Doors 7.30pm | Tickets £24.50 | Theatre
Named after the old Northumbrian word for twilight, The Darkening is made up of four North-East England-based members:
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)
Together these dazzling musicians create musical magic; dynamic and unique “Ancient Northumbrian Futurism”.
Based in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall yet reaching out to the wider world, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years. Songs range from themes of freedom, nature and venturing out into the world after times of darkness, to a Roman inscription with links to Libya and Syria magnetically pulled into the 21st century with glorious vocal harmonies and the wildest of piping.
Join us at Brewery Arts for one of the landmark shows of our 2024 folk calendar as this incredible group, led by Northumbrian pipes virtuoso Kathryn Tickell, perform songs from their latest LP, the universally acclaimed ‘Cloud Horizons’.
Praise for Cloud Horizons:
“…wildly thrilling” The Guardian
“…unexpectedly cosmic” MOJO
“…vital and assured, folk stomp” Americana-UK
“…this is a blinder! …just fantastic” Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 6 Music
“…tremendously energising, polished and thought-provoking…” AMERICANA-UK (live show, London, Oct 2023)
“Dynamic and breathless jigs and spins… this is the energy we want!” The List (Celtic Connections 2024)
More About Kathryn Tickell:
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 From The Women’ was published earlier this year by Faber Music; a collection of tunes by 100 contemporary female composers from Britain and Ireland, curated by Kathryn.
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.
Amongst her extensive work on her home ground, Kathryn set up a new community interest company Magnetic North-East in 2016, to celebrate and promote the distinctive cultural identity of the North-East of England. She is also founder of The Young Musicians Fund at the Community Foundation, which has raised over £100,000 for young people in the area. She initiated and was Artistic Director for the Festival of the North-East.
“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
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PLEASE BOOK YOUR TICKETS IN ADVANCE OF YOUR VISIT
Brewery Members receive a 10% discount on most ticketed live performances and event tickets, sign in to your account to take advantage of these discounts.
All our ticket prices include a 50p-£1 commission. This fee helps us continue to fund our diverse programme. Creative learning classes & workshops are exempt.
Audio Description (AD) is available in Screen 1. Infrared audio system is available in both Cinema Screens 1 and 2. Induction loops (T) are in place in the Theatre, please ask for assistance on the door.
Some live events may carry strict age restrictions, these are outlined on our website. Under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult at all times during evening events.
Unwaged* – For those in receipt of Universal Credit, Working Tax credits, Job Seekers Allowance or Income Support. Discounts may not be applicable on certain events.
