Stewart Hardy

Stewart will be running an hour’s fiddle workshop in the Oldham Room of Ceddesfield Hall as part of the Sedgefield Folk Festival.

George & Stewart are one of four acts in this afternoon concert on the Saturday of the Sedgefield Folk Festival. Details and information on tickets can be found on the festival website.

Maddison’s Thread will be playing at Hartlepool’s Wintertide Festival this year, featuring the full 10 piece line-up that rocked the album launch in January. As well as Lee’s stunning vocals, I will be joining regulars Nige (bass) & Darren (drums), alongside Paul (guitars), Kieran (flute) and Suzy (backing vocals). I am absolutely delighted that the string quartet will be getting together once again, with Emma, Jill & Fiona bringing their glorious sounds to the string arrangements. Such a treat!

This will be a landmark performance as it is not often we can get a full line-up of such splendid musicians together! And all to support the wonderful tunes and lyrics that make up Lee’s enthralling songs. The event will be candlelit creating a very special atmosphere, with limited ticket allocation, so book your tickets now.

(and do you like the Wintertide poster? A spectacular piece of art by Amanda at Mandascat – check out her work on Facebook or her website)

“From Eight till Late”

Lee has been asked to perform some of his songs in support of an evening of poetry at this T-Junction festival event, celebrating the work of eight international poets – a real testament to the quality of his lyrics. I’m delighted to have the opportunity to go along and play fiddle alongside him. It promises to be a truly wonderful and inspiring event – do come and support.

Eight T-junction poets – Lev Rubenstein, Justyna Bargielska, Abdulkareem Kasid, Chawki Abdelamir, Aurélia Lassaque, Gerður Kristný, Eric Motswasele and Bejan Matur – take to the stage at mima for what promises to be an unforgettable evening of poetry from Russia, Poland, Iraq, France, Iceland, Botswana and Turkey. Plus music from Lee Maddison & Stewart Hardy.

Excited that Bottle Bank Band are to be a part of the brilliant Swaledale Festival.

“Infectious jigs, reels and hornpipes brilliantly played by a quartet from the North-East of England – a region which enjoys a centuries old tradition of fiddle playing. The glorious sound of the four fiddles, rich in harmony and captivating arrangements, is underpinned by an instinctive understanding of traditional playing.”

WILLIAM SHIELD: Northumbrian Fiddler and Piper??

Presentation by Dr Amélie Addison with Stewart Hardy (fiddle)

My friend, Dr Amélie Addison, will be giving a presentation at The Chantry Bagpipe Museum as part of the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering on 6th April. She is the leading authority on local composer William Shield, a man with close ties to the fiddling and piping traditions of the North East, and I am delighted to be illustrating her talk with some tunes on the fiddle.

Tickets £5 adult / £2 school-age

William 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 I had the pleasure of working with at HISS for many years. In the first concert, I’ll be playing fiddle to Mary Tyer’s collection of recorders and flutes as well as backing some of her terrific renditions of traditional ballads. Mary is such a fine story teller in song! Straight after that, I’ll be providing musical examples on the fiddle for the wonderful Dr Amelie Addison during her fascinating talk on William Shield and his connections with folk music. It promises to be a lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon, so if you can make it, come along and say hello.