Scouring the region for the best events taking place in the next seven days, Ellie Hargreaves presents her Pick of the Week.

ACTIVITIES...

FANS of the movie, Cold Mountain, or budding songbirds might like to know of an opportunity to develop their voices with some vigorous harmony singing (as seen in the film). Larry Gordan and the American choir, Northern Harmony, are holding a workshop in shape note singing this weekend (Saturday and Sunday). A concert will follow on Sunday afternoon, from 4.30pm. For more details about either event, both at Dent Village Hall, contact David Burbridge on 015396-21166.

CHILL out after a stressful week and explore the basics of Buddhism with a weekend meditation course running from Friday until Sunday. Call the Manjushri Meditation Centre at Ulverston's Conishead Priory on 01229-584029 for more information.

CONCERTS...

SWOON over Merrill Osmond, lead singer of the world's first boy band, The Osmonds, when he begins his solo tour with a special show at Manchester's Opera House on Sunday at 7.30pm. The 70s teen-sensation will perform many hits of his 45-year career. Telephone the box office on 0870-401-6000 for tickets.

FEEL the rhythm and get into the groove at the Northern Soul and Tamla Motown Disco, at Kendal Rugby Club, on Shap Road, on Friday, from 8pm until midnight. Get your tickets on the door.

A MIX of highly talented musicians from more than 40 countries and five continents come together on Tuesday to present The Philharmonia of the Nations A Symbol of Peace at Lancaster University. The multicultural evening, conducted by Justus Frantz, begins at 7.30pm in the Great Hall. Call the box office free on 0800-028-3042 for more information.

HOUSE-music fans should get themselves along to Find on Saturday night to see Jason Herd bring his in-demand, vibrant and uplifting set to Morecambe's Dome. For more information on the evening, which will run from 9pm 2am, phone the ticket office on 01524-582803.

SOMETHING a little different comes to Kendal's Brewery Arts Centre on Friday night from 8.30pm. The Bollywood Brass Band is a touring Indian street festival that promises a hot mix to transport you right to the heart of India's cultural capital. For tickets, telephone 01539-725133.

A SPECTRUM of musical styles can be heard at St James's Church in Barrow-in-Furness on Saturday when Dalton Town Band play highlights from Verdi's La Traviata alongside recent hits from heartthrobs such as Ronan Keating and Robbie Williams. Proceeds from ticket sales help local youngsters pay for their music tuition so buy yours from Sheila Fawcett on 01229-823054 or on the door from 7.30pm.

A CONCERT in the Lakeland Sinfonia series by the European Union Chamber Orchestra comes to Kendal Leisure Centre on Saturday. The talented musicians will take to the stage from 7.30pm. For more information telephone 01539-722533.

KENDAL Recorded Music Society is hosting Russian Salad, presented by Tony Kadelbach. The meeting for music lovers will take place at Stricklandgate Methodist Church, in Kendal, on Thursday from 7.15pm. Contact secretary Mr Hewlett on 01539-722697, for more information.

THE Hitmakers is a unique show featuring some real icons of pop music Chris Farlowe, Cliff Bennett, Dave Dee and Chip Hawkes who have together spent 352 weeks in the UK singles charts can't be bad! See the guys, along with a nine-piece band and singers, on Sunday at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, from 7.30pm. Call the box office on 01253-290190 for tickets.

SPORT...

KENDAL Town FC ended a long losing sequence last weekend and aim to follow-up in another home match when they host Farsley Celtic at Parkside in the first division of the UniBond League on Saturday, 3pm kick-off.

KENDAL County meet Windermere on the Netherfield Cricket Club pitch (1.30pm) with the winners going through to the final of the Westmorland FA Senior Cup.

NATIONAL League rugby fixtures see Kendal travel to top of the table Halifax on Saturday at 2.30pm.

IN THE North Lancs/Cumbria League, Kirkby Lonsdale host BAE Barrow and Windermere are also at home to Tyldesley. (2.30pm).

THEATRE...

MOSTLY Theatre is touring the region with Happy in the Rain, a romantic comedy depicting the life of Jack and Liz, a Yorkshire miner and his wife, and their holiday in Blackpool. The evening entertainment incorporates video, music, poetry and art. You can catch writer John Godber's slicing wit and dry humour at Shap Memorial Hall, on Saturday. The performance starts at 7.30pm. For tickets contact Janet Wood, 01931-716447/716273.

A DRAMATIC and enthralling conflict set in the North East in the 1930s comes to Heron Theatre, Beetham, on Friday. The Stars Look Down, by A.J. Cronin, is being performed by Northern Touring Company. On Saturday the company performs a new comedy, Quay Moments, by Stewart Howson. Both performances start at 7.30pm. Contact 015395-62776.

OBSESSIVE love in ballet and classic Indian dance, with sensuous elegance and athletic exuberance, are brought together by Mavin Khoo Dance, at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, on Friday, 8.30pm. Contact 01539-725133.

CUMBRIA Young Farmers hold a drama competition at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, when three clubs will perform a variety of plays. Performances start at 7pm on Saturday. Tel 01539-725133.

THE Henri Oguike Dance Company moves on to the Nuffield Theatre, at Lancaster University, on Thursday, as part of its current tour. The performance starts at 8pm. Box office 0800-028-3042.

THE story of painter Marc Chagall is brought to life using masks, text, puppetry and music by Trestle Theatre Company. Tonight We Fly is at the Charter Theatre, Preston, on Monday and Tuesday, and begins at 7.30pm. Tel 01772-203456.

DANCING in The Street is a celebration of Motown's greatest hits. Catch the chart-busting tunes at the Guild Hall, Preston, on Thursday, at 7.30pm. Tel 01772-203456.

ENTER the terrifying and ghostly world of The Woman in Black live theatre inspired by the world of film noir. Already in its 13th year in the West End, the Grand Theatre, Blackpool, stages this gripping tale from Monday to Saturday. Performances start at 8pm (Mon-Thurs) and 7.30pm (Fri-Sat). Box office 01253-290190. Prepare to be scared.

COURSES...

DALLAM training Education Centre, near Milnthorpe, is offering a one-day course in painting in watercolours, on Saturday. Course starts at 10am. Tel 015393-65123.

WILDLIFE...

Help to open up an area of peat bog by cutting and burning small trees at Cumbria Wildlife Trust's Foulshaw Moss, near Witherslack, on Saturday. Meet at the reserve entrance track just off the A590 (grid ref SD 457 842) at 10.30am. Tel 01539-816300.

TALKS...

Geoff Summers describes his record-breaking journey across one of the world's last wildernesses - Crossing Antarctica by its Longest Route - using dog sleds, and his current venture, walking to the South Pole unassisted. This thrilling multimedia presentation on Thursday, at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal, begins at 7.30pm. Tel 01539-725133.

THE perfect evening for bibliophiles to get together to discuss The Lovely Bones, by Alice Sebold, is presented by David McGregor. Bring your book and join in the discussion on Tuesday, at 7pm, at the Brewery Arts Centre, Kendal. Tel 01539-725133.

THE new A1 Peppercorn Class steam locomotive Tornado' is the subject of an illustrated lecture at Forum 28, in Barrow, on Wednesday, starting at 7.30pm. For more details tel 01229-831324.

IN SEARCH of the Cumbrians is the subject of a talk by Gerald Craske to Widening Horizons. The meeting takes place at the Community Centre, Haverflatts Lane, Milnthorpe, on Wednesday, at 10am. Programme contact Joyce Simms, tel 015395-64078.

WALKS...

Walk your way to health along the new Dover to Inverness path, on the outskirts of Carlisle. Meet on Wednesday, at the southern end of Denton Street, beside the small footbridge over the River Caldew, in Carlisle, at 10.30am. The walk, about 1.5 miles, should take about 45 mins to complete. Tel 01228-561601.