The Spring Fling is now an established part of the Nonsuch calendar. This will be our 5th year at the Copthorne Hotel which occupies a quiet spot fronting the River Tyne, but within a short walk of the Glasshouse (formerly the Sage) music venue, the Baltic modern art gallery and a multitude of bars and restaurants. The hotel is not far from Newcastle Central Station (a hilly walk, bus or taxi) which in turn can be reached by the Metro if you are coming from the airport. The Copthorne has its own parking, which is free to participants.
This year we will include some Irish music as well as using North East repertoire. There has always been a strong Irish influence on the music of the North-East and both mountain and hammered instruments lend themselves to the Irish repertoire.
The format will be similar to previous years:
Tuesday 14th April: An optional meet up meal in the hotel in our own private dining room overlooking the river in the evening (with perhaps a walk beforehand to stretch the legs after travelling?) Following the meal we will have a room available for an informal music session.
Wednesday 15th April: We will have workshops for both hammered and mountain dulcimers – all levels welcome. This year we have guest tutor Tania Opland, singer and multi-instrumentalist who performs in a duo with her partner Mike Freeman. Tania will bring her experience, enthusiasm and skills to the Hammered Dulcimer players, while the Mountain Dulcimer players will use tutors from within their own ranks in a varied programme, for beginners to the more advanced, mixing the familiar with the challenging.
In the evening we will again have our meeting room to “show and tell” what we have been doing during the day or anything else we fancy playing.
Wednesday lunch and teas/coffees included in the price. Evening meals at your own arrangement / cost.
Tania Opland
Tania Opland is an Alaska born and raised multi-instrumentalist based in western Washington USA. She has been touring and recording for nearly four decades.
Tania has taught hammered dulcimer as a private instructor and as a workshop leader for over 30 years, notably as the mentor of Simon Chrisman – now among the leading lights in the “newgrass” music scene. She was the HD tutor for Nonsuch’s Spring Fling in 2013 as well as guest tutor to the online Spring Fling in 2021.
Tania’s repertoire ranges from the traditional music of North America and the British Isles – in particular Irish Music, through much of Northern Europe and intersects with other cultural influences from around the globe. Her array of instruments also includes five-string violin/viola, cittern, ocarina, hurdy-gurdy and clàrsach, guitar, recorders, mandolin and voice. She has recorded four solo albums, a duo album with Mike Freeman (www.opland-freeman.com), and two collaborations with Freeman and award-winning author Anne McCaffrey.
Thursday 16th April: We will begin Thursday with our traditional North-East tunes and songs session – a chance to try and get your vowels around those tricky Geordie words perhaps? And then we will have a musically-illustrated talk from the wonderful Sandra Kerr.
Sandra Kerr is an EFDSS Gold Badge holder and a former member of Ewan MacColl’s Critics Group. She directs Folk Voice choirs and is greatly respected as a tutor of folk arts. She is a talented multi-instrumentalist, playing guitar, autoharp, English concertina, and yes! mountain dulcimer. She was also a writer and performer in children’s tv programme Bagpuss and a former teacher at Newcastle Uni’s music department. Sandra will certainly have some stories to share with us.
In the afternoon, for those of us who don’t need to rush away, we will have a folk-club style singaround (or tune-around if you don’t sing!).
Thursday lunch is at your own arrangement / cost, but teas/coffees are included in the price.
Extend your trip!
On Monday 13th, for those of us arriving early for the Spring Fling, the Bridge Folk Club in Newcastle will once again welcome us to join with their regulars.
For those of you wanting an even longer stay, the weekend before Spring Fling is the Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering which is a traditional Northumbrian event with a parade, competitions and concerts and where Nonsuch will again be represented.
Bookings are now open for the event. The cost is £75 for participants, which includes lunch on the Wednesday and teas/coffees in the breaks. Accommodation is left to you – either at the Copthorne at our special discount rates, or find your own hotel/BnB from the wide selection available in Newcastle.
Accommodation: We have reserved some bedrooms at the Copthorne Hotel for attendees at a special rate of £104 a night single or £119 for a double, including breakfast. These are subject to availability and may be not be available closer to the event. To book, contact reservations on 0191 222 0 333 and quote NONS130426 when making a reservation. A credit or debit card will be required to secure the booking, payment is due on arrival.
Note, there are a wide range of hotels to suit various budgets close by.
Parking: There is a car park at the Copthorne. Attendees at our event can get free parking but you must register your vehicle registration number at reception within 15 minutes of arrival and each day of your stay.
Bookings for Spring Fling close on 24th March 2026.
Please contact Steve Gray (spring.fling@dulcimer.org.uk) if you would like any further details about the Spring Fling or other things to do while you are staying in Newcastle.
Start learning Geordie now – gan canny!