THE Hexham Gathering, a unique annual festival featuring hundreds of young people performing traditional music, song and dance in Hexham and the surrounding area in a four-day folk spectacular, gets under way later this month.

New for 2017, the festival - a partnership between Folkworks, Sage Gateshead and Queen’s Hall Arts - will be visiting venues across the Tyne Valley with a Magnetic North East Village Hall Tour led by award-winning Northumbrian pipes and fiddle player Kathryn Tickell. The tour will stop in Stocksfield, Allendale and Wark.

Young players will be at the forefront of performances in Hexham town centre whilst Queen’s Hall will be full of music throughout the weekend as it hosts concerts, instrumental and singing workshops, and The Big Gig - headlined by the young Scottish powerhouse Rura, a winner at The Scots Trad Music Awards 2015, and named one of the most exciting bands on the Scottish folk scene by Songlines.

Festival goers can also enjoy performances from Queen’s Hall Arts’ resident youth folk band 4th Generation, Scottish fiddle player Eryn Rae, Superfolkus with special guest Kathryn Tickell, and Sage Gateshead regional youth folk ensemble Folkestra.

For the first time at Hexham Gathering, The Great Hall in Hexham Abbey hosts the Gathering Ceilidh.

There is also the opportunity to join in with the fun with a mixed instrument workshop with festival headliners RURA and a singing workshop with English folksinger, musician and dancer Hannah James.

This year’s festival is sponsored by Red Hot Property in Hexham. Gareth Jones, managing director of Red Hot Property, said: “As a leading regional estate agent Red Hot Property is committed to making a positive contribution in our local community. We are proud to sponsor the Hexham Gathering which provides fantastic opportunities for our young people to develop their skills, talent and confidence whilst having fun”.

  • The Hexham Gathering 2017 takes place from Thursday to Sunday, May 25 to 28, and all tickets can be booked through the Queen’s Hall Arts Centre Box Office, Hexham on 01434 652477 or online at www.queenshall.co.uk