
Have fun with us in historic Peterborough 19th to 21st Sep 2025 at the International Pipe and Tabor Festival with French guest artist Benjamin Melia. Our main events will be based near the station and the Cathedral. Accommodation options include the Park Inn (various of us are staying there), the 17th century Bull Hotel, or the Premier Inn City Centre.
On 19th afternoon, we will assemble from 1pm, then from 2pm onwards our Symposium will be on the theme “Origins”. Email Andy Richards at e-mail if you wish to present a paper or might arrive on 18th for informal meeting up (coordinated via WhatsApp). There will be a session in the evening of 19th.
On 20th we will have workshops in the morning, then perform around the historic centre with dancing including Peterborough Morris in the afternoon. Wear taborer costume of your choice, include some red if it works for you, but make sure your colours suit you. In the evening there will be a Concert. There will be an opportunity for members to perform in this, and the concert will be headlined by international artist Benjamin Melia.
A Pipe and Tabor Beginners’ Workshop will be run during the afternoon. Gillian will concentrate on teaching people the basics of technique and then send them away with a selection of tunes suitable for learners so they can work on them afterwards.
There will be more taboring workshops on Sunday morning before fond farewells in the afternoon.
Workshops will include Benjamin Melia teaching taborers music from the Nice area, David Bush on Northumbrian tunes, and Bill Tuck and Barbara Segal on Dances for a Tournament: these may include Danse de Cleves (Brussels), Leggiadra (Domenico) and Prenes a Garde (Gresley) (15th century).
Watch our pipeandtabor.org website as the programme evolves
Other dates:
Taborers Zoom Session 17th August 2025 4pm-6pm UK time.
Bill Tuck’s Dances for a 15th Century Tournament, 24th August, London – contact Bill for information.
Winter Warmer 6th-8th February 2026, Lancaster and Carlisle.
IPATF 2026 26th-28th June, including playing for the York Mystery Plays on Sun 28th June.