3tynespodcast

Political songs are alive and well and being performed every day here in the North East. If you go to a small gig or an open mic session, you are likely to hear mention of issues such as social deprivation, poor mental health, lack of employment, poor working conditions and post-industrial malaise. Some singers are known for their political activism; others may include political commentary in a set of otherwise non-partisan material.

In an era when it seems that everybody has a strong opinion which they are keen to share on social media, why do performers continue to address these challenging topics in their songs? To find out, I invited Paul Frear and Andy J Fraser, two singer-songwriters who are well established on the local circuit and who have a reputation for political commentary, to talk about what they do and why they do it.

I’m afraid the room acoustics were less than perfect, and those with keen ears will hear the family cat and her bell from time to time; there’s even a brief interjection from the dog next door. More evidence, if any were needed, that this podcast is not an AI construct.

You can find out more about Paul Frear’s music on his Facebook group Uncle Paf (https://www.facebook.com/groups/737797032914454). His album A Different Kind O’ War is available on Bandcamp.

Information about Andy Fraser’s music is available on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/andyjamesfraser) and on Instagram as andyjamesfraser. Andy Fraser and the Tunstallachia Upland Boys are on Bandcamp and YouTube.

This episode was recorded by Julie Bartley, Rolling Audio (www.rollingaudio.co.uk).

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

Peter Aldcroft and Craig Atkinson tell us about the 2026 festival - an amazing variety of music, free workshops and spoken word, open mic, delicious food, the ceilidh and the spectacular burning of the wolf on Allendale square.

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, we visit Let’s Sing, a group led by Julie Finch that’s held twice a month in the West End Methodist Church in Hexham. The group is for anyone who enjoys a good sing and meeting friends. We’ll hear from Julie and some of the regulars who attend and we’ll join them in some popular songs.

Everyone is welcome at Let’s Sing. If you’d like to find out when the group is meeting, check on the Facebook pages for local towns such as Hexham Matters or Corbridge Matters for contact details or you can email Julie at [email protected].

I’d like to thank Julie and everyone at the Let’s Sing group for their warm welcome and for their help with this episode.

**** UPDATE ****

The Let’s Sing group now meet at Acomb Court, NE46 IEN (behind Hexham General Hospital), where they are welcomed as visitors to this beautiful care home.

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 one of an occasional series of bonus episodes in which I invite people who’ve been guests on the podcast to tell us about their newly-released music. Today, I’m talking to Jason Arnup, whose EP Live Session from the Old Church Studio features six classic Rock n Roll and country songs from his band’s set list.

Thanks for listening to this bonus episode. Please have a listen to Jason’s album and, if you can, buy a CD from his website or at a gig. You can contact Jason via his website at www.jasonarnupmusic.co.uk.

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, 3tynespodcast pays tribute to the Tynedale songwriter and singer, Terry Conway. Terry died of mesothelioma in 2013 and he is sorely missed by his fellow musicians in the North East, who regard him as a writer of great warmth and wit with a distinctive vocal style.

This is a shortened episode that includes two of Terry’s most famous songs, Hawkhope Hill and Fareweel Regality. There is a longer version that features ten songs in full.

The episode is introduced by Vic Gammon, who reflects on Terry’s reputation amongst his peers. I then chat to the musician Liz Conway, who talks about her time with Terry, his philosophy of life and his music.

Terry and Liz recorded several albums together and I’ve listed these in the show notes, together with a link to a site where you can buy them.

Albums by Terry and Liz Conway

The Haydon Bridge Sessions

Songs from the North of England

Of Riots and Rabbits

Downhill All The Way

Premier

Premier and Of Riots and Rabbits can be ordered online from http://spacemonkeylab.com/stonehousemusic/

Liz has a limited number of some albums. Please contact the podcast at [email protected] if you would like to buy one.

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, 3tynespodcast pays tribute to the Tynedale songwriter and singer, Terry Conway. Terry died of mesothelioma in 2013 and he is sorely missed by his fellow musicians in the North East, who regard him as a writer of great warmth and wit with a distinctive vocal style.

The episode is introduced by Vic Gammon, who reflects on Terry’s reputation amongst his peers. I then chat to the musician Liz Conway, who talks about her time with Terry, his philosophy of life and his music.

During this episode, you’ll hear ten of Terry’s songs. I have included these in full so that we can appreciate his songcraft and performance. But it does make for a long episode so, if you find yourself short on time before the end, please pause it and come back later. Time spent listening to Terry Conway is time well spent.

Terry and Liz recorded several albums together and I’ve listed these in the show notes, together with a link to a site where you can buy them. The songs included in this episode are, in order, Hawkhope Hill, Walls of Troy, Bus To Morpeth, The Curlew on the Moor, The Hexham Riot, Winter Song, Lady Fortune, Midsummer Blue, Futures Marketeers and Fareweel Regality.

Albums by Terry and Liz Conway

The Haydon Bridge Sessions

Songs from the North of England

Of Riots and Rabbits

Downhill All The Way

Premier

Premier and Of Riots and Rabbits can be ordered online from http://spacemonkeylab.com/stonehousemusic/

Liz has a limited number of some albums. Please contact the podcast at [email protected] if you would like to buy one.

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 the first of an occasional series of short bonus episodes in which I invite people who’ve been guests on the podcast to tell us about their newly-released music and play a few tracks. Today, I’m talking to Marshall Nattrass, whose album Vatican City Serenades celebrates his youth during the 1980s in his distinctive Americana style.

Please have a listen to Marshall’s album and, if you can, buy a CD. You can catch him at a gig or contact him via Messenger on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100035054347502) and via Instagram at marshall_nattrass.

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

My guest today is Steve Sherris, an artist whose journey from the Scilly Isles to Alston brought flamenco guitar to the upper South Tyne valley. Steve is an accomplished guitarist who has spent a lifetime in bands and playing solo in bars. He is currently a member of recent podcast guests the Hilltop Hoolies and he sometimes performs flamenco guitar, accompanying his wife Alison as she dances. In this episode, Steve tells us how he learned this unique style of guitar in the Spanish communities where it was an integral part of culture, and he demonstrates some of the music styles that are used in a performance.

Flamenco is recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. It has a colourful and chequered history in its homeland, where for a while it was ostracised under the Franco regime before regaining its status as a national treasure. Here are some links to information about flamenco if you’d like to know more:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/travel/complicated-history-flamenco-spain-180973398/

https://www.masterclass.com/articles/learn-about-flamenco-music-history-dance-and-guitar

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 Death of Parcy Reed is an epic ballad which, in its fullest version, has 41 verses. Set in upper Redesdale, it tells of the brutal murder of a Borders official following his betrayal by those he thought friends, to a feuding clan from across the border in Liddesdale.

To help me understand its importance and the wider context of Border ballads is Tynedale folk singer and poet Peter Armstrong. We dive deep into Border history, sharing our own experiences of living in Northumberland. We discuss the plot of the Parcy Reed ballad and, illustrated by Peter’s own poetry, we consider parallels between that tale and another bloody Border song, Johnny Armstrong, with the story of the betrayal of Jesus.

Peter sings a shortened version of The Death of Parcy Reed at the end of the podcast. During our conversation, we refer to Child and Roud, which are two important collections of folk songs. There is plenty of information about them online. Peter reads from his book of poetry, Two Ceremonies at the Border, which is inspired by The Death of Parcy Reed and Johnny Armstrong.

There is a bonus episode to accompany this one, in which I talk to Peter about his career as a poet and singer of traditional songs, and his role in helping to run the famous Bridge Folk Club in Newcastle.

The books and sources mentioned in the podcast are:

Two Ceremonies at the Border. Peter Armstrong. Shoestring Press. ISBN 978-1-915553-38-6

The English Scottish border ballads - a critical study. RG Kendall. (see p 454)

https://etheses.dur.ac.uk/1314/1/1314.pdf?DDD11+EThOS%20(BL)

Revitalising Redesdale Landscape Partnership. The Death of Parcy Reed.

https://www.revitalisingredesdale.org.uk/projects/sharing-redesdales-stories/border-ballad-the-death-of-parcy-reed/

The local historian’s table book, of remarkable occurences, historical facts, traditions, legendary and descriptive ballads, &c., &c., connected with the counties of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland and Durham / By M. A. Richardson v.7 1841 – 1846 https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015068455008&seq=336

BBC. The Border Reivers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/scotland/borders/article_2.shtml

Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border. Reiver ballads.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/scotland/borders/article_2.shtml

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

In this short bonus episode, I talk to Tynedale singer and poet Peter Armstrong about his journey to become a singer of traditional songs and the challenges he and his colleagues have faced in managing the famous Bridge Folk Club in Newcastle. We reflect on the emerging generation of younger folk artists, styles of singing and the different ways in which poetry and song lyrics emerge from who knows where to land on the page.

This episode is complementary to the one on the Death of Parcy Reed, in which Peter talks about the importance of Border ballads and performs this magnificent song live.

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