Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening

 

 Kathryn Tickell is the foremost exponent of the Northumbrian pipes; a composer, performer, educator and successful recording artist with many releases to her name, whose work is deeply rooted in the landscape and people of Northumbria. She has performed across the world, in concert venues, theatres and on television. 

 

 From her first album, released at the age of 16, Kathryn has carried the voices of her family and her Northumbrian traditions in her pipe and fiddle playing. Long admired by musicians and collaborators such as Jacob Collier, Sting and The Penguin Café Orchestra, Kathryn works across many genres, creating material that is contemporary and exciting.  

 

 She is a regular presenter for BBC Radio 3’s popular roots music programme Music Planet. ‘Folk Tunes FromThe Women’ was published in 2023 by Faber Music; a collection of tunes by 100 contemporary female composers from Britain and Ireland, curated by Kathryn. From the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall yet reaching out to the wider world, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening connect threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years. 

 

 Named after the old Northumbrian word for twilight, The Darkening is made up of four core members from the North East of England:  

 Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle, vocals) 

 Amy Thatcher (accordion, synth, clogs, vocals) 

 Kieran Szifris (octave mandolin) 

 Joe Truswell (drums, percussion)  

 With the addition of Josie Duncan from the Isle of Lewis (vocals, clarsach) and Stef Conner from Cambridge (vocals, lyres, sistrum). 

 

 Kathryn has been awarded the OBE, recognising her extraordinary career, and the Queen’s Medal for Music for her outstanding contribution to British music; the first non-classical recipient of this award. She has twice won the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Musician of the Year. 

 

 “To say that Kathryn plays pipes is like saying that Shakespeare was a bit of a writer…one of the true stars of our music.”The Living Tradition Just some of the praise for the latest album ‘Cloud Horizons’: “…this is a blinder! …just fantastic” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 6 Music “...wildly thrilling” The Guardian“…unexpectedly cosmic” MOJO “…vital and assured… folk stomp” Americana UK 

 

 Approx 1hr 50mins incl interval