Rothbury Traditional Music Festival, guest writer, Caroline Dawson
Rothbury Traditional Music Festival is a small, friendly, community-run festival set in the heart of Northumberland, in the beautiful Coquet Valley. Over the last four decades it has established a unique atmosphere, drawing musicians, dancers and singers from throughout the country and beyond to spend a weekend sharing music and experiencing Northumbrian traditions.
The History of the Rothbury Traditional Music Festival, by guest writer, Caroline Dawson.
In 1976 three friends, Tony Sandford , John Mackay, and John Hennessey, went on a day trip to Newcastleton music festival. They enjoyed themselves so much that they decided to organise a similar festival in Rothbury.
John, Tony, and John recruited folk musician Alistair Anderson (who later became Chair) Thompson and Mary Bathgate, and school teacher John Ashley to help.
John Ashley organised the children's competition and taught the children to play the recorder. He got many local children interested in traditional music.
John Mackay was a member of the Rothbury Pipe Band so they have always been connected with the festival.
The first festival was in July 1977. On the Friday there was a dance in the Jubilee Hall another event in the marquee on the Cow Haugh, and a singaround in the Masonic Hall, that went on until the small hours.
The competitions were held on the Saturday. The pipe band paraded around the village and there were lots of pub sessions and musicians playing on the village green. On Saturday there was a concert in the mart - which is still very popular.
The final fling in the Jubilee Hall was on Sunday.
The main remit of the festival is to promote traditional music and dialect poetry in the area.
Kathryn Tickell first attended the festival when she was 11 years old. She played with Will Atkinson, Will Taylor, Billy Pigg, and Joe Hutton, who were well-known local musicians. She had a very successful career as a folk musician but still found time to join the music festival committee.
Rothbury is one of the few festivals running competitions that help young musicians to develop their skills.
Charlotte Kennedy won many school competitions playing the fiddle and now plays professionally. Lynn Tocker started playing the accordion in the school competitions, and later played professionally. She was also a very active committee member for nearly 10 years.
For many years Lynn and Kathryn ran a ceilidh band class in Dr Thomlinson's Middle School.
Our current patron is Alexander Armstrong who was brought up in Rothbury. We hope he will attend the festival in the future.
Artists who have performed at the festival include: Alistair Anderson, Kathryn Tickell, Bob Fox, Johnny Handle, and Chris Hendry, The Wilsons, Apehouse, KAN featuring our current Chair, Ian Stephenson and the late Fergie Mcdonald the Ceilidh King.
We also had the legendary folk musician Martin Carthy perform in 2021.
2025 Festival
Confirmed artists this year are:
THE REIVER DIVAS (They went down a storm last year!).
FOLKESTRA
BRIONY GRIFFITHS
ALICE JONES
HEDGEHOG SKIN
Tickets are available from Tully's Deli in Rothbury
This year marks thirty years since the death of Joe Hutton. He died on the music festival weekend on 17th July 1995. There will be a concert paying tribute to him on Saturday 12th July in All Saints church.
There will also be music on the outdoor stage, dancers, a storyteller, and a face-painter.
On Sunday there will be the final fling and a concert in the church.
Let's hope the weather is kinder to us this year than the last two years!
Wet or dry, the Festival is enjoyed by 100s of people!
All photographs are from the Rothbury Traditional Music Festival Facebook page.
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