Northumberland Music Festival Returns...

2012 Northumberland Music Festival Featuring “ Evenings with Opera North” 9th - 18th November 2012

Following the success of the first festival held in 2011, which attracted music lovers from across the UK, the second Northumberland Music Festival will feature a variety of concerts including Opera, Traditional, Brass, Classical Music and the ever- popular Gilbert and Sullivan. Highlights this year include Evenings with Opera North, Chetham’s School of Music, a Remembrance Sunday Concert with The Reg Vardy Brass Band, and Traditional Northumberland. The highlight of the Chamber Concert performed by the Liquid Architecture Ensemble is sure to be the Schubert Octet.

The concerts being held between the 9th and 18th of November will be performed in three of Northumberland’s grandest period houses, Eshott Hall, near Morpeth, Guyzance Hall, near Alnwick, and Doxford Hall, near Berwick-upon-Tweed.

Full details about all of the concerts can be found on www.nmfestival.com. Find us on Facebook/nmfestival and follow us on Twitter@Northmusicfest. For a brochure please telephone 01668283100

The Northumberland Music Festival Returns!

It's great to hear that enormously successful Northumberland Music Festival is returning for a second year and will run from 9th to the 18th November 2012. We have just been sent through all the details of the festival, which can be found below.... which events will you be attending?

GALA OPERA CONCERT
ESHOTT HALL, NR ALNWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE65 5EN
Friday 9th November 6 pm – 10 pm

Cost £65 ticket, welcome drink, Gourmet Dinner with coffee and petit fours [£600 for a table of 10]
Music Break £100 per person including bed and breakfast.

The glorious gala opening to the 2nd Northumberland Music Festival to be performed by one of the
UK’s leading Opera Houses who will present key arias, duets, trios and quartets from key operas in
their repertoire.


GALA OPERA CONCERT
ESHOTT HALL, MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE65 9EN
Saturday 10th November 6 pm – 10 pm

Cost £65 ticket, welcome drink, Gourmet Dinner with coffee and petit fours [£600 for table of 10]
Music Break £100 per person including bed and breakfast.

This glorious gala concert is part of the 2nd Northumberland Music Festival and will be performed by
one of the UK’s leading Opera Houses who will present key arias, duets, trios and quartets from key
operas in their repertoire.


THE REG VARDY BAND
DOXFORD HALL, NR ALNWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE67 5DN
Sunday 11th November 5.00 pm – 8.30 pm

Cost £45 for concert, welcome drink and a 2 Course Supper with coffee and petit fours
Music Break £80 per person includes bed and breakfast.

Playing on Remembrance Sunday is one of the World’s top twenty Brass Bands, The Reg Vardy Brass
Band. Their programme will include traditional brass music and hymns, and will also honour the
sacrifice of the fallen, and the lives of survivors from all conflicts in memory.


CLETHAM'S SCHOOL OF MUSIC PIANO RECITAL
GUYZANCE HALL, ACKLINGTON, NR MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE65 9AG
Tuesday 13th November 5.30 pm – 9.30 pm

Cost £65 for recital ticket, welcome drink on arrival and dinner [£600 for a table of 10]
Music Break £100 [accommodation is at Eshott Hall, nearby, and includes bed and breakfast]

Murray McLachlan, international concert pianist and musical director at Chetham’s School of Music
in Manchester, gave a spellbinding recital last November. He returns this year, and along with
his students will give a diverse recital. Chetham's is one of Britain’s premier schools training and
educating young musicians between 8 and 18.


A TRADITIONAL NORTHUMBRIAN MUSIC EVENING
GUYZANCE HALL, ACKLINGTON, NR MORPETH, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE65 9AG
Wednesday 14th November 5.30 pm – 9.30pm

Cost £45 for concert, welcome drink on arrival, 2 course dinner, coffee and petit fours
Music Break £80 [accommodation is at Eshott Hall, nearby, and includes bed and breakfast]

The festival would not be complete without some traditional music for which Northumberland is
renowned. This concert features Northumbrian Pipes & Fiddle and Janet Bennett one of the most
talented harpists and self accompanied singers in Britain today.


THE NORTHUMBERLAND RANTERS
DOXFORD HALL, NR ALNWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE67 5DN
Thursday 15th November 5.30 pm – 9.30 pm

Cost £25 for concert ticket, glass of wine on arrival, 2 course supper and coffee

The Northumberland Ranters are a group of talented and enthusiastic young musicians, aged
between 10 and 18, from schools across Northumberland. Their concert last year was one the most
popular of the festival. They promote the culture and tradition of the music of Northumberland,
playing fiddles, Northumbrian pipes, cellos, harp, flutes, guitars and keyboards. For further
information please contact:


GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
DOXFORD HALL, NR ALNWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE67 5DN
Friday 16th November 5.30pm - 9.30pm

Cost £65 includes concert, welcome drink, gourmet dinner with coffee [£600 for table of 10].
Music Break £100 per person including bed and breakfast.

Much Loved Productions return with their entertaining programme of Gilbert and Sullivan. Who
could forget last year’s brilliant staging of classic comic opera. This concert will feature set pieces
from some of the foremost G&S triumphs.


GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
GUYZANCE HALL, Ackington, near Morpeth, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE65 9AG65 9EN
Saturday 18th November 5.30 pm - 9.30 pm

Cost £65 includes concert, welcome drink, gourmet dinner with coffee [£600 for table of 10].
Music Break £100 per person and includes bed and breakfast.

Much Loved Productions return with their entertaining programme of Gilbert and Sullivan. Who
could forget last year’s brilliant staging of classic comic opera. This concert will feature set pieces
from some of the foremost G&S triumphs.


GILBERT AND SULLIVAN
DOXFORD HALL, NR ALNWICK, NORTHUMBERLAND, NE67 5DN
Sunday 18th November 12 noon - 4 pm

Cost £65 for concert, welcome drink and traditional 3 course Sunday Lunch [£600 for a table of 10].
Music Break £100 per person and includes room the night before the concert and breakfast.

Much Loved Productions return with their entertaining programme of Gilbert and Sullivan. Who
could forget last year’s brilliant staging of classic comic opera. This concert will feature set pieces
from some of the foremost G&S triumphs.


For further information please contact 01668 283100
info@nmfestival.com
www.nmfestival.com

Hexham Book Festival 2012

Hexham Book Festival 2012 - 23rd April to 3rd May - Supported by the Queen's Hall Arts

This will be the seventh Hexham Book Festival thanks to generous funding from the Gillian Dickinson Trust and your vital support. This year will be one of the most vibrant festivals around; they’re celebrating the brightest and best of new fiction; a rich mix of gardening, food, and travel writers; trenchant views on art, politics and philosophy with Brian Sewell, Polly Toynbee and AC Grayling; the importance of truculence from seasoned politician Tam Dalyell and swashbuckling words from former poet laureate Andrew Motion.

Here's a list of events taking place this year at various venues around Hexham, make sure you visit the festival website for more information:

Monday 23rd April 
6pm-8pm, World Book Night, Rebecca Jenkins & Harry Pearson, Library QH

Mon 30thApril, Tues 1st & Thurs 3rd May 
1pm-2pm, Words in the Gallery, The Robinson-Gay Gallery, Hexham

Thursday 26th April 
1pm-2pm, SJ Watson, Rachel Joyce, Library QH
7pm-7.30pm, Amanda Baker, Cafe QH
8pm-9pm, Mari Hannah, Library QH

Friday 27th April 
10am – 11am, Gerard Baker & Joanna Blythman, Theatre QH
11.30am-12.30pm, Claudia Roden, Theatre QH
2pm-3pm, Clare Foster & Andrea Jones, Theatre QH
6pm- 7pm, Esther Woolfson,
7.30pm – 8.30pm, Brian Sewell, Theatre QH

Saturday 28th April 
10am-2pm, Book Shed, Sele Park
11am-12noon, Lisa Hilton, Theatre QH
12.30pm-1.30pm, Simon Scarrow, Theatre QH
2pm-3pm, Polly Toynbee & David Walker, Theatre QH
2.30pm-3.30pm, Whisper Works, Library QH
3.30pm-4.30pm, Tam Dalyell, Theatre QH
5pm – 6pm, Martin Gayford, Theatre QH
6.30pm-7.30pm, AC Grayling, Theatre QH
8pm–9pm, Iain Banks, Theatre QH

Sunday 29th April 
10am-12noon, Alison Baverstock Workshop, Beaumont Hotel
11am-12noon, Sam Moorhead & David Stuttard
1pm-2.30pm, A Novel Event, Forum Cinema

Monday 30th April 
Meg Rosoff, Schools event

Tuesday 1st May 
10am-12noon, Meg Rosoff Workshop, Beaumont Hotel
6pm-7pm, Richard Holloway, Hexham Abbey
8pm-9pm, Sarah Moss, Book Group Forum, Library QH

Wednesday 2nd May 
10am-12noon, Sarah Moss, Workshop, Beaumont Hotel
1pm-2pm, Mike Pannet & Malcolm Castle, Beaumont Hotel
6.30pm -7.30pm, Tristan Goolley & Jim Crumley, Theatre QH
7.30pm-8.30pm, Paul Torday & JW, Ironmonger, Theatre QH
6pm-7pm, Amanda Baker, Café QH
7.30pm, Andrew Motion, Theatre QH

Words Across Northumberland

Wednesday 30th May 
6pm-7pm, Kate Williams, Alnwick Garden
8pm-9pm, Val McDermott, Alnwick Garden

Thursday 31st May 
7.30pm-8.30pm, Joanne Harris, Alnwick garden

Dine with Jean-Christophe Novelli at Alnwick Food Festival

Alnwick Food Festival takes place each year in September (Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th this year) and is increasing in popularity every time it is staged. Last year a staggering 20,000 people visited the Festival and enjoyed the 'foodie' atmosphere and events that run around the Town over this most gastronomic of weekends. This year the festival is set to exceed all previous years, both with the quality and number of events and it's headlining chef, Jean-Christophe Novelli.

Now in it's seventh year, the Festival has been extended from it's previous run of two days over the weekend to three so that it includes the Farmers Market on the Friday. It has quickly become one of the North-East's gastronomic centre pieces and should not be missed. There will be over 50 stalls in the Market Place exhibiting and celebrating local food and produce, a community market and a craft market.

Friday 23rd September

Perhaps the most exciting event of the Festival takes place on the first day. The chance to dine with michelin starred Jean-Christophe himself! Taking place in Northumberland Hall and cooked to Jean-Chrisophe's recipes 100 people will see him demonstrate each course before enjoying a fantastic meal. For more information and to book tickets visit the Alnwick Food Festival Website. The Farmers Market will also take place in the Town Centre with the usual host of fantastic locally produced meat and vegetables.

Saturday 24th September

The public part of the Festival really gets going on Saturday with over 50 stalls in the Market Place, a full programme of chef's displays throughout the day, the Beer Festival in Alnwick Town Hall and an Art and Craft Market. A taste of Northumbria will be held in the evening in Northumberland Hall featuring live music and good Northumbrian food.

Sunday 25th September

The stalls, chef's displays and Beer Festival continue through to a second day on Sunday. There will also be a community market on Bondgate Within celebrating local food and the environment.

The Food Festival and the Beer Festival run concurrently and are always an outstanding success, cementing Alnwick's position as the culinary capital of Northumberland. For more information about Alnwick, how to get there and other Attractions visit Your Guide to Alnwick.

Police Investigate Bizarre Music Festival Accident

Police are still investigating how an elderly woman managed to injure five people and destroy stalls during the annual Alnwick Music Festival yesterday. The 80 year old driver apparently clipped another car and then lost control, careering into people and stalls.

The Great North Air Ambulance was scrambled, which landed in Alnwick Bus Station to rush one person to hospital. I'd like to take this opportunity to publicise a little the amazing work that the Great North Ambulance Service do and remind everyone that it is entirely run on public donations and fundraising. They save lives on a daily basis and get no government funding whatsoever. Whilst this accident is clearly awful and I wish the injured a speedy recovery, I hope it serves as a reminder that if we don't help fund the Air Ambulance, we could lose this vital service.

For more information about The Great North Ambulance Service, or to make a donation visit their website. For more information about Alnwick, the Music Festival and local Events visit Your Northumberland's Guide to Alnwick.

Festival marred by Car Accident

A bizarre and very serious accident has happened in Alnwick Marketplace today during the International Music Festival. Usually a place of enjoyment, traditional music and dance, this afternoon the marketplace was turned into a nightmare when a car ploughed through the square, hitting several pedestrians and stalls. The vehicle apparently hit four stalls and came to halt when it hit the fifth. One person has been confirmed as airlifted to hospital and several people have been wounded by the accident. Witnesses said the car was being driven by an elderly lady.

I honestly have no idea how this kind of accident could have happened, the marketplace was full of stalls and there shouldn't have been cars in there anyway. Thank goodness the weather was bad, otherwise a lot more people could have been hurt. I think in future there needs to be barriers in place to make the Square completely pedestrianised during these festivals. Good to see the Northumbrian spirit in action though, cafe and shop owners were seen to be looking after the shocked and wounded with drinks and food.

Read more about it at the Northumberland Gazette Website

This week's Events and 'What's On' Bulletin

Events and What's On this weekend and beyond

Week Commencing Friday 22nd July 2011

The number of events and activities really gets going this week with the start of the kid's summer holidays. Here's our breakdown of what's on this week.

Friday 22nd July sees the start of the Burgham Horse Trials at Burgham Park near Felton (just off the A1), three days of action packed sporting events for all the family! There will be top-class Showjumping, Eventing and Dressage. There is also a retail village with a whole host of interesting stalls, food and a children's area. Tickets cost from £6 on the day, but can be booked online at a discounted price.

The Glendale Festival is on Sunday 24th July in Wooler. There are events and activities running throughout the day from Alnwick Pipers and dance performers to Punch and Judy and many food and craft stalls. This free event is a great day out for the whole family.

Alnwick Castle has a Wizarding Weekend on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th, great for the kids and includes Dumbledore and Hogwartian style magic! The Wizarding festivities also continue on the 26th and 27th July. While we're in Alnwick, The Playhouse has Oscar Wilde's 'An Ideal husband' a production from the Clockhouse Theatre Company on Wednesday 27th July.

Running through the week at the Alnwick Garden is an Images of Northumberland Exhibition by Darryn Wade in the Retail Gallery (admission free). It features his own landscape and seascape photography in beautiful handmade driftwood frames. Also in the Garden this week you can have a guided tour of the Garden with one of their top gardeners (every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12 midday) and on Friday 22nd July there is a 'Butterfly Gardening' session.

Heading to Morpeth there is a Reel to Reel Ceilidh band playing music in Morpeth Chantry from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday 23rd July. Nearby Wallington Hall (National Trust) has a 'Mad about Monks' event between 1pm and 4pm also on Saturday 23rd July, an event for the whole family where you can try on monk's habits and make your own illuminated manuscript! On Wednesday 27th July they also have an evening Bat Walk.

Warkworth sees a Medieval Clash of Knights event at the Castle (English Heritage) on Tuesday 26th and Wednesday 27th July between 12pm and 5pm. The Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields are also performing at St Lawrence Church in Warkworth on Tuesday 27th July at 7.30pm (tickets £5).

Monday 25th July sees the start of a number of Summer Reading Challenges at local libraries around the County. Check out this link for a list of libraries taking part that includes Haltwhistle, Widdrington, Haydon Bridge, Hadston, Allendale, Blyth, Newbiggin, Bedlington, Cramlington and Berwick.

Elsewhere Farmer's Markets this week are taking place on Saturday 23rd July in Hexham and Sunday 24th July in Berwick-Upon-Tweed. The Beadnell WI Summer Fete is Wednesday 27th July with Bric a Brac, Tombolas and cake stalls, admission is 20p! Also this weekend is the Blyth Summer Fayre held in and around the market place.

Remember to 'Like' our Facebook Page to receive our weekly Events Bulletin automatically.