THUNDER and lightning have destroyed the email database of The Band Room on the North York Moors - which has been called "England's tiniest major venue".

I ask any readers interested in receiving news of our forthcoming shows, which feature country, rock, folk, roots and blues, to email us at: tbr@romalo.freeserve.co.uk with their details.

The Band Room in Farndale (www.thebandroom.co.uk) is an amazing little venue in one of England's most beautiful national parks. Although we wouldn't argue it looks like a corrugated iron shed from the outside, it is a fantastic place for music, with a magical atmosphere and superb acoustics because of all the wood used when it was built for the local silver band in the 1920s.

Farndale is also a great place to spend the weekend - people are now coming from all over the country to weekend in self-catering cottages, hotels, pubs and farmhouse B&Bs, about which we can advise.

We principally specialise in alt.country with a bit of folk, rock, roots and blues thrown in.

Among the highlights to date have been Allison Moorer, The Handsome Family, Laura Veirs, Kate Rusby, Mary Gauthier, Oh Susanna, Peter Rowan, Erin McKeown, Kim Richey, Balfa Toujours, Michael Hurley, Jesse Sykes and Hem... most of whom, incredible though it may seem, described The Band Room as their favourite venue on the whole of their European tours.

Our next concert on July 2 features Moris Tepper, who has played guitar for Captain Beefheart, Tom Waits, Frank Black and Polly Harvey.

Nigel Burnham,

Mackeridge House,

Farndale, Kirkbymoorside.

Updated: 09:41 Tuesday, May 31, 2005