Monster Ceilidh heading for the Old Fire Station, Carlisle

THE arts and music scene across Cumbria is so vibrant at the moment. The diversity of performances going on from main theatres like Theatre by the Lake and Brewery Arts Centre, Kirkgate Arts Centre to the village halls and community venues with the Rural Highlights Touring Scheme, you could see a different performance every night somewhere in the county.

And The Old Fire Station in Carlisle is another excellent stage for a wide variety of entertainment. I have only been to see comedy performances here, however, I can see how it is an excellent music venue. And I’m hoping to get to see the Monster Ceilidh Band here, who will return to Cumbria on 30 November to present their ‘Electrofolk’ spectacular with the award-winning talents of Accordionist Amy Thatcher and talented young Teeside Violinist Grace Smith.

Their powerful and uncompromising approach has brought them to the attention of many of the major UK Festivals; from Cambridge to Bestival, along with Tanz und Folkfest, Germany and Colours of Ostrava in the Czech Republic and soon to audiences across the world. The band’s experimentation with electronic beats, ‘simply stunning’ (Songlines), has its roots in the traditional but produces something innovative, contemporary and dynamic.

In recent years Monster Ceilidh Band have performed in the region at Kendal Calling & Glasonby Festivals, Kirkgate Arts Centre Cockermouth, along with a Highlights Rural Touring scheme supported mini-tour in October this year. They’ve also played across the border at festivals which include; Knockengorroch World Ceilidh, Audio Soup & Midsummer Music at Gatehouse of Fleet.

The ‘Monsters’ have been guided by bands like Shooglenifty, Martyn Bennet, and the Peatbog Faeries, continuing in the electronic-fusion genre with their self styled ElectroFolk.

D’n’B producer the Touch works together with electronic experimentalist and bassist David de la Haye to augment the compositions of Amy, Grace and Octave Mandolin player, Kieran Szifris. The result is a crucible for smelting riffs, massive chord progressions, intense electronics, folk tunes and a wide variety of styles from simply some of the UK’s finest folk musicians.

and as the band say themselves – This is not a ceilidh, it’s electrofolkmaggeddon!

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