Andy and Margaret Watchorn
Northumbrian Smallpipes and Fiddle
Northumbrian Smallpipes and Fiddle
Andy and Margaret have many years experience of playing the pipes and fiddle for weddings, corporate and civil functions, private parties and also concerts and festivals.
They perform regularly throughout Northumberland, the North East and other parts of the UK and Europe.
“These are seriously good players” – Adrian Banham – Musical Traditions.
Events
From private parties at home to corporate events and heritage based activities, Andy and Margaret can provide a wide range of traditional music and song to enhance any occasion.
Weddings
Whatever the venue, and whether your wedding is small and intimate or large and grand, the sweet and evocative sound of the smallpipes and fiddle will create a unique atmosphere for your day.
CDs
Andy and Margaret have recorded two CDs of their music so far and feature on several other compilations.
You can hear samples and check the track listings here.
Tunes
Margaret has produced a book of 52 tunes with harmonies for pipes and other melody instruments. You can see sample pages here. Tunes can also be commissioned and written especially for you.
LATEST NEWS
17th October 2024
We have been booked to play a concert as part of The Northumberland Music Festival at Doxford Hall Hotel on Saturday 2nd November starting at 7.45pm
Booking for this gig is through Doxford Hall Hotel and you can also choose to have a pre-concert meal if you wish. This is a fantastic venue and hope to see lots of you there.
17th October 2024
We are starting to get a few bookings for 2025 and we will soon be planning our Summer concert series for next year. Keep an eye on our Diary page over the next few weeks.
If you would like to book us for a concert or a private function, don’t hesitate to contact us via our contact page or by phone.
16th October 2024
Great fun playing in Howick Hall – Chinese room again on Tuesday and thanks to all of you who came along to listen. Such fabulous feedback from you. Thank you! We are playing there again on Tuesday 29th October from 1pm to 2pm.
18th September 2024
Wow, what a way to finish the concerts of this summer! Thank you so much to all of you who came to last night’s gig in Craster. The hall was almost full and what a great atmosphere. What a joy!
BUT, sad that it is the last one of the season. Do keep an eye on our website as before long, more gigs will be planned. We can’t wait to start planning new programmes.
The feedback for last night was fantastic and quite overwhelming – thank you so much. Here are a few comments from last night’s feedback forms:
– Such a very enjoyable programme, presented with evident enjoyment! Many thanks.
– A fantastic evening of music that’s new to us and can’t wait to attend another concert!
– Enchanting playing – so musical – lovely arrangements. It’s been a real treat to hear you play again!
– Wonderful music. Just love the sound of the pipes and the Swedish instrument.
– Absolutely riveting! So well presented – interesting and varied. Lovely music…I am so impressed.
– A brilliant concert! Loved the harmonies from all the instruments.
– Absolutely wonderful to see there are people preserving this music as well as adding to it. eg “Marram”
such a beautiful tune!
5th September 2024
A huge thank you to all who turned up at last night’s concert in Craster. The hall was nearly full and you were such a fantastic audience with some fabulous feedback : see below. Thank you!
The next concert is on Tuesday 17th September again in the Memorial Hall in Craster and sadly, it will be the last of our summer concerts for this year. We already have quite a few seats reserved and don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email if you would like to reserve seats, too. Hoping to get a full house for our last gig of the season.
Comments from last night:
– loved it! In addition to the excellent music, the history and stories set it off beautifully. Thank you!
– extremely enjoyable! A rich tapestry of new and old traditional folk music – thank you!
– superb as always!!! Thank you both!
– absolutely wonderful! Welcoming, informative and kind musicians and their music is second to none!
– music and stories make for an atmospheric evening. Thank you. A great night out!
1st August 2024
Thanks to all of you who turned out tonight for our gig in Embleton. The hall was almost full and what a welcome you gave us! A fantastic night……Thank you for all your positive feedback including comments below. We couldn’t do this without the help from several people…. so, many thanks to Joan, Jean, Sean, Helen and Shelagh for your help in making tonight such a fabulous and successful night.
Some of the comments from tonight:
– thank you for keeping these fascinating stories and tunes alive!
– thank you for a fantastic performance – loved the stories and details along the way as well as the tunes!
– Stunning! Worth a 16,000km trip!
– Lovely to see the joy you derive from playing together! What a great night!
– Superb musicianship!
A little bit of a break this next week while we go to a friends wedding (and play some music for them – of course!) and then back in Bamburgh Pavilion on 22nd August. Looking forward to this! Contact us if you would like seats reserving for this one.
25th July 2024
Thank you to all of you who came along to our gig in Bamburgh Pavilion tonight. A smaller audience this week but you were fantastic! Such great feedback from you at the end and it’s great to know you appreciated both the music and also the stories behind the tunes and the instruments.
Next week on Thursday 1st August, we are playing on home ground, back in the Creighton Hall in Embleton. There will be a bar and the doors (and bar) will be open from 6.45pm.
Hope to see a great crowd there and as always, contact us through the website if you would like to reserve seats…… No payment in advance, just pay on the door when you arrive.
18th July 2024
Well what a great turnout tonight on Holy Island….huge thanks to you all for coming along. What a great audience you were! And many thanks to Sue and Jeanette for their help in running the event. Next week, we’re back in the Pavilion in Bamburgh. Hope to see lots of you there and just to remind you that there is limited parking right in front of the Pavilion and there will be a bar at this one. Doors open at 6.45pm.
Some lovely feedback again…..including:
– Music in motion – pure joy! Thanks
– Wonderful. Have never experienced the Northumbrian pipes before. This was a great appetite whetter!
Thoroughly enjoyed all the music.
– An absolute delight! Thank you!
– Blown away…loved the sound of the pipes and the richness of the music. The Swedish Nychelharpa – amazing! Loved the singalong and the stories.
– Wonderful as always! Dance energy! Love the local, personal and historical context.
11th July2024
Thanks to you all for turning up tonight at Craster for our gig in the Memorial Hall. You were fantastic and so enthusiastic in joining in with the songs! And thanks to those of you who helped to stack chairs away at the end. Such a great help! Now looking forward to next Thursday – 18th July, when we play in the Crossman Hall on Holy Island again. The causeway crossing times give plenty of time for you to go over to the island well before the concert and plenty of time to return to the mainland after it finishes. Look forward to seeing lots of you there.
27th June 2024
Many thanks to all of you who turned up tonight in the Memorial Hall, Craster….amazing, there were only a few seats remaining and what a fabulous audience you were. Thank you…. and for the lovely comments afterwards….including:
– Excellent! Great to hear such wonderful music live!
– Brilliant concert; so cheery loved the stories and the different instruments….Thank You!
– Fabulous music….stirs the soul! Thank you so much.
– Exceptional evening – such skilled performances. Absolutely great. Thank you!
– Thank you – a fabulous evening….musical excellence and delightful personalities. See you again next time we’re here!!!
– An amazing and enchanting evening that we will remember for a long time – thank you!
Now looking forward to our extra gig in Ad Gefrin in Wooler on friday 5th July. Booking only through the Ad Gefrin website.
18th June 2024
Huge thanks to all of you who came to our gig this evening on Holy Island, you were fabulous. Between 70 and 80 of you came across to hear us and what a great night! Thank you all so much.
A few comments from from the feedback forms:
– beautiful, inspiring….peaceful and also invigorating.
– Excellent live music. Very atmospheric event and great fun, too!
-Such an exceptional musical evening.
– A little gem – thank you!
The next gig is back in Craster Memorial Hall on 27th June and we’ve already quite a few seats reserved. If you would like to reserve seats for this one or any of the other gigs coming up this summer, then please don’t hesitate to contact us. Look forward to seeing you.
6th June 2024
Wow, what a night last night! Over 70 of you turned out to our gig in Craster – huge thanks to you all. You were fabulous! And thanks to our helpers, Helen and Denis for their role on the door and the raffle. We now have a short break before the next gig on Tuesday 18th June in the Crossman Hall on Holy Island. Crossing the causeway to the island will be from 15.15 to 23.35 giving plenty of time before the gig and afterwards to return to the mainland. The gig will end at approx. 9.15pm. We’ve already lots of seats reserved. Do get in touch if you wish to do the same.
31st January 2024
SUMMER CONCERTS 2024
We have planned a series of 12 concerts for this year starting towards the end of May and continuing until September. Do check the Diary page for the dates.
They will all start at 7.30pm with the doors being open at approx. 6.50pm.
Like last year, it will be £10 entry – accompanied children under 12 free. CASH ONLY.
We don’t sell tickets in advance but if you would like to reserve seats for any of our concerts, do contact us through the contact page. You would then turn up at around 7pm, pay on the door and then look for the seats reserved in your name.
We’re looking forward to seeing lots of old friends and new.
Comments from previous summer gigs: – “Absolutely excellent! Love the chemistry between the two of you!”
– “You live the music and the history of it and are both so knowledgeable. This really shines through in your performance.”
– “Wonderful! Informative! Entertaining! Inspiring!”
– “Fantastic! Really enjoyable! Illuminating and so moving!”
If you are staying at a holiday home this year and would like a private “house concert” , then don’t hesitate to contact us and we’ll be delighted to discuss this further.
If you are not able to get to any of the gigs, we have copies of our CD Borrowed Days but sadly we have sold out of Lecchemede. Also Margaret’s tune book is available for sale by post.
You might also like to commission a new tune from Margaret. See the CDs and Tunes pages for more details.
Keep an eye on the Diary page.
Please click here for more information.