Songfest 2026
Songfest takes place over the weekend of 30th January to 1st February 2026. It follows the same format as previously: a kick-off Friday evening concert, Saturday and Sunday all day workshops and a headline evening concert on Saturday evening. Come and enjoy a wide variety of singing workshops on both Saturday and Sunday - try something new: you just need your voice and your ears - all generations welcome!
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Only £20 for a weekend pass (Saturday and Sunday daytime) to take part in all workshops. We have excellent local musicians running very varied sessions for all generations and experience, through Saturday and Sunday.
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SONGFEST DAYTIME WORKSHOPS
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Tickets are available as follows:​
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Day Workshop Ticket
Saturday (9.45am - 4pm) OR Sunday (10am - 4pm):
£15 Adult with up to 2 accompanied children
£5 Student or benefit recipient
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Weekend Ticket
(Sat AND Sun daytime workshops):
£20 Adult with up to 2 accompanied children
£8 Student or benefit recipient
Circle Peace Songs
Mindfulness with Song
Both led by Joe Holtaway (singer songwriter) & Christa Awad
Those of you who benefitted from Joe’s wonderful calming sessions last time will no doubt be back to see him and enjoy more.
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Christa Awad and Joe Holtaway are friends through Plum Village, an international community of people interested in mindfulness and peace activism. Drawing on upbringings in Damascus and Cornwall respectively, both find inspiration in song and poetry and a love of singing together. Original songs and loved covers in the duo's bilingual voice brings folk-craft, solidarity and a message of peace.
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He currently helps to run a choir and gardening group, for people in the asylum system living in London, works on social change projects with the Quakers and looks after Peace Sounds, a record label speaking for and about peace - alongside making his own recordings.
Come and Sing Faure Requiem - led by Dave Pisaro with organ
(Ability to read music required)
For our final SongFest - we are thrilled to offer the chance to sing the whole of Faure Requiem, with renowned organist Andrew Christer, led by Dave Pisaro.
Please bring a vocal score if you have one; otherwise scores will be available.
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Songwriting Workshop “The Talking House, The Red Roses and other Songwriting Stories”
- led by Howay the Lasses
Come and hear how the lives and times of women heroes of the North East became an exciting new collaboration for four musicians from different genres and backgrounds. Hear some ideas about how you might begin to take characters that interest you and tell their story through original song.
Come and Sing Musicals
Led by Jeremy Harbottle
Two sessions of this very popular activity covering musicals from
- 1930's to 1980's
- 1980's to present day
Community Singing World Music
Led by Emily Smith
Lots of rounds, African part songs etc that are easy to learn and very satisfying to sing. A very empowering session each Songfest, so come again and bring your friends.
"Make an Opera” (The Magic Flute)
Emily Smith & Dave Pisaro
Emily and Dave lead this hugely popular fun workshop each Songfest, so we welcome them back. If you missed it, come and join us. Their infectious enthusiasm and passion brings their musicianship and love of singing to everyone.
Mix It Up Music for Children
Led by Emma Bensley
Little ones aged 0-5 and their grown-ups are welcome to come along and enjoy a live music making and movement session with Emma from Mix It Up. In these special, musician-led family sessions, we will sing, move, dance and have fun together through the use of real instruments, engaging puppets and exciting props!
Emma is a qualified primary school teacher, community musician and former children’s presenter, who runs
weekly music and movement sessions for under 5s and musical events for families in Egglescliffe and Stockton-on-Tees.
Family Ceilidh
Led by the Haigh family and friends
We try to make this as fun as Naomi made it! She is missed, but with us in spirit. Oliver will play Naomi’s accordion
Come & Sing Madrigals
Led by Julia Haigh
(ability to read music required)
A popular session each year, so come back and sing some more!
Listen over Lunch
(sandwiches, cakes, drinks available both days)
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Saturday Listen over Lunch
Stokesley Strummers
Joe Holtaway & Christa Awad
Stokesley Strummers (Ukeleles) led by Ken Broad
Joe Holtaway & Christa Awad
Sunday Listen over Lunch
'OneAChord' (guitars)
Rosie Metcalfe, Ed & Hannah Mitchell
Rosie Metcalfe
'OneAchord' (guitars) led by Barry Warrington
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'A World of Songs'
We welcome back NORTH EAST OPERA (led by Emily Smith and Dave Pisaro) who entertained us so passionately and profoundly in 2024.
We are thrilled that they will again kick start the festival. This charity gives people a sense of empowerment and a voice to those who might otherwise not be heard in their community. Based at Middlesbrough Town Hall they run weekly workshops, singing all styles of music from 80's power ballads to musical theatre, folk songs, world music and opera. They welcome everyone to their sessions. Their aim is to give people a voice who are otherwise marginalised in society. Be it people who have experienced homelessness or asylum seekers and refugees. “We stand proud as a company no matter the music or the venue, inside or outside - if there’s a roof – we’ll raise it!'
www.northeastopera.com
www.davidpisaro.com
North East Opera
Ed Mitchell
Friday 30th January 2026 7pm - 8.30pm
We end the evening with Ed Mitchell (local singer songwriter). Come and enjoy his huge variety of original songs and maybe buy his debut album!
Ed began to write songs many years ago but didn't complete any as he couldn't imagine ever performing them. In 2021, when he retired from teaching, he revisited some of them and made them into proper songs. By chance, he ended up one evening at Saltburn Folk Club, and even though he had not intended to, he was 'told' to perform. Since then he has not looked back and now regularly writes songs and plays at clubs and open mic's in the area. Supportive fellow-performers suggested he should record these songs. This he has finally done and now has a CD as tangible evidence of what he has achieved.
Saturday 31st January 2026 7pm
An Evening with Howay the Lasses sharing their original songs and stories
‘Howay The Lasses’ are a vibrant musical collective that celebrate the lives and achievements of notable women from the North East of England through original song. Singer and accordionist Annie Ball, father and daughter singer-songwriter combination Gareth and Bronwen Davies-Jones, and cellist Katie Tertell have a passion to tell stories through music of the engineers, scientists, artists and reformers that have shaped the region historically and in the present day.
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Their collaborative output is an engaging and original canon of material in tribute to characters such as mathematician Janet Taylor, musician and missionary Margaret Dryburgh as well as contemporary figures like artist Sheila Graber and foreign affairs specialist (and current Chancellor of Durham University) Fiona Hill. Since their formation in 2021 the group have released a debut album and single, appeared on BBC national radio and television, work regularly in the North East on commissions and community songwriting projects, and collaborate with organisations like The National Trust, English Heritage and Ray Wind Farm Fund to bring imaginative and unique performances in unexpected places.
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The group are currently researching material for their second album of original works after receiving a prestigious Alan James Creative Bursary 2025 from the EFDSS (English Folk Dance and Song Society).
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"The audience left happier, entertained by artful and joyful music, happier folk, whose faith in the lasses of yesteryear and today was affirmed”Newcastle Fringe Festival Review
“...a moving paean to the lives of women from the North-East of England, from the feÌ‚ted to the altogether more obscure.. ear-catching three-part vocal harmonies.. an uplifting foot-tapping delight.”Songlines Magazine (4 Stars)
Photos from previous Songfests in 2020 and 2022:
