A stirring live performance in Epworth this week

Folk music from The Big Smoke Band comes to Epworth this Friday, and the Nursing Lives masked theatre production is in Kirton-in-Lindsey next month.

The Big Smoke Band brings a unique show of gospel, booze, love and murder in the best British and American folk music tradition. From gambling gold for souls with the devil, to running away with the gypsies and meandering the Mississippi down to the Mecca of New Orleans.

The band will play songs, read poetry and tell stories of both entertaining and cultural importance in the Western World.

Expect to dance, drink, shout and sing along with the vibrant band.

The Big Smoke Ban is a new act made up of hardworking folk musicians: James Nicholls, Peter Seccombe, Kieran Thorpe and Conrad Bird. They met on the road over the last two years playing with their respective acts: Holy Moly and the Crackers, The Buffalo Skinners and The Bottlenecks.

The band will be at Epworth Thurlow Pavilion on Friday at 8pm. For more details call 01427 872491.

Nursing Lives is a heart-warming war time tale of bravery and love brought to you by the UK’s leading full mask theatre company, Vamos Theatre.

When Flo, a feisty 70-something learns that the hospital she trained at during the Second World War is being demolished she decides to stop the bulldozers in their tracks. Her visit becomes a personal celebration of friendship, courage, adventure and romance.

Nursing Lives is a love story set in the early 1980s but it transports to the hardworking, heart breaking, swing dancing world of the UK’s airtime hospitals.

Like all Vamos Theatre shows, Nursing Lives is wordless, telling its story through physical communication, a strong visual design and an original soundtrack. It is a humorous and poignant production for ages 12 and over, and can be seen on April 10 at Kirton-in-Lindsey Town Hall at 7.30pm. For more details call 01652 648435.

Coun John Briggs, cabinet member for asset management, culture and housing said: “Once again we have got some great shows touring North Lincolnshire. There is always a great turnout at Livelincs shows as they are renowned for being thoroughly entertaining and suitable for a range of ages and tastes. What makes it even better is that the shows come to your local village or town.”

Livelincs is a rural touring programme of theatre, dance and music. It’s funded by Arts Council England and North Lincolnshire Council.