Jun
18
Fri
HISS Online Workshops – Folk Session @ Online - on Zoom
Jun 18 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm

This one-off 2 hour session will allow participants to play a variety of folk tunes, led by Stewart Hardy and Mary Tyler and will also be an opportunity for attendees at Stewart’s ‘Folk Set’ series to try out tune combinations that were discussed in the workshops. Attendance at the previous workshops is not a prerequisite for joining this session.

Access to a copy of the HISS Tunebook is required for this sessions. If you do not already have one, you can buy a download from the HISS website.

Sep
5
Sun
Lee Maddison @ The Steelworks Club
Sep 5 @ 5:30 pm
Lee Maddison @ The Steelworks Club

First gig with Lee Maddison in a very long time! Nige Spaven will also be joining on bass. Looking forward to a relaxed set of Lee’s wonderful songs and covers.

 

Oct
3
Sun
Lee Maddison @ Hartlepool Cricket Club
Oct 3 @ 6:30 pm
Lee Maddison @ Hartlepool Cricket Club

Another chance to join with Lee Maddison and Nige Spaven to play a relaxed set of Lee’s wonderful songs and a selection of covers.

 

Dec
2
Fri
NEFS Residential Weeked @ Shepherds Dene
Dec 2 @ 5:00 pm – Dec 4 @ 2:00 pm
NEFS Residential Weeked @ Shepherds Dene

NEFS Residential Weekend
Fri 2nd – Sun 4th December 2022
Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre

For full details, see the NEFS Residential Weekend web page on the NEFS website.

We will be holding our first in-person NEFS Residential Weekend at the beautiful Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre near Riding Mill on Friday 2nd – Sunday 4th December 2022.

This weekend will include our usual Saturday Workshop for the block, which will be on Saturday 3rd December 10.00 am – 5.00 pm. There will be three tune workshops and a session during the day, which will give us a chance to learn new tunes, work on the relevant techniques, and play some of our NEFS tunes together. Tea and coffee is provided, and there is the option to add lunch provided by the venue. Otherwise you are welcome to bring a packed lunch, or to drive down into Riding Mill for something to eat. The lunch break will be 1 hour long.

In addition, we will begin the weekend on Friday evening with dinner and an informal session, and there will be an option to book Bed & Breakfast, so you can stay over, ready for the workshop on Saturday.

After the workshop on Saturday, they is the option to stay for dinner, and to join us for the evening. We are planning a short informal concert to inspire and entertain you, and this will be followed by a session. The bar will be open to purchase drinks and there is again an option of bed and breakfast, so you can relax and enjoy the evening.

On Sunday morning, some short 1-1 sessions with Stewart will be available for those who are interested, and we will recap Saturday’s tunes, or learn a new one, depending on what people would like to do. We will finish the weekend with lunch provided by Shepherds Dene before we head home.

We have come up with some packages to allow you to book the events you wish to attend. These include the following options:

  • Saturday Workshop (tea & coffee included, bring a packed lunch, or…)
  • add Lunch provided by the venue during the Saturday workshop
  • Evening meal and a session (Friday evening, and/or Saturday evening including the concert)
  • Bed & Breakfast on Friday and/or Saturday night
  • Sunday workshop and lunch

Some or all of these options can be booked as packages, with residential and non-residential options available. For full details, see the NEFS Residential Weekend web page.

Block 6 Online Option is also available to book separately.

Please email or use the contact form for with any queries. To book your place, please place your order in  the NEFS Shop.

Jan
6
Fri
NEFS Virtual Winter Workshop – Play-along Session @ Zoom
Jan 6 @ 7:30 pm – 9:00 pm

Join us for our first NEFS Virtual Winter Workout

This Friday evening Play-along Session in Harmony for all instruments will be led by Stewart. It will form part of the Virtual Winter Workout, and access is included in the ticket price.

Players of any instrument are welcome to join this Friday evening session, and notation with harmomies and chord suggestions, as well as audio files will be provided in advance. Notation in other key signatures for transposing instruments, or other clefs, can be provided with enough notice.

If you wish to attend this Friday evening session but not the full Virtual Winter Workout, please purchase a Friday Play-along Session Only ticket.

As a bonus, you can join us on Saturday evening as well, where all the fiddle players will be led in tunes by Stewart and our guest tutors Kevin Lees and Grace Smith. There will also be short performance spots by the tutors which you are welcome to enjoy.

Jan
7
Sat
NEFS Virtual Winter Workout @ Zoom
Jan 7 @ 9:30 am – 10:00 pm

Join us for our first NEFS Virtual Winter Workout – a day of fully online fiddle tuition on Zoom

There will be live fiddle workshops, fiddle technique sessions, play-along tune sessions with spots from our tutors, plus a chat event and video tutorials. Events will be aimed at all abilities of fiddle player from competent beginner through to advanced, led by guest tutors Kevin Lees and Grace Smith, alongside our regular tutor Stewart Hardy for the weekend, and an exclusive video tutorial from Melissa Whitehead.

Plenty of breaks are scheduled, drop in and out of the workshops as you choose during the day, and there are some chat events to break up the day! Call recordings of the workshops will be available after the event if you miss anything on the day.

The evening before, Friday 6th January, Stewart will host an evening play-along session for all instruments, with harmony lines and chord suggestions provided. This will be available as a separate event, as well as part of the Virtual Winter Workout.

Buy tickets now from the NEFS Shop!

Feb
11
Sat
NEFS 2023 Block 1 – In-person Workshop @ Wylam Methodist Church
Feb 11 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

SOLD OUT
Please contact Ali Say to go on the waiting list.

North East Fiddle School returns with a new block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person.

The in-person Workshop Day on Saturday 11th February will run from 10:00 until 17:00 at Wylam Methodist Church. There will be three workshops run by Stewart and Melissa, with a session to finish the afternoon.

Check out the NEFS website for full details and see which tunes are being taught this block by Stewart Hardy and Melissa Whitehead.
http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/

Feb
12
Sun
Phoenix Folk: An Evening with… Stewart Hardy @ On Zoom
Feb 12 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Phoenix Folk: An Evening with... Stewart Hardy @ On Zoom

I had so much fun playing with Maurice and Marina this time last year on one of their “An Evening With…” sessions, so I was very pleased when I was asked to join them again this month. Once again, I’ll be playing a short solo set and then the three of us will play a selection from the extensive Phoenix Online Session tunebook together for viewers to either join in with, or sit back and enjoy.
An Evening With… Stewart Hardy – Sun 12th Feb, 7.00 – 8.30 pm

Mar
18
Sat
NEFS 2023 Block 2 – In-person Workshop @ Wylam Methodist Church
Mar 18 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

This full-day workshop forms a part of the North East Fiddle School’s Block 2 offering, along with video tutorials and Zoom calls.

The in-person Workshop Day on Saturday 18th March will run from 10:00 until 17:00 at Wylam Methodist Church. There will be three workshops run by Stewart and Melissa, with a session to finish the afternoon.

Check out the NEFS website for full details and to see which tunes are being taught this block by Stewart Hardy and Melissa Whitehead.
http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/

Jul
8
Sat
NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend – Fiddle Workshops @ Wylam Methodist Church
Jul 8 @ 9:30 am – 5:00 pm

NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend with Grace Smith and Stewart Hardy

Full details from the NEFS website:  http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/classes/

  • Saturday 8th July – Full day of Fiddle Tune & Technique Workshops (Wylam Methodist Church)
  • Satuday evening informal concert & session, featuring Stewart Hardy & Frank McLaughlin (Riding Mill Parish Hall)
  • Sunday 9th July – Fiddle Ensemble Day (Riding Mill Parish Hall)

Each workshop day is £44, attend both for £84.

 

Saturday Full-day Fiddle Tunes & Technique Workshop Saturday 8th July, 9.30 am – 5.00 pm at Wylam Methodist Church, Chapel Lane, Wylam, Northumberland NE41 8AA
£44 – places are limited.

  • In-person tuition focusing on developing fiddle technique
  • Tunes and technique delivered by both Grace Smith and Stewart Hardy
  • In-depth fiddle teaching aimed at Levels 2 and 3
  • The day includes 3 mixed ability workshops, looking at tunes and techniques, and time for a tutor-guided session

 

Satuday evening informal concert & session, featuring Stewart Hardy & Frank McLaughlin (Riding Mill Parish Hall, 7.30 – 10.30 pm)

The wonderful Frank McLaughlin will be coming down from Edinburgh with his guitar to join Stewart for an informal concert & session on the Saturday evening in Riding Mill Parish Hall (all welcome, free entry, donations encouraged).

 

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