You are invited to sing and dance the day away at Beamish, The Living Museum of the North at a special music-themed event.
During Changing Tunes: Music Through Time (17 to 25 February), visitors to the County Durham open air museum can enjoy live music around the museum. The event is included in admission and is free for Beamish Unlimited Pass holders and Friends of Beamish members.
Visit 1820s Pockerley Old Hall to enjoy Georgian music. There’ll be music aplenty in The 1900s Pit Village with performances throughout the event plus, you can take part in a community sing along of local mining songs and celebrate the mining heritage of the region in the chapel on Tuesday 20, Wednesday 21, and Thursday 22 February.
In The 1900s Town, call into the Masonic Hall for a music lesson before visiting Miss Smith the music teacher in her home on Ravensworth Terrace to hear recordings of 1900s music.
Enjoy the sounds of the Northumbrian pipes at The 1940s Farm on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February. Gather around the piano in Orchard Cottage on Monday 19 February for a singalong and be amazed by the accordion player on Tuesday 20, Thursday 22 and Saturday 24 February.
The 1950s welfare hall will be rocking, with musical performances throughout the week plus, see just how much music technology has changed over the years with a display from the museum’s collection of music objects through time – this exhibition is sure to be a dance down memory lane.
At 1950s Spain’s Field Farm, listen to traditional tunes on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February. (Spain’s Field Farm is currently open weekends only due to the construction work on The 1950s Town.)
Paul Foster, Beamish’s Events Manager, said: “Put on your dancing shoes, warm up those vocal chords and enjoy a whole host of traditional music across the museum during Changing Tunes: Music Through Time.
“We have a fantastic selection of musical acts to entertain you during your visit plus, don’t forget to call in to our welfare hall to see some of the music-themed objects from our collection that you wouldn’t normally get to see during a trip to Beamish!”
As well as enjoying an array of music, you can hop aboard a tram or bus and explore 350 acres of history around the museum!
Learn about the birth of the railways at Pockerley Waggonway and take a steam train ride through the Georgian landscape.
Grab a hard hat and go underground in the drift mine to discover the working conditions for miners in the 1900s before heading into the pit cottages to see how miners and their families lived. At The 1940s Farm, meet the Land Girls and find out what life was like on the Home Front.
Make sure you look the part with a 1950s hairstyle from Elizabeth’s Hairdresser’s (small extra charge applies) and explore the newest 1950s exhibits, the aged mineworkers’ homes, semi-detached council houses and pair of police houses.
Enjoy a true taste of the past from Davy’s Fried Fish Shop, Middleton’s Quality Fish and Chips, John’s Café, Herron’s Bakery and the Tea Rooms and enjoy sweet treats from Jubilee Confectioners and Beamish Delicious Ices.
Beamish Museum’s daytime events are included in admission and are free to Beamish Unlimited Pass holders and Friends of Beamish members, pay once and visit free for a year.
For more information, including a full programme of performances during Changing Tunes: Music Through Time, as well as upcoming events and opening times, visit www.beamish.org.uk