A Light in the Dark is a programme of concerts, ceilidhs & art workshops
in Upper Teesdale & Weardale.
Delivered in partnership with Durham County Council & Killhope Lead Mining Museum,
A Light in the Dark is a creative project that explores the rich history & heritage of the Upper Durham Dales,
breathing life into the landscape through folk dance, music, storytelling & visual art.
As part of our wider programme, M@HoT are proud to present a series of concerts, ceilidhs & workshops, bringing some of the finest folk musicians in the Northeast to venues in SW Durham. So, join us for one, some, or all of our public events scheduled through the Autumn months, and bring a little light into your life through the darkest months of the year.
Monster Ceilidh Band @ Mickleton Village Hall
Monster Ceilidh Band's style is clearly nightclub influenced, pushing the boundaries of contemporary folk in all the right directions. Over the last decade or so, the band’s driving and uncompromising style has taken them to festivals and events all over the UK and European festival circuit bringing a modern and non-patronising approach to the traditional music of the British Isles.
Join us for a night of ceilidh dancing with the Monster Ceilidh Band & storytelling from Malcolm Green from Newcastle-based A Bit Crack Storytellers, as we celebrate the successes of the project together.
Katie Doherty & The Navigators @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook
Katie Doherty & The Navigators Hailing from Teesside and based in Newcastle until she was swept off her feet and up a hill in County Durham by her sheep farming husband, Katie Doherty is an award-winning songwriter. Supported by Grace Smith & Dave Gray as her Navigators, they create beautiful melodies and movements together. Katie's songs are food for the soul, prepare for them to stay with you... To listen to her music, click here.
Join us for an evening of local folk music & storytelling, starring Katie Doherty & The Navigators, and with guest appearances from local youth folk band Wear'd Aliens & stories from Malcolm Green of Newcastle-based A Bit Crack.
Grace Smith Trio @ Mickleton Village Hall
Grace Smith Trio wield the distinct voices of fiddle, concertina, and double bass to cast dynamic, expressive, and reactive musical forces into a dialogue between these three individual yet like-minded musicians. Audiences can expect to be drawn in to share in the group's joy in playing traditional instrumental English folk repertoire and the band's self-penned tunes. Sam Partridge and Bevan Morris join Grace in forming this engaging new folk ensemble, through which the audience can expect to be immersed in a sound world where ideas become reality forged by bellows, bow and bass.
Join us for an evening of local folk music & storytelling, featuring the Grace Smith Trio, with guest appearances from local youth folk band Cream Tees & Malcolm Green from Newcastle-based storytellers, A Bit Crack.
Willow Lantern Workshop, with artist Nat Reid
As part of A Light in the Dark, M@HoT are hosting a series of participatory workshops & events at Killhope as we bring the project to a close. Work with visual artist Nat Reid, who will be lead 2 x 2hr workshops on Thursday 27th October at Killhope Lead Mining Museum.
Taking inspiration from the Spar Boxes, crystals & minerals in the Museum's collection, you'll work independently to create & decorate your own lantern, which you can take home at the end of the day.
Spaces are limited, so click here to book and guarantee your place!
Janice Burns & Jon Doran @ St Cuthbert’s Centre, Crook
Janice Burns & Jon Doran are an Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music. They find their songs in archives that span the depths of our history – songs that tell vivid stories about the nature of life and our place in the world.
Join us for the first of our Autumn events, with support from our very own Cream Tees & with stories scattered throughout the evening from Malcolm Green of Newcastle-based A Bit Crack.