HIGHLY acclaimed northern folk experimentalists Harp and a Monkey have created a bespoke show about the First World War (with the support of the Arts Council and the Western Front Association) that challenges the typical stereotypes of the war.

This has proved so successful it has also given birth to the much-anticipated recording of the popular trio’s third album, the aptly named ‘War Stories’, as well as a 30-minute documentary of the project.

War Stories garnered a 4* review in The Guardian.

Joe Solo is the Scarborough-based musician who has a broad national fanbase and as well as his overtly political songs has spent many years researching the soldiers from Hull (his home city) who were lost in the First World War and writing incredibly moving songs and stories based on what he discovered.

This special concert will combine songs and stories from both projects and has been specially created to mark the dedication of the 12 oak trees recently planted in the village by local schoolchildren to honour the 12 men of Goathland who died in the Great War.

This concert will follow on from a daytime dedication by the Bishop of Whitby of these trees, 12 steel memorial figures and an associated two-mile circular trail combining the twelve new oak trees plus the remaining original oaks.

The 12 men of Goathland served in some of the most notorious theatres of war between 1914 and 1918, including the Somme, Gallipoli and the English Channel and died either in battle or later of their wounds. Shortly after the war had ended, the mother of one of these young men, planted 12 English oak trees to commemorate the 12 men of Goathland village who had never returned.

Jim McLaughlin of Musicport said ”This story was almost lost in the mists of time but due to the efforts of Keith Thompson of The Hut and with support from Heritage Lottery Fund & North York Moors National Park Trust the village now has a living memorial that will help bridge the generations. This concert will provide a fitting celebration of this wonderful effort.”

n '12 Oaks' Concert, Goathland, The Hut, (aka Goathland Community Hub) YO22 5LY, Saturday, July 7 at 7pm. Tickets £10. Tel. 01947 603475, via www.musicportfestival.com and available on the door