The Bookshop Band

On Friday 25 October, Live In The Library Presents... welcomes Beth Porter & Ben Please of The Bookshop Band to Thimblemill to perform their songs inspired by books.

Pete Townshend, The Who

“I am enchanted, such variation and delicacy... such latent power, really great work. It reminded me of my days listening to Sandy Denny and Fairport [Convention] and The Incredible String Band... - a great discovery and inspiration.” 

Margaret Atwood

“The band are great!If I had a bookshop I’d stock all their albums.”

BBC 6Music

“It’s a modern day Twinkle meets fairytale-land for adults. You’ll be smitten.”

The Bookshop Band came to life as an artistic collaboration with their local bookshop Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights in 2010. They write and perform songs inspired by books and released 13 book-inspired albums collaborating with over 100 authors. Between them Beth Porter and Ben Please bring the books to the stage along with a multitude of instruments, including cello, harmonium, glockenspiel, guitars and ukuleles which, along with their distinct voices, create a cinematic sound that draws the audience right in to a highly intimate performance, at once touching and mesmerizing, heart wrenching and funny. No previous knowledge of the books is required as the band guide the audience through the stories behind each song’s inspiration.On June 28th 2024, during Independent Bookesellers’ Week, The Bookshop Band will release their 14th studio album, EMERGE, RETURN, produced by, and featuring, Pete Townshend. The album’s songs are inspired by books, including The Book Of Dust, by Philip Pullman, The Testaments, by Margaret Atwood, The Diary of a Bookseller by Shaun Bythell, and Underland by Robert Macfarlane. It features cover art by artist Stanley Donwood.The band are now based in Wigtown, Scotland’s Book Town, but will be on tour this year to promote the album, playing in bookshops, libraries and festivals all over the UK.

The New York Times

“Not just good but achingly good”

BBC Radio 2

“Really fabulous new music... just delightful

Advance general entry tickets available at only £12.00 (£8.00 concessions).

General Advance tickets & on the door entry will be £14.00 (£10.00 concessions).

Doors open at 7.30pm & music will commence at 8.00pm.

Note that this will be a mainly seated show.