Stewart Hardy

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.

Frank McLaughlin and I have really been enjoying getting back into rehearsals recently. We are delighted to have been invited to play at the Edinburgh Folk Club during half term on Wednesday October 26th. If you are anywhere near, do come along or if you know someone in the Edinburgh area, please encourage them to step through the door.

8.00 pm start, doors/bar open from 7.30 pm

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.

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

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

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

*Just a couple of places left

Frank and I will be building a short tour for later in the year around a booking on Friday 20th September at the Swallow Theatre in Dumfries & Galloway. Their 2024 programme is now available to browse online. We are both delighted to be playing at this lovely venue again and tickets are now on sale. If you are in the area, or fancy taking a break in a beautiful part of the world, it would be great to see you there.

Friday 20th September, Swallow Theatre, Moss Park, Ravenstone, Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway DG8 8DR

Fiddle virtuoso Stewart Hardy and superb Scottish guitarist Frank McLaughlin are a critically acclaimed duo who possess a rare musical kinship as they explore music rooted in the traditions of Scotland, the Borders and Northumberland while incorporating sensibilities from the worlds of classical, blues, klezmer and jazz.

As a duo they perform traditional and contemporary tunes stripped back to the bare essentials of fiddle and guitar.

With their long-term collaboration, they have achieved a deep and instinctive understanding of each other’s musical interpretations.

The unique and versatile approach Stewart and Frank bring to their music, combined with their ability to draw on a wide variety of styles, produces an uplifting and joyous performance.