WEARDALE musician and songwriter Andrew Davison will entertain visitors to Killhope Lead Mining Museum with songs about the lives of lead miners.

The Stanhope-based musician has written six folk songs about the lives of Weardale’s 19th Century lead miners.

He said: “Sometimes the stories about people get lost and I was determined these stories wouldn’t be forgotten. Turning them into songs is a succinct, yet engaging way to tell them, so while it is entertaining for the visitors it is also part of the educational experience.”

Performances take place at 3pm on July 31 during public tours of the mine.

He added: “Performing underground for the first time was a unique experience for me and the museum staff I was trying it out on. The different spaces of the mine offer different acoustics. One minute, the sound can be really flat, the next it will be bouncing and echoing around you. It’s a challenge and you have to tailor your voice and playing to suit each space.

“It’s also a very intimate experience with audience members just a foot or so away. It makes the stories more personal."

His songs include tales of the history of the site, its working men and boys and their hardships and friendships.

“Some are quite poignant and emotional, others are pretty jolly, and there is the chance for visitors to join in with a bit of audience participation in one of the numbers.”

Places are on a first come, first served basis, usual admission charges apply. His CD, Minefolk, is for sale in the shop.