THE HEARTH Concert, being held in Chudleigh General Store gardens on Valentine’s Day, is a celebration of love for nature, good music and hearty food under the night sky. The February 14 concert is an encore by Uke Nomad, after a January 4 sell-out of Ukuleleland, in which the duo featured. After selling their Queensland home, the Townsville pair have appeared at the Cygnet and Tamar Folk Festivals, among other locations, embracing the life of musicians on the road,

They now tour small communities, in both Australia and New Zealand, writing songs about the people and landscapes they encounter. They will be singing a song inspired by their visit to Chudleigh. Chudleigh General Store proprietor, Mandy Wyer, who has owned the store for a year, is keen to build on the community spirit, which she says is Chudleigh’s heart. Mandy says such soul and reciprocity should be shared with those who appreciate what she terms ‘handshake values’.

It was with this in mind that she, and Anu Grace of Uke Nomad, devised the value of a Hearth Concert, because they were both inspired by the effect of Chudleigh’s atmosphere on the quality of performances at the previous event. ‘Standing on the back veranda of Mandy’s shop, and looking out at so many happy faces and the hills beyond, it really lifted me to a higher level,’ Anu said. The fact that the Chudleigh Show is the next day, along with an opportunity to increase one’s ukulele skills with a chord melody workshop with Anu Grace, makes the event even more worthwhile. (Details: www.anugrace.com).

The adjacent Chudleigh Show Grounds, which regularly offers camping facilities for the small sum of $5 per vehicle, will have a very limited number of spaces on the weekend of the concert for people wanting to spend the weekend in Chudleigh to enjoy both the concert and the show. Places are limited because of the show but alternative camping is also available near town. Mandy said Chudleigh shop renovations were also under way to add another room from the adjoining house to increase the floor space and create a kind of theatrette where people could share music, stories and even a skit or two. This would allow more entertainment in Chudleigh during winter, with two fireplaces to create a cosy atmosphere. The store is currently open for business as a convenience store and café, Monday to Sunday 9am to 5pm, excluding Saturday afternoons, when the store closes at 2pm. Private functions including weddings, children’s birthday parties and bus groups are also catered for in the gardens. For Hearth Concert details, call Chudleigh General Store proprietor, Mandy Wyer on 03 6363 6138.