Five great shows packed with music and song

The two roof-raising ensembles gather for From Valleys and Lakes in a varied programme that ranges from an Elizabethan madrigal, through folk songs and spirituals to beautiful contemporary compositions by Eric Whitacre and Morten Lauridsen. Soloists will be choir member Andrew Jenkins, who won a prestigious Blue Ribbon award at this year’s National Eisteddfod of Wales, and soprano Emily Bennett who has recently successfully completed postgraduate studies at the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama. The evening will culminate in a rousing performance by both choirs and soloists of Emrys Jones’ Morte Criste especially arranged for the event by Ghyll Singers’ musical director Deborah Milledge. The Ghyll Singers will be accompanied by Margaret Harrison.

Tickets are available from the Coronation Hall box office on 01229-587140, Ulverston Rotary Club members, the Ghyll Singers or at the door.

ALAN and Lynne Hempton are the next on stage for Ulverston Live, playing Ulverston Sports Club, tonight (Friday, November 2). The Lancashire-based brother and sister duo are beginning to make a name for themselves on the folk club and festival circuit with their exciting blend of old time harmonies and original song writing. Invoking a vintage quality with their single mic style and traditional instrumentation, their music draws on American and English folk. All the proceeds from the show will go towards North West Blood Bikers and Furness Refugee Support. Tickets on 07749-827488.

VOCO are celebrating their tenth anniversary and what better way to mark the occasion than perform on the very stage where their journey began back in 2008. So, the fabulous foursome take their 2018 Musica tour to The Forum at Barrow tonight (Friday, 7.30pm).

Performing popular music with a classical twist, Phil McIntosh, Iain Nicholson, Chris Warby and Mark Johnson invite their audience to join in with music made famous from the likes of Il Divo, Josh Groban, Christina Perri, Alfie Boe, Ed Sheeran, Andrea Bocelli, Elvis Presley, Take That, Simon and Garfunkel, hits from the musicals and much more. Box office 01229-820000.

FAIRPORT Convention bass player, Dave Pegg, teams up with Irish stand up and songsmith supremo, Anthony John Clarke, for a Music in Ulpha gig, at the Browfoot Room tomorrow night (Saturday, November 3). Dave and Anthony John draw from a wealth of hits and much loved songs for an evening of outstanding music laced with humour. Dave has also co-organised Fairport’s Cropredy festival since the 1980s and as well as recording and touring he’s in demand as a session player. As for Anthony John, he’s regarded as one of the top songwriters around. Tickets at www.musicinulpha.org.uk/tickets.

SAXOPHONE sensation Jess Gillam, gifted young cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason and his equally talented piano playing sister Isata Kanneh-Mason, perform at Ulverston's Coronation Hall on Saturday (7.30pm). Sheku was the 2016 BBC Young Musician, a title he landed with a stunning performance of the Shostakovich Cello Concerto at London’s Barbican Hall with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Since, the 19-year-old's international career has fairly zipped along with engagements far and wide and a debut album Inspiration on Decca Classics that propelled him to number 18 in the official UK album charts, and number one in the classical chart. Also in the Coro spotlight for Saturday's performance, Isata was in the piano category final of the BBC Young Musician 2014, winning the Walter Todds Bursary for the most promising musician. The 21-year-old performed with Elton John in Los Angeles in 2013 and has performed several times on BBC television and radio. And so to Jess who picked up a Classic Brit Award in the Sound of Classical Poll 2018 at the Royal Albert Hall in June, followed by her return to the London venue as the youngest ever female soloist to grace the prestigious BBC Proms with performances that blew everyone away. Box office 01229-587140.