Provisional programe – last updated 6th April
We’re back! After three years in lockdown and online, our celebration of Northumberland’s traditional music, song, dialect, craft, dance, stories and heritage is back on the usual weekend after Easter with great activities for all the family plus special Silly Sangs for Bairns events.
Featuring leading entertainers including Anna Fancett, Archaeosoup, Ashington District Male Voice Choir, Auckland Shanty Singers, Bakewell Brothers, Ellington Colliery Band, Graham Bell, The Hedgehog’s Skin, Jim Eldon, Jim Grant, John Sadler’s Time Bandits, Megan Wisdom & Mossy Christian, The Ran Tanners, Robson’s Choice, Sandra Kerr, Steve Turner, Storytellers Street Band, Taffy Thomas MBE, Voice Male, Werca’s Folk plus Morris and Rapper teams.
Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering | Northumbriana
Many free events. Prices: adult / school age. Under 5s free.
09.30 – 16.30 CRAFTS EXHIBITION + refreshments; craft competition entries, craft demos & stalls, CDs, books, posters, festival archive photos – also including special family art activities Town Hall 50p at door. Free entry for accompanied under-12’s
FUND-RAISING POSTER designed by the amazing artist Jonny Hannah specially for the Gathering – contact us for details or buy one during the weekend at the Town Hall! £12.50 by post/£10 in person
10.00 – 15.00 OUTDOOR ENTERTAINERS
Punch & Judy, music, stories, including Massed Morpeth Rant & Maypole dance Market Place, Carlisle Park, Sanderson Arcade
10.00 – 16.00 MORPETH CASTLE OPEN DAY
history, stories & music. Arranged with Landmark Trust Free
10:00 – 12:30 FAMILY ART ACTIVITY
Make dragon and fairy items with artist Elaine Porter Town Hall – free but donations requested towards materials
11.15 CHURCH SERVICE with dialect hymns & reading featuring Gathering performers
St James the Great, Newgate Street
12.00 – 14.00 MUSICIANS’ SESSION Tap & Spile, Manchester St Free
13.00 – 15.00 TOURS OF COUNCIL CHAMBER, Mayor’s Parlour, civic silver, portraits & artefacts Town Hall Free
13.30 THE SONGS OF BAGPUSS with Sandra Kerr
Town Hall Ballroom £2/£1 at door
15.30 FROM MOROCCO TO MORPETH
Ancestral Voices – stories & music with Taffy Thomas MBE, Megan Wisdom & Mossy Christian, following their recent visit to the Marrakech Storytelling Festival
Town Hall Ballroom £2/£1 at door
19.30 THE ELSIE MONOLOGUES
Pat Dunn (Coronation Street, Vera) returns on the big screen in Tom Kelly’s play as the little old lady with a secret – by popular demand after her dramatic online Gathering appearances St James Centre, Wellway £6/£4 (thanks to Morpeth Community Cinema for technical support)