NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend 2026 – Sunday Workshop
Ways into Creativity in Folk Fiddle
with Stewart Hardy and Grace Smith
Sunday 5th July
9.30 am – 4.30 pm
Riding Mill Parish Hall, Millfield Rd, Riding Mill NE44 6DJ
Follow Up Materials
Here is a pdf version of the Dusty Miller worksheet with Riffs
Advance Materials
We will be using a selection of tunes to explore creativity in our music, and this list will be added to over the next few days.
The Lisnagun (Brendan Ring)
Audio files
- The Lisnagun (in G) (mp3)
- The Lisnagun (in A) (mp3)
Zip File of all pdfs and audio files for download
(right click or Ctrl Click and “Save link as…”)
Materials from our Live Tunes:
| Notation (pdf) | Audio (mp3) | Zip file |
| Dusty Miller, The – Notation | The Dusty Miller (Full) The Dusty Miller (Steady) | The Dusty Miller – zip file |
Session
Latest NEFS Live Tunes updates: March 2026 – up to and including tunes from 2026 Blocks 2 Live Teaching, and the latest Live Tune Sets document – April 2026:
Index of NEFS Live Tunes and Sets – Updated 15th April 2026
Plus these more recent Live Tunes:
| Notation (pdf) | Audio (mp3) | Zip file |
| Fair Jenny (Peter Barnes) – Notation | Fair Jenny (Full Free) Fair Jenny (Steady) | Fair Jenny – zip file |
| Jack’s Alive – Notation | Jack’s Alive | Jacks’ Alive – zip file |
| Gamekeeper’s Cottage (Jenna Reid) – Notation | Gamekeeper’s Cottage (first two parts) | Gamekeeper’s Cottage – zip file |
| Shetland Whalers Song – Notation | Shetland Whalers Song | Shetland Whalers Song – zip file |
Some Live Tune Harmonies – just for fun, if you want to try them!
Big Tunes
These are the tune we will definitely play in the sessions over the weekend. The page numbers refer to the Live Tunes docs (either the normal version or the bowed version) and the Live Tune Sets document.
- Gamekeeper’s Cottage (Jenna Reid) (Notation)
- Rolling Waves / Out on the Ocean (Live Sets p.10)
- Fallowfield March (Rob Say) / Andrew’s March (John Dagg) (Live Sets p.10)
- De Montford (Jo Freya) (Live Tunes p.23)
- Polska from Småland (Live Tunes p.20)
If you would like to access the full resources for any of the Live Tunes, including audio files and even the video recordings of the Live Zoom Calls in which they were taught, you can visit the Live Teaching Resources page.oom Calls in which they were taught, you can access the Live Teaching Resources page.
Riding Mill Parish Hall, Millfield Rd, Riding Mill NE44 6DJ
Please arrive from 9.30 am for a 9.45 am start.
- 09:30: Welcome and set up
- 09:45: Physical Warm Up
- 10:00 – 11:15: Workshop 1
- 11:15 – 11:45: Morning break
- 11:45 – 13:00: Workshop 2
- 13:00 – 14:00: Lunch
- 14:00 – 15:00: Workshop 3
- 15:00 – 15:30: Afternoon break
- 15:30 – 16:30: Session
You will need to bring all of your own equipment, including a music stand if you wish to use one.
Lunch is not included, so please bring a packed lunch, or there is the Deli at the Station, Riding Mill and the Wellington Pub a few minutes walk away. There will be a one hour break for lunch.
Tea and coffee will be provided during the morning and afternoon breaks. Please advise us of any relevant dietary requirements.
Travel
Car Parking – please park carefully and respectfully around the village and avoid blocking any access. Here is a map provided by the venue. The largest parking space is around by St James’ Church – you will need to allow about 5 mins to walk back to the Parish Hall.
Train
Riding Mill Train Station is just a few minutes walk from the Parish Hall (Sunday 09:07 – 09:40 from Newcastle Central Station; or 09:50 – 09:58 from Hexham – sorry, you’d be with us soon after the start of the first workshop)
Car shares may be possible from Newcastle or Hexham.
Saturday Evening Social
Saturday 4th July
7.30 – 9.30 pm
Riding Mill Parish Hall
There will be an concert by Bottle Bank Band at 7.30 pm, followed by a session for everyone. Many of the tunes will be from our Live Tunes repertoire, but not exclusively! All instruments are welcome. Free entry – any donations towards the event will be much appreciated!
NEFS Summer Workshop Weekend 2026
with Stewart Hardy & Grace Smith
Riding Mill Parish Hall, Millfield Rd, Riding Mill NE44 6DJ
- Saturday 4th July – The Wider World of Jigs, 9.30 am – 5.00 pm
- Satuday Evening Social – a concert by Bottle Bank Band, followed by a session for everyone. 7.30 pm
- Sunday 5th July – Ways into Creativity in Folk Fiddle, 9.30 am to 4.30 pm
If you would like to attend the Saturday evening social, just turn up, all instruments are welcome in the session! Free entry – any donations towards the event will be much appreciated!
COVID-Secure Guidelines
By attending an in-person event organised by NEFS, you agree to follow any COVID-secure Workshop Guidelines in place, and any further reasonable requests made by the venue, the Tutors or Directors to keep the group safe and all attendees feeling as comfortable as possible.