The Jayess Newbiggin Band recently teamed up with local choirs, a folk musician and a genealogy project in their home town to form a unique musical collaboration.

Musical life

Together they brought local stories to musical life in a concert premiere at the Northumberland Miners' Picnic at Woodhorn Museum — and so successful has it proved that it was repeated locally a few weeks later and will gain a third performance later this month.

Haalin' the Lines'

Entitled, 'Haalin' the Lines', the collaboration is a celebration in song and stories of the fishing and mining communities of Northumberland, inspired by characters and histories generated from the Newbiggin by the Sea Genealogy Project, which is mapping the family tree of an entire town.

The project was initially started in December 2014 and has involved hundreds of local people and musicians in developing six new songs.

Television

The second performance at St Mark's Church on 24th June was filmed by well known actor Robson Green for the 'Tales from Northumberland' television series that will be broadcast later this year — and he even joined the choir to perform two of the songs.

Local folk musician Tim Dalling who has delivered the project told 4BR: "'Haalin' the Lines' has come from the stories of the people and heritage of Newbiggin by the Sea.

People were very generous in sharing these stories with me through a series of conversations in all sorts of places, from pubs, cafes, living rooms and more.'

the collaboration is a celebration in song and stories of the fishing and mining communities of Northumberland, inspired by characters and histories generated from the Newbiggin by the Sea Genealogy Project4BR

New venture

Band spokesperson Chris Ord told 4BR: "We formed a smaller ensemble for the project. It provides band members with the opportunity to work in different creative settings, try out new styles and reach new audiences.

The band is keen to work in collaboration with local partnerships, and this is both a new musical venture, and allows us to give something back to our local community."