Twelve Wild Ducks in Wall

November 7, 2011 by Rob

Rural touring programmes are a great way to bring quality shows to small village communities and Wall Village Hall is one of the venues in the Highlights North programme. In the recent past we’ve had the Chalk Giants & The Theatre of Widdershins Puppet.

November sees the Multi-Story Theatre Company bringing The Twelve Wild Ducks to Wall. The show is on 18th November and starts at 6.30pm. Tickets are £4.50 for children, £7 for adults and a family ticket is £21 (2+2). Contact me for more information and tickets

Update: A great show! We had 60+ children spell bound for an hour. Amazing what two performers can do with a few white sheets and a minimal props!

Clocks Back Ceilidh – Sat 29th October

September 30, 2011 by Rob

Following on from last year’s event – it’s time for this years Clocks Back Ceilidh! We”ve moved up the road this year and we’re in Humshaugh village hall (map) on Saturday 29th October.

The Wall Star Village Band provide the music, we’ll have the local highland dancers out, a spot on the Northumbrian pipes, Whisky Hoy and who knows what else. Food is provided in the form of a wonderful Hog Roast supper (vegetarian alternatives available) and to save some dancing space there is no bar – your own drinks.

The event is being hosted to support the Friends of Humshaugh School (the local first school) and adult tickets are £10.

If you would like to come, tickets should be available shortly in Humshaugh Village Shop or contact me to book tickets in advance! If you can’t come, please do tell your friends.

Northumbrian Night – Thurs 8th Sept

August 29, 2011 by Rob

A very local gig for me – it’s Wall Village Hall. Northumbrian night with fiddler Roddy Matthews, singer Roly Johnson, pianist Cathy Anderson (& friends) and myself on Northumbrian Pipes and Concertina. Pie and pea supper included and anyone who has tasted Billy Bells’ pies baked by Jackie will know they are in for a treat. Tickets are £5.00 per person or £2.00 if you are still at school available from Richard Dodds.

It’s great to have such a vibrant local community with lots of people organising events. If you haven’t got contact details for Richard – drop me a line for details

Village Show Season

July 9, 2011 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!