Sage Gateshead turns up the heat as Fiddles On Fire festival returns to Tyneside

The concert halls and music education centre at Sage Gateshead will come alive on Friday 1st – Sunday 3rd May with fiddle music and workshops representing a huge variety of styles and traditions – with a host of fantastic artists including Catriona McKay and Chris Stout with the Scottish Ensemble, Väsen, Frigg, Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick, Jackie Oates Trio, Celtic Fiddle Festival and many more. The workshop programme is mighty as ever – with 80+ workshops offering an opportunity to learn from great artists, whatever the ability level. Families and non-fiddlers are well catered for– with a free family ceilidh on the concourse on Saturday 2nd May from 2pm – 4pm, a Big Fiddle Family Song and Dance on Sunday 3rd May at 11am, and a programme of workshops that includes talks and sessions for other instruments – and even a session on Danish Dancing! Absolute beginner fiddlers can take a full day crash course on the Sunday – with fiddles provided. Hall One on the Saturday night boasts a rare North East performance from the legendary Swedish group Väsen. The show will also bring together Finnish-Norwegian folk powerhouse Frigg with Catriona McKay and Chris Stout and the Scottish Ensemble – an absolute treat for folk fanatics and classical fans alike. The event is preceded by the first English Fiddle Symposium.