The museum houses puppets from around the world and illustrates the various typesof puppets and the cultures that they relate to. John Parkinson, who is jointfounder of Upfront Arts, launched the project of a puppet theatre over twenty yearsago. The original 80 seat theatre became a 128 seat Arts Venue, with space builtto house a...
Friday 24th July An evening of music & food with Upfront Kitchen Ft Annemarie Quinn This event is free entry although to attend you need to book a table and have your evening meal at Upfront. Advance booking essential (Limited spaces) Tel: 01768484538 to book Originally from UK, Annemarie has lived in Malawi since 2016...
Well known artist, Frances Winder's exhibition of 28 paintings include watercolour, acrylic, gouache and mixed media. There is a range of landscapes, seascapes, flowers and semi abstract paintings, which allow the artist to test and explore the often mystical and atmospheric quality of her subject matter.The exhibtion of small, medium and large paintings, range in...
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 to Broadbent’s 2025 Boisdale 'Jazz/Blues Artist of the Year Award', presented by Jools Holland, showcases his signature slide guitar alongside some beautifully crafted piano pieces...
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 we are buzzing to announce we have finally managed to book Mikey Dread from Channel One Sound System & MC Ras Sherby on the mic....
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 present music from their second album, The Bridge II: En otra dimensión — a vibrant, soulful and deeply human conversation between two of Cuba’s most...
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 busy summer of festivals we welcome them for spring dance to blow out the the cobwebs. Steel Foxes creates a unique sound blending violin, harp...
A full circus in miniature. An amazing experience not to be missed, suitable for all ages. This unique collection of trick circus marionettes was saved for the nation by a Heritage Lottery Grant. It is one of the largest and most complete puppet circus’s in Europe. You will see clowns, jugglers, acrobats, tight-rope walker, lion...
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 Oxford Concert Party charms and delights its audiences wherever they go. Described as “a decidedly unstuffy bunch of superb musicians” (Daily Telegraph) they create a...
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 a joy of music and life, lyrically reflecting on social problems and political pitfalls. In Sep 2025 Soothsayers will release a new album, Fly Higher...
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, heart-wrenching airs, together with percussive clog dancing makes for an irresistible mix. Kathryn’s current release ‘Return to Kielderside’ marks 40 years since her first album...
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 acclaimed guitar whiz, ex long-time member of The Cinematic Orchestra and a softly spoken Manchester urbanite, she a folk singer with a larger-than-life personality and...
This year’s Christmas production at Upfront Puppet Theatre is a magical retelling of the classic French fairy tale: “Puss in Boots.” This faithful adaptation brings the beloved story to life with a cast of expertly crafted long string marionettes, stunning special effects and an original musical score. The story begins with three sons inheriting very...
Our guest artists for Christmas are Susan Glassford and ceramicist Gordon Cooke. Our current resident 2025 are artists John Sibson, Jamie Oldham, Geoffrey Smith & Mark A Pearce and ceramicists Syl Macro, Dorit Deutsch & Chris Cox.
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, Drever has carved out a unique place at the intersection of traditional folk and modern acoustic music, as a solo artist and as one third...
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 resident dub / reggae custom built North Fire Sound. Aba Shanti i has been a resident sound system at Notting Hill Carnival since 1993. He...
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 meds to a cast of memorable characters (all played by Grace), along the the Cumbrian stretch of Hadrian’s Wall and Peter Macqueen as a butterfly lover...
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 are breathtaking and he puts an amazing amount of energy into his live show & everything he does. "The human jukebox of legend, the almighty...
A mixed exhibition featuring work by a young, local Fine Art Graduate and work by three other Cumbrian artists - Jamie Oldham, John Sibson & Geoffrey Smith. Georgia Dalzell has just graduated from Leeds Arts University and she has been accepted at The Royal College of Art in London, to do her MA. She will be exhibiting...
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 system music since 1987. A true pioneer of the Scottish sound system scene. Stevie and his crew have been promoting one of the longest standing...
A traditional marionette performance, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen. A beautiful & lyrical production with Chinese flute music by Yue Guo. A nightingale sings and charms the Emperor, until a mechanical bird takes its place. When the mechanical bird explodes, the real nightingale returns to sing on its own… Suitable for ages...
A Celebration of 30 Years Green Door are an artists' co-operative of over 100 members, living in the South Lakeland area and working across all art forms. The exhibition will welcome "All at Sea" - a group of Kendal based singers of Sea Shanties to come and sing on Saturday 30th August 11am - 12:30pm.
An exhibition of work by artists who exhibit regularly at Upfront and some who are new to Upfront - Geoffrey Smith, John Sibson, Mark A Pearce, Kate Durdy, Eddie Potts, Ray Ogden, Andrea Kershaw, Emily Brooks, Roger Dewhurst & Mark Hetherington.The exhibtion includes mixed media, oils, watercolour, acrylics, linocut, digital prints & photographs.
‘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 Blues Music Award nominations for Best Acoustic Blues Artist, Best Song, and Best Acoustic Album of the Year. He has recently added Broadway Composer to...
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 a guitarist of the first order" (The Quintessential Review). Her virtuosic fingerstyle and flat-picked guitar playing provides a vibrant backdrop to her self-penned songs and...
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 renown Sinai Sound System from Sheffield for an intimate session as they meet local sound system crew North Fire Sound. Sheffield based, Sinai Sound System...
We are a cooperative of individual artists, connected by our love of printmaking in all its forms. As champions of printmaking, we inspire and advocate through exhibitions, events and workshops, promoting printmaking to new audiences and inspiring beginners. We are inclusive and supportive of each other to develop as artists, relishing the connections we make...
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. Both come from the Northern Isles (Kris from Orkney and Chris from Shetland) and represent the strength of those identities in the music they inhabit....
Living in Kendal, Frances is a regular exhibitor at Upfront. She has a fine Art Degree from Manchester, as well as an Art Teachers Diploma. She has had a varied art career, including working for architects and landscape architects, in advertising agencies and at the same time painting and making ceramics."I need to paint, I love...
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 to learn her unique way of putting together flowers and foliage to create your own personally designed and made Christmas wreath. Mulled wine and nibbles...
We will hold you spellbound as we tell you a tale based on one of the 101 Arabian Night Stories, told by Scheherazade to her husband, the Sultan. Meet the Genie of the Lamp, watch Aladdin fly his magic carpet and see if Aladdin finally wins the hand of the Princess. Fully staged with lighting,...
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, vibrant energy and captivating rhythms. Originally from Tel Aviv, Raz, owner of Fossil Studios is an award-winning, chart topping, multi-platinum producer. His repertoire includes a...
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 Fire Sound - custom built reggae sound system. Solo Banton has worked with the likes of Mungo's Hi Fi, Dubkasm, The Uppercut Band, Gentleman's Dun...
Inspired by the Power and Beauty of Nature Jamie grew up in Cumbria under the Howgill Fells, has a degree in fine art from Bath and is an active member of the Lake Artists Society, plus the Keswick and Penrith art groups. Currently, he exibits in the region as well as in West London. He...
'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 time. Their first album was produced by Bongo Joe records and the band has already performed at Womex 2020, Womad 2019, Roskilde 2018, Sauti Za...
A multimedia group of Scottish artists . An exploration of environment, landscape and feelings in a variety of different mediums. All work being a result of the creative spark whether it is paintings, constructions, drawings, digital art or sculptural pieces.Artists include Ian Bell, Shane Connolly, Paul Marsden, Shaun McLaren, Iain Piercy, Lindsay Storstein, Colin Thomson...
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 welcome Omega Nebula for their first venue show in Cumbria. Electronic future-dub duo OMEGA NEBULA are a force. Their music takes the most powerful elements...
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 your food while listening to the sounds of talented local musician Paddy Rogan. Paddy has performed at many events at Upfront over the years and...
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 your food while listening to the sounds of talented local musician Paddy Rogan. Paddy has performed at many events at Upfront over the years and...
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. Performing finely crafted songs with stunning vocals and exhilarating instrumentals, Mishra span eclectic moods; from meditative raag inspired improvisations to high-energy celtic dance tunes underpinned...
A marionette performance based on the traditional fairy tale.Meet Daisy the cow, the giant, the fiddle playing leprechaun with magic beans and the hen that lays golden eggs.Jack is brave, but can he fool the giant, escape and save the day?The show lasts approximately 1.5 hours with an interval in the middle and the opportunity...
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 to keep the business open with as little disruption as possible. Please support us and the musicians who very kindly changed their schedule. We have...
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 years ago. An ex-circus clown and fire eater Rory is a one-man-soul-dance-band, and poet. He has a natural troubadour's talent for weaving magical, musical, storytelling...
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 Webzell A comic radio play presented live on stage with the assistance of the audience. Suitable for ages 7 - 97.An American Wild West town 1870....
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 producers within the Dub & Reggae scene to Upfront Arts Venue intimate performance for Dub N Grub all played on the full North Fire Sound...
A full circus in miniature. An amazing experience not to be missed, suitable for all ages. This unique collection of trick circus marionettes was saved for the nation by a Heritage Lottery Grant. It is one of the largest and most complete puppet circus’s in Europe. You will see clowns, jugglers, acrobats, tight-rope... plus the...
A celebration of the arrival of Spring by Green Door Artists Green Door Artists have been motivated by the vitality of Spring. A response to this season’s promise of renewal, possibility, and hope. Spring reigniting the land and the things that live below, on, or above it. The colours, life and dynamic of Spring's energy,...
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 it, Olivia’s melodies and lyrics evoke a sense of the unseen but tangible depth and beauty in life and the world around us. An emerging...
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 is a great pleasure to bring this session together. Mighty Ben & Jofis have been regularly hosting events across Scotland. Jofis has also been producing...
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 on French, English, Eastern European and Scandinavian music, with playful and inventive arrangements that reflect the diverse array of experience brought by members of the...
It is a pleasure for Upfront to host an exhibition by Julie Dumbarton. Her first solo exhibition as a young artist was with us 22 years ago. She recently returned to Cumbria having lived in Scotland for 20 years. Julie has has exhibited nationally and internationally and won numerous awards. She was also on sky...
A Magical Winter Fairy Tale - A Perfect Outing for Christmas. Left behind in the forest, can two innocent children survive? Hansel is quite smart, but it takes his sister Gretel to save the day and bring about a happy ending. A marionette puppet show with scenery, special effects & musical score.The show takes you...
An expression of Life, Colour and Landscape by Potters and Painters This exhibition has been curated by Cumbrian artist, Frances Winder who is a regular exhibitor at Upfront:“The exhibition is a collection of works from friends whose work I love, rich and complex designs in ceramics and in paint, or bold and exciting work. Sensitive...
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 toured the world with original music productions, sound system and live vocal sets. Having worked with the likes of Barrington Levy, Dawn Penn, Tippa Irie,...
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 animated by lyrical songwriting, fine fingerstyle guitar playing, multi-instrumental musicianship and ‘the glorious tones of their blood harmony’ (Sam Lee). Brothers James and Sam Gillespie...
Ceramic Exhibition by 12 members of Northern Potters - Northwest
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 diverse collectibles, the Fair offers a unique opportunity to those in and around the Penrith area to buy (or sell).
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 and highlights the coming together of cultures and music... dreamlike and mesmerising" - Folk Radio UK Exploring the parallels and celebrating the idiosyncrasies of both...
6th - 24th September The 20 images in the exhibition, each one mounted and framed, show the moods and movementof the Solway’s waters, particularly around the beaches of Dumfries and Galloway.“I think the photographs reveal aspects of Solway beaches that are less often noticed,” says David.“Some feature the same location but in different weather or...
Jamie grew up in Cumbria and after living near Bath and exhibiting regularly in many London galleries he decided in 2022 to return to Cumbria and live near the Solway coast.He loves the work of the landscapists Fred Cumming and Kurt Jackson, but his greatest influence (and greatest teacher) has been his late father, Tom. Upfront...
Summer Puppet Show A traditional marionette performance, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen. A beautiful & lyrical production with Chinese flute music by Yue Guo. A nightingale sings and charms the Emperor, until a mechanical bird takes its place. When the mechanical bird explodes, the real nightingale returns to sing on its own...
We welcome three new artists to Upfront as part of our 2023 Summer Exhibition.Sheena McCurrach, from Galloway who has become known for her use of vibrant colour and texture, particularly those found in our winter landscape, and also for her distinctive and sympathetic approach to portraying birds, trees and other animals.Mavis Atkinson Smith, from Dumfries...
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, the bluesy melodies of middle eastern praise songs, the exuberant sway of Cuban dance music and the tuneful essence of Gospel while honouring jazz heroes...
Paintings & Sculpture Hannah's paintings are full of colour, life & magic. She wants people to approach her work with an open mind and open gaze and let their imagination do the rest.Her inspiration is nature and the natural world and she is fascinated by the similarities between the macrocosm and the microcosm. Stuart is...
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 a ‘true pioneer’ by Classic FM - to present ‘The Bridge’. Launching an expansive tour of the UK and Ireland, Martin and Dickinson perform the...
A Group Exhibition of Paintings, Prints & Mixed Media by Susan Dobson, Christina Mingard, Kate Durdy & Eddie Potts. We also have ceramics by Chris Cox, Syl Macro, Brian Goodall & Dorit Deutsch, plus work by our regular artists for 2023, Mary Ann Rogers, Mark A Pearce & Geoffrey Smith.
Jack and the Beanstalk by Clive Chandler Performances at 11am and 2:30pmA traditional tale with original twists! When the family's good fortune is stolen away and a grey cloud hangs over their lives, it falls to Jack to bring the sunshine back. This is not the tale of a boy who is lazy and good...
Professor Clive Chandler's - World Famous - Punch and Judy All the silliness that is to be expected in the hands of an expert who has delighted audiences across the UK and Europe for more than 30 years. The age age-old drama is presented here with particular wit and wisdom, much mirth and mayhem, and...
“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 with a beat: a unique blend of Afrobeat grooves with deliciously rich harmonies, languidly graceful cello and playfully funky clarinet, all tied together by the...
Shows at 11am & 2:30pm About SeedHeart, from Indigo Moon Theatre Meet Grey. Our journey begins as Grey finds themself trapped inside a jar. They try to remember how they got there and how they could be free… SeedHeart tells the important tale of human impact on the environment and questions what we can do to restore...
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 An Dannsa Dub. Born from a love of traditional Scottish folk, dub reggae and dance music, together they summon the joyous, communal energy of a...
"Riddles, Tunes & Tales from The Tale Coat" A unique collection of tales to treasure – from the nation’s first Laureate for Storytelling, Taffy Thomas, MBE.Storytelling sessions at 11am & 3pm"The master storyteller from Grasmere, travelled the length and breadth of the country. People would come from miles around to hear him tell his tales....
Northumberland-based artist, Mary Ann Rogers, paints vibrant watercolour paintings full of energy, from an in-depth knowledge of her subject matter. Her studio is surrounded by the wild hills of Northumberland, whose inhabitants, along with her own menagerie of birds, feature in her work.Mary Ann has been a regular exhibitor at Upfront for many years. Her...
Mark is a professional printmaker and landscape artist living and working in the coastal village of Ravenglass in the beautiful Lake District. His home studio is situated on the shores of an estuary with stunning views of the surrounding fells and sea. These local landscapes provide much of the inspiration for his paintings and original linocut...
A Magical Winter Fairy Tale - A Perfect Outing for Christmas An original Upfront Puppet Theatre production, involving different puppet types, special scenic effects, projected moving images and a revolving stage. Musical score based on Russian folk music. Gerda sets off on a magical journey to rescue her lost friend Kai from the clutches of...
Eight ceramicists express their philosophies, motivations and styles. Ceramicists will include Nigel Edmondson, Geoff Cox, John Calver, Sally Toms, Emma Louise Wilson, Lara Clahane, John Davenport and Jan Huntley-Peace.
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 autumn/winter 2019/20 with his modern interpretations of traditional West African Mandingue songs and rhythms supporting Gruff Rhys on the Pang! album tour. N’famady’s primary instrument...
Hand Shadow Artist - Drew Colby Suitable for Adult & 12 years+ What is this magic of light and dark that so transfixes young and old? It is the ancient art of Hand Shadows (or Shadowgraphy) - the art of creating and animating shadow images using little more than the performer's hands. In Drew Colby's...
Hand Shadow Artist - Drew Colby Based in London, Drew is founder of the Finger and Thumb Theatre, specialising in hand shadow puppets and ‘instant puppetry’. Described as ‘a man who can create almost anything with his hand shadows’, he has performed all over the world. The new company name is "Shadowgraphy", which covers the...
Twelve artists express their philosophies, motivations and styles Artists will include Frances Winder, Kay Leech, Rosie Wates, Angie Mitchell, Tina Balmer, Annie Luke Turner, Kate Bentley, Heather Hannah, Liz Tracey, Kath Lockhart, Catherine MacDiarmid & Kate Bigland
(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 playing reggae with a roots focus, the soundsystem was based in the Shepherds’ Bush area of West London.Nick Manasseh started producing the same year, beginning...
Daniel Ibbotson "This exhibition will tell the story of my inclusion and ongoing adventure at this year’s Venice Biennale". I was asked by European Cultural Centre to exhibit at this year’s show and it was an opportunity too good to turn down. I decided to do something really risky and go and live in the...
The Upfront Gallery Summer Exhibition includes some of our regular artists and some new artists. There is a selection of work in a variety of media - oil, acrylic, charcoal, multi media, ceramics & printmaking. Artists include Colin Blanchard, Heather Blanchard, Kate Durdy, Rachel Gibson, Syl Macro, Eddie Potts, Gregory Rankine, Geoffrey Smith & Malcolm...
“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 that he typically works with, he went into a tiny studio and made an achingly beautiful solo album. Caplan is now back in the UK...
From 23rd July to 3rd September (every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday).
Original Chinese Paintings by Milly (Mrs Shang Chaofeng) This exhibition of Milly’s work has been brought to us by John Keith, local art collector, who is an Upfront Gallery supporter and introduced us to Milly's work a few years ago. He dubbed Chaofeng ( Milly, in English), “The Chinese Modigliani”. She was unaware who Modigliani...
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 will play his Sussex downland inspired "The Crest The Coombe The Twitten" and the richly melodic “Book of Spells” on a concert guitar made from a 5,000 year...
Paintings by Stephen Livingstone Beehives are places of mystery and magic. Even beekeepers, who over many centuries have developed an intimate, symbiotic relationship with honeybees, can never properly understand the complex inner-workings of their hives. The paintings in this exhibition are a visualisation of the inside of a working beehive, an attempt to represent the...
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 and beyond. The virtuosic 5-piece weave together a multitude of instruments to take listeners on a journey from the contemplative to the euphoric and even...
"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 over the Uk in concerts and festivals as well as on the continent; playing concerts in Portugal, Ibiza, Czech Republic, Germany, Finland and Austria. Their...
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 best reggae sound system DJs and vocalist in the world perform on the custom built high power reggae sound system North Fire Sound at...
We will hold you spellbound as we tell you a tale based on one of the 101 Arabian Night Stories, told by Scheherezade to her husband, the Sultan. Meet the Genie of the Lamp, watch Aladdin fly his magic carpet and see if Aladdin finally wins the hand of the Princess. Fully staged with lighting,...
A Post Lockdown Collection of Paintings by Frances Winder "I found that lockdown and the isolation and stress caused by Covid created a big problem with my art work. It paralysed me. I found myself unable to pick up a brush, only able to sketch very locally. I was cut off from my inspiration which...
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 choose to put them in – western swing, blues, country, rock & roll or whatever else – as long as you understand that they’re 100%...
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 contributions of an improved and affordable menu of food specially for the event.This time we focus on the locals DJ & selectors from Cumbria to...
DEBBY AKAM - "THINKING IN COLOUR" . Paintings + Woodcut Prints. New paintings on canvas and original woodcut prints are investigations of layered space created through colour relationships and gestural brush marks. Working with colour energises and motivates me, and I am concerned with its’ potential as a source of positive emotional response linking personal...
Upfront Puppet Theatre's Christmas Production A full circus in miniature. This is an amazing experience not to be missed, suitable for all ages. This unique collection of trick circus marionettes was saved for the nation by a Heritage Lottery Grant. It is one of the largest and most complete puppet circus’s in Europe. A fully...
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 wasn’t! Bah! Dead? Humbug, Mr. Dickens! Dead? As sure as the moths in my wardrobe have be-shredded my best nightcap, Marley was not dead but...
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 for the original date these will be carried over with exactly the same seating plan. If you cannot make the new date, please contact us...
in association with "Proseed" and coordinated by Daniel Ibbotson An eclectic exhibition allowing over 50 artists to exhibit in the gallery, some for the first time. The exhibition is part of "Proceed" who began opening pop-up exhibitions during Lockdown to give artists a platform to sell their work and to have a presence.
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 country. High energy, unhinged, and musically extravagant, taking traditional acoustic idioms and delivering with punk abandonment and virtuosic flare. A dynamic three piece offering a...
October 26 @ 2:00 pm - October 30th @ 2:00 pm The Three Billy Pigs production by Noisy Oyster is for children 3 years and over. It blends two classic fairy tales – The Three Little Pigs and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Noisy Oyster use beautifully crafted puppets, light hearted story telling, live music and a little bit of...
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 Friendly, Vegetarian Food, Kids Art Workshop, Dancing, Fully Licensed Bar, Seating, Outdoor Space. Line up -Little Rocket - (Local Selector)Mighty Oak Sound - (Edinburgh Sound...
A joint exhibition by husband and wife artists, Andy and Gwen Adair. The exhibition will include ceramics and 2D work by Andy and paintings by Gwen. Artist's Statement - ANDREW ADAIR I have been a practicing ceramic artist for over thirty years and have always tried to maintain a playful approach to clay, allowing the material...
Peter has been a professional artist for thirty-five years and has a studio in Allendale, Northumberland. He is increasingly inspired by the landscape of the North, but also paints cityscape, portraits, the figure and still life. His influences increasingly are the painters of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century; the realist painters of the...
Upfront Puppet Theatre will finally be performing once again. July 21st – August 30th. Shows are at 2pm but please check performance days below. All shows will be socially distanced and we will seat you in your booking group “bubbles”. We ask that you enter through the big theatre doors at the back of the...
EXHIBITION CONTINUES UNTIL 8TH AUGUST The exhibition has paintings by railway artists who create evocative images of the railways of the past and these are combined with the unseen photographs by the late Trevor Grimshaw. Trevor photographed the rusting and abandoned trains, at the time when all steam trains were retired from service. Many of...
We're back.... Oh yes, WE ARE !!! Live puppet theatre performances return with a 3 day celebration of puppet fun. A unique double bill of shows each day - suitable for all the family. Tickets: £10 each £35 (family of four) per morning or afternoon session. Online booking link at the bottom. Please be aware...
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 for an intimate socially distanced seated performance. Rob Heron and Tom Cronin don’t care what genre you choose to put them in – western swing,...
Spring Exhibition by Green Door Artists 18th May – 27th June This exhibition celebrates a new beginning for the artists of Green Door after many months without an exhibition. Everything was planned and the exhibition hung in December, when we went into "Lockdown" once again. Ironically called "Green Shoots", this is definitely an exhibition of...
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 perform live for many months. This is a socially distanced seated event with a limited capacity. The theatre space has been rearranged to create a larger floor...
The Upfront Puppet Theatre Christmas production is "Puss in Boots". The show is based on the original French fairy tale. The father of the family dies and the oldest son inherits the flour mill; the second a donkey and the youngest son, Marco, inherits a cat! BUT this is no ordinary cat. Puss has magical...
12th November – 10th January The Upfront Christmas Ceramics Exhibition. A unique and diverse selection of ceramics.
PAINTINGS by PHILIPPA HEADLEY 29th September - 13th December I have spent many years hiking in the Lakeland Fells and walking along the Jurassic Coast. Whether I’m viewing a precipitous cliff top from the sea or gazing at a fell yet to be climbed I find wonderful opportunities to paint. This everchanging environment, eroded by...
A full circus in miniature. This is an amazing experience not to be missed, suitable for all ages. This unique collection of trick circus marionettes was saved for the nation by a Heritage Lottery Grant. It is one of the largest and most complete puppet circus’s in Europe. You will see clowns, jugglers, acrobats, tight-rope...
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 and perhaps a tear evoked by the mastery of the Dickens pen, will be brought to life by Mr Macqueen…….and of course it wouldn’t be...
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 the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, his interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His solo shows are intense, eclectic,...
5th November – 12th January This exhibition will feature work by Green Door artists celebrating their diversity and originality. The title ‘Kaleidoscope’ offers artists the freedom to approach their subjects using a wide variety of media and styles, and provides motivation and stimulus. Some may work from the word itself but others could choose to...
Ink Painting (sumi-e and suibo kuga) Calligraphy – Arts of the Brush EXPLORE THE MIND – EXPERIENCE SUMI-E A practical workshop introducing the techniques & methods, along with an overview of the masterpieces of this art form. About Irene Irene Sanderson is a painter, illustrator, printmaker and calligrapher, working mainly in ink and watercolour on absorbent...
The Three Billy Pigs production by Noisy Oyster is for children 3 years and over. It blends two classic fairy tales – The Three Little Pigs and The Three Billy goats Gruff. Noisy Oyster use beautifully crafted puppets, light hearted story telling, live music and a little bit of eco-awareness in a pig style. Event...
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 of her 2019 Tour with fellow singer songwriter Ben Bedford, from America. “A couple of years ago, at 3 in the morning, two songwriters collided...
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 fusion set. Mbilou is a ‘Nganga’ (spiritual healer / ceremony leader), musician and dancer from the Bwiti traditional religion of the forest regions of equatorial...
Painted images and photographs of a journey around Japan visiting beautiful and mysterious Shinto shrines – the greatest, the oldest, and the newest, enshrining a sun goddess, a mountain, a fox, the mythical founders of the nation and heroes of national modernisation. This journey along with conversations with Shinto priests, historians, ultra-rightist activists, atom bomb...
Anna Mieke is a singer – songwriter – acoustic folk musician from Wicklow, Ireland. She performs on guitar, bouzouki and piano; backed by 2 other musicians on fiddle, harmonium & percussion. Following on from the release of several live performance videos and studio-recorded singles in 2018 and 2019, Anna Mieke released her debut album “Idle...
We will hold you spellbound as we tell you a tale based on one of the 1001 Arabian Nights stories, told by Scheherezade to her husband, the Sultan. Meet the Genie of the lamp, watch Aladdin fly his magic carpet and see if Aladdin finally wins the hand of the Princess. Fully staged with lighting,...
David MacGregor Guitar Concert “IMPROVISED JOURNEY” ……Travel the World with Sound. Solo world-Jazz guitar concert and storytelling show in which David takes the audience on a journey around the world with sound. He uses a fingerstyle technique to play a mixture of original compositions and arrangements of world-renowned songs, as well as telling the stories...
A traditional marionette performance, based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen. A beautiful & lyrical production with Chinese flute music by Yue Guo. A nightingale sings and charms the Emperor, until a mechanical bird takes its place. When the mechanical bird explodes, the real nightingale returns to sing on its own terms. It is...
Experience the thundering, exhilarating rhythms of Taiko in a dynamic and captivating show, and gain a unique insight into the world of this powerful art form. A fusion of primal rhythm, energy, choreographed movement and infectious humour to captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds… After years of performing at some of the country’s most...
Based on the fairytale by Hans Christian Andersen. A stunning and original production, using a mixture of puppet types and special scenic effects which includes projected moving images and a revolving stage. Musical score based on Russian folk music. This adventure takes us on the river, to a magic garden with talking flowers, to a...
Concert guitarist and composer Richard Durrant makes a welcome return to Upfront. He will perform solo, instrumental Durrant originals, JS Bach and British Folk from his new double album Stringhenge on a guitar made from a 5,000 year old English Oak tree, his four string Uffington Tenor Guitar and a humble ukulele. The album Stringhenge...
We are very pleased to have Zion Train playing at Upfront Arts Venue as part of their 30 year live on the road anniversary tour. The band have played festivals and venues across the globe, clocking up over 2750 shows. They were one of the first acts to pioneer the cross over between Reggae and...
This production is based on a version of the story by Michael Morpurgo. The book illustrations by Emma Chichester Clark, were the inspiration for the scenery and costumes. Northumbrian musicians "Landermason", have composed the beautiful musical score. This version of the classic fairy tale about the mysterious piper who visits Hamelin town and leaves with...
Here at Upfront we believe this band to be on of the top Reggae Dub bands in the UK and we are so happy to finally welcome them to Upfront Arts Venue for a standing concert. Soulful UK Reggae in a Dubwise fashion. 9 piece band – Performing on custom built Reggae Sound System Resonators...
Following a standing ovation concert last year ,the duo are back. Ahmed Dickinson Cardenas is described as “a true pioneer” (Classic FM Magazine). The award winning London-based Cuban guitarist, is one of the finest performers of the Cuban classical guitar school. His sixth album, features Grammy nominee and fellow Cuban guitarist – Eduardo Martin. In...
In our Cinderella, Bert the mouse is turned magically into a unicorn to pull the pumpkin coach and take Cinders to the ball. The ugly sisters were played by both marionette and rod puppets worked from our puppeteers pit. Cinderella Gallery
A spectacular performance, involving a mixture of 40 rod and string puppets. Based on the Grimm's fairy tale, performed on a revolving stage, set in medieval times with traditional period music. This show appeals to all ages, both children and adults. Will evil be conquered by good? Can anything be done to undo a spell...
Our first show, staged in our original building and still loved today for its sliding wagon scenery, magic flashes bangs and accordion music based on traditional folk music. Our first show, staged in our original building and still loved today for its sliding wagon scenery, magic flashes bangs and accordion music based on traditional folk...
This production was made for our new and larger theatre using a combination of long stringed marionettes, from our two mobile bridges, as well as rod puppets worked from our puppeteers pit beneath the floor of the stage. Pinocchio Gallery
