Winchcombe Live is a not-for-profit music event that has been running since 2012.

The events bring Americana, blues and roots music to the Gloucestershire town, and are very popular among locals and visitors alike.

Dave Wade, who helps to organise Winchcombe Live, thinks the events bring some interesting musical diversity and excitement to the town.

He said: “I used to organise the Blues festival on the Isle of Man back in 1999, which is still running, and then moved over to Cheltenham initially and then to Winchcombe.

“Our experience in the Isle of Man has been useful in developing ideas here. There was just very little in the way of live music going on in Winchcombe, as on the Island, so we decided to set this up.”

Held at the White Hart Inn, the events feature around six acts between October and March.

“There’s no real arts centre in the town,” said Dave, “but the Garden Room in the basement of the White Hart is a really convivial, intimate space for music, so we have focused our events around there. It has worked well.”

The 2018 edition of Winchcombe Live began in October with the Alt-folk group ‘Davis, Lindley and Mullan’, followed by the keyboard player Dom Pipkin – whose CV includes working with Morcheeba and Paloma Faith – and Latin America meets eastern Europe band ‘Little Rumba’.

Dave continued: “The gigs we’ve done so far have been very busy! We get a lot of locals coming, and then friends of people in the area often come along from further afield.

“Coming up in January we’ve got a group called ‘Dana Immanuel and The Stolen Band’. They’re five feisty ladies including a banjo player and fiddler who play quite gritty Americana – not like your typical ‘Mumford and Sons’ kind of stuff!”

Lead singer Dana Immanuel said: “We can't wait to play Winchcombe Live, it looks like an amazing venue and of course it's always exciting for us to play somewhere new!

“We're looking forward to getting the whole of Winchcombe dancing with our unique brand of foot-stomping, whiskey-soaked, electric alt-folk."

Following Dana Immanuel in January are the blues band ‘The Spikedrivers’, who are set to play in February, and ‘The Jigantics’ in March.

The organisers are also planning an inaugural Winchcombe Live Blues Weekend in April in aid of the mental health charity ‘Lifting the Blues’. So far eight acts have been booked to play at several venues in the town.

“There will be a wide range of musical styles spanning from the early 1900’s through to funk”, said Dave, “and performances will be held during the day, so visitors have the opportunity to enjoy the excellent shops and eateries that we have on offer in town.”

For more information visit the Winchcombe Live Facebook page, or phone Dave on 01242 603441.