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Stewart and Frank will be playing a private House Concert in Edinburgh on Thursday evening.
Music rooted in the traditions of Scotland,
the Borders and Northumberland
Fiddle virtuoso Stewart Hardy and superb Scottish guitarist Frank McLaughlin are a critically acclaimed duo who possess a rare musical kinship as they explore music rooted in the traditions of Scotland, the Borders and Northumberland while incorporating sensibilities from the worlds of classical, blues, klezmer and jazz.
As a duo they perform traditional and contemporary tunes stripped back to the bare essentials of fiddle and guitar.
With their long-term collaboration, they have achieved a deep and instinctive understanding of each other’s musical interpretations.
The unique and versatile approach Stewart and Frank bring to their music, combined with their ability to draw on a wide variety of styles, produces an uplifting and joyous performance.

Stewart and Frank will be performing an evening concert on Friday 20th September at the The Swallow Theatre in Dumfries & Galloway. Tickets are now available on their website. They are delighted to be playing at this lovely venue again! If you are in the area, or fancy taking a break in a beautiful part of the world, they would love to see you there!
Music rooted in the traditions of Scotland,
the Borders and Northumberland
Fiddle virtuoso Stewart Hardy and superb Scottish guitarist Frank McLaughlin are a critically acclaimed duo who possess a rare musical kinship as they explore music rooted in the traditions of Scotland, the Borders and Northumberland while incorporating sensibilities from the worlds of classical, blues, klezmer and jazz.
As a duo they perform traditional and contemporary tunes stripped back to the bare essentials of fiddle and guitar.
With their long-term collaboration, they have achieved a deep and instinctive understanding of each other’s musical interpretations.
The unique and versatile approach Stewart and Frank bring to their music, combined with their ability to draw on a wide variety of styles, produces an uplifting and joyous performance.

Stewart and Frank will be playing an evening concert in Wall Village Hall on Saturday 21st September, 7.30 pm start (doors 7.00 pm, ending approximately 9.30 pm).
Tickets are available via the Shop.
£12.50 / £8 (U19)
Wall Village Hall, Wall, Northumberland NE46 4DX
Music rooted in the traditions of Scotland,
the Borders and Northumberland
Fiddle virtuoso Stewart Hardy and superb Scottish guitarist Frank McLaughlin are a critically acclaimed duo who possess a rare musical kinship as they explore music rooted in the traditions of Scotland, the Borders and Northumberland while incorporating sensibilities from the worlds of classical, blues, klezmer and jazz.
As a duo they perform traditional and contemporary tunes stripped back to the bare essentials of fiddle and guitar.
With their long-term collaboration, they have achieved a deep and instinctive understanding of each other’s musical interpretations.
The unique and versatile approach Stewart and Frank bring to their music, combined with their ability to draw on a wide variety of styles, produces an uplifting and joyous performance.

Stewart and Frank will be playing a Sunday afternoon concert in Gallery Forty5, Felton on Sunday 22nd September, 4.00 pm start (ending approximately 6.00 pm).
Tickets are available via to buy online in the Shop.
You can also purchase tickets in person from Gallery Forty5 (01670 783424 / feltongallery45@gmail.com)
£12.50 / £8 (U19)
Gallery Forty5, Main Street, Felton, Northumberland NE65 9PP
Venue website: Gallery Forty5
Music rooted in the traditions of Scotland,
the Borders and Northumberland
Fiddle virtuoso Stewart Hardy and superb Scottish guitarist Frank McLaughlin are a critically acclaimed duo who possess a rare musical kinship as they explore music rooted in the traditions of Scotland, the Borders and Northumberland while incorporating sensibilities from the worlds of classical, blues, klezmer and jazz.
As a duo they perform traditional and contemporary tunes stripped back to the bare essentials of fiddle and guitar.
With their long-term collaboration, they have achieved a deep and instinctive understanding of each other’s musical interpretations.
The unique and versatile approach Stewart and Frank bring to their music, combined with their ability to draw on a wide variety of styles, produces an uplifting and joyous performance.

Repertoire for Mixed Instruments
4th – 6th October 2024
Shepherds Dene, Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6AF
4.00 pm start and finish time.
For players of all instruments of intermediate level and above, focusing on great tunes and harmonies, building confidence in accessing repertoire and playing with style.
Join Stewart in the beautiful retreat venue of Shepherds Dene, for a weekend of learning tunes and harmonies. The workshop is aimed at intermediate players of any instrument (including transposing instruments), focusing on melody tuition, and will run from 4 pm on Friday until 4 pm on Sunday afternoon. The workshops will be taught “as if by ear”, with the phrases broken down into recognisable motifs, and with enough repetition for those learning by ear. Notation will be provided and can be used as a remider after the course, or at any point for reassurance.
All tuition, resources, accommodation, food and daytime refreshments are included in the course fee. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, full worksheets of the tunes taught are provided, and any recordings from the course are sent on to you afterwards.
For further information or to express your interest in this course, please email Ali (music@stewarthardy.co.uk)
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.

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.

JSArts 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 the Lake District for a weekend of intensive fiddle tuition. The workshop will take a maxiumum of around 14 participants and will run from 4 pm on Friday until 4 pm on Sunday afternoon.This course can accommodate a broad range of experience and ability, ranging from competent beginner to upper intermediate, but is not suitable for absolute or early beginners. All tuition, resources, accommodation, food and daytime refreshments are included. Accommodation is in single occupancy rooms, almost all of which is en suite. Sheet music and mp3 files of the tunes covered are sent out in advance, detailed worksheets are provided, and recordings of exercises from the course are sent on to you afterwards.
These courses are centred around the technical issues that come with playing fiddle music, with as much emphasis on the how, as there is on the what. Focusing on left-hand and bowing technique, with stylistic interpretation of the music a key feature, these workshops delve deep into the tunes, extracting exercises to improve technique and allow its application to a wider repertoire. Tunes are carefully selected for their technical or stylistic content whilst also baring in mind practical considerations such as their usefulness in folk music sessions or as dance repertoire. The tunes are taught ‘as if by ear’, meaning they are taught phrase by phrase at a tempo and with sufficient repetition to enable learning without recourse to reading notation, but with notation available at any point should that be desired or necessary. This encourages the development of aural pattern recognition and general musicality, enhancing musicianship and the enjoyment of playing music in social settings.
For information this or future courses, please email Ali (music@stewarthardy.co.uk)
**Covid-19 Update
This course will be run in accordance to our Covid-secure Music Workshop Guidelines, and is subject to any restrictions applicable at the time, and any coronavirus protocols from the venue. Please do not travel to the venue if you feel unwell or have cold-like symptoms.
~ ~ ~
- – playing simple dance tunes at steady to mid tempo (e.g. reels and jigs at 50-80 beats per minute)
- – able to clap in time to a tune
- – have basic control of the bow on the string
- – able to slur notes together
- – comfortable in the keys of G,D and A major and familiar with their note names
- – familiarity with C major
- – able to play basic scales without notation
- – able to play at least 2 tunes without notation
- – attend other fiddle workshops
- – play with a community folk music group
- – join in folk music sessions
- – receive tuition on the fiddle/violin

George and I will be heading to South Shields Folk Club for another relaxed Sunday evening on 10th November. Join us for some more of George’s moving songs and hilarious stories and, as always, I’ll be doing my best to keep up!
Doors 7.00 pm for a 7.30 pm start.
Once you have heard George perform his songs, accompanied by his guitar playing with Stewart’s fiddle, there is no doubt that the success of this highly entertaining duo is built on solid musical foundations
Recordings
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4 days ago
Many thanks to Maurice and Marina at Phoenix Folk Ltd. for inviting me along last Sunday for one of their ‘An Evening With…” events. Many thanks as well to all the lovely people who came along to support and then have a few tunes all together. The final set in my solo spot started with a favourite James Hill hornpipe, The Omnibus. Here it is for The Tune Vault.The Omnibus [The Stage] (James Hill) | The Tune Vault
youtu.be
The Omnibus [The Stage] (James Hill)- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyAnother cracking hornpipe from the ‘Paganini of Gateshead’, James Hill, and one that ha...Stewart Hardy Music is attending an event.1 week ago
🎧🎻🎹 The next set of Zoom workshops will be on Friday 28th Feb and Saturday 1st March. Each workshop can be booked individually, and all will be available on-demand after the weekend. Book now on the website!There will be lots of favourite tunes with harmonies and chords provided for the Friday evening play-along session. All instruments are welcome, and alternate clefs or keys for transposing instruments can be provided on request.
Then we will have two great tunes for our fiddle workshops on The Saturday. On this occasion, I am focusing on two fabulous, contemporary tunesmiths of the North East. For a Northumbrian piper and multi-instrumentalist Andy May writes a wonderful fiddle tune! His beautiful march dedicated to Fred Picknell is quite rightly enjoying a great deal of attention. Before he became a guru of the border pipes, Matt Seattle was very active as a fiddler in the north east of England. In the afternoon we will tackle his excellent rant, Yeavering Bell, which is one of my all time favourite tunes.
All workshops include full resources and lifetime access to the Zoom call recording, so you can go over anything as many times as you wish. You can even sign up if you can't attend the workshops live! 😃 ... See MoreSee Less
2 weeks ago
Really looking forward to being with Marina and Maurice in their studio on Sunday evening. Join us on Zoom for a short performance and lots of tunes! 🎻 ... See MoreSee LessThis content isn't available at the moment
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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 Session Shop Solo TFA The Tune Vault Tyneside Fiddle Alliance