A VARIED programme of live music, theatre, dance, circus and family entertainment is set for rural Dorset this spring.

The Artsreach Spring Programme features events from more than 30 diverse companies and performers with the support of the Arts Council, Dorset County Council, and North, West, East and Purbeck District Councils, plus local solicitors Blanchards Bailey.

Welsh band Alaw will be performing in Purbeck in January at Langton Matravers village hall. The folk trio will be playing tunes brought back from a recent tour in Bulgaria, but the ancient tunes of Wales remain at the heart of their set.

Artsreach spokesman Kerry Bartlett said: “From the elegant to the virtuoso, the three musicians play with an empathy that comes from many years of collaboration.

“Dylan Fowler has a developed a reputation as an international solo guitarist. Oliver Wilson-Dickson plays with, amongst others, The Devil’s Violin & The Ian McMillan Orchestra. Described by R2 magazine as ‘an expressive and exceptional fiddler’ he also regularly collaborates with storyteller Daniel Morden, with whom he appeared for four consecutive years at the National Theatre.

“Jamie Smith is a folk musician and one of the UK’s finest accordionists, fronting the international award-winning Celtic band Jamie Smith’s Mabon.”

In August 2018 Alaw, which is Welsh for melody, collaborated with the BBC Concert Orchestra for a televised Prom at The Royal Albert Hall.

Alaw play Langton Matravers Village Hall at 7.30pm on Friday, January 11. Tickets are available on the door. Call 01929 423 834 for information.

Other highlights of the new season include a perfromance by energetic young Belgium band WÖR. The inimitable ‘Spats’ Langham and Hot Fingers present an eclectic mix of tunes from the 1920-40s, which were deemed unsuitable for public ears by various authorities of the time.

The partnership between Artsreach and the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra continues, with a spring concert by a trio of flute, viola and harp, a new recital from Kokoro, the BSO’s contemporary ensemble, and two concerts by Resound, the BSO’s professional ensemble of disabled musicians.

Acclaimed klezmer and Balkan band She’koyokh, led by Turkish vocalist Cigdem Aslan, offer an evening of music for singing and dancing. Formed after meeting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and Royal Academy of Music, Mela guitar quartet bring the colours and textures of four classical guitars to life.

2019 also brings gypsy folk-rock band Holy Moly & The Crackers back out on the world stage with the release of a brand new album.

Recently nominated as Best Emerging Artist at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Dorset duo Ninebarrow are back with exquisite, original music inspired by the landscape.

Renowned bass player Alec Dankworth teams up with daughter Emily and two leading musicians to offer an evening of global song and improvisation with World Spirit.

Finally Northern Harmony, Vermont’s world music choir, present music from across the globe.