3tynespodcast

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Aaron Duff is the singer, songwriter and the driving force behind one of the North East’s most successful bands, Hector Gannet. He has sold out Hexham’s The Vault three times in a row. Aaron’s work is strongly identified with his hometown of North Shields and he writes about aspects of his life there and the area’s history. But his songs are far deeper than those words suggest – carefully written,...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

My guest today is Rupert Hughes, guitarist, singer and songwriter with the bluegrass band The Often Herd, and also a guitar tutor, sideman for the likes of Martin Stephenson, and someone who has been known to knock out the occasional classic in his other band Rupert Hughes and the Old News. The Often Herd are one of the North East’s most successful bands. They’ve taken their brand of bluegrass all...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Today’s episode is the second in which we take a look behind the scenes at the practicalities and challenges of providing music in grass roots venues. This time, I’m talking to Richard and Eileen, the proprietors of Mr Ant’s Bar in Hexham. Mr Ant’s has been a success through several years in which business has been difficult for the hospitality industry. As part of their strategy to create a stron...

Today’s episode takes a look behind the scenes at the music business you’ll encounter on a Friday night in the pub. Matty J Erskine talks about how he came to be a pub DJ, MC and quiz host, charting his career from his early, try-anything days at sports events to MC-ing festivals like BAAFest. He reflects on the lessons he’s learned over many years of making sure that people enjoy a good evening o...

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Streaming has failed grass roots musicians, which is why most also upload their music to an online platform called Bandcamp. And because we mention it so often on the podcast, and ask you to use it, I thought it would be worthwhile giving you some background to it. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcas...

Andrew Cadie is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who grew up in the North East and learned his craft busking and in the local folk clubs. He is a seasoned performer both solo and as part of the duo Broom Bezzums. Andrew now lives in Germany but I spoke to him on his recent return to tour the UK, when his appearances included gigs in Nenthead and Gilsland. We talked about hi...

The Hexham and District Music Society has been arranging concerts of classical music for 75 years. Like Music in Allendale and the Corbridge Chamber Music Festival, the Society works hard to bring a high standard of classical music to the area through live performances by accomplished musicians of both familiar and less familiar pieces. I’ve made no secret in this podcast of my recent discovery of...

Political songs are alive and well and being performed every day here in the North East. If you go to a small gig or an open mic session, you are likely to hear mention of issues such as social deprivation, poor mental health, lack of employment, poor working conditions and post-industrial malaise. Some singers are known for their political activism; others may include political commentary in a se...

Peter Aldcroft and Craig Atkinson tell us about the 2026 festival - an amazing variety of music, free workshops and spoken word, open mic, delicious food, the ceilidh and the spectacular burning of the wolf on Allendale square. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Today, we visit Let’s Sing, a group led by Julie Finch that’s held twice a month in the West End Methodist Church in Hexham. The group is for anyone who enjoys a good sing and meeting friends. We’ll hear from Julie and some of the regulars who attend and we’ll join them in some popular songs. Everyone is welcome at Let’s Sing. If you’d like to find out when the group is meeting, check on the Faceb...

This is one of an occasional series of bonus episodes in which I invite people who’ve been guests on the podcast to tell us about their newly-released music. Today, I’m talking to Jason Arnup, whose EP Live Session from the Old Church Studio features six classic Rock n Roll and country songs from his band’s set list. Thanks for listening to this bonus episode. Please have a listen to Jason’s album...

Today, 3tynespodcast pays tribute to the Tynedale songwriter and singer, Terry Conway. Terry died of mesothelioma in 2013 and he is sorely missed by his fellow musicians in the North East, who regard him as a writer of great warmth and wit with a distinctive vocal style. This is a shortened episode that includes two of Terry’s most famous songs, Hawkhope Hill and Fareweel Regality. There is a long...

Today, 3tynespodcast pays tribute to the Tynedale songwriter and singer, Terry Conway. Terry died of mesothelioma in 2013 and he is sorely missed by his fellow musicians in the North East, who regard him as a writer of great warmth and wit with a distinctive vocal style. The episode is introduced by Vic Gammon, who reflects on Terry’s reputation amongst his peers. I then chat to the musician Liz C...

This is the first of an occasional series of short bonus episodes in which I invite people who’ve been guests on the podcast to tell us about their newly-released music and play a few tracks. Today, I’m talking to Marshall Nattrass, whose album Vatican City Serenades celebrates his youth during the 1980s in his distinctive Americana style. Please have a listen to Marshall’s album and, if you can,...

My guest today is Steve Sherris, an artist whose journey from the Scilly Isles to Alston brought flamenco guitar to the upper South Tyne valley. Steve is an accomplished guitarist who has spent a lifetime in bands and playing solo in bars. He is currently a member of recent podcast guests the Hilltop Hoolies and he sometimes performs flamenco guitar, accompanying his wife Alison as she dances. In...

The Death of Parcy Reed is an epic ballad which, in its fullest version, has 41 verses. Set in upper Redesdale, it tells of the brutal murder of a Borders official following his betrayal by those he thought friends, to a feuding clan from across the border in Liddesdale. To help me understand its importance and the wider context of Border ballads is Tynedale folk singer and poet Peter Armstrong. W...

In this short bonus episode, I talk to Tynedale singer and poet Peter Armstrong about his journey to become a singer of traditional songs and the challenges he and his colleagues have faced in managing the famous Bridge Folk Club in Newcastle. We reflect on the emerging generation of younger folk artists, styles of singing and the different ways in which poetry and song lyrics emerge from who know...

Today I’m dropping in on the Hilltop Hoolies at one of their regular rehearsals in Alston, where I took the opportunity to record them live as they ran through some of their repertoire. The Hoolies were formed about 18 months ago by five musicians who were already familiar faces at local music venues. And they have all appeared on the podcast at some time: Fred Sheriff, Norm Emerson and Steve Sher...

Today’s episode takes a look at the harmonium in the setting where we are probably most likely to hear it: the parish church. The harmonium is the largest instrument of its type – essentially, a keyboard mounted in a wooden box that contains the movements and reeds. It may be a plain, portable box the size of a suitcase or a large and elaborate organ-like structure that you could imagine in a Vict...