Re-released as Digital Download!

Posted on by Rob

It’s just over two years since Veteran Records release my CD: O’er Lang at the Fair. Traditional music is very much a niche musical audience; physical CDs are still very much the norm and I’ve probably met a fair number of the people who’ve bought the CD (thank you!).

Through the wonders of modern technology and by properly keeping up with music cataloguing standard, John has now made the whole of his catalogue available as digital downloads. All of this means you can now find me on loads of digital download services: play.com, emusic, amazon (and also once the catalogues update: hmv.com, itunes, napster)

John is also distributing the recordings from the sadly short lived Kyloe Records label – on which you can find the marvellous Andrew & Margaret Watchorn (Lecchemede) and the virtuso playing of Mr Chris Ormston on ‘Time Out of Mind’ . Sadly the Kyloe recordings aren’t available just yet – fingers crossed we’ll be able to keep these recordings available.

6th Hexham Piper’s Gathering – May 11th-13th 2012

Posted on by Rob

After visits to Seattle in the US and Blankenheim, Germany time for some more piping back at home:

  • 18th April, Gun Inn, 8pm
  • 26th April, Presentation for the Village Society, Wall Village Hall, 7.30pm
  • 28th April, Hexham Farmer’s Market (morning)
  • 11-13th May, Hexham Piper’s Gathering

The Hexham Piper’s Gathering is now in it’s 6th year and is a regular fixture on the 2nd weekend in May. There’ll be a session in the Abbey undercroft on Friday night, workshops throughout Saturday, informal ceilidh on Saturday evening in the Moot Hall and a follow up session at the Dipton Mill Pub (great food) on the Sunday.

Andrew Davison is organising this one and there’s more details and booking forms over at the Northumbrian Piper’s Society or contact me for for more details.

Village Show Season

Posted on by Rob

Our local newspaper is the Hexham Courant and it’s always a joy to read. The events page at the back really tells you what season it is. Right now it’s village shows – at least four every week. In a couple of months, it’ll be time for the leek club shows.. not much call for pipes at these – I’ll have to see if any of my veg are up to scratch.

June kicked off fo me with Ovingham Goose Fair – one of the wettest I can remember. Then it was the Humshaugh School Fair which was a great success in baking sunshine. Not quite a village show but this weekend the Farmer’s Market was in held in Hexham – they invited me to go and play and it was a lovely morning. Playlist included The Lea Rigges, Bobby Shaftoe and Cut and Dry Dolly – I’d love to know where the PRS license money went for those pieces (150yrs+ old). A heavy shower came in at midday so I ended with the Raindrop Waltz.

Next week is the Three Churches Fete in Wall (Sat 16th July), Steve Cram is opening the show at 2pm and I’ll be playing a couple of half hour sessions in the church. I even do requests, feel free to ask!

Afer a flurry in July, August is a bit quieter for me – with the exception of the truly tremendous Bellingham Show on Bank Holiday Saturday (27th August). I’ll be sitting the judges chair this year for the Northumbrian Pipes competitions – this has a lot of meaning to me as it’s the first competition I won almost 20 years ago.

Support your local show!

Hexham Piper’s Gathering – May 7th

Posted on by Rob

My local piping event – the Hexham piper’s gathering is fast approaching. Session on Friday night in the Abbey undercroft (trad F pitch), group playing during the day on Saturday followed by an  evening concert and dance. There’ll be a follow up sesison at the Dipton Mill Pub on the Sunday but I don’t think I’ll mkae it this year.