Stewart Hardy

Bottle Bank Band is heading up to Alnwick on Sunday, 11th August to join in the festivities at the Alnwick Music Festival. We are particularly thrilled to be sharing the billing with two of our favourite musicians, Alistair Anderson and Dan Walsh. It’s a cracking line up for the whole weekend, so do check out their website and come along.

Bottle Bank Band is delighted to be heading to The Hearth in Horsley, where the acoustics of the church are absolutely wonderful.

Tickets £12.50 / £7.50 (under 19s) from website.

The Hearth Cafe will be open for evening meals from 5.30pm, please book on 01661 853 563

Four exceptional musicians collaborate to create a new, exciting take on traditional fiddle music.

Bottle Bank Band brings together the fiddling talents of Sophy Ball, Chloe Jones, David Jones and Stewart Hardy. The glorious sound of these four fiddles, rich in harmony and captivating arrangements, is underpinned by an instinctive understanding of traditional playing, which gives voice and space to the musicality and talent of the individual players.

Their repertoire is firmly rooted in, but not limited to, the North East of England and its centuries’ old tradition of fiddle playing.  Individually the members of Bottle Bank Band have all established reputations as outstanding musicians, and by coming together in this combination they have created a new, exciting musical landscape.

Bottle Bank Band is delighted to have been asked by the Hertiage Society to perform a concert at St Mary’s on Tuesday 6th June at 7.00 pm.
Doors open at 6.30 pm for refreshments.

Tickets £5.00 and pre-booking is essential.

Book online at gatesheadlibraries.eventbrite.com or call St Mary’s on 0191 433 4699

The astonishing combination of Sophy Ball, Stewart Hardy, David Jones and Chloe Jones creates a musical experience which is not to be missed. They are all fine fiddlers with back catalogues of recordings and individual acclaim, but as Bottle Bank Band they bring a dazzling array of tunes with beautifully crafted harmonies. The intimate setting of St Mary’s Heritage Centre is a perfect venue to enjoy their musicality as they perform one of their rare appearances in the region. Doors open at 6.30pm for refreshments.

Sunday Full-day Fiddle Ensemble Day Sunday 9th July, 9.30 am – 4.00 pm at Riding Mill Parish Hall, Millfield Rd, Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6DJ
£44 – places are limited Includes:

• In-person tuition focusing on fiddle ensemble playing techniques
• Includes tunes, harmonies, fiddle chords and fiddle ensemble arrangement techniques.
• Teaching delivered by both Grace Smith and Stewart Hardy
• The day will finish with a tutor-guided session

Sunday Full-day Fiddle Ensemble Day Sunday 9th July, 9.30 am – 4.00 pm at Riding Mill Parish Hall, Millfield Rd, Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6DJ
£44 – places are limited Includes:

• In-person tuition focusing on fiddle ensemble playing techniques
• Includes tunes, harmonies, fiddle chords and fiddle ensemble arrangement techniques.
• Teaching delivered by both Grace Smith and Stewart Hardy
• The day will finish with a tutor-guided session

Sunday Full-day Fiddle Ensemble Day Sunday 9th July, 9.30 am – 4.00 pm at Riding Mill Parish Hall, Millfield Rd, Riding Mill, Northumberland NE44 6DJ
£44 – places are limited Includes:

• In-person tuition focusing on fiddle ensemble playing techniques
• Includes tunes, harmonies, fiddle chords and fiddle ensemble arrangement techniques.
• Teaching delivered by both Grace Smith and Stewart Hardy
• The day will finish with a tutor-guided session

Frank and I will be building a short tour for later in the year around a booking on Friday 20th September at the Swallow Theatre in Dumfries & Galloway. Their 2024 programme is now available to browse online. We are both delighted to be playing at this lovely venue again and tickets are now on sale. If you are in the area, or fancy taking a break in a beautiful part of the world, it would be great to see you there.

Friday 20th September, Swallow Theatre, Moss Park, Ravenstone, Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway DG8 8DR

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.