PREVIOUS Radio 2 folk winners will be performing at a Portbury church this October.

The Young'uns will be performing their show, The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff, on October 5 at St Mary's Church.

The show, which is about the International Brigade that fought in the Spanish Civil War in the 1930's, will start at 7.30pm.

Although the show has toured throughout the UK and beyond, including to Toronto in Canada, the group have a special reason to visit Portbury.

Johnny Longstaff, the namesake of the show who fought with the International Brigade, is buried in the churchyard.

A spokesperson from the Grade 1 listed church said: "We are delighted that we are now open for business in a big way, following major church renovation works spanning nine years and the creation of our Heritage Centre.

"Americans are particularly interested in our history as one of our previous Churchwardens, Percival Lowell, emigrated with his whole family to Charlestown, USA in 1639, one of the Founding Fathers of America.

"Our church group is called Hearts at Portbury – heritage and arts.  We are open most days for different events, café, art, music and now Wellbeing Wednesdays, when everybody is invited to call in for a cuppa, chat, art, prayer, whatever they want to do.

"This is the first gig of this size and we are hoping this will be followed up with regular large concerts when we can invite well-known artists, saving expensive travel into major towns."

 

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Tickets can be purchased from Eventbrite. General admission costs £20.

The Eventbrite website reads: "Parking is limited. Drop off point near church. Doors will open at 6pm. Early arrival is encouraged to allow for parking and an opportunity to see the Spanish Civil War exhibition.

"Car sharing and use of public transport encouraged.

"Don’t miss this fab opportunity to see The Young’uns - the well known folk trio (Radio 2 winners) performing their internationally acclaimed concert of 'The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff'

"Johnny is buried in the churchyard at St Mary’s Portbury. The show has been performed successfully all around the UK and most recently in Toronto, Canada.

"Refreshments will be served during the interval."

For those that are wanting to see the show, you are urged to book quickly, since there are only 180 tickets on offer.