This delightfully eccentric and unique venue in Market Harborough was one of our favourites, and we ran regular music events there from 2010 until 2017 when it sadly became clear that for financial reasons Joules could no longer continue as a music venue. With quality music, excellent food and a relaxing atmosphere, there was nowhere quite like Joules, particularly during the summer months, and it will be greatly missed. The Yard hosted its final music event in November 17, but does remain open for its logburner stove and chimney sweeping business.

Kontra organises music for two one day open air summer events in Northants: The World Peace Fete at the Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre in Kelmarsh and the East Northants Dragon Boat Festival at Wicksteed Park, Kettering.

Set in the delightful grounds of the Nagarjuna Buddhist Centre in Kelmarsh, Northants, this charming charity festival, usually held in early July, provides a relaxing summer Sunday out for the whole family, with food and craft stalls, kids' events, games, and some terrific local roots music. The only festival I know with hourly (optional) breaks for meditation, Kontra has been organising the music for this wonderful event since 2008, and in that time it has become one of the highlights of the local music calendar.

Dragon Boat racing arrived in  Northants in 2010, organised by the Rotary Club in aid of local hospices. Held on the first Sunday in September at Wicksteed Park, Kettering, this hugely fun event is a great day out for people of all ages. As well as Dragon Boat racing there is a children’s funfair, food and drink, stalls of all kinds, and of course great live music organised by Kontra Roots.

In Kontra's early years our main concert venue was at the Community Centre in Finedon, Northants. This imaginatively converted methodist church, with its wonderful acoustics and atmosphere, was a fantastic venue for roots music, and from 2008 to 2013 we held some truly wonderful concerts there featuring prominent name acts from the worlds of folk, blues, roots and beyond: Julie Felix, The Bonzos, Wizz Jones, Richard Digance, The Pretty Things, Rory McLeod, The Daniel Smith Blues Band, Gary Fletcher, Bex Marshall, Emily Maguire, and many more. Unfortunately, declining ticket sales in 2013 meant the venue was no longer financially viable for regular music events, but though we now hold our concerts elsewhere, we are left with wonderful memories of some truly great gigs.