Summer celebration of traditional music at The Alnwick Garden

And a call is being put out for the North East to join together and celebrate the joy of all forms of music and dance, from clog dancing to a mass ceilidh.

The traditional Northumbrian music and dance company Magnetic North East would like budding dancers of all ages and abilities to join in the ceilidh.

Ceilidh bands King Cole and the Windy Gyle Band will be playing at the Alnwick Garden in Northumberland this July and August, and the music entertainment will be included in the price of entry to the gardens.

Featuring clog dancing, flamboyant rapper sword dancers, young buskers from the region and the Duke of Northumberland’s deputy piper, bands and ceilidhs, the music extravaganza will take place on July 22 and 29, and August 4 and 11.

It will be staged in the Pavilion and around the garden throughout the day.

Established in 2015 by Northumbrian piper Kathryn Tickell and North East businessman Andrew Davison, who also happens to be the Duke of Northumberland’s deputy piper, Magnetic North East is a community interest company which celebrates and promotes the identity of the region through its music, arts, heritage and culture.

Andrew Davison said: “This is an opportunity to share the fun, drama and delight of music and we are hoping that everyone will join in.

“Music transcends all languages and ages, and we hope as many people as possible will join us. Northumbrian Piping dates back to the early 19th century and is now celebrated across the world.”

The Alnwick Garden director Mark Brassell said: “There’s something incredibly beautiful about hearing music when you are among the flowers and trees and we are delighted to bring Magnetic North East to the Garden.”