Upwey Music
Bringing the joy of music to Upwey and Weymouth communities
Upwey Music is a local organisation promoting and supporting live music in Upwey, Weymouth and the surrounding area.
Run by local volunteers, it organises concerts and performances featuring a wide variety of music, bringing both established performers and emerging musicians to the village.
Many of its concerts are held in the historic St Laurence Church, Upwey, whose setting and acoustics provide a particularly atmospheric venue for live music.
Upwey Music describes its purpose as promoting music performance of all kinds in Upwey, Dorset. Upwey, Dorset.
Live Music and Concerts in Upwey
Upwey Music brings a varied programme of live music and concerts to Upwey, near Weymouth in Dorset. Performances include folk, blues, acoustic, classical, choral and other styles, with many concerts taking place at St Laurence Church, Upwey.
Visitors looking for live music near Weymouth or Dorchester can find forthcoming Upwey Music concerts, ticket information and event details on this page.
How Upwey Music Began
The idea for Upwey Music was first discussed before the Covid pandemic, but plans were inevitably delayed.
The organisation finally got underway in 2022, with the aim of supporting and promoting music performances in Upwey and particularly making use of St Laurence Church as a concert venue. Contemporary Upwey Society records describe it at the time as a new organisation created specifically to support and promote music performances in the area.
Its first programme in 2022 included three very different events.
The first, in May 2022, was Spring Song, performed by the local Encore Singers. Upwey Music then supported a concert by Dorchester Choral Society, followed in July by the Sunset Café Stompers, who brought the music of 1920s and 1930s New York, New Orleans and Chicago to Upwey.
By the autumn of that first year, the programme had already expanded to include Weymouth Concert Brass, guitarist Robbie McIntosh with Hannah Robinson, and One Voice Choir.
A later Upwey Society newsletter confirms that Upwey Music had been arranging and supporting concerts since 2022, mainly at St Laurence Church.
Becoming a Registered Charity
Although Upwey Music had already been organising concerts for nearly two years, it formally became a registered charity on 8 January 2024.
Its registered charity number is 1206440.
The charity's official purpose is to advance the art of music in Upwey, Weymouth and the surrounding area by organising and providing access to concerts, recitals and other musical performances.
So, in simple terms:
Upwey Music began operating in 2022 and became a registered charity in January 2024.
Music at St Laurence Church
St Laurence Church has been at the heart of Upwey Music since its beginnings.
The organisation is independent of the church, but one of its original aims was to encourage the continued use of this beautiful historic building while taking advantage of its excellent acoustics.
Over the years the programme has included folk, blues, jazz, classical, choral, brass and acoustic music, as well as recitals showcasing younger musicians.
This variety is one of the attractions of Upwey Music — audiences can hear nationally recognised performers alongside talented local and developing musicians without having to travel far from Upwey.
Who Runs Upwey Music?
Upwey Music is run by trustees together with a small group of volunteers.
The Charity Commission currently records Upwey Music as having three volunteers as well as its trustees, with no paid employees.
Other local volunteers also help with the practical organisation of performances, including publicity, ticketing, welcoming audiences and supporting events.
Supporting Music in the Community
Upwey Music is a not-for-profit organisation whose purpose is to make live music accessible to the local community.
As well as bringing established professional musicians to Upwey, it has supported local choirs, ensembles and young musicians and has helped make St Laurence Church an increasingly familiar venue for live music.
The programme has continued to grow since those first concerts in 2022 and now attracts audiences from Upwey, Weymouth, Dorchester and further afield.
View Upcoming Upwey Music Events
Tickets
Tickets for many Upwey Music performances are available online through TicketSource.
TicketSource describes Upwey Music as a registered charity promoting and supporting live music in and around Upwey, Weymouth, Dorset.
Contact Upwey Music
For information about forthcoming concerts, tickets or Upwey Music:
Email: admin@upweymusic.org.uk
Telephone: 07960 471170
Facebook: Upwey Music – @MusicUpwey
The registered correspondence address is:
50 The Ridgeway
Upwey
Weymouth
DT3 5QQ