Stewart Hardy is an internationally-acclaimed performer, composer and teacher with numerous recordings and broadcast credits to his name. Based in the North East of England, a love for the traditional music of Northumberland and Scotland shines through his repertoire and influences his own compositions. Stewart’s teaching is diverse, and has covered many projects from international workshops to the Newcastle University folk degree course. He spent six years as an influential member of the very popular John Wright Band and has toured throughout the world playing traditional folk, pop, rock, jazz, country and western swing music.
Bursary Fundraiser – free Zoom session
Friday 26th July, 7.00 – 9.00 pm on Zoom
Join Stewart and Ali for an evening of inspiring music and play along to some fab tunes on Zoom. Lots of favourites from North East Fiddle School, Tyneside Fiddle Alliance and Stewart’s Online Workshops, with a few harmonies available just for fun!
The session is free to join, but we are raising money for the Bursary Fund, which contributes small sums to people who would otherwise be unable to attend Stewart’s workshops – whether JSArts courses, NEFS workshops or anything else we are running. A playlist and notation will be available on the website, along with the Zoom details. You can make a donation with a bank transfer or via PayPal – or if you’d prefer to send a cheque get in touch for the details.
http://www.stewarthardy.co.uk/education/bursary-july2024/
JSArts Residential Courses 2024
Having had a wonderful celebration for my 100th JSArts Residential Course with the Arrangement Techniques group earlier in June, we now have three more courses left this year. Join us for Fiddle Foundations at Rydal Hall in September, a Repertoire for Mixed Instruments course (great tunes and how to play them well) in October at Shepherds Dene, and the final standard Fiddle Technique course of the year in November at Rydal Hall – this one is fully booked, but we are holding a waiting list.
More information can be found on the JSArts page, and get in touch with Ali for booking forms.
Latest Newsletter
For up to date information on concerts, workshops and merchandise, you can read the latest newsletter. You can also sign up here to receive it directly to your inbox each month:
“Beautifully and stylishly played, good technique serves the music, never being used for mere flash.”
Tom Bell-Richards, reviewing Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade in Fiddle On.
“Hardy has built up an enviable international reputation for his fiddle playing, venturing easily across genre boundaries… Whether drawing from the Scottish and Irish piping repertoire, from Tyneside’s rich heritage of tunes, or forging their own compositions from these traditions, Hardy and McLaughlin show themselves to be players of immense empathy and spirit.”
Oz Hardwick, reviewing Root 2 in R2.
“Hardy’s fiddling is technically nigh perfect, and his solo performance is enough to hold the attention for over an hour on this CD”
Alex Monaghan, reviewing Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade in Living Tradition.
“Hardy brings a terrific range of colourful expression to his playing, from the gentle, poignant lilt of his slow airs, through the slippery hornpipe bowing that lights up The Locomotive and the swooping, steely poise of his own Thunderfoot.”
Rob Adams, reviewing Root 2 Herald Scotland.
“Stewart Hardy is pre-eminent among the many fine fiddle tutors with whom I’ve worked. His teaching is characterised by meticulous, clearly-focused preparation, effective structure, attention to detail, rigour, positive encouragement, good humour, patience, kindness and care. He has demanding yet reasonable expectations of his students, and makes sure his workshops are enjoyable, purposeful and productive. Thus his students, at all levels, become better and more confident players. He is the complete professional.”
Folkworks Education Director (1993-2007)
Recordings
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Upcoming Events
Oct19Sat1:00 pm Hardy Tyers – William Shield Fes... @ Literary and Philosophical Society of NewcastleHardy Tyers – William Shield Fes... @ Literary and Philosophical Society of NewcastleOct 19 @ 1:00 pm – 2:00 pmI’m really looking forward to this afternoon at The Lit and Phil Society in Newcastle with two great friends who I had the pleasure of working with at HISS for many years. In the first...2:15 pm Talk: Dr Amelie Addision with St... @ Literary and Philosophical Society of NewcastleTalk: Dr Amelie Addision with St... @ Literary and Philosophical Society of NewcastleOct 19 @ 2:15 pmWilliam Shield and his Folk Music Connection Talk by Dr Amelie Addison with Stewart Hardy~ I’m really looking forward to this afternoon at The Lit and Phil Society in Newcastle with two great friends who...Nov1Friall-day JSArts Fiddle Technique @ Rydal HallJSArts Fiddle Technique @ Rydal HallNov 1 – Nov 3 all-dayJSArts Fiddle Technique 1st – 3rd November 2024 Rydal Hall, Ambleside LA22 9LX 3.00 pm start and finish time. £398 fully inclusive (except bar drinks) Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Rydal Hall in... Facebook Feed
4 days ago
I’ve been a little slow on The Tune Vault recently. There is so much going on! Still time to mess about with a few favourite tunes, however. Borthwick Riddell’s Hornpipe came up recently on one of our JSArts courses at Rydal Hall in the Lake District. The weather was fab, the setting was gorgeous and the people were wonderful… happy days!Borthwick Riddell’s HornpipeA fabulous tune probably originating in the Scottish Borders which can be found in the Jack (‘Kielder Jock’) Davidson Manuscript, housed in the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum, and which was first introduced to me by the wonderful Matt Seattle. There are no sharps in the key signature in the original but most people play it in the Dorian mode which is how Matt published it in The Northumbrian Pipers Pocket Book - Green Book. There is also a lovely A major reworking of the tune by the border fiddler Bob Hopkirk known as The Borthwick Reel. Borthwick Riddell was a celebrated nineteenth century piper from the Scottish Borders.Borthwick Riddell's Hornpipe | The Tune Vault
Borthwick Riddell's Hornpipe- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyA fabulous tune, probably originating in the Scottish Borders, which can be found in the Jack (...5 days ago
🎻 Advanced Fiddle players! Would anyone else like to join us on Sunday for a full day's workshop of fiddle technique and tunes? If you are a proficient fiddle player who is up for a bit of a challenge, not put off by a few more sharps or flats, and keen to experience a faster pace of learning and playing, this workshop could be for you!Contact us via Facebook, the website contact page, or email Ali for a booking form.www.facebook.com/events/1319426489028612 ... See MoreSee LessThis content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.1 week ago
Preparations are going very well for our November concert, when Tyneside Fiddle Alliance will be joining forces with the Phoenix Chamber Folk Ensemble (Phoenix Folk Ltd.)Tickets are on sale now and we would love to see you there!Music in Our Roots – Tyneside Fiddle Alliance & Phoenix Chamber Folk Ensemble ... See MoreSee LessThis content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.Tags
30 Years Collection Bill Elliot Bottle Bank Band CD Launch Community Strings Fiddle Day Frank McLaughlin George Welch Graham Dixon Halsway Manor HISS Holly & Ivy James Hill Jimmy's Fiddle JSArts Maddison's Thread Mick West Trio Minstrelsy Morpeth Gathering North East Fiddle School Northumbrian Shop Solo TFA The Tune Vault Tyneside Fiddle Alliance