Yorkshire Dales Songlines is a programme of events for singers from near and far who enjoy walking, cycling and/or the special beauty of the Yorkshire Dales. It is funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority's Sustainable Development Fund.
Details of the events are below. Children and dogs are welcome on most of the events if accompanied by a responsible adult.
27 August to 1 September 2008: Howgills haytime harmony
Choirs meet with workshops to learn each others songs, Hayfield Harmony walks, Harmony singing workshops, and concerts. With choirs from Slovenia (Oktet male voice choir) Sedbergh (singers with Amabile, BBC Radio 3 award winning girls' choir - see article in this weeks Westmorland Gazette July 4,) The Cautley Carollers, Howgills Harmony, Lakeland Voices, Five in a Bar, and others including individuals. Also visiting youth choirs from Ponteland and Durham.
Singing workshops at the People’s Hall run from 10am-4pm on Saturday August 30 and cost £8 for the day (or £4 if coming with a group of singers,) the concert with Oktet and Amabile at 7.30pm on Saturday night in the People's Hall, Sedbergh costs £5. The Singing Walk on Sunday with Oktet and Five in a Bar costs £5 and starts at 10am, and on Thursday with Oktet and the Cautley Carollers through the Cautley Hayfields starts at 2.15pm with a bus ride to The Cross Keys. Both start from Balliol School.
Whole weekend costs: £69 which includes two nights hostel accommodation, all meals and refreshments, singing workshops and concert. (£49 each if coming with a group of singers or aged under 18.)
Liftshares can be arranged including lifts from Oxenholme (West coast mainline) and Garsdale (Settle-Carlisle line) stations. Local bus timetables can also be provided, as well as cycle friendly routes from the stations to Sedbergh (c.9 miles.)
14 September 2008 and 15 March 2009: The singing cyclists
Two one day events with workshops, rides, and concerts through different places from Sedbergh. Come with you bicycle or hire one from us for the day or weekend. Songs for everyone to join in with on downhill sections of the rides and during breaks in the ride. Singing stops will include singing in Yorkshire dales caves, by waterfalls, in country churches.... and round the fire in country pubs. Expect some surprises en route including performances by local singers. Bring a packed lunch.
Cost: £7.50 for the day. Bicycle hire: £10 (a returnable deposit will also be required.)
A learning CD for those who would like to join a scratch ensemble is also available for £3 plus a SAE. Help with accommodation, liftshares and local transport is also available. Singing cyclists who want to come on one day rides are also welcome on the residential weekend from June 12-14 2009
7 to 9 November 2008: Singing Settle-Carlisle
Learning and singing songs about the building of the magnificent Settle-Carlisle line - and singing them on the train, in the stations (including the Ribblehead Station Settle Carlisle museum) and on walks beside the railway line. Accommodation is provided at Gearstones Londge, Ribblehead, within sight of the famous Ribblehead viaduct, the Settle Carlisle museum at Ribblehead Station, and the Station Inn, and a short walk to our concert at Chapel le Dale church where over 400 of the navvies who built the line and the women and children who lived and died with them are buried. Walks will include following the line from Ribblehead over the tunnel through Blea Moor to Dentdale.
The weekend costs £95 which includes two nights hostel accommodation, all meals and refreshments, singing workshops, walks and train fares. (£79 each if coming with a group of more than 5 singers.) The hostel is within walking distance of Ribblehead station on the Settle Carlisle line. Lift shares can also be arranged.
5 to 7 December 2008: Sedbergh and Dentdale folk carols festival
Our fabulous annual festival is always well attended and includes a varied programme of workshops to learn the old folk carols sung in churches in the Yorkshire dales and also in pubs throughout Yorkshire. Also Slovene carols from visiting choirs and other musical entertainments including the Cautley Carollers. And this year's Singing Walk will include a visit to caves near Ingleton – with songs everyone can join in with as well as songs from choirs.
Concert on Friday night (7.30pm) in the Dent Memorial Hall with The Gladly Solemn Sound choir, Thomas Hardy stories with fiddlers, and visiting choirs. With refereshments.
Workshops on Saturday in the People's Hall, Sedbergh (10am-5pm) & Sunday morning include West Gallery carols with Paul Guppy, Yorkshire Dales pub carols & carols through the ages with David Burbidge, and Slovene carols with visiting Slovene singers.
Accommodation in single and twin rooms in 3 large farmhouses near Dent along with all the visiting singers with all meals and refreshments provided. An extra night on Sunday can also be provided.
Cost: Concert: £5.
Workshops and walk (including White Scar entrance ticket) £10 each.
Pub singaround - free. Saturday early evening meal and singing ceilidh £10
Whole weekend without accommodation and meals £49
With accommodation and all meals - £95.
A learning CD of folk carols taught on previous years is also available for £3 plus a SAE.
Lift shares can be arranged including pickups from local stations (Oxenholme west coast line or Dent on the Settle Carlisle line.) Also cycle routes can be provided.
23 to 25 January 2009: Scottish song weekend
Harmonies, harps and haggis - in Dentdale. Concerts, Scottish song workshops, Burns night supper and singarounds. Accommodation, meals, everything - £89
11 to 13 May 2009: Howgills hayfields harmony - An international choirs meet
Workshops learning songs from each of the visiting choirs - music and learning CD sent in advance and also taught on the day, walks visiting local sites of special interest and singing in the hayfields, concerts, communal singing meals, pub singing - good company and singing guaranteed!
Accommodation provided in local hostels with communal meals. Early booking essential if coming with a choir to guarantee the hostel of your choice which sleep between 24 and 34 people.
Cost: With accommodation, all meals, workshops, concert etc.: £79 (if coming on your own) or £69 (if coming with a choir or singing group.)
All meals, workshops, etc. without accommodation: £49 (if coming on your own) or £39 (if coming with a choir or singing group.)
Just workshops and concert - no meals or accommodation : £12 per day (£8 if coming with a choir.)
A learning CD of songs from each of the visiting choirs can be sent for £3 plus a SAE.
22 to 25 May 2009: The hills are alive – walking and singing the Yorkshire Dales.
A singing circular Whitsun walk over 4 days from Sedbergh through the Yorkshire Dales with overnight stops. Some songs will be learnt in advance with the help of written music sent in advance with a learning CD containing the harmony parts for several songs - others will be learnt en route on stops in our walk on the fells and on overnight breaks. Vehicle support will carry heavy bags and exhausted walkers. The weekend will include concerts and pub singing en route.
Cost: £95 includes learning CD, vehicle support, meals etc.
12 to 14 June 2009: Singing cyclists - residential weekend
Workshops, rides, concerts, through different places from Sedbergh. Come with you bicycle or hire one from us for the day or weekend. Songs for everyone to join in with on downhill sections of the rides and during breaks in the ride. Singing stops will include singing in Yorkshire dales caves, by waterfalls, in country churches.... and round the fire in country pubs. Expect some surprises en route including performances by local singers. All meals provided.
Cost: £79 with all rides (maps provided,) workshops, accommodation and meals. Bicycle hire: £10/day (a returnable deposit will also be required) - or bring your own.
A learning CD for those wanting to join an informal ensemble available for £3 plus a SAE. Help with accommodation, liftshares and local transport can also be arranged.
Singing Cyclists who want to come on one day rides are also welcome on Saturday and Sunday - cost: £7.50 per day. Bring your own packed lunch.
24 to 26 July 2009: Hardraw haytime harmony -
Harmony Singing workshops at the Hardraw Gathering at The Green Dragon, Hardraw, near Hawes (http://www.greendragonhardraw.co.uk/) with singing by the famous Hardraw Waterfall. Singing walks through the hayfields - and also beside Hardraw waterfall and other local places of interest including the Hawes countryside museum. No previous experience of singing is necessary as all songs are taught by ear without needing written music. The songs reflect life in the Dales and include rounds and longer songs in 2, 3 and 4 part harmony. Arrive after 5pm Friday.
Singing workshops over the weekend cost £5 each. Accommodation and meals can be provided for those who would like to spend a weekend at this wonderful small festival. £69 for the weekend which includes two nights hostel accommodation, all meals and refreshments, and singing workshops. (£49 each if coming with a group of singers.) Booking in advance essential.
Concerts at the festival must be booked separately with the Green Dragon.
Liftshares can be arranged, including lifts from Oxenholme station (west coast mainline) and Garsdale Station (Settle Carlise line) - (about 1 1/2 hours and 30 minutes by bicycle.) Bus timetables can also be provided.
