The National Youth Folk Ensemble brings together talented young folk musicians from across England. Sparks invariably fly when they create their own contemporary takes on traditional music from England and beyond. These exceptional 14–18-year-olds meet four times a year for intensive weeks of music-making, led by Artistic Director Sam Partridge, with top folk musicians and educators including Andy Cutting, Rob Harbron, Jo Freya and Emma Reid.
Wielding the distinct voices of fiddle, concertina, and double bass, The Grace Smith Trio cast dynamic, expressive, and reactive musical forces into a dialogue between these three individual yet like-minded musicians. Sam Partridge and Bevan Morris join Grace in forming this engaging folk ensemble, inspired by the traditional music of England, audiences can expect to be immersed in a sound world where ideas become reality forged by bellows, bow and bass.
Folkestra is a vibrant group of young folk musicians, based at Sage Gateshead, playing original music and new arrangements. Founded by Kathryn Tickell, they have learned and performed with a huge number of prominent folk musicians both from the North East and further afield. Recently they have been enjoying working with prolific Northumbrian Piper and composer Andy May.
