Folkestra are Sage Gateshead's Powerhouse Youth Folk Ensemble, started by Kathryn Tickell almost 15 years ago and still going strong under the leadership of Ian Stephenson.  Applications for musicians aged 13 to 19 now open - see www.sagegateshead.com for details.  Late applications always considered.

Folkestra - Powerhouse Music Ensemble

My Folk life

A track from the album "Tall Tales & Misadventures". 
First tune is called "Trip to Dixie" composed by Colm Delaney and Cathal King. The second tune is a Brazilian tune called "Bate'coxa" composed by Marco Pereira. 

Trip To Dixie

This track is from the album Pure Wreckin' Match and is available for purchase on CD Baby here: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/sasta12

Curley Hill

In February 2017 Folkestra Youth Folk Ensemble came together under the instruction of Ian Stephenson to record a CD.  The ensemble is based at Sage Gateshead International Music Centre and welcomes applications from young musicians aged 13 to 19.  www.sagegateshead.com

Taklax A

Schnell - Daniel Cowper's

Green Brechans Of Branton - Bonny Pit Laddie

Ville Kangas Ripoff

Morpeth Lasses

This tune, also known as Shave The Donkey (amongst other names), appears in this set in two quite different versions. The first, in a minor key, was brought to the group by Rob Harbron and apparently came from Cornwall. But when Rob looked up the Cornish version of the tune, it was mysteriously in the manuscript in a major key... that's the folk process in action... The second is a variant on the better-known major version.

The Triumph

Punchinello was the first tune learnt by Cohort 2 (2017/18) of the National Youth Folk Ensemble at Halsway Manor, Somerset. The tune appears in the manuscript of William Winter, who lived near Halsway Manor in West Bagborough in the mid 19th century. Whilst on the course, we found the original transcript of the tune in Halsway Manor’s library. Kettle Bender comes from the same collection and became an exercise in how to make the simplest of tunes do something really exciting.

Punchinello – Kettle Bender

thanks for listening! ....  join us on www.sastaband.com  & Facebook !

Taklax A

ianstephenson