LIVELY tunes and dances from the Yorkshire Dales will get everyone dancing when the Buttered Peas take over Grassington Town Hall on the evening of Saturday, March 2.

Call it a barn dance, country dancing, or as it was traditionally known in the Dales, a 'stir', the cheerful, community event is part of the revival of tunes and dances that were very popular in Dales communities from the 18th century until around the 1970s when other kinds of popular entertainment started to take over.

The Buttered Peas - featuring musicians playing the flute, fiddle, octave mandolin, guitar and energetic caller Terry Evans to teach the dance moves - is set to perform in Grassington, following its widely enjoyed Dales Dance Sunday afternoons in Kettlewell back in November 2022 and in Arncliffe in October 2023.

The f Dales Dances and the return of monthly Dales music and song sessions at the Buck Inn in Buckden were inspired by the 2020 book “There was None of This Lazy Dancing – Folk Tunes and Dances from the Yorkshire Dales” by Bob Ellis.

Sadly, Bob died aged 76 in January. He was widely known and admired as a teacher, historian, Melodeon player and Morris dancer. At his funeral in Hawes, a live folk dance band played tunes from his book as the mourners left the church and passed a colourful Morris Dance group performing outside. He will be remembered by many at the Dales Dance evening in Grassington Town Hall in March.

Those going along to Grassington Town Hall on March 2 can look forward to great tunes and flowing sociable dances in squares, pairs, threesomes or lines for a wide variety of dances. It runs from 7pm to 10pm. Tickets: £10 on the door or £8.50 in advance from Grassington Hub or www.ticketsource.co.uk. Special welcome with free entry for children, young people under 18 and refugees.