Saturday night at Reeth Memorial Hall, the stage was alive with the timeless rhythms of Rag Mama Rag — a duo whose music feels as though it’s been lifted straight from a 1930s porch in the Deep South and carried all the way to the Yorkshire Dales. It was one of those evenings where the warmth of the performance, the setting, and the connection between audience and artist created something truly special.
Rag Mama Rag, formed in 1991 by Ashley and Deborah Dow, have built a remarkable reputation across Europe and beyond for their authentic take on early American roots music. Their sound draws deeply from the well of blues, ragtime, gospel, and swing — the kind of music that shaped so much of what came after. There’s a natural, easy rhythm to their performances; they don’t just play songs from that era, they inhabit them.
Throughout the evening, Ashley’s intricate fingerpicking on guitar and resonator combined with Deborah’s driving percussion, washboard, and harmonica to create a rich, textured sound that filled the hall. Every piece seemed to tell a story — of dusty roads, riverboats, or backstreet bars where music was both a celebration and an escape. Their chemistry on stage is effortless, honed by years of performing together and a shared love of the traditions they keep alive.
For me as a photographer, performances like this are a joy to capture. The light in Reeth Memorial Hall is soft and intimate, with just enough glow to catch the emotion in a performer’s face and the detail of an instrument in motion. There’s something wonderful about photographing live music — that split second where the music and expression align perfectly. Rag Mama Rag’s set was full of those moments: the concentration in a chord change, the rhythm of Deborah’s hands, the way Ashley leans into the microphone mid-verse.
What makes Rag Mama Rag so captivating isn’t just their musicianship but their complete dedication to the music’s roots. They use authentic instruments and techniques, but nothing about their performance feels forced or nostalgic — it feels alive, immediate, and joyful. You can see why audiences all over Europe have taken to them; they make early blues and ragtime sound as fresh and vibrant as it must have felt a century ago.
As the night went on, feet were tapping and heads nodding all around the hall. It was the kind of concert that reminded everyone present just how powerful live performance can be — two people, a handful of instruments, and an abundance of soul.
It’s always a pleasure to document evenings like this in Reeth. The Memorial Hall continues to be a fantastic local venue, drawing artists from all over while maintaining that sense of community that makes live music in the Dales so unique.
Rag Mama Rag left the stage to well-deserved applause and a few shouts for more — the kind of reaction that tells you the audience didn’t just enjoy the music, they felt it.
