The Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering is celebrating its big 50th Anniversary this year and there is lots planned. On the Friday night there will be the Golden Gala Concert in the Methodist Church, in which I will be playing with Bottle Band Band, Tyneside Fiddle Alliance and leading the Morpeth Community Strings group in their debut performance. On the Saturday there will be the usual competitions, and I will be supporting family and friends in the fiddle classes, and might even be persuaded to enter the instrumental duos! The Tyneside Fiddle Alliance plan to defend their title in the Concert Band category and there will be many other great things going on. Do come along and support this wonderful celebration of Northumbrian traditional music, song and dance.
“An exciting three-day annual festival of street entertainment, indoor events, music, dance, craft, dialect, heritage and traditional fun – held the weekend after Easter in the medieval market town of Morpeth, 14 miles north of Newcastle upon Tyne.
The festival is a true gathering of people who come together to enjoy the traditional culture of Northumberland and the wider NE region. It features concerts, dance, crafts, battle re-enactments, dialect, stories, drama, workshops, sessions, singarounds, competitions, stalls, bellringing, orienteering, tours, walks, talks and street performances which include a young people’s pageant as part of the Saturday morning Border Cavalcade.”
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.
Recordings
