Stewart Hardy & Frank McLaughlin

House Concert in Edinburgh

Frank and I have been getting together trying out ideas for repertoire and arrangements and will continue to do so over the next couple of months. In September, I’ll be heading up to Edinburgh to join Frank for a few days, filming some videos and hatching plans. We’ll be finishing off with a house concert on Friday 12th September. If you are in the vicinity of Edinburgh that evening and fancy joining us, do get in touch and we’ll pass along the details.

Stewart and Frank at the Cullercoats Watch House

Frank 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 join us!

We are looking to get out and about a lot more in the coming years – while we still have the energy to do it! Watch out for further news of upcoming performances and do please get in touch if you have suggestions for suitable venues.

Fri 9th May, 8.00 pm @ Cullercoats Watch House
Tickets £12 from Phoenix Folk.

Concerts in September 2024

We 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 in September!

Thurs 19th Sept: Private House Concert in Edinburgh

Fri 20th Sept: The Swallow Theatre, Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway, 7.30 pm
View the Event details
Tickets £14.50 from The Swallow Theatre
Venue website

Sat 21st Sept: Wall Village Hall, Wall, near Hexham, 7.30 pm
View the Event details
Tickets £12.50 (£8 U19) available from the Shop

Sun 22nd Sept: Gallery Forty5, Felton, Northumberland, 4.00 pm
View the Event details
Tickets £12.50 (£8 U19) available from the Shop
You can also purchase tickets in person from Gallery Forty5 (01670 783424 / feltongallery45@gmail.com)
Venue website

Stewart Hardy & Frank McLaughlin

Fiddle virtuoso Stewart Hardy and Scottish guitarist/piper Frank McLaughlin posses a rare musical kinship, holding listeners spellbound with their interplay 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. In 2010, Stewart and Frank released two CDs of their work together, Root 2 and Compass, showcasing a broad range of their music.

Their most recent album, The Gift, released in 2018, contains predominantly self-penned material that reflects their shared musical heritage, and exemplifies the very best of collaborations between fiddle and guitar. Stewart and Frank share a delightful insight into their many years together (indeed, decades!), performing as a musical partnership, in only their second instrumental duo release, following their critically acclaimed debut Root2.

Stewart and Frank also work together as a writing and production team. Highlights include a commission to co-write and perform music for three silent films as part of the Hippodrome Festival of Silent Cinema (2013); production of the acclaimed album, “A Scots Chorus” (Claytara, 2013) with Mick West and Choral ensemble “Muldoon’s Picnic” and recording and filming for the ITV drama series Distant Shores (Yorkshire television).

– YouTube Playlist

Edinburgh Folk Club
Weds 26th October 2022, 8.00 pm

Frank and I are really excited to be playing at Edinburgh Folk Club in the Ukrainian Community Centre. We’ve had a lot of fun dusting off our material and discovering new insights and approaches. Many thanks to the good folks at Banana Row Studios for providing space for our rehearsals in Edinburgh. A big shout out now to all our friends in Edinburgh and the surrounding area… do please come along and help us make a party of our return to gigging!

Edinburgh Folk Club, Ukranian Community Centre, 14 Royal Terrace, Edinburgh EH7 5AB.
Wednesday 26th October, 8.00 pm.
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5567818

Edinburgh Folk Club, Oct 2022. Photo credit: Allan McMillan

May/June Tour 2019

Frank and I are delighted to be going on another tour at the end of May and beginning of June and are pleased to announce the first dates at some of our favourite venues. There are still some gaps to be filled, so if you know of a venue that would be interested in having us play, or if you are interested in putting on a house concert, please do get in touch. We very much look forward to seeing you as we get out and about!

…two musical minds entwined creatively, each gifting the other with their presence and personality, producing music that’s at once emotional, beautiful and graceful – savour.  The Living Tradition

Details of all the concerts with ticket links can be found on the Event Listings page for Stewart & Frank.

 Sacred Spaces, Secular Sounds ~ July 2018

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This summer, Stewart and Frank had a great time heading around the UK trying out some of the best acoustic sounds of our wonderful Sacred Spaces in which to play their music. Some of these spaces are still used for their original purpose, but others have been converted. However, the acoustics remain as glorious as they ever were, and Stewart & Frank were delighted to fill them with their music. Thank you to all who came and supported the live concerts, and to those wonderful hosts who helped to advertise and fill the venues.

Folkest ~ June 2018

We were delighted to be asked to play at Folkest in the beautiful region of Northern Italy this summer. You can read a little more about our trip here.

The Gift

We are very excited to announce that our new album, The Gift, was released on 3rd April 2018. After many months of recording and mixing we were delighted to get this material out there. We took the new CD to the Star Folk Club in Glasgow on its release date and then held the official album launch on Wednesday 4th April in Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle. It was a great evening with a lovely atmosphere and lots of supportive audience! We then had a fabulous time on our 8-day tour of the Netherlands and Germany, with fantastic venues, lovely people and terrific hospitality. You can see some of Frank’s photos on the Facebook page.

The album is available to order from the shop,  in both CD and album Download form.

Many thanks to Richard Werner (B & B Studios Edinburgh) for recording, engineering and mixing; Jon Astley (Close to the Edge) for mastering; and to the lovely Christine Jeans for the fantastic artwork and album layout.

Stewart Hardy and Frank McLaughlin Album Launch
The Gift

Autumn 2017

Stewart and Frank have had a very successful summer and early autumn this year, spending lots of time recording the tracks for their new album at the B & B Studios in Edinburgh with the extremely talented sound engineer, Richard Werner. It has been very exciting and plans are taking place for an album launch next year (you can’t rush these things!) It was great to play out some of these new tracks at a recent House Concert in Gateshead – thanks to all who came along to support us.

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Six videos have been released that were recorded live in concert at Gallery 45 in May. They are all available to view on YouTube – check out the Stewart Hardy Music Channel and playlist here. Below is a favourite, “Bonnie Bell Fog” which comprises the lovely air Bonnie Dundee from the manuscript of Thomas Bewick; a cracking Northumbrian jig, The Bellingham Boat; and another jig, Fogabella, sometimes dubiously attributed to James Hill. In celebration, here is the sheet music to the set, so you can learn the tunes! Download the pdf.

BonnyBellFog_01


Filmed live at Gallery 45, Felton, Northumberland by Andy Craig Photography on 20th May 2017.
http://andycraigphotography.co.uk/

Stewart and Frank met at a festival of Scottish music in Northern Bavaria. From the start, it was clear that they held common musical values and shared many musical influences. Initially contributing to each others projects, the fun they had working together led them to establish a formal collaboration.

“Stewart and Frank gave a stunning display of musical talent that seemed to go from composing, interesting depth of knowledge and wonderful ability on their instruments. Being close as we were to see the connection between the two was fascinating, especially Frank whose amazing skill of accompaniment was a real treat to watch” Peter

Together they compose, produce and perform music of tremendous variety. As a duo they perform traditional and contemporary tunes stripped back to the bare essentials of fiddle, guitar and Scottish smallpipes. With their long-term collaboration, they have achieved a deep and instinctive understanding of each other’s musical interpretations.

“Stewart is an amazing fiddle player and combined with accompaniment on guitar by Frank the music was sublime!” Caroline

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.

“a lovely evening with fantastic entertainment. Made me want to take up the fiddle….. ”  Jenny

If you like the these tunes (“Storm” composed by Frank, and “No Party Tonight” composed by Stewart) we have made the dots available for download. Please help yourself –  we hope you enjoy them!

Storm is also available on the album “Compass“, or you can buy just the track here.

Tour Dates – May 2017

Stewart and Frank are delighted to announce that they will be heading up and down the UK in May playing at some lovely venues, interspersed with a few gorgeously intimate house concerts.

Fri 12th May:  Swallow Theatre, Dumfries and Galloway, 7.30 pm
Sat 13th May:  The Hearth, Horsley, Northumberland, 7.30 pm
Sun 14th May:  Private House Concert, York
Mon 15th May:  Private House Concert, West Dulwich, South London
Tues 16th May:  CB2 Bistro, Cambridge, 8 pm.
Wed 17th May:  Private House Concert, Sussex
Fri 19th May:  Both Sides The Tweed, Rosslyn Chapel Midlothian (with Mick West), 7.30 pm
Sat 20th May:  Gallery 45, Felton, Northumberland, 7.30 pm

Recordings

Root2
Compass

Sample from Root2, track 11:
Bonnie Bell Fog
(Bonnie Dundee; The Bellingham Boat; Fogabella)

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