The Phoenix Chamber Folk Ensemble aims to provide an opportunity for competent players to learn, and perform, challenging and musically interesting arrangements of folk repertoire. It was established in January 2020 and met four times before the Covid-19 lockdown. With the easing of lockdown restrictions, we resumed face to face rehearsals in September 2021 and held our first concert in June 2022.
Membership is open to competent players of any instrument.
New season (Sept 2026 - June 2027)
If you are interested in joining in the Ensemble, please get in touch before signing up. New members are welcome.
Face to face rehearsals take place on the second Saturday of the month. We rehearse at St George’s URC, Newton Road, High Heaton, NE7 7HP. Fees are payable twice per year (in September and February) and are £37.50 for each 5 session block. If this is not affordable and you need to pay a little less, then feel free to use pay our reduced rate of £25 instead. Alternatively, please feel welcome to get in touch with us to discuss a solution. We operate an honesty policy – no questions asked.
Members will be given access to a members-only area of the website where they can find sheet music and practice video/audio.
Dates for the 2026/27 season are as follows.
September 2026 – June 2027
In person rehearsals (2pm – 4.30pm)
- Saturday 12th Sept
- Saturday 10th Oct
- Saturday 14th Nov
- Saturday 12th Dec
- Saturday 9th Jan
- Saturday 13th Feb
- Saturday 13th Mar
- Saturday 10th Apr
- Saturday 8th May
- Saturday 12th Jun
We are working towards the following performances:
Saturday 21st November 2026 (evening) – joint concert with the Tyneside Fiddle Alliance
tbc January 2027 (afternoon) – annual charity concert in Cafe 16, Newcastle Cathedral in aid of the Oswin Project
tbc June 2027 (evening) – annual concert at St George’s, Cullercoats (as part of Cullercoats Festival)