We are delighted to welcome some of the North East’s finest folk musicians into the studio for an online evening event. There will be time for guests to perform some solo material, and they will also lead a tunes session with us – so bring your instruments to join in from home! Sheet music will be available in advance via our website.

Robin is well known in the North East of England as a fiddle player, caller, composer and band leader.  He began performing in his teenage years in rock and roll bands, but he found his musical home in the world of ceilidh dancing.  Robin has performed in many bands during his successful musical career, including Alistair Anderson’s Steel Skies band, The Sergeant Minor’s Barndance Band, La Toque Bleu and Fiddler’s Elbow. Robin has several publications to his name, including a book, two albums featuring his own compositions, and the Ceilidh Band Pack, a teaching resource commissioned by FolkWorks which includes notation for ceilidh dances, notated music and accompanying recordings.

Rachael is a graduate of the Folk and Traditional Music Degree at Newcastle University, where she first fell in love with playing for ceilidh dancing.  She played fiddle with popular ceilidh band Fiddler’s Elbow for 12 years, before founding the Blue Hat Ceilidh Band alongside Robin. As well as performing, Rachael teaches fiddle and is a sound artist and composer.

Robin is also a renowned tutor, running the Redheughers Ceilidh Band, a community ceilidh band who have been going strong for over 35 years, now assisted by Rachael. Together they also run a monthly public ceilidh in Newcastle, Tyneside Ceilidh Nights.

Robin and Rachael have been performing as a duo for the past 10 years. Together they play folk tunes from around the UK, America, Canada and Europe, in unique self-penned arrangements.

The evening will be a mix of duets from Robin and Rachael, and session tunes to join in with. See here for more details and sheet music for the session.

These are open access events on Zoom – no need to book, just turn up. Click here to join, or use the codes below.

Meeting ID: 838 6442 9855
Passcode: 2005

Please pay as you feel, or can afford, using our Tip Jar.