Music

Listed on this page are organisations and events in Allerdale which either showcase musical performances or help in the creation of new work. Many of the organisations and events listed have been supported by, or are regularly delivered with support from, Allerdale Borough Council.
(Photograph of Solfest performer by Stuart Clarke.)

Arts Out West

venues throughout Allerdale and Copeland
Tel: 01946 852637   Email: bob.pritchard@copelandbc.gov.uk
www.allerdale.gov.uk/artsoutwest
Arts Out West is an innovative arts programme which encourages and supports the use of village halls as venues. The programme regularly includes a variety of musical concerts as well as talks and plays. For more information visit the Arts Out West page.

Carnegie Theatre,Workington

Finkle Street, Workington, Cumbria CA14 2BD
Tel: 01900 602122    Email: carnegie@allerdale.gov.uk
www.carnegietheatre.co.uk
A regular programme of mainly music and dance events is enjoyed by local people and tourists.  Classes and courses are held in the Carnegie Arts Centre every week, and Monroes Bar is regarded as one of Cumbria's best live music scenes.

CockRock

Tel: 01900 602122   Email: mail@cockermouthrockfestival.com
www.cockermouthrockfestival.com/
Cockermouth Rock Music Festival is a non profit festival set up to help provide support in the way of funding for two great local causes, The Great North Air Ambulance and Cockermouth Mountain Rescue as well as to encourage and promote local bands and musicians. The 2008 festival will be a two day event on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 July 2009 at Wellington Farm, Cockermouth.  Visit their website for more details.

Cockermouth Music Society

c/o Fell Edge, High Ireby, Wigton, Cumbria CA7 1HF
Tel: 016973 71397   Email: cmusoc@btopenworld.com
www.cockermouth-music-society.org.uk
Cockermouth Music Society organise a programme of concerts showcasing the talents of some of the best UK and international classical musicians. All concerts are held in the United Reformed Church, Main Street, Cockermouth, not far from Wordsworth House.

Dearham Brass Band

Email: dearhamband@hotmail.co.uk
http://dearhamband.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk
Dearham Brass Band was established in 1881 and was formerly a colliery band. They perform at local festivals, carnivals and musical events. In 2004 the group visited Chicago where they performed at a school and competed in the US Open Brass Band Championship, where they were placed third.

Keswick Choral Society

Tel: Ian Hare, director 017687 73342
Email: ian.hare@zen.co.uk  
www.keswickchoral.org.uk
Keswick Choral Society, founded over 100 years ago, is a mixed voice choir of about 45 members, and welcome singers of all ages and abilities who would like to join. The choir rehearses in Crosthwaite Parish Room, Keswick on Tuesday evenings 7pm -9 pm from September until April. Our aim is to enable people from Keswick and its surrounding area to sing together, enjoy learning, performing a varied repertoire of classical and modern choral music. We give a Christmas and Spring Concert each year, also performing in the Cumbria Rural Choirs concert in the Sands Centre Carlisle in which singers from all over Cumbria take part. If you are interested in joining please contact Ian Hare or visit our website.

Keswick Jazz Festival

c/o Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5DJ
Tel: 017687 74411   email: enquiries@theatrebythelake.com
www.theatrebythelake.co.uk
Keswick Jazz Festival has been running since 1992 and takes place at Theatre by the Lake and a dozen venues throughout the town. The Festival will take place in May 2009 and the programme will comprise of 150 jazz events across a dozen venues in Keswick.

Keswick Music Society

c/o Theatre by the Lake, Lakeside, Keswick, Cumbria CA12 5DJ
General enquiries can be made to the Hon. Secretary, Mary Cooke 017687 77235. 
http://www.keswick-music-society.org.uk/
Keswick Music Society promotes classical music concerts at the Theatre by the Lake. The season of eight concerts runs from September to April. Most are given by soloists or small ensembles and there are two orchestral concerts, all by musicians of the highest national and international reputations. Subscription members have reserved seats at all concerts: details available from the Membership Secretary, Elaine Moor (017687 71162).  Seats for individual concerts can be booked directly with the Theatre box office (017687 74411). 

The Kirkgate Centre

Kirkgate, Cockermouth, Cumbria CA13 9PJ
Tel: 01900 826448   Email: enquiries@thekirkgate.com
www.thekirkgate.com
The Kirkgate Centre is an independent arts trust based in a converted Victorian school building. It runs a wide ranging year-round programme including a variety of music concerts, from world music, jazz and blues to folk, country, reggae and classical music. The Kirkgate also hosts touring theatre, regular film screenings and talks, and is used by a number of groups for classes in art, foreign languages, dance, drama and music.

Maryport Blues Festival

Maryport Festivals Ltd, Project Office, Maritime Museum, 1 Shipping Brow, Maryport, Cumbria CA15 6AB
Tel Maryport Festivals Ltd: 01900 817200   Email: info@maryportblues.com
www.maryportblues.com
Maryport Blues Festival was set up in 1999 and is now run by a not-for-profit social enterprise business, Maryport Festivals Ltd. In addition to the main marquee which attracts artists of international renown, live bands play in many of the town's pubs over the festival weekend. The 2009 Maryport Blues festival takes place 24 to 26 July 2009. 

Monroes Bar

Finkle Street, Workington, Cumbria CA14 2BD
Tel: 01900 602122    Email: carnegie@allerdale.gov.uk
www.monroesbar.co.uk
www.myspace.com/monroesbar
Monroes Bar is regarded as one of Cumbria's best live music venues and promotes national and local rock, indie, ska and punk bands most weekends during the year.

Silloth Music & Beer Festival

The Green, Silloth-on-Solway, Cumbria CA7 4DA 

For tickets tel Carnegie Arts Centre on 01900 602122    Email: carnegie@allerdale.gov.uk
www.sillothbeerfestival.co.uk
Silloth Music & Beer Festival began in 2003 and runs every year at the beginning of September (check their website for dates). The Festival is organised by Silloth Festivals Ltd, a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers. Headliners in 2008 included The Searchers, John Otway and The Hamsters. The venue is a giant marquee holding 1,600 people situated on the green between the town and the esplanade. The festival also includes over 75 real Ales and Ciders from some of the country's most interesting brewers, including Silloth's local brew from Derwent Brewery, Carlisle State Bitter.

Solfest

Tarns, near Silloth, Cumbria
www.solwayfestival.co.uk
Solfest began in 2004 and has sold out for the last three years. The organisers pride themselves on the festival's family-friendly facilities and disabled access, as well as providing great music, food, workshops and entertainment. 

Solway Arts Society

Nigel Sidaway - Secretary, The Gill House, Bromfield, Aspatria, Cumbria CA7 3ND
For tickets/details, tel Wigton Library: 016973 66150 or Billy Bowman's Music Shop: 01900 826708
Solway Arts is a voluntary charity promoting professional arts for the public in Allerdale. Their wide-ranging programme includes events throughout Allerdale, and shows by a number of reputable theatre companies. Past programmes have also included jazz and classical concerts as well as puppet shows, poetry readings, and art and craft exhibitions.

SoundWave

Cre8 Building, 8 Oxford Street, workington, Cumbria, CA14 2AH
Tel: 01900 325007    Email: info@sound-wave.info
www.sound-wave.info
Soundwave a Social Enterprise focusing on Music and incorporating projects such as Sing Up Communities, Ambisonics training and Cumbria's Youth Music Action Zone, funded by the national charity Youth Music. They facilitate music-making for all ages but specialise in music for young people up to the age of 18 through a number of projects including drumming and songwriting. Soundwave is focused on providing opportunity for those living in areas of social and economic need. To find out more, visit their website.

Wigton Choral Society

c/o Elaine Smith, Secretary, 13 Stonehouse Park, Thursby, Carlisle, Cumbria CA5 6NS
Tel: 01228 710755   Email: secretary@wigtonchoral.org.uk
http://www.wigtonchoral.org.uk/
Wigton Choral Society was founded more than fifty years ago and has gained a reputation for a high standard of performance with imaginative programming. The choir currently has about sixty-five mixed voices and a repertoire which includes both religious and secular music from the 15th to the 21st centuries. The choir holds two major concert a year in St. Mary's Church, Wigton, and also forms a significant part of Cumbria Rural Choirs. Rehearsals are held Thursday evenings 7.30pm - 9.30pm at the Methodist Church, Wigton. Visit their website for more information.