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Core Music Leaps into Spring
We’ll be celebrating the leap day on Saturday 29 February by saying “Farewell to Winter”. A series of musical performances across the town will mark the culmination of a series of workshops which have been free to all those taking part.
Following on from the success of our summer events programme, Core Music once again secured funding from the Northumberland Cultural Fund to provide free winter workshops and events, allowing access to music-making facilitated by professional musicians who are experts in their fields. Most of the workshops took place last week, during the schools’ half-term break, so Saturday’s performances represent something of a grand finale.
The “Farewell to Winter” will kick off with Beccy Owen’s Pop-Up Choir (Queen’s Hall, workshop 10–12, including performance just before noon), followed by the Hexjam street band on the bandstand at noon, performing “Lupercalia”, a new composition by Paul Susans. Events will then move to the café at Forum Cinema with a short set of songs from Hexham Junior Bluegrass at 1 pm, then a group of young singers will “Sing into Spring” at 2 pm, maybe including some surprise solo performances! All of the performances are free to attend.
Throughout the day (10 am to 4 pm), there will also be a soundscape installation in Hexham Abbey. Titled “Imbolc – Early Stirrings”, this specially commissioned work by Julie Bartley is inspired by the breath of a person in deep slumber gradually awakening.
“We know that winter can feel so dark and dreary,” says our founder and managing director Mike Coleman, “so when we were designing our winter events programme it felt vital to include a hopeful, forward-looking element. That’s why we’re really using the opportunity to bid farewell to winter and embrace the coming spring. Of course, it’s ironic that we’re in the wintriest bit of the year so far, but it’s spring in our hearts!”
If the weather causes any changes to plans, we will make announcements on Facebook and Twitter!
“Farewell to Winter”
Saturday 29 February, venues across Hexham
11.30 am – Beccy Owen’s Pop-Up Choir
Performing somewhere near Queen’s Hall – weather permitting!
12.00 pm – Hexjam Street Band
Performing on the Bandstand – weather permitting!
1.00 pm – Junior Bluegrass
Performing at the Forum cinema cafe with Chris Kelly
2.00 pm – Sing into Spring
Performing at the Forum cinema cafe
Plus approx. 10.00 am – 2.00 pm there will be a “Farewell to Winter” soundscape installation by Julie Bartley in Hexham Abbey
Welcome to Core Music
We are a not-for-profit organisation on a mission to make music accessible to all in our community. It’s a place where people of all ages and abilities can learn to play or sing, and take part in sessions, clubs and workshops.
What we do
Shop
We have a well-stocked shop in Hexham, full of instruments of every type at competitive prices, along with all the accessories and sheet music you might need
DVD Rental
We have a fantastic archive of over 3,500 DVDs available to rent, with new releases arriving regularly from the biggest blockbusters to indie hits.
Room Hire
Looking for a space to practice, record or hold a meeting? We have several rooms available to hire
Activities
Enhance your instrumental skills, learn new tunes and have loads of fun at one of our regular weekly clubs. We cater for a huge range of instruments, musical genres and skill levels!
Events
From gigs to one-off workshops, there’s always something coming up soon at Core Music.
Instrument Lessons
There are hundreds of students improving their playing at Core Music every week – why not join them?
Upcoming Events
Big summer events programme in the works!
We’ve got some fantastic events coming up over the summer, so keep an eye out here or sign up for our email newsletter to find out what’s happening.
