The Spring Fling is now an established part of the Nonsuch calendar. Our venue, the Copthorne Hotel 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.
Each year our local Geordie, Steve Gray, curates the music programme which, for example last year included 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 this music.
The format will be similar to previous years:
Tuesday 6th April: An optional “Welcome” dinner in the hotel in our own private dining room overlooking the river (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 7th April: We will have workshops for both hammered and mountain dulcimers – all levels welcome. This year we have as guest tutor, our own Andy McLauchlin, while the Mountain Dulcimer players will enjoy sharing with 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.
Andy McLauchlin
We’re grateful to Andy McLauchlin (aka Andy Mac), good friend and Nonsuch Trustee, who has agreed to be the HD tutor this year.
Andy was born and brought up in Hertfordshire, but Wales has been his home “for more years than I care to admit”. He’s been playing the hammered dulcimer for nine years and is strongly influenced by the Irish sessions and the music of the Welsh triple harp, which he says is enjoying the resurgence it deserves. Andy adds “I’m looking forward to visiting Tyneside, sharing my music with you and learning more about the rich musical traditions of the North East”. Buttered peas or Pyt ar y bys? We already have something in common!”
Thursday 8th April: We will begin Thursday with our traditional North-East tunes and songs session , led by Steve Gray – a chance to try and get your vowels around those tricky Geordie words perhaps? And then we will have a musically-illustrated talk from our guest speaker, Stewart Hardy.
Stewart Hardy is an internationally-acclaimed performer, composer and teacher with numerous recordings and broadcast credits to his name. Based in the North East of England, a love for the traditional music of Northumberland and Scotland shines through his repertoire and influences his own compositions. Stewart’s teaching is diverse and has covered many projects from international workshops to the Newcastle University folk degree course. He spent six years as an influential member of the very popular John Wright Band and has toured throughout the world playing traditional folk, pop, rock, jazz country and western swing music.
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 5th, 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 £108 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 NONS050427 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 at a daily charge of £15. 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 16th March 2027.
Please contact William Duddy (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 – tunes in the Toon!