We are pleased to announce our Spring Fling event for 2022. It will be held from 12-14th April 2022 at the Copthorne Hotel in Newcastle, Quayside.
Special Guest Dr Vic Gammon is joining us for the day on the 14th April, with a specially prepared illustrated talk. Vic is a writer, researcher and performer (singer, banjo and concertina player) and, until his retirement, was Senior Lecturer in Folk and Traditional Music at Newcastle University. His recent CD “Early Scottish Ragtime” examines early usage of syncopation in dance tunes from both sides of the Atlantic.
Schedule
Pre Event Add on: Monday 11th April: Renowned local folk club “The Bridge” meets on a Monday, so you could come a day early, meet up and visit the club, then do some sightseeing on Tuesday daytime.
Tuesday 12th April: The event starts officially in the early evening when we meet up to go for a meal in a local restaurant (own cost).
Wednesday 13th April: We will hold a series of member-led workshops during the day, split between hammered and mountain dulcimers. Topics we are thinking of including are:-
- MD: Slow session / Sharing tunes / Working on session tunes / Flatpicking hornpipes
- HD: Slow session / Sharing tunes / Working on session tunes / Working on arrangements
However we will led by yourselves and any requests or offers you make.
Wednesday evening is free time – again we will liaise to have a meal and socialise together and some people may choose to attend the Barbara Dickson concert at the Sage, Gateshead at 7:30pm, which is within walking distance.
See https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/barbara-dickson/ to book your own tickets.
Thursday 14th April: We are delighted to announce that well known performer and lecturer Dr. Vic Gammon will give an illustrated talk in the latter part of the morning and join us for a group “folk club” session in the afternoon, finishing around 4:30pm.
The talk is likely to be about the movement of tunes across the Atlantic. Vic will play some of these on banjo and will also produce some tunes in advance which we can have a go at in the afternoon.
Bring a Companion
If you would like to bring a non-playing partner or friend we would be happy to include them in the social activities. There is also an area right outside our meeting rooms where they could hang out.
If you are coming with someone who is also attending the workshops then please fill out a separate booking form for each person.
Hotel Accommodation
You will need to book your own accommodation. Booking details for the Copthorne are here:
https://www.millenniumhotels.com/en/bookings/?hotelcode=13463
There are also many other nearby hotels for you to choose from. Because these hotels all vary their prices and tend to increase over time we strongly recommend you book as soon as possible to get the best price. Most offer free cancellation terms, including the Copthorne.
Costs
The cost of £55 per attendee includes use of the meeting rooms of the Copthorne (including free parking*), mid-morning / mid-afternoon refreshments on 13/14 April, and a lunch of sandwiches/chips on 13th April at the hotel.
Lunch is not included on Thursday and you will have a little more free time at lunchtime to take a stroll along the iconic quayside and find your own lunch (own cost).
Hotel accommodation, breakfasts, Thursday lunch and evening meals are all at your own cost.
*Free parking on 13th/14th April including the evening of 12th April for Copthorne Hotel residents.
The cost for the event is £55 per person.
Booking
Bookings close on 15th March, 4 weeks before the event. We will send more information closer to the time to provide further details of the schedule and planned activities.
Payment is via PayPal, Debit or Credit card at time of booking through our online booking form below.
Please contact event organiser Steve Gray if you need any further information or advice about the event.