Stewart Hardy

This workshop series will explore how to use harmonic relationships, melodic flow, lift and narrative development together with groove to create great sets of tunes for folk sessions and ceilidhs.

Tools: 4 x 1 hour weekly online workshops exploring different considerations when combining folk melodies with a view to creating your own sets of tunes. These will be followed by a single 2 hour evening online session (a separate event on Fri 18th June) where we will try out some of the tune combinations discussed in the workshops. Participation in the workshops is not a prerequisite for joining in with the session.

£10 per workshop / £35 for all 4 workshops.

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

This workshop series will explore how to use harmonic relationships, melodic flow, lift and narrative development together with groove to create great sets of tunes for folk sessions and ceilidhs.

Tools: 4 x 1 hour weekly online workshops exploring different considerations when combining folk melodies with a view to creating your own sets of tunes. These will be followed by a single 2 hour evening online session (a separate event on Fri 18th June) where we will try out some of the tune combinations discussed in the workshops. Participation in the workshops is not a prerequisite for joining in with the session.

£10 per workshop / £35 for all 4 workshops.

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

This workshop series will explore how to use harmonic relationships, melodic flow, lift and narrative development together with groove to create great sets of tunes for folk sessions and ceilidhs.

Tools: 4 x 1 hour weekly online workshops exploring different considerations when combining folk melodies with a view to creating your own sets of tunes. These will be followed by a single 2 hour evening online session (a separate event on Fri 18th June) where we will try out some of the tune combinations discussed in the workshops. Participation in the workshops is not a prerequisite for joining in with the session.

£10 per workshop / £35 for all 4 workshops.

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

This workshop series will explore how to use harmonic relationships, melodic flow, lift and narrative development together with groove to create great sets of tunes for folk sessions and ceilidhs.

Tools: 4 x 1 hour weekly online workshops exploring different considerations when combining folk melodies with a view to creating your own sets of tunes. These will be followed by a single 2 hour evening online session (a separate event on Fri 18th June) where we will try out some of the tune combinations discussed in the workshops. Participation in the workshops is not a prerequisite for joining in with the session.

£10 per workshop / £35 for all 4 workshops.

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

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.

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.

*Just a couple of places left