A Mid Winter Evening with The Wilderness Yet at Reeth Memorial Hall
There are some evenings that settle into the memory not because they shout for attention, but because they unfold with a quiet, glowing ease. Last night at Reeth Memorial Hall was one of those moments — the final concert of the year, the close of a season, and a gathering that felt wrapped in equal parts music, warmth and the gentle arrival of the festive weeks ahead.
The Wilderness Yet stepped onto the stage with the kind of presence that fills a room without ever overwhelming it. Their harmonies rose into the soft dark of the hall, meeting the glow of the stage lights in a way that felt almost tangible. Bow on string, voice on air, flute weaving through the spaces between — the trio carried the audience into stories old and new, delivered with a craft honed through countless performances yet still undeniably alive.
As I moved quietly around the hall with my camera, I found myself drawn to the contrasts that define winter performances here in the dale: the hush of the audience, the richness of live acoustic sound, the interplay of colour as the stage lights painted the musicians in deep reds, blues and greens. There was a stillness in the room, but also a brightness — the kind that arrives when community, music and the season all align just right.
This final gig of the year at Reeth Memorial Hall felt like both a celebration and a farewell. A closing of the doors on another year of shared music, stories and laughter, and a reminder of why places like this matter so much to the life and spirit of the Yorkshire Dales. Small halls, big voices, and the simple joy of gathering — these are the threads that knit us together through the long months.
Photographing The Wilderness Yet in this setting was a pleasure from beginning to end. Their connection with each other and with the audience made every frame a moment worth catching. It was a night that carried a gentle touch of the festive season, not through decoration or grandeur, but through atmosphere — the kind you feel rather than see.
As the year draws in, this evening stands as a fitting final chapter for Reeth Memorial Hall. Music shared, stories told, and a sense of warmth that lingers long after the last note fades.
