56th Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering – Saturday

Provisional programme – last updated 2nd April – events, venues and timings subject to change

Annual festival of Northumberland’s traditional music, song, craft, dance, dialect, stories and heritage with activities for all the family and the best of entertainers including Benny Graham, Taffy Thomas, Folkestra, Blue Hat Ceilidh Band, Graham Bell & Anne Lamb, Ellington Colliery Band, morris and rapper teams, etc.

Many free events!

Before the Gathering: Pop Up Folk Ensemble Music – for advance details and scores See website

Enquries: 01670 513308  Tickets: Morpeth TIC 01670 623455 Payment at doors – cash only

Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering | Northumbriana

Many free events. Prices: adult / school age. Under 5s free.

9.00-16.00 Park & Ride from County Hall

St John Ambulance at Town Hall

9.30 – 17.00  CRAFTS EXHIBITION as Friday Town Hall

9.45 CHILDREN’S STORIES Taffy Thomas  Library free

9.30 – 15.00 FARMERS’ MARKET stalls Market Place

10.00–16.00 OUTDOOR ENTERTAINERS Punch & Judy, music, shanties, Ellington Colliery Band, local morris, clog and rapper teams Market Place, Carlisle Park and Sanderson Arcade

10.00 – 16.00 MORPETH CASTLE OPEN DAY history, stories & music. Arranged with Landmark Trust Free

10.00-10.45 MEET THE NORTHUMBRIAN PIPERS Drop-in session – hear our local smallpipes Bagpipe Museum Free

10.00-10.50 POP UP FOLK ENSEMBLE Prepare for tonight’s concert spot  St Robert’s Church Hall (donations)

10.15 RING O’ BELLS

11.00 PROCESSION – performers led by medieval Lord Greystoke arrive at Town Hall and are welcomed by the Morpeth Gadgy Note: road closure and diversion 10:30-11:45

From 12.00 (approx.) CLOCK TOWER  tours

12.00– 16.00 STORYTELLER’S GARDEN Taffy Thomas MBE and guests Old Bakehouse Yard Millennium Green   Free

12.00 – 13.00 MARY’S MUSIC HALL MEMORIES Mary Hollins with a “Desert Island Discs” collection of music hall stars on 78rpm – bring any of your own 78s to play too!   St Robert’s Church Hall £3/£1

12.00 MUSICIANS’ SESSION Tap & Spile (donations)

12.00 – 15.00 SINGAROUND Joiner’s Arms (donations)

12.00 CLOG DANCE GET TOGETHER workshop and chat about clog steps learned from the old champions led by Lynette Eldon and Sue Jenkinson  Town Hall Ballroom £2/£1.50 at door or entry by competition ticket

Saturday Competitions: Passport ticket for entrants/audience £2.00/£1.50 includes free entry to Exhibition. Doors open 30 minutes before times stated below to allow entrants to register.

N.B. NO CLOG DANCE COMPETITIONS – postponed to 2025 – see 12.00 slot for a get-together of dancers and public

• 13.30 NORTHUMBRIAN PIPES & LOWLAND/ BORDER/HALF-LONG PIPES Chantry Bagpipe Museum
• 13.30 SPEAKING AND WRITING: dialect, stories, results of pre-judged writing classes St Robert’s Church Hall
• 14.00 BANDS, ACCORDIONS, FIDDLES, OTHER INSTRUMENTS, DUETS St. George’s Church (ground floor)
• 15.00  SINGING Town Hall Ballroom

13.30 – 14:30 FAMILY SHOW including Silly Sangs with Cath and Paddy, Phil Hogg, Storytellers Street Band Venue Town Hall Ballroom £3/£1

16.00 – 18.00 SLOW & STEADY tunes session led by BITS NE for beginners and intermediate players  White Swan (donations)

16.00 WILLIAM SHIELD: Northumbrian Fiddler and Piper Presentation by Amélie Addison with Stewart Hardy (fiddle) Chantry Bagpipe Museum £5/£2 by ticket

18.30 – 20.30 WINNERS’ CONCERT Special guest singer Benny Graham. Pop Up Folk Ensemble plus winners of the 2023 open class music, song and reciting competitions  MC Peter Armstrong Town Hall Ballroom £9/£5 by ticket

20.00 MUSICIANS’ SESSION Tap & Spile (donations)

20.00 NORTHUMBRIAN PIPING SESSION led by Rob Say  Conservative Club, Newgate St (donations)

20.30 BARN DANCE with The Blue Hat Ceilidh Band & guests. Bring own drinks; no stilettos! St George’s Church Hall £9/£5 by ticket