Ashburton Arts Centre

16/06/2026

Everywhere At Once - is a nation wide music festival happening from 26 – 28 June 2026. It's happening at over 500 grassroots music venues including Ashburton Arts Centre.
It's been instigated by the Music Venue Trust – a great organisation which lobbies on behalf of smaller venues across the country – the Arts Centre is a proud member. It's happening on 'Glastonbury weekend' – though that megalithic event is having one of its fallow years – so this one is happening EVERYWHERE!
We have three great gigs!
Friday, a double bill with:
Low Wave, a Devon-based band which: “picks up on a thread left hanging by the Seattle grunge pioneers and carried forward by the alternative desert rock scene to deliver a unique soundscape blending riff-based rock with a modern voice.”
The Juliettes: an exciting young band from Ashburton with a wide range of influences from indie guitar to classic rock, pop and soul. They're great! We'll clear the floor so there's room to dance — this is going to be a fabulous Friday night!

Saturday: Zaid Hilal, the “songbird of Palestine”. He played an amazing gig here last year, and is once again travelling from Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank. He's a a folk-pop artist, playing “re-imagined heritage songs and original compositions in a fresh and engaging way—fusing deep-rooted cultural melodies with modern rhythms, textures, and storytelling. His voice carries both the beauty and the weight of Palestinian memory, making his performances resonate deeply with audiences.” A stunning performer.

Sunday: Shindig – is a relatively new Devon-based band formed from experienced musicians inspired by the global phenomenon that is Scott Bradley’s Post Modern Jukebox (PMJ).
Well known modern pop and rock songs are reinvented and reimagined in unexpected ways to create something completely fresh. It'll include classics like ‘Careless Whisper’, and ‘Sweet Child O’Mine’ alongside more recent hits by the likes of Lady Gaga and Dua Lipa, Shindig plays songs you know but not as you know them! Maximum space available for dancing.

09/06/2026

MISSING, PRESUMED HAVING A GOOD TIME **. Reusable bottles needing to find owners and to be put back into use ... Reclaim yours from the top if the dresser in the servery. One particularly good one bears the name "Trussel". They will be sent elsewhere at the end of the month.
** Extra points for saying where this song title comes from ...

04/06/2026

Live on stage now - ‘Under the Surface’ from Holland - this is their first tune. Come on down for some great music!

04/06/2026

Katie Spencer's gig here last night was magical. For her final tune, she invited me to join her on sax, which it was a privilege to do – captured here by Katie From The Whitehouse who organised the gig.

We have what looks like another very special gig happening tonight (Thursday 4 June), with 5 Dutch musicians who make up Under The Surface (link to video below). People seem reluctant to book tickets for live music this week. Is it early in the month so pay day far away? GCSEs in the house? Weather too nice to commit to an evening indoors? Funds in short supply (we always have two cheaper options – please use them!).

Andy Williamson
Ashburton Arts Centre

28/05/2026

Tonight (Thursday) at Ashburton Arts Centre – the eccentric, funny, musically erudite and generally lovely people Hugh Nankivell & Graham Browning – come on down at 7.30pm.
Pay £7 or £10 or £14 (or, frankly, whatever you like!) – tickets on the door from 7pm.

Wonderful pizzas (& chips & more) available outside from 12noon until 8.30pm, today, Friday and Saturday.

Tomorrow, Friday 29 May, it's a Family concert at 2pm with Beatrice the Amazing Astronaut (and amazing pianist!) with a short show (45 minutes) that'll introduce anyone of any age to a few favourite classical piano pieces.

Then in the evening, she's playing a proper grown-up recital, with Debussy, Chopin and Liszt followwed by some great pieces by female American composers from the 20th century who really should be a lot more famous!

On Saturday, from Bueno Aires, Argentina we have Hugo Satorres (bandoneon) and Emiliano Faryna (guitar), masters of tango, & more – and Hugo is running workshops in the morning and afternoon for musicians on any instrument who'd like to learn how to play tango.

All at facebook.com/ashburtonarts/events

28/05/2026

Ashburton Folk Orchestra
FREE – Today! (Thursday 28 May)
Lunchtime Concert from 12.30pm
A friendly, relaxed session, where you’re free to come and go as you like. All welcome. Bring your lunch – teas & good coffee available and the bar’s open too.

AND…
Pizza Amore is open in the forecourt from 12noon, Wood-fired pizzas, antipasto platters �chips, salads, pastries — al fresco • shady tables • eat here or take away
Half term opening time
Thursday – Saturday 12noon – 8.30pm

26/05/2026

Our latest newsletter just went out:
https://eomail5.com/web-version?p=dc9b0492-5918-11f1-9e75-35a5f141c8c7&pt=campaign&t=1779812225&s=f41437fa77de5fd6d3be74057ee565ddb7b67bbd879bfc8af04dced3a3282a7f

If you didn't get it, and you'd like to subscribe, please sign up here: https://ashburtonartscentre.eo.page/5cqh7

There's some wonderful stuff coming to Ashburton Arts Centre – read all about it!

26/05/2026

Fantastic band from Toronto, Canada on TONIGHT, Tuesday 26 May here at Ashburton Arts Centre, 7.30pm
Have a listen below.
“One of Toronto's best guitar players” CBC Radio
Canadiana style songs with 3-part Beatlesque/Byrds style harmonies plus open musical improvisations.
Tickets available on the door £16 or £12 or £8 – you choose, pay what you can, or what you like.

12 track album

22/05/2026

This weekend at Ashburton Arts Centre:
Theatre on Saturday, 7.30pm - The Uncertainty Principle
Opera on Sunday afternoon, 3ppm: Rossini's La Cenerentola
Comedy on Sunday night, 7.30pm: Chris McGlade
And fab pizza, etc available each day from Pizza Amoré in the forecourt.

Tickets available for everything! Always three prices - you choose. Pay what you can – pay less, come to more!
More at:
facebook.com/ashburtonarts/events

20/05/2026

Ashburton Arts Centre is a jazz club tonight (Wednesday), we travel to 1930s and 40s Paris tomorrow, become a theatre on Saturday, an opera house on Sunday afternoon and a comedy club on Sunday night. Some stunning shows, here and always three prices - please pay what you can. Pay less, come to more!