Taking a more 'back to English roots' approach, the band started blending more acoustic sounds along with their usual 'full on' roots rock sound. Ben dusted off his French Horn to duet with Carolyn on trombone. Rick learnt the double bass and tuba, as well as bringing his fine skills as a sound producer to the band. Mike's English roots based songs get more of an airing in the new lineup, as does Carolyn's taste for unusual local Cumbrian tunes, and some of the results can be heard on Striding Edge's striking debut album Striding Edge

 This lineup has gone from strength to strength, and has proved to be very enduring, and popular, with the tally of gigs rising every year: here's the full tally of gigs from that period:

2000-2003: 168 shows

2000

22/1 Silverdale, Leighton Hall: Wedding ceilidh

12/2 Keswick, Country House Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

25/2 Langley, Village Hall: Community ceilidh

26/2 Lazonby, Village Hall: Community ceilidh

3/3 Hunstanworth Vilage Hall: Community ceilidh

4/3 Shap Memorial Hall: Community ceilidh

25/3 Austwick, Traddock Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

4/4  Dalton, Folk Club: Concert gig

8/4  Windermere, Lakes School: Schools music day/ceilidh

15/4 Derby, private house: Wedding ceilidh

6/5   London, Kensington, private house: Wedding ceilidh

13/5 Borrowdale, Lodore Hotel: National Parks Ceilidh

19/5 Lancaster, school: community ceilidh

20/5 Ulverston, private house: Wedding ceilidh

26/5 Grasmere, Village Hall: Community ceilidh

27/5 Lakeside, Lakeside centre: Arthur Ransome Society ceilidh

29/5 Kendal: B.B.C. Live open air concert

3/6   Coniston, Jumping Jenny: Wedding ceilidh

17/6  Shap, Shap Wells Hotel: Doug Scott ceilidh

18/6  Barrow, Bram Longstaffe School: Community ceilidh

24/6  Grasmere, Wordsworth Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

1/7  Warrington, Whitley Village Hall: Joint  40^th birthday ceilidh

7/7  Dunkirk, France, Harbour Festival: Open air concert

8/7  Newcastle, private house: Wedding ceilidh

9/7  Lancaster, St. Martin's College: Student ceilidh

15/7 Ulverston, Coronation Hall:  Festival concert

22/7 Coniston, Brantwood House: Ruskin Anniversary ceilidh

29/7 Bowness On Windermere: National Trust community ceilidh

4/8  Shap, Memorial Hall: Wedding ceilidh

5/8  Lancaster, Gregson Centre: Wedding ceilidh

27/8 Gawthorpe, The Great Hall: National Trust concert

1/9 Witherslack, Village Hall: Community ceilidh

2/9  Keswick, Country House Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

3/9  Kendal, Market Square: Open air concert

16/9 Morecambe, The Platform: Open air concert

17/9 Windermere, Crag Wood Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

29/9 Kirkland, Mission Hall: Community ceilidh

30/9 Lincoln: Wedding ceilidh

14/10 Shap Wells Hotel: Bob Graham Round Society Ceilidh

10/11 Kendal, Dickie Doodles: Concert pub gig

18/11 Patterdale Hotel: Climbing club ceilidh

25/11  Silverdale, Gaskall Hall: Wedding ceilidh

30/12 Saffron Waldon, Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

31/12 Borrowdale, Lodore Hotel: New Year's Eve ceilidh

2001 

1/1 Keswick, Country House Hotel: New Year's Day ceilidh

13/1 St. John's In The Vale, Kings Head: Birthday ceilidh

3/2 Keswick, Reghed Centre: Community ceilidh

15/2 Lancaster, Paddy Mulligans: Concert pub gig

16/3 (p.m.) Waberthwaite Primary School: music workshop

16/3 (eve) Muncaster Parish Hall: Community ceilidh

24/3 Coniston Institiute: Birthday ceilidh

31/3 Kendal, Brewery Arts Centre: Dance gig

7/4 Macclesfield, Shrigley Hall Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

8/4 Bowness-On-Windermere, Karrimor Shop: Shop opening

21/4 Borrowdale, Mary Mount Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

28/4 Windermere, Cragwood Hotel: Wedding Ceilidh

18/5 Halton, St. Wilfreds School: School/community ceilidh

19/5 Keswick, Country House Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

26/5 Kendal, Hotel:'Sightlines' concert/ceilidh

8/6  Hawkshead, Village Hall: Community ceilidh

9/6 Ulverston, Private House: Wedding ceilidh

7/7 Ullswater, Steamer: Wedding ceilidh

8/7 Lancaster, St. Martin's College: Student ceilidh

14/7 Ulverston, private house: Wedding ceilidh

20/7 Newby Bridge, Swan Hotel: Wedding Ceilidh

28/7 Dufton, Village Hall: Wedding ceilidh

29/7 Morecambe, The Platform: Street Band Festival

18/8 Muncaster Parish Hall: Community ceilidh

22/8 Hawkshead: Village community festival

25/8 Broughton, High Cross Inn: Wedding Ceilidh

26 /8 Windermere, National Park Visitor Centre: Festival

27/8 Windermere, National Park Visitor Centre: Festival

1/9 Windermere, Cragwood Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

2/9 Lancaster, Moor Hospital Social Club: concert/dance

10/11 Windermere, Cragwood Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

17/11 Patterdale Hotel: Climbing club ceilidh

24/11 Shap Wells Hotel: Climbing Club ceilidh

30/11 Wasdale Head Inn: Wedding Anniversary ceilidh

20/12 Witherslack Village Hall: Merlwood party

31/12 Millom Cricket Club: New Year's Eve ceilidh

2002

24/1  Barrow: Abbey House Hotel: Doctor's ceilidh

26/1  Wharton: wedding ceildih

22 /3 Chester, Peckforton Castle: Wedding ceilidh

30/3  Kendal, Brewery Arts Centre: Cumbria Roots gig

6/4    Kendal, Brewery Arts Centre: Wedding ceilidh

24/4  Somerset: Foot and Mouth S.W. conference ceilidh

4/5    Denbydale, Bagden Hall Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

11/5  Newby Bridge, Swan Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

18/5  Grasmere Village Hall: Wedding ceilidh

24/5  Halton, St. Wilfred's School: School ceilidh

25/5  Ambleside, Rydal Park: Wedding ceilidh

2/6  Winderemere, Cragwood Hotel: 50^th Birthday ceilidh

3/6 a.m. Keswick, B.B.C. stage: Live broadcast(concert set)

3/6 p.m. Windermere, National Park Visitor Centre: Mad About Mountains festival

3/6 p.m.  Melling, N. Lancs: Marquee: community ceilidh

14/6  Ambleside, Rugby Club: Ambleside festival ceilidh

15/6  Ulverston Coronation Hall: Mike's Wedding ceilidh!!!! (our 200^th Gig!!)

22/6  Newby Bridge, Lakeside Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

29/6  Shap Wells Hotel: Doug Scott Charity ceilidh

6/7    Windermere, Cragwood Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

12/7  Windermere, Cragwood Hotel: Wedding ceilidh 

13/7  Windermere, Storrs Park Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

18/7  Broughton, Victory Hall: Teacher's ceilidh

20/7  Henley-On-Thames, Luxter's: Wedding ceilidh

27/7  Far Sawrey: Ees Wyke Country House: Wedding ceilidh

28/7  Glenridding, Inn On The Lake: Wedding ceilidh

2/8  Birmingham, Hilton Hotel: Conference ceilidh

10/8  Glenridding, Inn On The Lake: Wedding ceilidh

24/8  Witherslack, Hall Farm: Wedding ceilidh

30/8 Macclesfield, Hollin Hall Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

31/8  Glenridding, Inn On The Lake: Wedding ceilidh

1/9  Stockton-On-Tees: Storytelling festival: community ceilidh

4/9  Milnthorpe, Cross Keys Hotel: corporate ceilidh

7/9  Grasmere, High Close Youth Hostel: Wedding ceilidh

16/9  Lancaster University: ceilidh

29/9  Windermere, Cragwood hotel: Wedding ceilidh

11/10  Aughton, Village Hall: community ceilidh

12/10  Melling, Village Hall: community ceilidh

19/10  Welton, Village Hall: community ceilidh

1/11 Great Corby, Village Hall; community ceilidh

2/11 Grasmere, High Close Youth Hostel: Anniversary ceilidh

9/11 Waberthwaite, village hall: community ceilidh

23/11 Windermere, Cragwood hotel: Wedding ceilidh

6/12 St. John's Chapel Town Hall: Community ceilidh

7/12 Shap Memorial Hall: Community ceilidh

13/12 Skirwith Social Hall: Community ceilidh

14/12 The Witham, Barnard Castle: Community ceilidh

19/12 Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal: corporate ceilidh

2003

24/1  Lancaster, Royal Grammar School: Burns night ceilidh

14/2  Preston, St. Teresa's Social Centre: Valentines wedding ceilidh

15/2  Muncaster, Parish Hall: Community ceilidh

22/2  Grasmere, Wordsworth Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

8/3  Eccleston, Primary School: community ceilidh

15/3 Lancaster, Our Lady's High School: Burn's Night Ceilidh

21/3 Ulverston, Coronation Hall: 'Whizz Kidz' charity ceilidh

26/4 Borrowdale, Scafell Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

30/4 Liverpool, Mathew Street (up from 'The Cavern'!) Doctor's ceilidh

4/5  Workington, Hunday Manor: 40^th Birthday ceilidh

10/5 Coniston, Jumping Jenny; Wedding ceilidh

6/6 Glenridding, Village Hall: Community ceilidh

7/6 Borrowdale, Rosthwaite Village Hall: Wedding ceilidh

13/6 Barnard Castle, The Witham: Wedding ceilidh

14/6 Barrow, St. Bernard's School: p.m. Workshops / eve: ceilidh

28/6 Windermere, Merewood Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

29/6 Dent: Folk Festival: Community ceilidh

5/7  (Day) Hethersgill: Low Luckens Organic Farm: Concert

5/7  (Eve) Keswick: Country House Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

11/7 Ulverston, Furness Traditions Festival: Opening ceilidh

12/7 Penrith, Hunterhall School: Headmistresses Leaving Party Ceilidh

18/7 Greenod, Village Hall: Retirement ceilidh

19/7 Eskdale, Gate House: Wedding ceilidh

26/7 Glenridding, Inn on The Lake: Wedding ceilidh

22/8 Keswick, Country House Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

23/8 Eskdale, Gate House: Wedding ceilidh

24/8 Glenridding, Inn on The Lake: Wedding ceilidh

30/8 Cleator Moor, Ennerdale Hotel: Wedding ceilidh

6/9 Muncaster, Village Hall: Ceilidh

13/9 (Day) Orton Farmer's Market: Concert

13/9 (Eve) New Hutton Institute: Birthday ceilidh

20/9 Farnborough, St. Peter's Church: Wedding ceilidh

4/10 Witherslack, Village Hall: Wedding ceilidh

10/10 Glenridding, Inn On The Lake: Wedding ceilidh

11/10 Shap, Shap Wells Hotel: Bob Graham Round ceilidh

17/10 Aughton, Village Hall: Community ceilidh

18/10 Wigton, White Heather Hotel: Birthday ceilidh

1/11 Grasmere, Village Hall: Homes Of Football ceilidh

5/12 Bowness On Windermere, Old England Hotel: Corporate ceilidh

20/12 Sedbergh: Wedding ceilidh

(1995 - end 2003: 273 gigs in total)

Up to the top