Tuneworks

Find us in the Goldfinch tent!

Tuneworks offers sessions for beginners and improvers and there are also some focusing on specific instruments. If you want to take your first steps to playing with others or just enjoy a session, Tuneworks is for you.

Please don’t forget to bring your own chair or stool. The timetable* has been programmed with no gaps between sessions – please assist tutors by keeping to the times of your session and exiting before the next session is due to start.

* may be subject to change – check the printed souvenir programme available via pre-order or at the festival for final timings

Tuneworks Sessions

Please download tune books in advance from tuneworks.co.uk

Introductory Session

Friday 14:30-16:00 – a chance to meet the tutors and get into some early festival tunes.

Improver Session

Saturday 14:30-16:00 – features a good range of popular session tunes from the online book, played at a relaxed speed for players with a bit of experience.

Beginner Session

Sunday 14:30-16:00 – a selection of tunes from our online book, played at a very steady speed.

Dance Speed Session

Monday 14:30-16:00 – tends to be about ‘ceilidh speed’. A great chance to get some tunes in on the last day!

Irish Tune Sessions (beer tent in the food village)

Friday, Saturday and Sunday 20:00-22:00 – Jennie Nolan and Jon Turton have each been playing, teaching and competing in Irish music for more than 40 years, playing button accordion and uilleann pipes, although other instruments make an appearance too. Having performed in bands and as a duo, they love nothing more than a good tune session. Being involved in the Tuneworks Irish Sessions at SFF for the past few years, they are delighted to be invited once again and are looking forward to many tunes over the weekend! They will be joined by friends from the Liverpool and Chester session scene. After 22:00 there will be space for the session to move to The Hub.

Workshops

Welsh Tunes

Friday and Saturday 16:00-17:00

Discover the rich and lively tradition of Welsh tunes in this welcoming workshop led by Jem Hammond.

With Shrewsbury sitting so close to the Welsh border, there is a thriving community of Welsh traditional musicians nearby. Jem will guide you through a selection of beautiful and energetic melodies from the Welsh tradition, with plenty of opportunity to play together as a group.

A great chance to explore some fantastic tunes and enjoy making music in good company.

Playing for Ceilidhs

Friday, Saturday and Sunday 18:00-19:00

This Way Up! are one of Shropshire’s own foremost Ceilidh bands with a big sound and unrivalled reputation for high energy. They are a multi-instrumental 5 piece band, playing guitar, bass, melodeon, sax, whistle, flute, banjo, mandolin and percussion.

This is a fun workshop for anyone wanting to learn more about the joys of playing ceilidh music. You’ll be playing alongside a vibrant, experienced band and hearing more about how to become the perfect partner for ceilidh dancing.

Irish Session Prep

Friday and Sunday 19:00-19:45

Led by Izzy MacLachlan, Rory MacLachlan, Adam Tunnicliffe and Steve Miles, with some of the Irish session team, these workshops are a confidence booster aimed to get you ready for the Irish sessions (we’ll even finish a little early so you can head over and nab a decent seat!). We have picked some tunes that are usually played in the first hour of the Irish session and we will play them lots of times at session speed to help you get them under your fingers. Check out tuneworks.co.uk for a list of tunes!

Delicious Duets

Saturday and Sunday 11:30-12:30

Experience the uplifting sound of tunes in harmony! All melody instruments welcome.

Kitty Greenwood will guide you through a selection of traditional tunes with original harmony parts from her book, Delicious Duets. Sheet music provided – bring a music stand.

Tunes can be played by all, harmony parts may be in a lower register, perfect for fiddle, mandolin, concertina – anyone who can reach the G below middle C. Sample pdf sheet music – including parts for B flat instruments will be posted in advance at kittygreenwoodmusic.com

Breton Tunes and Dance

Saturday 13:30-14:30

Breton music has a wonderful rhythmic drive and some of the most memorable tunes in the European folk tradition. Join James and Andy McLaughlin for a lively session exploring tunes from Brittany. You will find a tunebook at www.tuneworks.co.uk

This friendly workshop is ideal for players who already know a few tunes and want to expand their repertoire. Dancers are invited too – and will be led by Stephan Aal.. James and Andy will guide you through a selection of catchy Breton melodies and have the room playing together in no time.

Expect great tunes, a strong dance feel and plenty of good musical company.

Bodhran Workshop

Saturday 19:00-20:00 and Sunday 16:00-17:00

Join Conor Nellis and Steve Bentley for a hands-on introduction to the techniques and rhythms of the bodhrán.

Conor is not only an accomplished player but also a bodhrán maker, bringing deep knowledge of the instrument from both the playing and crafting sides. Steve is a fine bodhrán player with Greenman Rising.

Together they will explore playing techniques, rhythm and style, and will be happy to answer questions about all aspects of the instrument.

Backing traditional tunes with DADGAD guitar

Sunday 12:30-13:30

Learn how to accompany traditional tunes using the rich, modal sound of DADGAD tuning.

In this practical workshop, Meri Lawes, an exciting DADGAD player from the Welsh borders, will share approaches to backing tunes using creative chord shapes, rhythm and movement that work in real session settings. He will be joined on fiddle by the wonderful Rosie McDairmid. Drawing on years of experience playing in sessions, Meri will show you patterns and ideas that can take years to discover on your own.

You will need a good grasp of guitar in standard tuning before joining this workshop.

Session Survival Skills

Sunday 13:30-14:30, Session: Monday 12:30-13:30

Taking part in sessions ‘out in the wild’ can be a daunting experience, but it doesn’t have to be that way… Enter: the Session Survival Skills toolkit! Join Mel & Kat Biggs, Simon Care & Izzy MacLachlan and learn practical skills to boost your confidence and participation in session playing. All abilities welcome – especially beginners!

Theory for Folkies

Monday 11:30-12:30

Led by Neil Browning, this friendly and practical session will show how understanding a little music theory can really help your playing and deepen your connection to the tunes you love. Designed as a painless introduction or refresher, it will give you simple tools to make better sense of the music you play – no previous theory knowledge needed!

Oompah Oktoberfest Tunes

Monday 13:30-14:30

Join Ed Moseley for a lively session exploring the infectious rhythms and melodies of classic Oompah and Oktoberfest tunes.

Open to all melody instruments, this fun and energetic workshop will have the tent playing together in no time. Expect big rhythms, catchy tunes and plenty of laughs as we capture the unmistakable feel of an Oktoberfest band.

A great way to round off the Tuneworks weekend.

Individual Instrument Workshops

Our instrument workshops usually run as a series of three sessions and are mainly aimed at players with some experience who may already play the occasional session and would feel comfortable in the Tuneworks improver session.

We also offer beginner workshops for flute and whistle, designed for players in their first year of playing or who are still working on getting their first few tunes flowing.

If you are unsure about the level, please ask the tutor before the workshop begins. Tutors will normally teach at the level advertised so that players at that stage can get the most from the session.