REGULAR VISITORS: Kitchy Retro will perform at the Scarth Hall Americana night on Saturday, July  6
REGULAR VISITORS: Kitchy Retro will perform at the Scarth Hall Americana night on Saturday, July 6

A PART of Staindrop will embrace the Stars and Stripes for an evening of Americana music on Saturday, July 6.

The event takes place at the Scarth Hall and will feature music by village favourites Kitchy Retro and CoJo plus American themed food from the bistro.

All money raised from the evening will go towards the running costs of the centre.

Scarth Hall volunteer Sheila Wylie said it was the first time the venue had staged an Americana night.

“We were looking at doing themed nights and Americana was thrown up. I approached Kitchy Retro – they have played before for us – and they said yes.”

The Sunderland-based duo are fairly frequent visitors to the dale.

As well as performing at Staindrop’s beer festival, they have also taken to the stage in Barnard Castle, including appearances at the Barney Jam and The Bowes Museum.

Comprising Mark Scott and Lucy Dawlish, Kitchy Retro have been on the road since 2012, playing a mix of earl American folk music and modern bluegrass.

CoJo, another duo comprising Colin Bird and John Armstrong, are also no strangers to Staindrop.

“They used to come through and play at the Staindrop Folk Club many years ago. They have been at the open mic nights and the beer festival,” said Ms Wylie.

In addition to folk, the duo, who have been performing together for 45 years, also have a particular interest in American country music, such as John Denver.

Ms Wylie said once each duo had performed their own sets, they would then take to the stage as a foursome for a “foot-stomping” finale to the evening.

“Hopefully that will get people singing along.”

Tickets for the Americana night are £12 from the Scarth Hall, Staindrop Post Office and online at ticketsource .co.uk.

Doors open at 7.30pm.

Kitchy Retro will be back again in September after offering to play at the eighth Staindrop Beer Festival.