Frank McLaughlin and I are delighted to be playing at the Cullercoats Watch House in May. It’s a real privilege to play in such intimate venues to warm and appreciative audiences. Tickets have gone on sale, and as it is such a special venue with limited capacity, don’t hang around if you would like to…
NEFS 2025 Block 2
NEFS 2025 Block 2Bookings now openNEFS 2025 Block 2 will begin on Wednesday 5th March, with more tips, techniques, exercises and tunes from both Grace Smith and myself. Join us on Zoom to play along with our lovely group of participants, and if you can’t make it live you can catch up with the call…
An Evening With… Phoenix Folk
Sun 9th Feb, 7.00 – 8.30 pm on Zoom.I’m so delighted that Maurice and Marina at Phoenix Folk have asked me back for their Sunday night Zoom concert and session. They are always so welcoming and I really enjoy playing their session repertoire with them. I’ll kick off the evening with 30 minutes or so…
Music In Our Roots
Tyneside Fiddle Alliance and Phoenix Chamber Folk Ensemble present Music in our Roots A celebration of new and old folk melodies from the North East and beyond, by two of the region’s leading community folk ensembles. Saturday 23rd November 2024, 7.00pm (doors 6.30pm) St George’s Church, St George’s Close, Jesmond, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 2TF. Tickets are £7 each…
Concerts with Frank in September
Frank and I are very much looking forward to getting out and about again in September to share our music in these wonderful communities. We have been enjoying rehearsing and creating some new material, as well as bringing back some old favourites. We would be delighted to see you at one of these lovely venues…
Zoom Workshops in December
It’s time for another set of Zoom workshops! Friday 15th December in the evening for a play-along session, and Saturday 16th December for two fiddle workshops, at 10 am and 2 pm. These are always great fun! It’s lovely to see everyone on the screen, coming together to play-along with some of my favourite tunes…
NEFS Winter Residential 2023
NEFS Residential WeekendFri 1st Dec, 5pm – Sun 3rd Dec, 11.30 amShepherds Dene Retreat Centre After enjoying the December residential weekend last year, and with all the lovely feedback received, we have decided to repeat the event. We are delighted to be returning to Shepherds Dene Retreat Centre near Riding Mill in Northumberland and look…
TFA Annual Concert 2023
Tyneside Fiddle Alliance – Annual Concert Saturday 18th November, 7.00 pm Tyneside Fiddle Alliance will be celebrating their first months in their new home at St George’s Church Hall in Jesmond with a concert in St George’s Church. A lovely evening of tunes in the Northumbrian tradition, played by our community fiddle group in harmony….
NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend
NEFS Summer Workshop WeekendSaturday 8th and Sunday 9th July 2023 We are delighted to announce that Grace Smith will be teaching alongside Stewart Hardy for this weekend, and 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. The…
Stop Press! Bottle Bank Band Concert
Bottle Bank Band are delighted to have been asked to play at St Mary’s Heritage Centre for their Heritage Evening on Tuesday 6th June. Doors open at 6.30 pm for refreshments, and pre-booking is essential. St Mary’s has been our spiritual home since our very first concert, and there’s a chance this might be our…
Recordings
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Upcoming Events
Oct26Sun10:00 am Advanced Fiddle Workshop – Oct 2025 @ Wall Village HallAdvanced Fiddle Workshop – Oct 2025 @ Wall Village HallOct 26 @ 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Advanced Fiddle Workshop – Oct 2025 with Stewart Hardy Sun 26th October, 10.00 am – 5.00 pm Wall Village Hall, Northumberland NE46 4DX Advanced Fiddle Technique workshop. If you are interested in signing up, please...Nov7Friall-day JSArts Fiddle Technique @ Rydal HallJSArts Fiddle Technique @ Rydal HallNov 7 – Nov 9 all-day
JSArts Fiddle Technique 7th – 9th November 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...Nov15Sat7:00 pm Music in our Roots 2025 – TFA & ... @ St George's ChurchMusic in our Roots 2025 – TFA & ... @ St George's ChurchNov 15 @ 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Tyneside Fiddle Alliance and Phoenix Chamber Folk Ensemble present Music in our Roots 2025 A further celebration of new and old folk melodies from the North East and beyond, by two of the region’s leading... Facebook Feed
A new Tune Vault video! 🎻🎶🎧The Tune Vault has been much neglected of late, for all sorts of good reasons! Here’s a wild tune from the William Vickers Manuscript to blow away the cobwebs.
Scotch Lilt
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Scotch Lilt- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyA wild and raucous tune to be found in the William Vickers Manuscript. It probably originates in Scotland where ...
🎻 Following the wonderful response to the Advanced Fiddle Technique workshop we held this time last year, we have decided to put on another one. Expect some meaty tunes that you can really get your teeth into, with a focus on technique and style.The tunes themselves will be selected from a list that includes a fabulously groovy Swedish waltz, Vals från Seglora, my West Allen Jig, an old favourite reel by Tom Anderson, Da Sweerie Box, and the utterly amazing Shotgun Polska by Andy May (which started life as an innocent 3/2 hornpipe and was adopted by his Finnish colleagues in Baltic Crossing). What a stonker of a tune!!
📆 Sunday 26th October, 10:00 - 5:00 pm in Wall Village Hall.
🎟 Bookings are now open. If you are interested in coming, please see the Event or website for details and get in touch for bookings.
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🎶 One of my favourite Scots (aka ‘Scotch’) measures is heading for The Tune Vault!I taught 'The Farther ben the Wilkemar' at the last JSArts Advanced Fiddle course to a lovely group of players. It’s an absolute cracker and significantly different from the currently better known Shetland version. Well worth a look, particularly for fans of Nathaniel Gow’s 'Lady Mary Hay’s Scotch Measure'.
The Farther ben the Wilkemar
The Farther ben the Wilkemar | The Tune Vault
youtu.be
The Farther ben the Wilkemar (Further Been the Welcomer / Da Farder Ben da Wylcomer)- The Tune Vault by Stewart HardyI was first introduced to this tune by ...