Morpeth is set to come to life this weekend as it plays host to its popular festival of traditional Northumbrian music, art, dialect and heritage.
The Northumberland town was just named one of the UK's best places to live, and there's more reason to celebrate with the return of the 54th Morpeth Gathering after a three-year hiatus. There are two special anniversaries thrown in as well.
The first is the 90th birthday of the Morpeth Gadgy Alex Swailes MBE, the symbol of the festival which is built around the welcoming back of Lord Greystoke and his soldiers after defeat by the Scots at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. Second is the 140th anniversary of the publication of 'Northumbrian Minstrelsy,' the bible of North East songs and melodies featuring folks songs such as Water of Tyne and Bobby Shaftoe .
To celebrate these anniversaries and more, the festival is back in person, however it's scaled back from its usual size and pomp.
Continued uncertainty around Covid means the festival won't have the usual range of in-person events: there will be no Border Cavalcade procession or indoor concerts, crafts or competitions. However, there will be a host of other events including storytelling, music from the Ran Tanners, and a Pipe-playing taster day held at the Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum.
There is also a full programme of online events following the festival's success in last year's first ever foray into cyberspace. Expect pre-recorded concerts, stories, displays and presentations on YouTube, live Zoom music and song sessions, a pre-booked Zoom dance workshop, a virtual Town Hall art exhibition and a family art video showing how to make crowns and dolls' thrones ready for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee parties.
Will you be going to the Morpeth Gathering? Let us know in the comments below!
The three main concerts - the family show (Silly Sangs for Bairns), the Gadgy's Delight (featuring music, dialect and tributes to Alex Swailes MBE) and the Northumbrian Minstrelsy 140th Anniversary show - showcase a wealth of Gathering stalwarts and newer faces, including singing duos Ken Patterson and Richard Scott, and Cath and Paddy Clough, accordionist Colin Bradford and local group Spindlestone.
There's even an appearance from Ashington -born stage and TV actress Pat Dunn, who has appeared in Vera and Coronation Street. Her monologue Elsie Rides Again follows up on last year's one-woman show about a sweet little old lady with a secret.
Kim Bibby-Wilson, Chair of the voluntary committee, said: "All is not lost! Gathering Saturday, 23rd April, is also St. George’s Day, so look out for our good friends Hexham Morris Men and the new young dance team from Tyneside, Black Gate Morris, who will be dancing at times in the Market Place, Sanderson Arcade and Park."
For more information and to view the complete programme for the Morpeth gathering, click here. There will also be updates and last-minute changes on the Gathering's Facebook page.
Though events are free to view, Gathering organisers are asking audience to consider donating towards performers who have suffered loss of income during Covid via their websites. Visitors can also donate to the Gathering in the hope it returns at full force in 2023 at this link.
