The Orchard Cafe Quartet was brought together by a love of folk music and the need to play music after 2020.
The Orchard Cafe Quartet's name is taken from the venue of their first concert at Chudleigh Arts Festival. Their music is based on a number of Nordic and Scottish folk tune arrangements written by The Danish String Quartet as well as some original compositions. The music is a perfect blend of traditional tunes and classical composition as well as having some space for improvisation. The programme also includes some of the groups original arrangements of British tunes and a very well known sea shanty that became popular last year on TikTok.
7th March, St Nicholas Priory 7.30pm Playing a new programme in an amazing historic venue.
From Haydn to the Highlands: The Orchard Cafe String Quartet's programme will be a blend of their signature contemporary folk tune arrangements, along with music by classical composers inspired by folk music. Classical music will include melodies from Haydn, Vaughan Williams, and Satie. Folk music will include tunes from Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Scotland. Many of these contemporary arrangements wouldn't be out of place in a film soundtrack. The quartet writes some of it's own music and the programme will include tunes by Exeter based composer, Ali Jones.
12th June Bovey Craft Festival 3.30-4.30pm We'll be playing our favourite original arrangements and folk music repertoire from The Danish String Quartet. We'll also be at the festival on 14th June 11.45am -12.45pm as "The Time Travellers Quartet", playing a set of pop tunes from across the decades.
31st August 2026, Lustleigh Show 11am-12pm Our fifth year at Lustleigh Show. Always a highlight of the calendar. We'll be playing our favourite original arrangements and folk music repertoire from The Danish String Quartet.
TBC Candlelit Christmas Concert, St Anne's Church, Hessenford, 17th December Candlelit Christmas Concert, St Petrocks Church, Lydford, 21st December
Past Events: Candlelit Christmas Concert, St Anne's Church, Hessenford, December 2025 Candlelit Christmas Concert, St Petrocks Church, Lydford, December 2025 Folk and Folk Concert at Kenton Church, September 2025 Folk Prorgamme at Ashburton Arts with Gypsy Dreams, June 2025 Candlelit Movie Night Concert, St Petrocks Church, Lydford, May 2025 Evening Concert, St Mary Church, Luppit, March 2025 Folk and Film Concert at Cygnet Theatre, February 2025 Candlelit Christmas Concert, St Petrocks Church, Lydford, December 2024 Coffee Concert at Southernhay Church, Exeter, April 2024 The Lustleigh Village Show, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 Jubilee Picnic St Thomas Exeter, 2022 Winter Market St Thomas Exeter, 2021 Orchard Cafe Arts Festival, Chudleigh, 2021
