I FIRST saw Miranda Sykes when she was sharing the stage with Show of Hands, something she still does.

What a gig that was. A truly class act and probably the UK's best roots music band. Show of Hands' Steve Knightley and Phil Beer are great singer songwriters and superb multi instrumentalists. Without frills or fanfares they have become one of the most in-demand bands on the circuit.

Anyway, back to singer and bassist Miranda, who opens 2019 with a new album and UK tour. After a career spanning more than 20 years, during which time she has played with many of the top musicians and singers within the folk world, Miranda will be touring as she started out: one woman, one bass, and one guitar. Building on the success of her Borrowed Places tour, Miranda returns with Behind The Wall, a completely new project, playing Sticklebarn Tavern, Great Langdale, on Thursday, February 14.

Where Borrowed Places opened a window into the past, explaining where she's been, physically and spiritually, Behind The Wall explores where 'we' are going, asking what does it mean to be human today, living in our communities and societies and where will our actions lead us? Miranda has a sensational voice, and accompanying herself, interprets the soul of the land.

Born in in Spalding, Lincolnshire, in 1978, Miranda was eight years old when she started playing double bass after being inspired in a school assembly. Coming from a musical family - her parents played in a ceilidh band and started Spalding Folk Club - there was a dedicated music room at home with a range of instruments lying around with which Miranda and her two younger sisters would play. Folk music was always being played and her summer holidays were spent at Sidmouth, Towersey and Cropredy festivals.

It was at 2002's Cropredy Festival that Miranda landed the job playing rhythm guitar in The Phil Beer Band. She toured with the band from 2003 until 2013 and during that time got the chance to play with Show of Hands during the 2004 summer festivals, joining Matt Clifford (keyboards), Rom Dobbs (percussion) with Phil and Steve in their band line-up. As a result she was asked to guest with the duo in the autumn. She's been the third 'hand' more or less ever since.

Tickets telephone 015394-37356 on go online at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sticklebarn-and-the-langdales/whats-on.