The Hexham Gathering brings top folk and traditional performers together with some of the brightest rising stars in the new generation of folk musicians.
The Hexham Gathering is perhaps the country’s leading folk festival aimed at providing performance opportunities for a host of hugely talented young singers, dancers and instrumentalists. Hundreds or performers converge on Hexham each year providing a vibrant kaleidoscope of music and spectacle throughout the town centre and at a variety of other venues across Tynedale.
Add in some stunning performances by professional artists and this becomes a true highlight of the folk year with concerts, ceilidhs, sessions, informal performances and more.
Presented in association with Folkworks at the Sage Gateshead.
Download the Hexham Gathering Brochure
Future Traditions
Wednesday 25 May 7.30pm
At the Queen's Hall Arts Centre
A unique concert of sparkling, surprising and energising music that brings together the final year music students from the Folk and Traditional Music degree course at Newcastle University.
Tickets: £6.00 / £4.00 (conc)
Tim Dalling
Thursday 26 May 7.30pm
Stocksfield Institute and Community Association, Stocksfield
Tim Dalling is best known as part of the New Rope String Band so this is a rare opportunity to see him in his own right with soulful voice, funky accordion and a batch of exciting, moving and original songs. Plus pupils from Broomley First School, Toble, Stocksfield Stompers and more.
Tickets: £6.00 / £4.00 (conc) available on the door
Sing the Playground - Cancelled
Friday 27 May 1.30pm – 3.00pm
Bandstand, Abbey Gardens, Hexham
A new event for this year’s Gathering: school children from across Northumberland gather to share traditional playground songs, rhymes and games.
Free event
Peter Tickell
Friday 27 May 7.30pm
Allendale Village Hall
A member of the Kathryn Tickell Band and the Peatbog Faeries, Peter Tickell has firmly established his musical prowess in the folk world. Tonight is a rare opportunity to see him as a stunning solo fiddle player. Plus performances by a host of other young performers from across the region and beyond.
Tickets: £6.00 / £4.00 (conc) available on the door
Sam Sweeney and Hannah James
Friday 27 May 7.30pm
The Hearth at Horsley
Members of the Demon Barber Roadshow and Bellowhead, Hannah and Sam were nominated for the Horizon Award at the 2010 BBC Folk Awards. They play predominantly English songs and tunes on accordion and fiddle, with bursts of Hannah’s celebrated clog dancing. Plus performances by a host of other young performers from across the region and beyond.
Tickets: £6.00 / £4.00 (conc) available on the door
King Cole and Kat Davidson
Friday 27 May 7.30pm
Bellingham Middle School
King Cole is 3 fine fiddle players performing stirring tunes and deft harmonies. Kat Davidson is a fine singer from the North Tyne valley. She has been working with pupils from both Bellingham First and Middle schools who also feature in tonight’s performance. Plus other young performers from across the region and beyond.
Tickets: £6.00 / £4.00 (conc) available on the door
Informal performances
Saturday 28 May
Hexham Town Centre
Free
Hexham Town Centre
10.00am to 4.00pm
Songs, dancing and tunes throughout Hexham with outdoor performances from a huge variety of school and youth groups.
Hexham Gathering Festival Club
At Trinity Methodist Church Hall
Informal performances and sessions all day. Performers will include Heighington Primary School, The Hydroholics, Grasp the Nettle, Random and many more.
Ceilidh at the Bandstand
12.30pm to 2.00pm
Join us in informal outdoor ceilidh around the bandstand with plenty of room to dance! Jigs, reels and waltzes played with verve and gusto – and bags of enjoyment. Come and listen, come and dance, bring your picnic and join in the fun.
Free event
Informal Concert 2.00pm
The Library, Queen’s Hall
Soloists, duos, bands and more in a fast flowing afternoon of acoustic music.
Free entry.
Change to Headline Act
The Alistair Anderson Band and The Fay Hield Trio and Tyde
Saturday 28 May 7.00pm
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre
Champion of the Northumberland Pipes and concertina Alistair Anderson and band replace Le Vent Du Nord as headline act for the Hexham Gathering Concert.
Fay Hield, 2011 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards nominee, sings well chosen songs with real passion while Sam Sweeney (fiddle, nyckelharpa) and Robert Harbron (concertina) provide subtle accompaniment.
Hexham’s own and finalists in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, Tyde are dynamic, fresh and quite brilliant players.
Tickets: £12.00 / £10.00 (conc) / £5.00 (under 19s) book online
Hexham Gathering Ceilidh
Saturday 28 May 7.30pm – 11.00pm
Wentworth Leisure Centre, Hexham
Put on your dancing shoes and join us in a giant ceilidh. The music comes from some of the hottest young bands around including Hexham’s own Hydroholics plus The Small Hall Band and Folkestra!
Expert callers guide you though each move and above all – make the dancing fun. An event suitable for all members of the family.
Tickets: £6.00 / £4.00 (conc) book online
Tickets for all events from Queen’s Hall Box Office 01434 652477. A money-saving combined ticket is available for both the Queen’s Hall 'Le Vent du Nord' main concert and the Wentworth Ceilidh Ticekts: £16.00 / £12.00 (conc)
Toble and Down in the Attic
Queen’s Hall Arts Centre
Sunday 29 May 1.00pm
A now regular Gathering concert featuring the resident ensembles from the Queen’s Hall playing sparkling, traditional music with passion, energy and strong arrangements. Expect a fast moving concert of great music – from feet thrashing tunes to slow airs.
Tickets: £6.00 / £4.00 (conc) book online
Gig in the Park with ahab and Last Orders
Bandstand, Abbey Grounds, Hexham 2.30pm - 4.30pm
A relaxed afternoon in the park with free outdoor music at the bandstand with folk-flavoured country-rock from ahab and Hexham Gathering favourites, Last Orders.
FREE EVENT
Tickets for all events from Queen’s Hall Box Office 01434 652477 or book online
Any young performers of traditional music, song or dance wishing to get involved and participate in this event should contact folkworks@thesagegateshead.org for more information.
Full programme details are available from the information point at the Queen’s Hall during the Hexham Gathering weekend.
The Hexham Gathering is a partnership between Folkworks at the Sage Gateshead and Queen’s Hall Arts, Hexham.
