty Oak Sound System have been friends with the North Fire crew for many years and it...
Based in amongst the wild natural beauty of the Lake District Olivia’s music is deeply rooted in her connection to the living earth. With a quality of the liminal to...
Iration Steppas have played all over the world from Mexico to New York, Yorkshire to Barcelona. What an pleasure to bring one of the most respected sound man and music...
SHOW CANCELLED DUE TO ILLNESS AND WITHDRAWAL OF A CAST MEMBER. Show performed by Cumbrian theatre company "Ragged Edge Productions. Devised and Performed by Stefan Escreet, Peter Macqueen and Claire...
It is a real pleasure to bring Rory McLeod back to Upfront Arts Venue as he was the first person to ever perform in the newly built arts venue many...
This concert has moved to the new date of 30th June as Upfront totally flooded, due to the extreme weather conditions on 22nd May. We have been working non stop...
Mishra are a global folk band from the UK gathering international recognition, who draw together roots in UK traditional music with continent-spanning musical textures into a breathtaking 5 piece performance....
A brand new free event for Upfront Arts Venue We welcome you to enjoy an evening in the gallery barn with a full menu provided by the Upfront Kitchen. Enjoy...
Usual activity at Dub N Grub - food served from 6:30pm Music played on the North Fire Sound - Reggae sound system for the full audio experience This time we...
'Madalitso band are a two man musical army from Malawi. Described as 'Uplifting and Vibrant' by the BBC, they get crowds beaming with wonder and on their feet dancing every...
Dub N Grub is proud to welcome one of the UK's top mic men, vocalist & host to a special intimate session at Upfront all played on the full North...
Raz Olsher & Afla Sackey: a bond that fuels a dynamic and effortless musical relationship. Their music represents a harmonious union of African influences with electronic music, full of soul,...
Work with the amazing Bloomhead from the North East. Bloomhead is an independent Eco Floral Designer, Wedding Florist, and creator of Seasonal Wreaths & Bouquets. This is a great opportunity...
Kris Drever and Chris Stout are icons of the Scottish roots culture and two of the most powerful contemporary voices to sing out of it in the last quarter century....
Dub N Grub is back for 2025 with the first event happening at the end of this month. This is another first time event for Cumbria as we welcome internationally...
Bio:Guitarist and singer, Heather Cartwright, resides in Glasgow after the completion of her degree in Traditional Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland; "Talent and years of dedication have created...
‘Ambassador of the Blues’ Guy Davis is a two time, back-to-back Grammy nominee, a recipient of the Blues Foundation's, "Keeping the Blues Alive Award" in Theatre, has over two dozen...
We kick off the Dub N Grub after summer season. Inviting guest sound system Messenger all the way from Edinburgh Scotland. Stevie Messenger has been promoting and playing roots sound...
Blantys enthusiasm for music & life is contagious, his songs are very catchy, his music is distinctly individual in a wonderful way. The dynamics of Blantys guitar playing & songs...
IN THIS UNIQUE double-bill, two actor-writers—GRACE KIRKBY & PETER MACQUEEN perform their own one-person shows, each directed by the other. Grace Kirby as a put-upon but compassionate NHS delivery driver, carrying...
We are pleased to welcome back Aba Shanti i The last time he performed at Upfront he blew the roof off the place. He will be playing a set on...
Kris Drever is among Scotland’s most acclaimed and distinctive contemporary musicians, celebrated for his warm voice, virtuosically expressive guitar playing and imaginative and evocative songwriting. Raised in the Orkney Islands,...
The Breath is Manchester-based guitarist Stuart McCallum and singer/flautist Ríoghnach Connolly. They met on the city’s gig circuit in the late noughties. An unlikely pairing though it was, he an...
The intuitive musical interplay between Kathryn and Amy is born out of a long-standing creative friendship. Kathryn's pipes marry beautifully with Amy's exquisite accordion playing. A cascade of jigs, reels,...
The secret of Soothsayers’ longevity is down to the band’s evolution,keeping them relevant in changing times .The band have produced 11 top quality studio albums showcasing song writing that exudes...
Take 300 years of music from around the world, turn it upside down, infuse it with humour, energy, passion and pathos - and you have the recipe with which the...
Steel Foxes are an 8 piece band from Cumbria that have made a solid impression on new audiences across the festival scene last summer. As they get ready for another...
This April, The Bridge returns to the beautiful Upfront Gallery with a powerful new chapter in their story. After their electrifying debut, Ahmed Dickinson Cárdenas and Eduardo Martín reunite to...
As Dub N Grub slowly works its way through some of the UK's top ranking sound system DJs & mic men. After trying to make this happen for many year...
In 2026, Jack Broadbent hits the road in support of Orchids, a deeply personal new album recorded at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. The record, which earned early acclaim and led...
