3tynespodcast

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My guest today is Rupert Hughes, guitarist, singer and songwriter with the bluegrass band The Often Herd, and also a guitar tutor, sideman for the likes of Martin Stephenson, and someone who has been known to knock out the occasional classic in his other band Rupert Hughes and the Old News.

The Often Herd are one of the North East’s most successful bands. They’ve taken their brand of bluegrass all over the country and toured Europe. In 2025, their talent was recognised with an award from the International Bluegrass Music Association that will take them to the United States this year to play in Nashville, Kentucky and at the Grand Ol’ Opry.

Rupert suggested three songs to include in this episode. They are: Cool Summer Rain, Sycamore Gap and Remember my Name. You can find these and the band’s album Where The Big Lamp Shines, on their Bandcamp page, and there some excellent videos of live performances on their YouTube channel.

https://theoftenherd.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.youtube.com/@TheOftenHerd

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Today’s episode is the second in which we take a look behind the scenes at the practicalities and challenges of providing music in grass roots venues. This time, I’m talking to Richard and Eileen, the proprietors of Mr Ant’s Bar in Hexham.

Mr Ant’s has been a success through several years in which business has been difficult for the hospitality industry. As part of their strategy to create a strong brand identity for the bar, Richard and Eileen provide live music every Friday night – usually a solo act or duo performing familiar covers but with room for some original music too. Recently, they decided to take a step forward and put on a full band on a Saturday once a month. In this episode, Richard and Eileen talk about their business and their thinking in developing this side of the live music they offer.

I also talk to the musician Colm Charles Gray, who was performing at Mr Ant’s, to learn about the path that took him there and about his experience of playing in this setting.

You can follow Mr Ant’s Bar on Facebook. Colm, and his band The Quiet Fire, is on Instagram.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Today’s episode takes a look behind the scenes at the music business you’ll encounter on a Friday night in the pub. Matty J Erskine talks about how he came to be a pub DJ, MC and quiz host, charting his career from his early, try-anything days at sports events to MC-ing festivals like BAAFest. He reflects on the lessons he’s learned over many years of making sure that people enjoy a good evening out, the challenges facing grass roots musicians and the financial realities of making music available in public settings.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Streaming has failed grass roots musicians, which is why most also upload their music to an online platform called Bandcamp. And because we mention it so often on the podcast, and ask you to use it, I thought it would be worthwhile giving you some background to it.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

Andrew Cadie is a singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer who grew up in the North East and learned his craft busking and in the local folk clubs. He is a seasoned performer both solo and as part of the duo Broom Bezzums. Andrew now lives in Germany but I spoke to him on his recent return to tour the UK, when his appearances included gigs in Nenthead and Gilsland.

We talked about his origins in folk music, dealing with politics in his songs, the perennial challenge of making a living as a musician and recording his new album, Flooding the Oceans, which I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone who loves melodic, positive and thoughtful songs. Andrew recorded two songs from the album specially for this episode; they are The Blyth Trimmer, which is about the work of his grandfather on the coal ships in Blyth, and Pulse, which is a song of defiance and hope.

Once more in the podcast, we talk about the importance of buying music to help support musicians and to make live music possible. Please buy Andrew’s album as a download or CD from Bandcamp – just go to the Bandcamp website and search for his name. You can also stream it from the Bandcamp app just like you can with other streaming platforms. Please see the links below.

Social media

https://www.instagram.com/andrew_cadie_music/

https://www.facebook.com/AndrewCadieMusic

Music

https://andrewcadiemusic.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.andrewcadie.de/

https://www.youtube.com/@AndrewCadie

Broom Bezzums

https://www.broombezzums.com/

https://www.youtube.com/@broombezzums

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com

The Hexham and District Music Society has been arranging concerts of classical music for 75 years. Like Music in Allendale and the Corbridge Chamber Music Festival, the Society works hard to bring a high standard of classical music to the area through live performances by accomplished musicians of both familiar and less familiar pieces.

I’ve made no secret in this podcast of my recent discovery of the joys of hearing classical music played live – it’s an experience I would encourage everyone to try even if, like me, you don’t know much about it. Just go and find out. You won’t be disappointed.

In this episode, I talk to Treasurer Cathy Duncan and Secretary Di Dickinson about the Society’s history, its aims and the challenges of promoting live music concerts at a time when people’s leisure habits are changing and the family budget is spread ever more thinly.

The music in this episode was played by the Isla String Quartet, a very accomplished group of young musicians, and was recorded at one of the Society’s concerts in Hexham. I’m grateful to the Quartet for their kind permission to include it here. Do check out their website at https://www.islastringquartet.com, where you can find information about their performances and several videos showcasing their excellent work.

You can find out more about the Hexham and District Music Society, and details of how to subscribe, at https://www.hexhammusic.net.

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit 3tynespodcast.substack.com