All the details of the 2021 Gathering events on line or click here for the PDF 2021 Gathering programme.
The 2021 Online Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering
continuing Northumberland’s traditions
Saturday 10th April 2021
PROGRAMME OF EVENTS
via YouTube, Zoom and Facebook
Event links are below, with any updates posted on facebook.com/morpeth.gathering
Welcome to the first ever online festival of traditional Northumbrian music, dance, craft, dialect, drama and heritage. Normally held the weekend after Easter in Northumberland’s historic county town of Morpeth, the Gathering’s programme was cancelled in 2020 for the first time since 1968, thanks to the pandemic – but we’re now delighted to present a virtual festival to keep the flag flying in the spring of 2021.
Most events will be accessed via our YouTube channel unless stated otherwise. They will launch at the times given below, staying online over the weekend and in most cases into the future for people to catch up. Last-minute news or changes will be announced on Facebook.
All events are free but please consider donating to individual performers via their online shops and websites. We have been overwhelmed by the expression of goodwill and support from so many people willing to give of their time and skills, and we know many of you will be only too happy to support creative artists who have lost work and income throughout the time of Covid restrictions.
The Gathering also welcomes direct donations towards the costs of producing these online events and enabling the annual festival to continue into the future. Please donate online through gofundme.com/f/morpeth-northumbrian-gathering or send a cheque made out to M.N.G.C. to the Gathering Office, Westgate House, Dogger Bank, Morpeth, NE61 1RE.
Queries: Tel.:01670 513308; E-mail: enquiries@northumbriana.org.uk
CD Stall – especially for the Gathering, One Row Records have put together a virtual CD stall of some of the best traditional music from Northumbria. You can visit the page here: http://nicksites.net/onerowrecords/northumberland/ More albums coming soon!
Merchandise – we can’t yet handle online sales, but contact the Gathering Office to buy our t-shirts, mugs, car stickers and our CD “Morpeth’s Music” featuring songs and tunes old and new from friends of the Gathering including Stewart Hardy, Benny Graham, Voice Male, Ellington Band, York Waits, Rod Arthur.
Circumstances may mean events are subject to change.
BEFORE THE GATHERING: Family Craft Workshop – Easter holiday activities – Join our online Pageant!
Make dragon masks and puppets with artist Elaine Porter of the White Lantern Company – wear or carry them while watching our procession videos and other events – be a part of the online Gathering pageant!
Competitions
Sadly, the crafts and live performing competitions could not take place this year, but we shall announce the results of certain postal competitions for writing and composing which have been judged safely in advance. These will be posted on Facebook and afterwards on the Gathering website.
The Gathering logos are based on the woodcuts of Joseph Crawhall II of the famous family of Morpeth artists
THE 2021 ONLINE GATHERING SATURDAY 10TH APRIL
During the day do fill any gaps by having a look over at MorpethNewsTV’s YouTube channel featuring
special interviews with the 2021 performers plus archive films from earlier Gatherings (see listings at end).
SUMMARY OF EVENTS See next table for online links and the duration of each event.
Any last-minute changes or updates will appear on facebook.com/morpeth.gathering
| Time | Event | Platform | Details (see next table for online links) |
| All day | Images of 2019 | YouTube | A reminder of the last Gathering |
| All day | 1980s Archive Films | YouTube | Home videos of 1980s Gatherings |
| All day | Family Craft Workshop | YouTube | Make dragon masks and puppets |
| 8.00 am | Virtual Craft Exhibition | YouTube | Images of past craft entries and displays |
| 8.15 am | Virtual Town Hall Art Gallery | YouTube | Vote on the final shortlist of paintings |
| 8.30 am | Camera Club Gallery | YouTube | Scenes of the Gathering and the area |
| 9.00 am | Writing Competitions Results | Dialect/music/story/song writing results | |
| 9.30 am | Stories For All | YouTube | With Jim Grant |
| 10.00 am | Historic Dance Workshop | Zoom* | Advance booking by email – see below |
| 11.00 am | The Gadgy’s Welcome | YouTube | Official welcome by Alex Swailes MBE |
| 11.05 am | Cavalcade and Pageant Slideshow | YouTube | Scenes of past processions |
| 11.30 am | The Ballad of the Laidley Worm | YouTube | Drama, puppetry and music |
| 12 noon | Clock Tower Tour | YouTube | Views inside the tower |
| 12.30 pm | Singaround | Zoom** | Led by Beeswing. See below for link |
| 2.00 pm | Family Concert – music, song, clog, tales | YouTube | Mossy, Jim & Lynette, Taffy Thomas |
| 3.00 pm | Clog Making Demonstration | YouTube | With Simon Brock |
| 4.00 pm | Tunes Session | Zoom*** | led by Phoenix Folk. See below for link |
| 4.30 pm | Dialect Concert | YouTube | Bob Bolam, Johnny Handle & many more |
| 7.00 pm | Grand Music Concert | YouTube | Stewart Hardy, Glowan & a host of stars |
| 8.00 pm | Barn Dance | Zoom* | Advance booking by email – see below |
| 8.45 pm | Elsie | YouTube | Pat Dunn’s one-woman show |
Performers:
Family Concert: Mossy Christian, Lynette and Jim Eldon, Taffy Thomas.
Dialect Concert: Eileen Beers, Graham Bell, Pat Dunn, Peter Armstrong, Bob Bolam, Johnny Handle, James Tait, Alex Swailes MBE.
Grand Music Concert: Rob Say, Graham and Sam Pirt, Glowan, Kim Bibby-Wilson and John Bibby, Tonbande, Wallace Calvert, Mossy Christian, James Tait, Stewart Hardy, Emma and Jannick Hardy.
Barn Dance: Rachael Hales, Robin Dunn, Caller Elizabeth Lawson.
*Dance Events – Historic Dance Workshop and Barn Dance Advance booking is required – please email morpethgatheringdance@gmail.com by noon on Friday 9th April to book and receive links
**Singaround (12.30pm-2.30pm) https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87471222298?pwd=MU5mNEhjOTlYNXQ3WXJqY1paaTVyUT09
Meeting ID: 874 7122 2298 Passcode: 2005
***Tunes Session (4pm – 5.30pm) Join in from home with well-known session tunes. For more details about how the session will work, and to download sheet music/chords, please visit www.phoenixfolk.co.uk/morpeth2021
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84013793945?pwd=bFQ3bjY4YmZ3OXpyNlQ5N3h2TTdBZz09
Meeting ID: 840 1379 3945 Passcode: 2005
YOUTUBE AND ZOOM EVENT LINKS FOR GATHERING 2021
Gathering Channel link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN3xZXLGymFF1asySYA8Eyg
On Saturday April 10th: videos will be available to view online from the times stated below. Once live, videos will remain on YouTube until at least 17th April
| Time | Event | Platform | Duration | Links |
| All day | Images of 2019 | YouTube | 6min | https://youtu.be/C2r9OLDDUu0 |
| All day | 1980s Archive Films | YouTube | 6min | https://youtu.be/IYciILjjx88 |
| All day | Family Craft Workshop | YouTube | 9min | https://youtu.be/NwY9Fmqne28 |
| 8.00 am | Virtual Craft Exhibition | YouTube | 6min | https://youtu.be/8SBoUUDby8s |
| 8.15 am | Virtual Town Hall Art Gallery | YouTube | 4min | https://youtu.be/B9KoVEqekGM |
| 8.30 am | Morpeth Camera Club | YouTube | 15min | https://youtu.be/tsw7t7RdrQY |
| 9.00 am | Writing Competitions Results | n/a | Posted on Morpeth Gathering Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/morpeth.gathering | |
| 9.30 am | Stories For All | YouTube | 25min | https://youtu.be/dUSnw_DjMIU |
| 10.00 am | Historic Dance Workshop | Zoom | 1hr | Email by 9 April for access code: morpethgatheringdance@gmail.com |
| 11.00 am | The Gadgy’s Welcome | YouTube | 2min | https://youtu.be/UlytQgtOzEk |
| 11.05 am | Cavalcade and Pageant | YouTube | 6min | https://youtu.be/A-GOGaFjZHM |
| 11.30 am | The Ballad of the Laidley Worm | YouTube | 25min | https://youtu.be/eVAT2keuXek |
| 12 noon | Clock Tower Tour | YouTube | Link to be published soon | |
| 12.30 pm | Singaround | Zoom | 2hrs | See below |
| 2.00 pm | Family Concert | YouTube | 55min | https://youtu.be/37d5xeCMiNg |
| 3.00 pm | Clog Making Demonst. | YouTube | 33min | https://youtu.be/kAog1O9A-8I |
| 4.00 pm | Tunes Session | Zoom | 1hr 30min | See below |
| 4.30 pm | Dialect Concert | YouTube | 58 min | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULfNCxEnBfk |
| 7.00 pm | Grand Music Concert | YouTube | 1hr 33min | https://youtu.be/LoEEw_U4WsE |
| 8.00 pm | Barn Dance | Zoom | 1hr 30min | Email by 9 April for access code: morpethgatheringdance@gmail.com |
| 8.45 pm | Elsie | YouTube | 20min | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFeR7RLw8KM |
Donations link: https://gofundme.com/f/morpeth-northumbrian-gathering
Singaround Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87471222298?pwd=MU5mNEhjOTlYNXQ3WXJqY1paaTVyUT09
Meeting ID: 874 7122 2298
Passcode: 2005
Tunes Zoom session
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84013793945?pwd=bFQ3bjY4YmZ3OXpyNlQ5N3h2TTdBZz09
Meeting ID: 840 1379 3945
Passcode: 2005
EVENTS AFTER THE GATHERING:
Look out for future fund-raisers, and please visit Morpeth Chantry Bagpipe Museum, scheduled to re-open in May after lockdown – enjoy its new exhibition by artist Johnny Hannah including new Gathering posters and artwork.
Morpeth Northumbrian Gathering Committee is a standing committee of Morpeth Antiquarian Society (Reg. Charity No. 507640) and a member of the Association of Festival Organisers. MNGC reserves the right to alter programme details.
MORPETH NEWS TV LINKS TO VIDEOS OF PREVIOUS GATHERINGS:
| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw-R9yoliXs
2021 Gathering Goes Online. Interviews with Gadgy and some 2021 performers Redheughers, band section winners 2016 Tradition on parade. 2014 cavalcade and community pageant Gathering in fine tune. 2014 musical competitions plus scenes from events On parade for 2017 golden Gathering includes Bounce and storyteller. Ron Forster as Gadgy Gathering turns back time 2018 includes Time Bandits Tiny dancers. Jim Eldon and Mossy Christian performance and interview 50th Gathering slideshow of images to music played by Paul Knox Joiners Arms sing around 2014 Super strings music session 2014 Brothers Gillespie sing Devil’s Water Golden Gathering 2017 including opening and Kim 2016 cavalcade includes Baghdaddies, Matt Seattle and Gadgy dancing 2014 opening, clog and circle dancing 2018 includes exhibition and Kim interview 2015 crafts, Hautbois music, opening 2012 Ray Langton melodeon workshop, costume expert Lesley Bentham interview and song Outdoor music and indoor clog dancing 2016 |
https://youtu.be/lf6CqQMMw_U
Parade including Suffragettes and street clog dancing 2013 2013 street music and dancing, singing at Joiners Arms, rapper dancers Tap and Spile Peter Arnold introduces Hoafy Trophy with storytelling clips 2012 Sealed Knot at Carlisle Park 2012 parade, Gadgy’s welcome, music at Tap and Spile 2013 opening and exhibition Drinking songs at The Chantry with Graham Stacy 2016 Northumbrian Pipers Society at the Chantry plus cavalcade footage 2014 Woodhorn Matters proggy matmaking interview 2014 2017 Louisa Gidney as Mrs William Turner, interview Carlisle Park 2017 Hannah Welfare poetry competition winner 2014 music session at Tap and Spile Coquet Lass steamroller at 2014 parade Georgian music at Town Hall during 2014 Gathering plus background clips Johnny Handle talks and performs mining songs 2014 Dawn of Chivalry sword fighting and music at the castle gatehouse 2016 Anita James mouth organ workshop plus songs at Joiners Arms 2012 2012 Alex Swailes Gadgy interview |
Morpeth Gathering is aided through financial, technical or in-kind support and advice by individuals and organisations to whom the Committee is greatly indebted. They include during this special year: Anonymous, Marc Barkman-Astles of Archaeosoup Productions, Andy Bates and Hazelsong Theatre, Nic Best, Border Directors, The Bridge Folk Club, Simon Brock, Mossy Christian, Colin Bradford, Keith Cooper, Mike Everett, Cynthia Fair, Greater Morpeth Development Trust, John Homer, Brian Jacques, Tom Kelly, Landmark Trust, Philip Lawson, Longframlington Art Group, Sarah Lowes, Morpeth Antiquarian Society, Morpeth Art Group, Morpeth Camera Club, Morpeth Clock Tower Bellringers, Morpeth Herald, MorpethNet, Terry Hackett of MorpethNews TV, Morpeth Town Council, Museums Northumberland, New Life Morpeth, Northern Film and Media, Northumberland County Council, Northumbrian Language Society, Old Bakehouse Millennium Green Trust, Phoenix Folk, Elaine Porter Nelson of White Lantern Company, Robson’s Choice, Rob Say, Valdis Stals, Stannington Art Group, Ian Stephenson of Simpson Street Studios, Anne Swailes, Sean Wearing, GoFundMe donors, individual performers including the following:
Family Concert: Mossy Christian, Lynette and Jim Eldon, Taffy Thomas.
Clog Making Demo dancers: Green Ginger Clog
Dialect Concert: Eileen Beers, Graham Bell, Pat Dunn, Peter Armstrong, Bob Bolam, Johnny Handle, James Tait, Alex Swailes MBE.
Grand Music Concert: Rob Say, Graham and Sam Pirt, Glowan, Kim Bibby-Wilson and John Bibby, Tonbande, Wallace Calvert, Mossy Christian, James Tait, Stewart Hardy, Emma and Jannick Hardy.
Barn Dance: Rachael Hales, Robin Dunn, Caller Elizabeth Lawson.
PERFORMER LINKS Please support our performers through donations and CD purchases, including:
Rob Say: http://milecastle27.co.uk/rob/
Kim and John: http://www.borderdirectors.com/Band_Members.php
Graham Pirt: https://www.grahampirt.com/
Sam Pirt: https://thehutpeople.com/bio
Glowan: https://www.facebook.com/Glowan-289945178334941/
Wallace Calvert: https://www.facebook.com/wallacecalvertmusic/
Mossie Christian: http://nicksites.net/mossy/
James Tait: https://www.jamestait.co.uk/
Stewart Hardy: https://www.stewarthardy.co.uk/
Ian Stephenson: www.simpsonstreetstudios.com
Morpeth Camera Club: www.morpethcameraclub.co.uk
THE GATHERING also welcomes direct donations towards the costs of producing these online events and enabling the annual festival to continue into the future. Please donate online through gofundme.com/f/morpeth-northumbrian-gathering
See you somehow in the future!!!