What's on in Whitchurch

Devon, England

Whitchurch in Devon sits quietly beside the Exe Estuary, a spot where the sea breeze does more than just cool the tea. There are plenty of places to gather for a local market or catch a performance at one of the nearby halls without needing to drive far. The town has a way of feeling like a proper village even when you want a bit of a night out. Family-friendly stalls often pop up near the coast, and theatre groups put on shows that keep the locals laughing long after the curtain falls. Near Here keeps track of what is going on so you can plan your evening without having to check a dozen different websites. It makes life in Devon feel a little less like standing still and a lot more like there is somewhere interesting around the corner.

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30 May: Robin Nolan - For the Love of George

Robin Nolan For The Love Of George – Biography Legendary in the world of Gypsy Jazz, Robin Nolan is known as one of the most respected guitarists since Django Reinhardt. He’s headlined every major Django Fest across the globe taking in multiple awards and a loyal following of guitar lovers. He’s graced the stages of Montreux, North Sea Jazz, the Royal Albert Hall and Jazz at Lincoln Center. George Harrison called him a favourite, Bill Wyman had him in his band, and Hank Marvin has frequently joined him live on stage. His 2025 critically acclaimed release “For The Love Of George” (Dark Horse / BMG)  is a collection of George Harrison and Beatles songs reinterpreted in Robin’s unique way. A real magic can be heard on the recording helped by the fact Robin uses some of George’s most iconic guitars on the album recorded at Harrison’s studio in Friar Park. Robin’s 2025 live show brings all of this together, if you love The Beatles, Harrison, Reinhardt or Nolan, you don’t want to miss this show. With George Harrison, Hank Marvin and Bill Wyman as his fans, Willie Nelson said it best “You play a mighty fine guitar Robin Nolan”. QUOTES: George Harrison “In these days of Cacophony it’s great to hear some proper music!” Bill Wyman “Robin Nolan is so amazingly good!” Vintage Guitar “Robin is an exceptional improviser… If you like gypsy jazz and you haven’t heard The Robin Nolan Trio, you should.”

Sat 30 MayCalstock Arts(4.3mi)
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13 June: Eastern Strings - The fourth & last of our festival of Four World Music Concerts

The fourth concert in the Festival of World Music is a celebration of the sounds of the Middle East. We welcome the Bristol-based duo Eastern Strings of Daphna Sadeh-Neu (double bass) and Knud Stüwe (oud) for their first performance at the Old Chapel. Their instrumental music is distinctive and exquisite, drawing together a tapestry of musical culture from across the Middle East and their performances combine world music energy with classical precision and characterful improvisations. They will be joined by special guest, Özcan Ateş, vocalist and master of the ear-catching traditional bağlama, a seven-stringed, long-necked lute central to Turkish and Kurdish folk traditions. His playing is intense and musically enriching and his vocals are lyrical, emotional and poignant. The trio’s performances of an eclectic mix of Kurdish, Turkish, Ladino and Middle Eastern traditional songs and music have been described as visceral, evocative and full of surprise. Immerse yourself in these sumptuous worldly musical delights expertly plucked and sung by the ensemble in this, the finale of Calstock Arts’ journey around ‘Our Music Planet’. Have a listen: https://youtu.be/2wY87UTTQGo?si=9jE7EwltDVCOefSt Middle Eastern music refers to the music of the various countries and cultures in the Middle East region, including countries such as Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Lebanon, amongst many others.

Sat 13 JunCalstock Arts(4.3mi)
June 19 Robin Ince - Let the Quiet Ones Rise
Comedy

June 19 Robin Ince - Let the Quiet Ones Rise

A night of stories and poetry with Robin Ince, author of Bibliomaniac and NormallyWeird & Weirdly Normal, twice winner of author of the year from the bookseller’s association, winner of Celebrity Mastermind and house of Games, and for 16 years the host of The Infinite Monkey Cage on Radio 4. In the words of Stewart Lee, “Robin is like a piece of a Jenga puzzle – pull him out and a lot of things would collapse. Without Robin, comedy would be a very different shape and a generation is grateful.” Robin Ince is many things. A multi award winning comedian, author, broadcaster, bibliomaniac and a populariser of scientific ideas. He is perhaps best known as the former co-host and co-creator of the Sony Gold Award winning BBC Radio 4 series The Infinite Monkey Cage with Professor Brian Cox. As a stand up Robin has toured the world and as an author he has written four acclaimed books, including Bibliomaniac, earned him the prestigious Booksellers Association Author of the Year award. His fifth, Normally Weird and Weirdly Normal was published in May 2025. He co-created the Cosmic Shambles Network and created the groundbreaking science variety night Nine Lessons and Carols for Curious People which has been adapted worldwide. He has received an Honorary Fellowship of UCL, an honorary doctorate from Royal Holloway College (University of London), and is a fellow of the British Science Association

Fri 19 JunCalstock Arts(4.3mi)
20 June: Cara Dillon
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20 June: Cara Dillon

Few voices linger in the soul like Cara Dillon’s. A towering figure in Irish music, she has earned global acclaim and countless awards, including the Meteor Award for Best Irish Female and four BBC Folk Awards. For close to 30 years, she has occupied a singular space in folk music. Her voice—deceptively delicate yet emotionally devastating—evokes something timeless and elemental. Central to her remarkable career is her husband and collaborator, Sam Lakeman, whose role as composer, producer, and performer has been pivotal in shaping Dillon’s sound. Their intimate live shows feature acoustic sets drawn from her extensive discography. Classics like “Black Is the Colour” and “The Parting Glass” appear alongside new material from ‘Coming Home’, her landmark 2024 release, which seamlessly weaves spoken word and song in a profound meditation on identity and emotion. From her early days in Óige and De Dannan, through the major-label corridors of Warners and Rough Trade, her music has travelled far beyond folk’s usual borders and continues to defy boundaries—from chart-topping remixes, Disney soundtracks, to the hit TV series Derry Girls. As Mojo magazine once wrote, Dillon possesses “quite possibly the world’s most beautiful female voice.” With ‘Coming Home’, she affirms that legacy—not simply as a singer, but as a storyteller of rare emotional depth; her voice, as always, lingers long after the last note fades.

Sat 20 JunCalstock Arts(4.3mi)
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26 June Alan Dall and the Sea of Stories

“Alan Dall and the Sea of Stories” is an exciting new show from Mike O’Connor and Barbara Griggs. It comprises dramatic tales from Celtic Lands, told in words and music, with harp violin and concertina. Mike and Barbara are not only great storytellers and musicians, they are also both accomplished offshore sailors. In this show, their tales are set on the sea, in the sea, and beside the sea. They are rich with insight. They are engaging, exciting, moving and amusing. The audience is taken on a voyage of adventure, drama and magic, but they are always brought safely home. Since the Bronze Age, bards have declaimed battle honours, genealogies, histories and stories, both to entertain and also to endorse the positions of their rulers. By camp fires and hearths, families told tales to entertain and to educate both adults and children. As late as the nineteenth century, travelling storytellers in Cornwall told tales in return for bed and board. Mike O’Connor OBE is a well known storyteller, with a deep knowledge of legend and folk tale, and a great skill with language. A bard of Gorsedh Kernow, he is respected as a violinist, song writer and musicologist, and is known to many for his music for “Poldark”. Barbara Griggs is a skilled and sensitive musician and a fine storyteller. She too is a bard as well as being a Gorsedh harpist. Her music has been described as having “breath-taking” beauty.

Fri 26 JunCalstock Arts(4.3mi)
23 July Blue - Joni Mitchell Sung by Mae Karthauser
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23 July Blue - Joni Mitchell Sung by Mae Karthauser

“I was utterly blown away… an absolute emotional rollercoaster..magical” Amy “In all my years I have never cried at a gig. I was crying on the first song” Martin Songwriter Mae Karthauser is lending her voice to a breathtaking new live performance: a heart wrenching tribute to Joni Mitchell’s seminal album Blue. Mae will be performing the entire Blue album, plus nine other Joni favourites from her early songwriting era. Mae, who has performed at Glastonbury Festival, on prime-time BBC1 and on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 6, identified Joni Mitchell as the first and most influential songwriter she discovered as a teenager, and was called to delve into recreating the album as a live performance when approached by friend and guitarist Rowland O’Connor at the end of a gig back in 2025. “Who’s album would you most like to recreate?” he asked. Unprompted, they both came up with the same answer. “Joni Mitchell’s songs feel like dreams, like journeys off somewhere deep and familiar” says Mae. “It’s great to go beyond memorising and really into the magic, the poetry and the stunning emotional landscapes Joni is able to conjure with her songwriting” Breathing new life into the 1971 classic, Mae’s silken and athletic vocals soar nimbly over Joni’s melodies, and paired with her expressive piano playing she brings a raw and living presence to these timeless songs.

Thu 23 JulCalstock Arts(4.3mi)

Event details on Near Here are aggregated from third-party sources and may change. Always verify times, location, availability, and any price directly with the organiser before travelling. See Terms.