
Stewart Hardy is an internationally-acclaimed performer, composer and teacher with numerous recordings and broadcast credits to his name. Based in the North East of England, a love for the traditional music of Northumberland and Scotland shines through his repertoire and influences his own compositions. Stewart’s teaching is diverse, and has covered many projects from international workshops to the Newcastle University folk degree course. He spent six years as an influential member of the very popular John Wright Band and has toured throughout the world playing traditional folk, pop, rock, jazz, country and western swing music.
JSArts Residential Courses
We’ve had a great time running the JSArts courses in 2024 and the final event at Rydal Hall in the Lake District was a fabulous way to finish off the year. Many thanks to all those who have attended this year and contributed so much to making the courses such a joy to do. I hope we see as many of you as possible in the coming year.
More information can be found on the JSArts page, along with dates for 2025. Booking forms for all courses are now available – get in touch with Ali to request yours.
Latest Newsletter
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“Beautifully and stylishly played, good technique serves the music, never being used for mere flash.”
Tom Bell-Richards, reviewing Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade in Fiddle On.
“Hardy has built up an enviable international reputation for his fiddle playing, venturing easily across genre boundaries… Whether drawing from the Scottish and Irish piping repertoire, from Tyneside’s rich heritage of tunes, or forging their own compositions from these traditions, Hardy and McLaughlin show themselves to be players of immense empathy and spirit.”
Oz Hardwick, reviewing Root 2 in R2.
“Hardy’s fiddling is technically nigh perfect, and his solo performance is enough to hold the attention for over an hour on this CD”
Alex Monaghan, reviewing Hawthorn’s Sweeter Shade in Living Tradition.
“Hardy brings a terrific range of colourful expression to his playing, from the gentle, poignant lilt of his slow airs, through the slippery hornpipe bowing that lights up The Locomotive and the swooping, steely poise of his own Thunderfoot.”
Rob Adams, reviewing Root 2 Herald Scotland.
“Stewart Hardy is pre-eminent among the many fine fiddle tutors with whom I’ve worked. His teaching is characterised by meticulous, clearly-focused preparation, effective structure, attention to detail, rigour, positive encouragement, good humour, patience, kindness and care. He has demanding yet reasonable expectations of his students, and makes sure his workshops are enjoyable, purposeful and productive. Thus his students, at all levels, become better and more confident players. He is the complete professional.”
Folkworks Education Director (1993-2007)
Recordings
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Upcoming Events
Apr30Wed7:00 pm NEFS 2025 Block 3 – Online @ Online CourseNEFS 2025 Block 3 – Online @ Online CourseApr 30 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pmNorth East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person that will be held this block on Saturday 17th May. Technique and tunes are taught through Video...May2Friall-day JSArts Advanced Fiddle Technique @ Rydal HallJSArts Advanced Fiddle Technique @ Rydal HallMay 2 – May 4 all-dayAdvanced Fiddle Technique 2nd – 4th May 2025 Rydal Hall, Ambleside LA22 9LX 3.00 pm start and finish time. £402 fully inclusive (except bar drinks) Join Stewart in the beautiful surroundings of Rydal Hall in...May7Wed7:00 pm NEFS 2025 Block 3 – Online @ Online CourseNEFS 2025 Block 3 – Online @ Online CourseMay 7 @ 7:00 pm – 8:30 pmNorth East Fiddle School returns with another block of fully online materials, plus a single day workshop in-person that will be held this block on Saturday 17th May. Technique and tunes are taught through Video...May9Fri8:00 pm Stewart Hardy & Frank McLaughlin... @ Cullercoats Watch HouseStewart Hardy & Frank McLaughlin... @ Cullercoats Watch HouseMay 9 @ 8:00 pmStewart and Frank will be playing an intimate concert in Cullercoats Watch House on Friday 9th May at 8.00 pm. Tickets are available via the Phoenix Folk website £12.00 Music rooted in the traditions of... Facebook Feed
1 week ago
🎧 The Tune VaultReally looking forward to heading to Rydal Hall next weekend for the JSArts Advanced Fiddle course. I learnt Foul Weather Call from the lovely Frankie Cleeve at an evening session on one of the very early courses we held in South Wales, so this is a good time for it to go into The Tune Vault.
Foul Weather Call
A cracking English country dance tune to be found in the Welch Manuscript of West Sussex and published in a very influential book for the southern English folk tradition, The Sussex Tunebook, edited by Anne Loughran and the very wonderful Vic Gammon.
Foul Weather Call | The Tune Vault
youtu.be
Foul Weather Call - The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyA cracking English country dance tune to be found in the Welch Manuscript of West Sussex and published in...2 weeks ago
It will be great to get started again with NEFS on Wednesday after Easter! Great tunes and lots of scales and exercises coming your way!😆 Do join us on Zoom, with catch up on YouTube available for all calls, and video tutorials on-demand too. ... See MoreSee LessThis content isn't available at the moment
When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.2 weeks ago
🎧 The Tune VaultKevin Burke played a couple of favourite Carolan tunes at the Watch House in Cullercoats as part of the Phoenix Folk Ltd. Spring Thing, which gives me an excuse to drop this pretty air into The Tune Vault. I first played it in public across the road from the Watch House at The Bay Hotel, sadly no longer there.
Fanny Dillon (Turlough O’Carolan)
A very pretty tune indeed from the writing of Turlough O’Carolan. There are a few tunes dedicated to Dillons among his compositions and this is a personal favourite. ... See MoreSee Less
Fanny Dillon (Carolan) | The Tune Vault
youtu.be
Fanny Dillon (Carolan)- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyA very pretty tune indeed from the writing of Turlough O’Carolan. There are a few tunes dedicated to ...Tags
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