A TEESDALE church has been chosen by a folk duo to host a concert thanks to its outstanding acoustics.
Fiddle virtuoso Stewart Hardy and guitarist Frank McLaughlin are embarking on a tour entitled Sacred Space, Secular Sounds, with venues chosen on the basis of the quality of the acoustics.
They will perform at St Mary’s Church, Wycliffe, on Monday, July 9, at 7.30pm.
Mr Hardy explained: “This July, we are heading around the UK trying out some of the best acoustic sounds of our wonderful sacred spaces.
“Some of these spaces are still used for their original purpose, but others have been converted.
“However, the acoustics remain as glorious as they ever were and we can’t wait to fill them with our music.”
One of the UK’s longest established instrumental folk duos, other venues on the tour include St Mary’s Heritage Centre, Gateshead, Coquetdale Music Trust, in Northumberland and Rosslyn Chapel, Midlothian.
St Mary’s dates back to the 13th century and has the county’s largest collection of stained glass outside Durham Cathedral. The site, which was founded in the eighth century, is also noted for its Anglo Saxon stonework
They will perform material from their critically acclaimed debut album Root2, as well as self-penned material from their new CD The Gift.
Tickets for the performance are £10, with discounts are available for members of the dale’s youth folk band Cream Tees and their adults.
They are available online at www.stewarthardy.co.uk/shop or from Cream Tees’ Neil Diment on 01833 638263.
