Couple tune up for concerts

Andrew and Margaret Watchorn are holding another series of their popular concerts to raise awareness of the traditional music of north Northumberland.

Music of Scandinavia, featuring traditional instruments from the region, will also play its part.

The couple are well known for their frequent appearances at festivals and workshops in the west of Sweden.

More than 3,000 people have attended similar summer events organised by the couple in the area over the lastseven years.

Locals, as well as visitors from the UK and beyond, can enjoy music and songs played on Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle and guitar, as well as Swedish bagpipes, hummelchen (renaissance bagpipes) and nyckelharpa (Swedish keyed fiddle) as well as song.

Andrew and Margaret perform their music widely throughout the North East and beyond, with concert tours in the Midlands, Germany, Sweden and Ireland.

Their workshops on Northumbrian and Swedish music are popular and well attended events.

Margaret’s two pieces for string quartet were premiered to great acclaim by players from Royal Northern Sinfonia at the Sage Gateshead in 2011 and 2013.

The first concert takes place on Tuesday in St Mary’s Church, Holy Island, at 6.30pm.

Further events will be held from mid-June to the end of September.

Tickets for all concerts are priced £7.50 (accompanied children under 12 free), available at the door. For further details, call 01665 576245.