The first place that events usually get listed is at wegottickets.com/ashburtonarts. Sometimes they get listed there before they appear below. You can also book tickets there (+10% booking fee) or email boxoffice@ashburtonarts.org.uk to reserve and pay on the door (cash or card). See Access, Tickets & Finding Us for more about why there are three ticket prices, plus other useful info about coming to events at Ashburton Arts Centre. To be kept up to date with everything going on at Ashburton Arts Centre, join our mailing list.
May 2025
Ahmed Dickinson and Eduardo Martín: virtuoso guitar duo from CubaThursday 22 May 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
The show compiles some of Grammy nominee composer Eduardo’s most alluring works for two guitars. Prepare to listen to classical styles merged with rock and son montunos, old Yoruba chants or feel-good rumbas with funk- boleros, and new-age tunes and cinematic pieces sitting alongside Cuban tumbaos with slap bass.
Sold Out: Martha Tilston
Friday 23 May 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
“She has probably the purest voice I have heard and at times it sent shivers up and down my spine” BBC
DARTMOOR – OPEN TO ALL? A conversation with Kate Ashbrook, Matthew Kelly, Guy Shrubsole and Lewis Winks
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 9:30 AM
More info and tickets
Who really holds the power on Dartmoor? As a National Park, Dartmoor is supposed to be accessible to all, and until recently was the only place in the country you could wild camp freely. But a recent court case has thrown all that into doubt. Can we feel confident about being able to access Southern England’s biggest wilderness in future? Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival
ROCK IDOLS – DARTMOOR’S EXTRAORDINARY TORS: Wyl Menmuir in conversation with Alex Murdin and Sophie Pierce
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 11:00 AM
More info and tickets
Fantastical yet natural, Dartmoor’s 280-million-year-old tors are among the most iconic landmarks in southern Britain. Victorian antiquarians described them as ‘rock idols’, believing them to be stone deities worshipped by the Druids. Thousands of years before that, they inspired our ancestors who built ceremonial stone rows and circles aligned on them…
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival
THE SECRETS OF CUT HILL AND PILES HILL: Uncovering the lives of the ancestors – A talk by DNP archaeologists Lee Bray and Andy Crabb
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 12:30 PM
More info and tickets
In August 2024 a Bronze Age burial cist — described as exceptional — was excavated at Cut Hill, one of the moor’s highest and most remote sites. And the year before that, a possible surface made of quartz was found underneath a double stone row at Piles Hill. Archaeologists Dr Lee Bray and Dr Andy Crabb, from the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA), will reveal the latest findings from these extraordinary discoveries, taking us on a journey of archaeological inquiry. In a story which involves everything from battling the moor’s inclement weather, to re-erecting fallen stones, they will unveil the secrets of these ancient stone monuments.
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival
BEYOND HUMAN: LANDSCAPE’S EMOTIONAL RESONANCE: Readings and conversation with Sean Borodale, Fiona Williams and Caspar Walsh (chair)
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 2:00 PM
More info and tickets
What role does place play in human stories? And how can our emotional response to wild landscapes deepen our lives and those of the other beings which share our planet? From caves and rivers, to moors and marshes, join writers whose work is deeply rooted in British locations for readings and a conversation about our relationship with the landscapes that surround us.
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival
DARTMOOR IS THE ARTIST: A visual presentation and conversation with Land & Lore, Garry Fabian Miller, Matthew Shaw and Mark Jessett
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 3:30 PM
More info and tickets
Through visual presentation and conversation, find out how Dartmoor, and other places, have been leading the way for some of the most interesting human artists making art today: Lore & Land, Garry Fabian Miller, Matthew Shaw and Mark Jessett.
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival
SOLD OUT: Seth Lakeman (with Benji Kirkpatrick and Alex Hart)
Saturday 24 May 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Dartmoor Folk legend with two of his regular collaborators. Tickets will go on sale from 12 noon on Saturday 22 February.
BELTANE BORDER: THE DARK SIDE OF FOLK: A conversation with, and performance by, Dartmoor’s wildest Morris side
Sunday 25 May 2025 at 6:00 PM
More info and tickets
Join us for rare conversation with Beltane Border, followed by a thrilling performance outside Ashburton Arts Centre.
What is behind the tradition — and subversion — of this legendary Dartmoor Morris side?
Where do the dances come from, and how do they relate to the landscape of Dartmoor?
And why the fierce faces and fishnets?
Part of Dartmoor Tors Festival
NOBATB: Alex Voysey Trio and Vince Lee & Sophie Lord
Monday 26 May 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
The last Monday of every month here is Not Only But also The Blues where we feature some of the finest exponents in the south west, and beyond, of music whose roots are in the blues.
Alex Voysey Trio: “Outstanding, energetic, breathtaking” Swanage Blues Festival 2024
Vince Lee & Sophie Lord, recently returned from touring in California, USA
Milkweed
Tuesday 27 May 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Stretching the boundaries of folk music tradition, experimental electronics, lo-fi weirdness and psychedelia. Milkweed is two anonymous musicians. They recently appeared in a live session on Radio 3’s Late Junction, where Verity Sharp said that they “commune with the spirits of the past…[and] cast some great lo-fi spells…”
Ellie Gowers
Saturday 31 May 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Stretching the boundaries of folk music tradition, experimental electronics, lo-fi weirdness and psychedelia. Milkweed is two anonymous musicians. They recently appeared in a live session on Radio 3’s Late Junction, where Verity Sharp said that they “commune with the spirits of the past…[and] cast some great lo-fi spells…”
Jun 2025
Jazz Jam Session (first Monday of each month): Tom Ball & Gary EvansMonday 2 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
The first Monday of each month starting at 7.30pm. This month’s house band will be:
Jesse Molins on guitar and your host for the evening with: Tom Ball & Gary Evans
A Band Named Brian (a cycle tour)
Tuesday 3 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Two parts Billy Bragg to one Part Levellers, with a touch of Johnny Cash and a side order of Beans on Toast: you’ll laugh, you’ll cry… you may even dance!
Iona Lane
Wednesday 4 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
From basking sharks to lighthouses, lichen to vanishing islands, curlews to shipwrecks; the album was recorded in a boathouse on the West Coast of Scotland and the eager listener may even hear the lapping sound of the tide murmuring through the album.
Winter Wilson: Live and Unconventional
Friday 6 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Book here now: £15 full price • £10 or £7 if you prefer – please pay what you can*
Kip Winter & Dave Wilson perform often hard-hitting original songs in stunning harmony, interspersed with self-deprecating humour. Over the past few months they’ve toured throughout the UK, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Canada
In recent years they’ve made many festival appearances including, Cambridge, Shrewsbury, Gate to Southwell, Cropredy, New Forest, Wimborne, Costa Music in Portugal, Warwick, Brugge International Festival of Arts, Bromyard, Derby and many more. and have recently recorded their twelfth album – Home.
“If you need evidence of just how special the duo Winter Wilson is, then Live & Unconventional delivers in abundance” Steve Caseman, RnR magazine
“Beautiful voices, exceptional songwriting, and utterly endearing performances…. I loved watching the audience fall in love with them!” Shari Ulrich (Canada), Multi Juno Award Winner.
https://youtu.be/6L_2a0Mrqzs
https://youtu.be/MsR6vI1qeTA
==
See Access, Tickets & Finding Us for more about why there are three ticket prices, plus other useful info about coming to events at Ashburton Arts Centre: getting here, parking, loos, PA tickets, etc.
* We usually have three ticket prices – please pay what you can. If you can pay the full price, that’s great. If choosing a cheaper ticket allows you to come to more things, then please do! Ticket receipts are split between the artists (it’s usually their livelihood!) and the arts centre (keeps the place going). Except on the rare occasions when we have a sellout gig on our hands, it’s always better to have someone here in the audience than an empty seat, so genuinely, please pay whatever you can.
Stephen Grew – solo piano
Sunday 8 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
This promises to be an unusual evening of profound solo piano music. Stephen’s performances are improvised, so always unique, but they sound like virtuosic composed pieces. A BBC Music Magazine review captures it well: “There are riffs and themes that are set up and developed or abandoned without regret, often seemingly in a matter of seconds. There are rolling, dense arpeggios that throw up clouds of murk or sparks, sometimes both at once. There’s also a little of everything in between. This music is visceral yet also profoundly thoughtful and, indeed, highly memorable.” Click through to listen to some examples.
Earl Okin, legendary crooner/comedian - Diamond Jubilee
Thursday 12 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Earl Okin is now a legendary crooner/comedian in that ‘cult’ bracket of musicians who each generation (re)discovers, but somehow he has never quite made the big time. I first came across him at the Edinburgh Fringe in 1985 (writes Andy Williamson), and kept coming across him there over the years, and then in London where he’s lived in the same flat in Notting Hill for 68 of his 74 years! In all that time, he’s hardly changed. I never tire of watching him perform – he’s always amazing.
Blue Rose Code
Friday 13 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Blue Rose Code come into 2025 with a fresh wind in their sails. The last year saw sparkling reviews in the national press for award winning album, ‘Bright Circumstance’, radio play on BBC R2 & R6 as well as an appearance on the R4 institution ‘Loose Ends’.
Michell, Pfeiffer & Kulesh
Sunday 15 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Michell, Pfeiffer & Kulesh is a close harmony folk trio that brings together the exciting talents and exquisite voices of award-winning songwriters Odette Michell, Karen Pfeiffer and Daria Kulesh.
The Charlotte Carrivick Band
Wednesday 18 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Four of the most exciting modern bluegrass musicians in the UK today come together in this new band. With a shared passion for modern bluegrass, The Charlotte Carrivick Band brings together four of the most exciting musicians in the UK today. Charlotte Carrivick is a flatpicking guitarist of international renown, sought for her inventive lead playing and regarded as an expert fiddle tune interpreter on the guitar.
Tim Edey
Monday 23 June 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Multi award-winning Tim Edey has been recognised as: BBC Musician of the year BBC ALBA/Scotland, Best Traditional musician 2020, and BBC Radio Two Musician of the year 2012 (BBC R2 FOLK AWARDS)
Jul 2025
Matt Holborn Quartet: For StuffSaturday 12 July 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
Join Matt Holborn and his quartet for a concert dedicated to jazz violin legend Stuff Smith. A major figure in jazz from the 1930s onward, Smith played with greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Oscar Peterson, Nat King Cole, and Ben Webster, and appeared in the iconic 1958 photo, “A Great Day in Harlem.”
Ashburton Chamber Music Festival 2025
Friday 18 July 2025 - Sunday 27 July 2025 at 12:00 AM
More info and tickets
We’ve confirmed the dates and programme for the Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025, This series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events are hosted around Ashburton from 18 – 28 July 2024. To see the preliminary information, that is subject to change, read the ACMF 2025 webpage. If you want to hear when the dates and venues are announced and tickets are available, please sign up to the Ashburton Arts Centre’s mailing list here.
ACMF 2025 Hausmusik # 1: 25 East Street
Friday 18 July 2025 at 7:00 PM
More info and tickets
What is a Hausmusik? An informal event where the audience decides what’s played from a selection of chamber music, and the musicians will sight-read it together for the first time.
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27 July 2024. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ACMF 2025
ACMF 2025 Hausmusik # 2: Bigadon Cottage, Buckfastleigh
Saturday 19 July 2025 at 7:00 PM
More info and tickets
What is a Hausmusik? An informal event where the audience decides what’s played from a selection of chamber music, and the musicians will sight-read it together for the first time.
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27 July 2024. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ACMF 2025
ACMF 2025 Meet the Musicians: Ashburton Arts Centre
Sunday 20 July 2025 at 4:00 PM
More info and tickets
Richard Gonski, moderator Introduces the musicians, & selections from the programme.
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27July 2025. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ashburtonarts.org.uk/acmf.
ACMF 2025 Family Concert: Ashburton Arts Centre
Tuesday 22 July 2025 at 5:00 PM
More info and tickets
Hear short selections from the week
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27July 2025. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ashburtonarts.org.uk/acmf.
ACMF 2025 Concert No 1: Ashburton Arts Centre
Wednesday 23 July 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
This concert features music by Bach, Shostakovich, Knussen
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 128– 27 July 2024. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ashburtonarts.org.uk/acmf.
ACMF 2025 Concert No 2: A secret venue
Thursday 24 July 2025 at 9:00 PM
More info and tickets
What is a Nachtmusik? NEW for 2025, this is a concert performed in the dark, close to nature in a magical Dartmoor location.
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27July 2025. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ashburtonarts.org.uk/acmf.
ACMF 2025 Concert No 3: St Pancras Church Widecombe-in-the-Moor
Friday 25 July 2025 at 9:30 PM
More info and tickets
This Concert features music by Bach, Shostakovich, Knussen with informal artist “Talk Back” afterwards
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27July 2025. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ashburtonarts.org.uk/acmf.
ACMF 2025 Concert No 4: St Andrew's Church, Ashburton
Saturday 26 July 2025 at 7:30 PM
More info and tickets
This Concert features music by: Thomas with dancer Lois Taylor, choreographed with Angus Balbernie, Vignieri, Mills (world premiere), Beethoven
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27July 2025. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ashburtonarts.org.uk/acmf.
ACMF 2025 Concert No 5: Ashburton Arts Centre
Sunday 27 July 2025 at 5:00 PM
More info and tickets
This Concert features highlights from the Festival. If you’ve heard something that you’d really love to hear again at any of the performances, let us know – you can email boxoffice@ashburtonarts.org.uk – and it might make it into the programme.
This is part of Ashburton Chamber Music Festival (ACMF) 2025 – a series of concerts, hausmusiks (where the musicians sight-read what the audience chooses) and other events in and around Ashburton from 18– 27July 2025. To see everything that’s happening, and more about the music and the musicians go to ashburtonarts.org.uk/acmf.
Event Calendar
Click on an event to see more information about each event, including prices and details of how to get tickets. Use the Monthly/Weekly/Daily option at the top right to change how you view the calendar.
What we’ve been up to so far…
