Northumberland Holiday Guide 2009
It is of little surprise, that many of the names to watch are classical music to the peaceful setting of Brinkburn
relative youngsters – at least in folk terms. Kathryn Tickell is Priory. At the same time, the Rothbury Traditional Music
arguably the world’s finest Northumbrian piper and a musician Festival (01669 620887 www.rothbury-traditional-music.
who has brought her music to the world stage, collaborating co.uk), an event which has been established for more
with artists as diverse as Sting and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies. than 30 years, fills the Coquet Valley with an array of
She remains based in the North Tyne Valley and plays regular singers, musicians and family entertainment.
concerts throughout the region.
August brings the Alnwick International Music Festival
Rachel Unthank and the Winterset is another band that
(www.alnwickfestival.com), a celebration of music and
has received widespread acclaim, with its album The Bairns
dance from around the world that has been running
being nominated for the 2008 Nationwide Mercury Prize and
since 1976 and always offers something unique. In the
being placed in The Observer’s Top 50 Albums of the Year.
early autumn, Hexham Abbey Festival (01434 652477
Their sound, described as ‘music as tough as it is gentle,
www.hexhamabbey.org.uk) is a ten-day event featuring
as ancient as it is modern’, may have captured imaginations
jazz, classical and folk music, as well as film, poetry,
around the world, but it could only ever have been born in
street theatre and much more. There is something to
Northumberland. Catch them if you can!
please everyone in this wonderful setting. Then, as the
November nights draw in, the Alnwick Northumbrian
Other young artists to look out for include Bella Hardy,
Gathering (01665 510665) warms the cockles with a
a folk singer twice nominated for the BBC Folk Awards
festival of traditional music from Northumberland and
2008; Katie Doherty, whose voice with inflections of
the Borders.
Joni Mitchell belies her years; and Jonny Kearney, a
recent graduate of the Folk and Traditional Music degree.
Last Orders, a Northumberland and Cumbria-based
“While festivals of folk bring cheer
band won the BBC Young Folk Awards 2007 and have
regularly Northumberland also boasts
gone on to play at some of the UK’s leading folk festivals.
a story of Heritage and Classical
Not quite so young, but just as bright, Prelude, the band
music”
who shot to fame in 1974 with a cover version of Neil
Young’s ‘After the Goldrush’ and have supported stars
such as Joan Armatrading and Ralph McTell, play at gigs
throughout the region, always drawing a big crowd and
a fantastic atmosphere. The New Rope String Band,
who blend brilliant musicianship with a large serving of
comedy, dance and general tomfoolery seem to have
found the secret of feel-good music that is both moving
and fun.
For regular folk and traditional music gigs, Rothbury
Roots (01669 620470 www.rothburyroots.net) at The
Queen’s Head in Rothbury is a long-running monthly
night with an excellent atmosphere. At Ashington Folk
Club (www.ashingtonfolkclub.org.uk), a fortnightly
event held on Thursdays at Ashington Miners Institute,
you’ll find a mix of residents and guests playing, singing,
performing poetry and story-telling. Or visit the The
Delaval Arms, Old Hartley (between Seaton Sluice and
Whitley Bay) every Sunday for The Bluestone Folk Club
(0191 237 6249
www.bridgefolkclub.co.uk/bluestone.htm).
Kathryn Tickell © Derek Maxwell
Northumberland is also the home to several annual music
festivals, which attract artists and visitors from around
Finally, if you are serious about music and you have the
the world. The Folkworks Hexham Gathering (01434
time, take a trip to Tyneside and The Sage Gateshead
652477
www.queenshall.co.uk) each May is the country’s
(0191 443 4661 www.thesagegateshead.org). Not only
leading festival providing opportunities for young singers,
can you see world-famous musicians play at this fabulous
dancers and musicians, alongside more established
concert hall, but this is also where they are keeping
names. The combination of concerts, ceilidhs and informal
Northumbrian traditional music alive with Folkworks, a
sessions makes this an incredibly popular event. In July,
traditional music agency that trains young musicians and
the Brinkburn Music Festival (0191 265 7777 www.
provides them with a platform for performance in North
brinkburnmusic.org) brings two glorious weekends of
East England and beyond.
www.visitnorthumberland.com 27
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