HARK! x Crossing The Tees
Doors 7.30pm, 20 June 2025
Darlington Library, Crown Street
Tickets £12 (including booking fee)
In the most Tees-fusion line up you ever could see, we at Tracks are proud to be taking part in Crossing The Tees Book Festival, with a special edition of Hark: The Sound of Stories presenting the train-history and passenger story inspired album Passengers and Pioneers!
Presenting music inspired by poetry and stories, HARK! introduces artists with readings from the words behind the pieces.
In this special edition, we present the crew behind PASSENGERS & PIONEERS - a project of original music and poetry inspired by the history of the Stockton & Darlington Railway in this, its bicentenary year, and inspired by the stories of the people who ride that railway line today. Supported with original music from Darlington folk-fusion legend Phil Cox, and a reading from a piece of railway history to set the mood.
Held in the beautiful surrounds of Darlington Library, with refreshments available from Crafty Merlin's pop-up bar, Hark! is a special night that always captivates audiences. With thanks to Crossing The Tees for asking us to be part of the festival this year, and to S&DR200 for their support!
ABOUT THE ARTISTS
PASSENGERS & PIONEERS
Passengers & Pioneers’ is a new album of original folk songs by Sam Slatcher featuring poetry from Lizzie Lovejoy, Carmen Marcus, Rowan McCabe and Harry Gallagher. The album celebrates the bicentenary of the Stockton & Darlington Railway, the railway that began the modern passenger railway.
The album tells the story of how this short line, connecting two North East towns changed the shape of the region, the country and the world. It draws on insights from 18th century historical archives along with stories of passengers today who commute, holiday, encounter strangers, meditate from train windows, find love, pride and belonging and homecoming, on those same 26 miles of track. It is the culmination of the ‘Storylines’ project commissioned by the Bishop Line Community Rail Partnership that sponsored an artist in residency programme on the Bishop Auckland to Saltburn line, with funding from Northern, Cross Country and Community Rail Network.
At HARK: THE SOUND OF STORIES Sam Slatcher’s warm, reflective lyrics and delicate vocals will interweave with poetry from Lizzie Lovejoy and Carmen Marcus, to bring to life the past and present story of how a short railway line changed the world.
PHIL COX
Folk-fusionist Phil Cox turns his distinctive style and voice to trains, with a combination of trad folk songs and original music for a stomping start to the night.
Phil’s set will be introduced by a reading from ‘The Diaries of Edward Pease, Father of the Railways’ (edited by Sir Alfred E Pease)
Doors at 7.30pm, show begins 8pm.
TICKETS £12 - please book in advance to ensure your seat!
With thanks to Crossing The Tees, Darlington Libraries and S&DR200