A COSY West Cumbrian venue is preparing to welcome a star to perform.

Peter Maher, from The Gather, Ennerdale, is delighted that The Voice finalist Sally Barker will be live streaming with them 'Upstairs'.

He said: "We are delighted and looking forward to it. I'm not sure what range she will do as there won't be an orchestra. I hope she spreads the word that this live streaming goes on."

Sally, 61, is a British singer and songwriter from Leicestershire, who appeared on The Voice in 2014. She joined the Tom Jones team after a blind audition in which she sang “Don’t Let me Be Misunderstood”. In the battle round she sang “Dear Darlin” with Talia Smith and was put through by Jones.

Now Sally is to appear Upstairs@TheGather on March 30, from 7pm in a live streaming event.

Sally said: "I am thrilled to be asked to contribute to the Gather. I've not done much during lockdown apart from my version of the Tom Jones classic 'Its Not Unusual'. Kind of mind-blowing that it has racked up 1.6 million views on YouTube and I have to say I'm not really sure how to follow it ! I've done a few virtual concerts but mostly only when I get asked. I've been extremely lazy and spent my time learning how to cook (finally !)."

Sally will be the 26th live streamed gig from The Gather, in a project that has been funded by the Arts Council.

“Upstairs@TheGather” was designated as a Small Music Venue by Arts Council England (ACE )with an agreement that they could acknowledge that designation using the ACE Logo.

The streaming events are coming at a time when the arts industry has suffered during the coronavirus crisis and Peter is happy that the venue can help artists to perform.

He said: "All of our streamed events are free. We want to encourage people to extend their interest in music and the arts and use these new technologies to do that. We saw our job as using arts council money to get money back into the arts and at least it gives performers a platform to perform. It's putting bread in their mouths. And all this coming from such a small village."