DAZZLING DUO TO VISIT BELPER

BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year 2014 Bella Hardy (pictured), who hails from Edale, reunites with Juno award-winning singer-songwriter guitarist Cara Luft for an eight-date tour, following their creative residency in Alberta, Canada, in 2013.

Promoted by the English Folk Dance and Song Society, in partnership with Music PEI (Prince Edward Island) and Folk Music Canada, the tour is borne out of a developing relationship between England and Canada, which supports artists’ development and collaboration.

They can be seen on Saturday, October 11, at Fleet Arts in Belper, from 7.30pm.

As well as performing solo material on the tours, the musicians will showcase new music that they have written collaboratively during the first leg of their exchanges.

Neil Pearson, EFDSS artist development manager, said: “The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) is proud of its growing links with Canada and of the collaborative artist development opportunities we are creating.

“This collaboration with MusicPEI and Folk Music Canada saw Bella Hardy work with Cara, create new material and embark upon successful tours and showcasing opportunities.”

Bella Hardy first came to widespread public recognition when she was nominated in the Best Original Song category at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards in 2007. In 2012, she won that same award.

Singer-songwriter-guitarist extraordinaire Cara is that rare artist steeped in folk and traditional roots music almost from birth. A co-founder of The Wailin’ Jennys, Cara has wowed audiences and critics since leaving.

Tickets are £10 in advance or £12 on the doors. See www.wegottickets.com/event/283329 or www.fleet-arts.org for more.