 There is lots going on in the weeks leading up to Easter with plenty of workshops, school concerts and studio work - both producing and playing - coming up. In addition there are a few planning meetings for events and tours for the rest of the year, as well as some exciting gigs in the pipeline. Never a dull moment - must be a good sign! I hope to see you somewhere before too long - do say hello. |
|
Shared Roots workshop
* * Sunday 6th March - last couple of places available * *
It has been nearly a year since we last held one of these Shared Roots workshop days and I am very much looking forward to returning to Brampton once again next weekend. Bookings have picked up nicely and places have filled up to such an extent that we are moving the workshop from Corrie Schrijver’s house to Brampton Community Centre. This means that we can now accommodate one or two more participants without the group feeling too cramped for space. The day is an exploration of the connections between art music and folk music between c.1650 and 1750 and will include material from Playford, O'Carolan, Oswald and the Atkinson manuscript. The morning workshop will be taught as if by ear (i.e. music will be available but the tunes will be taught at a pace suitable for those learning by ear) and the afternoon will focus more on playing from the score. There is not long to go now so get in touch with Ali for a booking form.
|
|
Maddison's Thread
Work has been going well with Lee on the new Maddison's Thread album and this month we return to the studio to record more material. We will also be rehearsing for upcoming gigs which include Poppleton Live in May and Beverley Folk Festival in June - book your tickets now! Photo credit: Howy White.
|
|
 Bottle Bank Band
The year has had a very exciting start as we mixed and mastered our debut CD. Now it is time to make plans for our launch concert at St Mary's Heritage Centre which will be on Thursday 9th June - save the date! We are hoping to arrange a couple of local supporting gigs and then a wider tour in the autumn. Keep in touch with our Facebook page and website to be the first to hear of ticket sales and to pre-order the CD!
 Sophy has a particularly busy month. She has two big concerts coming up - 5th March @ Sage Gateshead with the Andy May Trio and 16th March @ Durham Cathedral with Alistair Anderson performing his “A Lindisfarne Gospel.” That last one follows two days of concerts and workshops in North Yorkshire schools performing fiddle duets and teaching ceilidh dances with me. I shall relish sitting back in the cathedral letting Alistair’s music weave its magic spell as Sophy continues to work tirelessly for the enjoyment of all!
|
|
JSArts Fiddle Workshop
Fri 18th - Sun 20th Mar @ JSArts, Grantham
 After a fun-filled weekend with the Mixed Instruments in February, this month it is the turn of Fiddle Technique. There is always more to learn on the fiddle about bowing, fingering, tone, ornaments and groove, and there is so much great repertoire to work on. We are fully-booked for this workshop but If you are interested in attending future workshops, send an email to Jimmy to get advance notice as future dates are released.
|
|
Folkworks Workout Day & Concert
Sun 20th Mar, 1pm @ Gateshead Old Town Hall
Five fantastic musicians will be teaching and performing at this event, providing inspirational workshops and what promises to be a fabulous evening concert. Alistair Anderson, Sophy Ball, Sandra Kerr, David Oliver and Ian Stephenson are all good friends and very well known locally, nationally and internationally. Tickets are available from Sage Gateshead.
|
|
Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering
Fri 1st - Sun 3rd April @ Morpeth
The 49th wonderful Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering will be taking place during the 1st weekend in April this year. "An exciting three-day annual festival of street entertainment, indoor events, music, dance, craft, dialect, heritage and traditional fun!" I will be involved on the Saturday, playing for the clog competitions from 12 noon, supporting the fiddle competitions in the afternoon, and the Tyneside Fiddle Alliance will be playing in the Winners' Concert from 6.30 - 8.30pm in the Town Hall. Come and join us!
|
|
Historically Informed Summer School
15th - 19th Aug 2016 @ Scarborough
"HISS 2016: Early music with traditional flavour, for singers and period/modern instrumental players."
A great week of intensive workshops, group playing and sessions for instruments and voice. For anyone with an interest in the cross over between art and folk music, and period styles. I've tutored on this summer school since it began in 2011 and really enjoy my week by the seaside. The tutors will be having a planning meeting this month, and Early Bird Tickets are now on sale - see the website for details or keep up to date through their Facebook page.
|
|
Morpeth Gathering Fundraising Concert
Great to see a packed house for this concert. The Gatherings are a vital part of the local musical community and local culture. I know funding is especially difficult at the moment so the organisers really appreciate all the support they can get - and if we don’t support the Gatherings, we’ll end up losing them. Many, many thanks to my fellow performers for being so supportive in my hour of need. Having left the Fiddle Tutors Forum in very good time I contrived to suffer a puncture on the Newcastle Quayside. Being a contender for the country’s least handy man (and my car not carrying a spare) it was up to the AA to rescue me during rush hour on a Friday afternoon. It is a testament to them that I was only ten minutes late for the concert! Special thanks to Kim Bibby-Wilson for being completely calm and unflappable re the organisation and to Matt Seattle and the rest of the Border Directors for inviting me to share their music, to Alistair Anderson for being so understanding having arrived early for a rehearsal with me and still having faith to perform a couple of sets of tunes together (and what huge fun that was) and to my pal and partner in crime, George Welch, for being - as ever - an oasis of calm, a champion of spontaneity and a terrific performer.
|
|
|
Here is a short video as a taster of the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering. The Tyneside Fiddle Alliance played in the group competitions, and there are some images of the rest of the Gathering (I particularly like the Punch & Judy!)
|
|
|
Tyneside Fiddle Alliance "Steamboat"
Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering, 26th April 2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
