Newton venue takes centre stage

A NEWTON Stewart venue is taking centre stage during a celebration of independent music venues later this month. The Vault Arts Centre will be hosting two shows as part of Independent Venue Week (IVW) from Monday January 26 to Sunday February 1. IVW is a nationwide initiative and has been running since 2013 with the aim of celebrating independent music and arts venues and the people that own, run and work in them. It also encourages artists, audiences and the wider music business to recognise the vital role these independently-owned venues play in the UK’s live music scene. Performing at the Vault during IVW on Friday January 30 are regional based group GallowGrass. They perform a mix of Americana/bluegrass/folk influenced tunes and songs, along with their own arrangements of tunes and songs from the bluegrass/folk traditions. Appearing on the Saturday night and making their Vault Arts Centre debut are acclaimed duo Darach. Made up of Galician producer Hugo Franco and Scottish violinist Roo Geddes, is creating an innovative musical conversation between their respective Celtic cultures. Their work is an intimate, resonant exploration of contemporary folk, built upon the folk traditional of Galicia and Scotland, framed by original compositions and improvisation. Looking ahead to IVW, Alan Morrison, head of music, Creative Scotland: “Every year, Independent Venue Week adds a shot of adrenaline to the January gig calendar at a grass roots level across the country. From the Borders to the Highlands, Scottish venues put their distinctive stamp to this UK-wide programme, celebrating the live music sector with support from The National Lottery through Creative Scotland. IVW prides itself on increasing diversity in the music scene, offering high-profile performance opportunities to emerging artists and encouraging new audiences to make their first visit to their local venues.” For more information about both gigs visit the centre’s website.