Stewart Hardy

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.

Northumbrian Pipers’ Society and Tyneside Fiddle Alliance

I’m so pleased this is happening again! Returning after an enforced rest since 2019, the team are hoping to raise your spirits with the honey-toned voices of Benny Graham, Jim Mageean and Barry and Ingrid Temple. Laura Connolly and I will be taking time out from our Holly and Ivy preparations to give the stage a good rattling with some clog dancing (provided by Laura – for everybody’s safety it’s better I stick to the fiddle). Finally, I am so pleased that the irrepressible George Welch is able to join us again. He is such a favourite of the village and… well, basically, he is my pal and it is always a delight to share the stage with him. In the past tickets have sold out for these nights so if you fancy coming, please do contact the numbers below and book your ticket in advance.

Tickets £12.50. To book, ring 0191 2980323 or 0191 2371136

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.

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.

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/

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

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/

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.