Stewart Hardy

January Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 2

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 28th January: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level
Tich’s Reel – one of Willie Taylor’s fabulous compositions. He didn’t write many, but the ones he wrote are all good and invaluable additions to the Northumbrian fiddle repertoire.

A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Bookings open now

For more information, please visit the January Workshops 2022 information page.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

March Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 2

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 19th March: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level

A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Bookings opening soon

For more information, please visit the March Workshops 2022 information page.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

May Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 2

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 28th May: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level

A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Bookings opening soon

For more information, please visit the May Workshops 2022 information page.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

July Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 2

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 23rd July: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level

Wedding Bells (S. Hardy)
– a reel written in 2001 in anticipation of the big day. This tune was recorded by Alistair Anderson and Northlands on their eponymous CD.

A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.

For more information, please visit the July Workshops 2022 information page.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

November Workshops 2022
Fiddle Workshop 2

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 19th November: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level

Trip to Pakistan (Niall Kenn)
– a fabulous tune which Niall tells me he wrote as an An Dro but which is often played as a slow reel.

A single workshop is £20, attend two for £35 or all three for £50.
Bookings opening soon.

For more information, please visit the November Workshops 2022 information page.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

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.

February Workshops 2023
Fiddle Workshop 2

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 4th February: 14:00 – 16:00
Intermediate to Advanced level

Windbroke (M. McGoldrick)
How do people who don’t even play the instrument write such good fiddle tunes? Andy Cutting is one and Michael McGoldrick is another. He has had an amazing and illustrious career with Flook, Lúnasa and Capercaillie being just three of the many hugely influential bands in which he has played. Of his many outstanding tunes, this is my personal favourite.

£20
February Workshops: £20 each.
Buy any two for £35 or all three for £50. The discount will be applied in your basket.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

March/April Workshops 2023

Fiddle Workshop 2

For more details, see the March/April Workshops 2023 page.

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 1st April: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Intermediate to Advanced players
Tune details coming soon

Bookings open soon.

£20
March/April Workshops: £20 each.
Buy any two for £35 or all three for £50. The discount will be applied in your basket.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

May Workshops 2023

Fiddle Workshop 2

More details and bookings coming soon!

Zoom Workshop
Saturday 13th April: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Intermediate to Advanced players

April Waltz (Selma Kaplan)
I learnt this gorgeous waltz, composed by the contradance pianist, Selma Kaplan, from the legendary Alistair Anderson – a great man to whom so many folk musicians owe so much. It’s worth learning just for the sheer beauty of the melody but it also makes a great vehicle for looking at ornamentation.

You can have a listen to the tune on The Tune Vault.

£20
May Workshops: £20 each.
Buy any two for £35 or all three for £50. The discount will be applied in your basket – visit the Shop.

If you haven’t attended a music workshop on Zoom before, here is a page of Zoom Workshop Tips to get the most out of your experience. A strong and reliable internet connection, plus headphones or an external speaker are recommended.

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.