Strathaven Town Mill
ARTS AND HERITAGE CENTRE
The Town Mill exists to support the community of Strathaven and the surrounding areas by offering rooms and halls to hire for events, functions and exhibitions. Both the Granary and the Town Mill are run by volunteers who maintain it and also staff it during events.
Known throughout the county for years as the focal point for community gatherings and particularly musical events and exhibitions, it has had many uses throughout its life, even housing the local tourist information office for a short time.
Strathaven Town Mill was built in the 17th century in the shadow of Strathaven Castle, another well known historic landmark.
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Our Upcoming Events
A Complete Unknown
WEDNESDAY 21 MAY, 7:30pm
Big Mon - Legacy Celebration
50 year celebration of Bill Monroe and the Bluegrass Boys
SATURDAY 24 MAY, 7.30PM STRATHAVEN TOWN MILL
A 50 year celebration of Bill Monroe's exciting bluegrass music, when he and his Bluegrass Boys played in Uddingston, Scotland in 1975.
Bill Monroe & the Bluegrass Boys played an unforgettable concert 50 years ago in Uddingston, Scotland.
This was his only visit to Scotland, and the influence and impact of his music, has been immense worldwide. We will celebrate Big Mon - The Legacy, in a concert at Strathaven Town Mill Theatre. A superb bill of brilliant bands has been organized. The event is in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support.
Band line up :
THE MAIRS FAMILY BAND are : Alan, guitar, mandolin, fiddle, Louise, dobro, Hazel, upright bass and Darren, guitar, mandolin. Hazel and Darren are former members of The Daddy Naggins. Their friendly and lively approach in their live shows has made them favourites on the festival and club circuit. The band features all instruments and all styles from contemporary to traditional with full bluegrass vocal harmonies including a gospel repertoire. All members of the band have had many years experience in the live music scene and have toured three times in the USA. Louise and Alan, former members of Old Hickory, Redwing and New Redwing, are keen promoters of live music, hosting the successful AcousticCafeNights@The Granary every month in Strathaven.Since March 2022, their love of bluegrass and acoustic music has launched them into the world of broadcasting, presenting their radio show, BluegrassBeats on Avondale Radio
DAPPER McDANS - old time/ bluegrass band are : Frank Denholm (guitar) and Mark Woods (banjo) who started playing together in 2007 forming ‘The Dapper McDans’ after meeting at the famous annual Guildtown Bluegrass festival in Perthshire (making a welcome return in August this year)The line up now includes lan Bain, mandolin and fiddle, Bill Rennie, dobro and Davie Lee, upright basS. The Dappers play a laid-back mix of bluegrass, old time and country music, playing in pubs, clubs and festivals around Scotland.Their appealing repertoire of songs and tunes range from the humorous, to ballads interspersed with waltzes and polkas.
LONGWAY - Founder member of the Runaway String Band, Robin Wallace currently plays banjo with Longway. His on-stage sense of humour is legendary bringing a light hearted and fun atmosphere to their gigs.He also plays dobro, guitar and mandolin, spending his free time building hand crafted mandolins from scratch.Robert Stevenson, aka Big Stevie, is a powerhouse bluegrass singer and rhythm guitarist. Before joining Longway Stevie was bassist for the first ever Scottish bluegrass band, Old Hickory and the well-respected Runaway String Band. Heavily influenced by Dudley Connell of the Johnson Mountain Boys, Blue Highway and The Lonesome River Band, Stevie is also linfluenced by the music of Nanci Griffith and Tony Rice.Now in its 15th year as Longway, Robin and Big Stevie have been the core, along with Ian Bain, mandolin and Hugh Kelly, (Blue Flint, The Proclaimers) on upright bass.
THE FOUNTAINEERS - The Fountaineers formed as a quartet in 2020. Based in Glasgow, the band creates music that tethers to its American roots.Since their participation in the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) Official Showcase 2021, the band have continued to maintain a connection to the wider global Bluegrass community. The band featured in ’Bluegrass Today’ magazine, further elevating their status as Scottish-based Bluegrass ambassadors.The Fountaineers are Jeri Foreman, fiddle, Michael Wright guitar, founding members. They will be joined this evening by Willem McKie, mandolin, (Quick, The Black Denims), and Chris Lord, banjo, (from London based The Vanguards). The Fountaineers have played at many Bluegrass festivals including Didmarton, Arasaig Americana festival, Omagh Bluegrass festival and notably made their European debut at La Roche Bluegrass festival, France. On top of a busy tour schedule, the band released their debut EP of traditional Bluegrass classics.
SPECIAL GUEST - ROB MAIRS - Rob has been a semi-pro musician for 40 years. He has recorded bluegrass (with Old Hickory), ragtime (with Banjo Cocktail) and folk-rock (with the JSD Band). He has played a range of festivals, TV and radio shows and shared the Glasgow Concert Hall’s stage with Billy Connolly and Ralph McTell. He played as part of Harlan Needham’s Raleigh-based, old time country music band at festivals in North Carolina, Virginia and Massachusetts.
He teaches various styles of banjo playing – frailing, bluegrass and classic.
£12.50 (plus booking fee) TICKETS GOING FAST!
TRUE NORTH DUO (USA)
FRIDAY 20th JUNE, 8PM, THE GRANARY
Singer-songwriter acoustic duo Kristen Grainger and Dan Wetzel’s performances resonate deeply with audiences listening for well-crafted songs, skillful instrumentation, and gorgeous vocals.The alchemy of their interlocked voices with the warm, spare loveliness of Dan’s handmade guitar deliver the goods — that indescribable feeling that is part joy, part longing; a deliciously sweet ache haunting the darkest corridors of the heart.
Kristen continues to earn national recognition for her songwriting, most recently showcasing at SXSW on the USA Songwriting stage; winning Common Ground on the Hill’s Acoustic Roots songwriting contest and on Hope Rises II, a tribute to excellence in social change songwriting curated by Noel “Paul” Stookey of Peter, Paul & Mary. Kristen was named, alongside Brandi Carlile and Dolly Parton, one of the Women Who Wrote Our 2020 Soundtrack by The Bluegrass Situation. She has won or been a finalist in national songwriting contests at Telluride Bluegrass Festival, Wildflower, Merlefest, and Kerrville Folk Festival.
Before becoming a full-time musician, Kristen served as vice president of Willamette University and speechwriter for two Oregon governors.An accomplished singer-songwriter who toured nationally as a solo artist, Dan Wetzel is also a luthier who handcrafts musical instruments, including those used in performance, that look and sound beautiful.His superb skills as a vocalist and on guitar, both flat-pick and finger style, give True North’s songs their warm sound and driving groove.
For more than 20 years, Dan was CEO of Wetzel Homes, Inc., builders of gorgeous custom homes all over Oregon and beyond.
Rick Anderson CD Hotlist, Pick of the Month Folk/Country
"What are front and center are Grainger’s songwriting, which is graceful and intelligent, and her singing, which is beautiful but plainspoken, and becomes heart-stopping when combined in harmony with that of guitarist Dan Wetzel."
Gareth Jenkins Music From The True Vine, Bluegrass Express
“I truly love the energy of good hot picking as well as celestial harmonies, yet perhaps more than anything I love a well-crafted song that transports me and tells me a story, and Ghost Tattoo is filled with such songs. For the past decade and a half Oregon-based True North has been producing recordings with well-crafted songs, tasteful instrumentation and beautiful vocals."
Entry £10 including filter coffee, tea and home baking. Doors open 7.30pm
Children under 16 free. Limited seating.
Come early to avoid disappointment.
DREVER GUITAR SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
SATURDAY,21ST JUNE,2025 STRATHAVEN TOWN MILL 2PM
Three the Musical
SATURDAY 8 NOVEMBER, 7-9PM STRATHAVEN TOWN MILL
An Integral Part of Working Life
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Strathaven Town Mill
Stonehouse Road, Strathaven, Lanarkshire. Registered charity number: SC010579