Mar
30
Sat
Jimmy’s Fiddle / London @ Cecil Sharp House
Mar 30 @ 7:30 pm
Jimmy's Fiddle / London @ Cecil Sharp House

“Jimmy’s Fiddle” heads south to London, visiting the home of the EFDSS in Camden, Cecil Sharp House.

Join us for a night of music, dance, songs and humour as we delve in to a story of Georgian/Victorian Tyneside through the eyes of James Hill, “The Geordie Paganini”.

James Hill was probably the most famous fiddler on Tyneside during the late Georgian and early Victorian period. He wrote more than 40 tunes, mainly for hornpipes, inspired and informed by the places and characters he came to know.

This story is a reflective account of his life, told through ‘Jimmy’s ghost’ and set in and around The Hawk public house, which was owned by his future father-in-law. The narrative unfolds to a back-drop of James Hill’s own compositions, clog dancing and songs from the time, incorporating some newly commissioned pieces.

Featuring two top virtuoso fiddle players Tom McConville (BBC Musician of the Year) and Stewart Hardy, this show provides fantastic entertainment for all the family. Tom and Stewart will be joined by two of the North East’s finest singers Alan Fitzsimmons and Jim Mageean and clog dancing champion Natalie Reid.

Mar
31
Sun
Jimmy’s Fiddle / Coalville @ Century Theatre
Mar 31 @ 7:30 pm
Jimmy's Fiddle / Coalville @ Century Theatre

“Jimmy’s Fiddle” heads to the Midlands, to the Century Theatre in Coalville (start time to be confirmed)

Join us for a night of music, dance, songs and humour as we delve in to a story of Georgian/Victorian Tyneside through the eyes of James Hill, “The Geordie Paganini”.

James Hill was probably the most famous fiddler on Tyneside during the late Georgian and early Victorian period. He wrote more than 40 tunes, mainly for hornpipes, inspired and informed by the places and characters he came to know.

This story is a reflective account of his life, told through ‘Jimmy’s ghost’ and set in and around The Hawk public house, which was owned by his future father-in-law. The narrative unfolds to a back-drop of James Hill’s own compositions, clog dancing and songs from the time, incorporating some newly commissioned pieces.

Featuring two top virtuoso fiddle players Tom McConville (BBC Musician of the Year) and Stewart Hardy, this show provides fantastic entertainment for all the family. Tom and Stewart will be joined by two of the North East’s finest singers Alan Fitzsimmons and Jim Mageean and clog dancing champion Natalie Reid.

Mar
6
Fri
Jimmy’s Fiddle / Thropton @ Coquetdale Music Trust
Mar 6 @ 7:30 pm
Jimmy's Fiddle / Thropton @ Coquetdale Music Trust

“Jimmy’s Fiddle” launches a new mini-tour at the wonderful Coquetdale Music Trust, in Thropton, near Rothbury.

Tickets £10 available from Tully’s in Rothbury
or email  lesleyhallcoquetdalemusictrust@mail.com

Join us for a night of music, dance, songs and humour as we delve in to a story of Georgian/Victorian Tyneside through the eyes of James Hill, “The Geordie Paganini”.

James Hill was probably the most famous fiddler on Tyneside during the late Georgian and early Victorian period. He wrote more than 40 tunes, mainly for hornpipes, inspired and informed by the places and characters he came to know.

This story is a reflective account of his life, told through ‘Jimmy’s ghost’ and set in and around The Hawk public house, which was owned by his future father-in-law. The narrative unfolds to a back-drop of James Hill’s own compositions, clog dancing and songs from the time, incorporating some newly commissioned pieces.

Featuring two top virtuoso fiddle players Tom McConville (BBC Musician of the Year) and Stewart Hardy, this show provides fantastic entertainment for all the family. Tom and Stewart will be joined by two of the North East’s finest singers Alan Fitzsimmons and Jim Mageean and clog dancing champion Natalie Reid.

Mar
7
Sat
Jimmy’s Fiddle / Washington @ Davy Lamp Folk Club
Mar 7 @ 7:30 pm
Jimmy's Fiddle / Washington @ Davy Lamp Folk Club

“Jimmy’s Fiddle” heads to the Davy Lamp Folk Club in Washington.

Join us for a night of music, dance, songs and humour as we delve in to a story of Georgian/Victorian Tyneside through the eyes of James Hill, “The Geordie Paganini”.

James Hill was probably the most famous fiddler on Tyneside during the late Georgian and early Victorian period. He wrote more than 40 tunes, mainly for hornpipes, inspired and informed by the places and characters he came to know.

This story is a reflective account of his life, told through ‘Jimmy’s ghost’ and set in and around The Hawk public house, which was owned by his future father-in-law. The narrative unfolds to a back-drop of James Hill’s own compositions, clog dancing and songs from the time, incorporating some newly commissioned pieces.

Featuring two top virtuoso fiddle players Tom McConville (BBC Musician of the Year) and Stewart Hardy, this show provides fantastic entertainment for all the family. Tom and Stewart will be joined by two of the North East’s finest singers Alan Fitzsimmons and Jim Mageean and clog dancing champion Natalie Reid.

Jul
23
Fri
NEFS VSS 2021 @ Online - Videos & Zoom
Jul 23 @ 7:30 pm – Jul 25 @ 6:30 pm

Join us again for another Virtual Summer School – fully online tuition on Zoom and in Video Tutorials.

There will be live fiddle workshops, exclusive video tutorials, sessions, concerts and guided fiddle practice. 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 tutors Melissa Whitehead and Stewart Hardy.

The weekend will be a mix of Live events on Zoom and exclusive Video Tutorials recorded for the Summer School, and each tutor will share their expertise with different ability levels. There will be suggested times over the weekend for several video tutorials, but you will have access to those purchased for 6 months with all supporting materials available to download.

For full details, see the Virtual Summer School page

Standard Price £60

Pay More (£70), Pay Less (£50) and Sponsorship (£100) options available, with donations gratefully received.

Bookings now open!

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!

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
NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend – Concert & Session @ Riding Mill Parish Hall
Jul 8 @ 7:30 pm – 10:30 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
Jul
9
Sun
NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend – Fiddle Ensemble Workshops @ Riding Mill Parish Hall
Jul 9 @ 9:30 am – 4:00 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
Dec
1
Fri
NEFS Winter Residential 2023 @ Shepherds Dene
Dec 1 @ 4:00 pm – Dec 3 @ 11:30 am

NEFS Winter Residential Weekend

Full details from the NEFS website:
http://www.northeastfiddleschool.org.uk/classes/nefs-winter-res-2023/

  • Saturday 2nd December: Block 6 Saturday workshop, in-person with tuition from Melissa and Stewart
  • Extend your visit with Friday evening dinner and a session, dinner on Saturday followed by an informal concert and session, and a workshop with Stewart to finish with coffee on Sunday morning.
  • Day guest and residential packages available

Saturday workshop is £50 including lunch and all refreshments, and the full weekend residential (2 nights B&B and all meals & refreshments except bar drinks) is £295.

 

*Just a couple of places left