James Tait

I first met James in 2018, and interviewed him for the Northumberland Gazette, and Over the Bridges, in 2019. James is a remarkably talented musician and poet, songwriter, and teacher. Below is the interview which first appeared in the Gazette.

Everyone in Rothbury knows James. His Coquetdale ancestry stretches from Rothbury back through the Cheviots,over 100 years and more. His is a family filled with creativity. They are all at ease with the rolling R's of the North Northumbrian dialect commemorated and celebrated in James' poetry, and in the stories told by his father, Ian, of the hill farming characters and times had at Barrowburn. This is the beautiful place, where the family farmed for many generations, and, more recently, had a tearoom.

Born in 1981, James showed exceptional musical promise from the age of 3, sitting on his Nana's lap as she taught him to play 'Thornbirds' by Henry Mancini. It is no surprise that the family sent him at 7 for formal lessons, and he learned to play classical piano. He also plays the guitar. A natural musician, James has been writing his own material from a young teenager. He now teaches youngsters and adults to play the guitar and piano.

Although he is in great demand to play and teach classical pieces, James' musical taste is eclectic, and he particularly loves the music of ABBA, especially Benny and Bjorn. One of his favourite pieces is the 'Birthday Waltz for Mona'. He says: “It moves me, it is inspired, both uplifting and - ironically - slightly melancholy”. I ask him to play it for me. It is a pleasure to watch and listen to James perform. When he plays the piano, you feel a physical and emotional connection with the composition as his fingers effortlessly find the keys. His talent is graceful and is a joy to observe.

Besides teaching music and performing at functions and events, James is involved, via the Rothbury Music Festival and the Northumbrian Language Society, in encouraging children in Coquetdale to learn about the Northumbrian dialect. He does this through dialect poetry, which the children find amusing and are eager to learn. Having qualified as a teacher, James is very popular as a tutor, having great rapport with the youngsters.

A major project which is just about to come to fruition is his work with three Coquetdale first schools on a mini musical, written by James, in dialect, based on the infamous Duergar, the little people of Simonside, (this is in association with the Baliffgate Museum). Working on this project has led to James writing a story for children which he hopes to get this published this year.

Besides music, James enjoys playing pool, He is very good too, as the trophies on top of the piano testify. He also has a purple belt in Karate and enjoys practising this martial art each week.

But it is his music and poetry that James is known for throughout Coquetdale. Although he is too modest to admit it, he really is The Music Man of the Valley

In 2023, James was commissioned by the Rothbury music festival committee to write a song for all three of his Children's Choirs to sing at the Mart on festival afternoon of that year. They were the choirs of:
Rothbury First School,
Thropton First School,
and
Otterburn Primary School.
This was one of James's proudest ever musical moments and during that summer, he recorded the song himself at the Coquetdale Music Trust recording studio in Thropton.

Not only was it very difficult to get children together during the holidays, but he had a strong desire to sing the song himself, because of how much the area means to him.

You can hear the recording here

James also worked for a while with Ukrainian singer Viktoriia Rekun, who loved his composition 'Thropton Roses'.

Here is a recording of her singing it, thus showcasing Ukrainian and Northumbrian cultures combined (video courtesy of Mike Todd).

Some of you will know that, besides Coquetdale Creatives, I also have a Tree Website, as trees are my passion, my friends. When the Sycamore Gap tree was felled, I asked James if he had ever composed for this fine being. He produced this in response.
Listen to the wonderful Sycamore Gap

Here is Christmas Lullaby, which was recorded by James's three choirs combined.

Coquetdale is lucky to have James - keeping alive the Northumbrian dialect, and enthusing youngsters to sing and making poetry, with it. Learning to love this special language. In this way, the wonderful heritage is secured for another generation.