This book features newly composed tunes written by some of the present and past playing regulars at the Durham Monday night traditional music session. Written with more than a respectful nod to the Irish and Scottish dance music traditions, it is a culmination of nearly fifty years playing and composing tunes “in the tradition”. Both Martin and Paul, along with many of their musician friends, have contributed Reels, Jigs, Hornpipes, Waltzes, Rants, Mazurkas and Barn Dances to this collection. This is by no means a final definitive selection of what has been written and is regularly being played: this volume was not big enough to be able to put down many new tunes by Andy McLaughlin, Chuck Fleming, Norman Holmes or Paul Thompson - it just represents what was readily available in manuscript form prior to publication in print here. Over the years, a host of fantastic musicians have graced the session, many of whom are credited and remarked upon in the accompanying tune notes. A roll call of Chuck Fleming, Patrick and Andrew Knight, Bernie Molloy, Johnny Claydon, Paul Martin, Les Moss, Peter Hollins, Jon Boden, Christy Moore, Aly Bain, Dave and Tich Richardson, Cathal McConnell, Paul and Dee Ruane, Bob Fox, Ged Foley, Vin Garbutt, Tom McElvogue, Pete Wood, Karen Tweed, Damian O’Kane, Kieran Halpin, Tom McConville, Damian Caisley, Kathryn Tickell, Claire Mann, Sheena McElvogue, Julian Sutton, Amanda Lewis, Tom Leary, Des Hurley, Dan Foster, Becky Taylor, Ian Carr, Norman Holmes, Paddy Kerr, Dan Hands, Stefan and Liz Sobell, Andy and Jamie McLaughlin, Joey and Alex Oliver, Gerry O’Connor, Donal O’Hanlon, Damian Moore, Mick Moriarty, Manus Lunny, Frankie Beegan, Gary Forrest, Dave Shaw, George Welch, Tom Gilfellon, Gerry and Anth Kaley, Dave Wood, Ian Stephenson, Desi Wilkinson and Caitriona McDonald, to name more than a few!!!
 
The recording which accompanies this book features Paul and Martin playing pared down versions of most of the tunes notated here. Further examples of the music are to be found on the seven CDs shown on the back cover: Paul’s “Waiting for Rain” and his forthcoming album “After the Rain” with Joey Oliver, Martin’s 2010 solo album, “Autumn”, Cúig, “Prospect”, and Martin’s trio of Wall to Wall CDs, “Lindisfarne to Walltown”, “Cowraik to Sliabh Croob” and “Greencastle to Carrickmacross”. The last three Wall to Wall CDs are the end product of Martin’s music and landscape portrait project, pairing locations and the music found between Lindisfarne and Carrickmacross. The aforementioned CDs, featuring these tunes and many more, are played by Martin and Paul plus guest musicians Roddy Matthews, Dan Hands, Norman Holmes, Julian Sutton, Tom Leary, Amanda Lewis, Karen Tweed, Tom McElvogue, Dan Foster, Gerry O’Connor, Sean Taylor, Paul Martin, Andy May, Tom Gilfellon, Sheena McCaffrey, Joey Oliver, Jim O’Boyle, Chuck Fleming, Sandy Still, Andy and Jamie McLaughlin, Gerry Kaley,  Frank Porter, Steve Farrow, Dick Park, Derek Heather, Donal O’Hanlon and Becky Taylor......apologies if we’ve forgotten anyone!
 
Paul Archer is a luthier, fiddle and guitar player and teacher from Stockton on Tees with over forty years’ experience in making instruments, performing and writing folk and Celtic music. He has, during that time, garnered a fine reputation as a maker and repairer of stringed instruments. Over the past three decades, violins, mandolins, citterns, bouzoukis, octave mandolins, electric and acoustic guitars, arch top, Maccaferri petite and grande bouche guitars have all left his workshop, to be lovingly received by grateful new owners. As a teacher, he has taught fiddle and guitar both on a one to one basis at home and to pupils from a wide age range at Barnard Castle School. As a professional musician he has performed for dancing, playing ceilidhs and barn dances with Robber’s Dog, The O’Boyle Band and the Steel String Band, he has toured and recorded with The Rub, the Vin Garbutt Band (CD Bandalised), the O’Boyle Band (Here Tonight), and recorded two solo albums, “Waiting for Rain” featuring numerous guest musicians and, his latest solo fiddle album, “After the Rain” with piano accompanist Joey Oliver. He has also guested on albums for Martin Matthews, Sandy Still, Gerry Kaley, Vin Garbutt and others. Along with Martin’s work, many of Paul’s compositions have now found their way into the “tradition” and can be heard being played at sessions throughout the North East of England and beyond. They have been lauded for their fine traditional feel and sound, and have been recorded by, amongst others, Cúig, Lúnasa, Vin Garbutt and Martin Matthews.
 
Martin Matthews is a tenor banjo, mandolin, guitar, cittern and bouzouki player from Lanchester, North West Durham. Over a long musical career, Martin has successfully competed in traditional music competitions (senior All Britain and All Ireland Fleadh Cheoil) and has been a member of several ground-breaking bands. The Champion String Band, The Rub, Cúig, the O’Boyle Band, Steamradio and the Steel String Band have, between the late 1970s and the present day, toured, recorded CDs, performed on TV/Radio, and appeared at festivals throughout the UK, Ireland, Europe and North America. Many of these recordings have featured compositions by Martin, and several of these have been recorded by other bands and artists including The Shee, Tom Leary (Feast of Fiddles) Mary Shannon, Karen Tweed, Ian Carr and Paul Archer. As well as band work, Martin has, with his long-time producer/bassist, Sean Taylor, recorded four solo albums all showcasing his multi instrumental prowess; “Autumn” in 2010, and three Wall to Wall albums, listed above. Recorded between 2011/18, the early recordings from this series accompanied his 2013/14 touring solo Art Exhibition, “Wall to Wall”, and several artworks appear accompanying tunes in this book. These albums were released on CDs and download format between 2015 and 2018.
 
Martin has performed for Feis competitions alongside the legendary John Doonan, has been a member of numerous Ceilidh Bands, including Newcastle Comhaltas Ceili Band, Joint Stock Band, North Country Dance Band and the Steel String Band, and has recorded as a guest musician with many artists, including Kathryn Tickell, Tom Leary, Paul Archer, Andy McLaughlin, Gerry Kaley, Harry Robson and Vin Garbutt. Between 2000 and 2008, he was principal banjo, bouzouki and mandolin tutor for the new Folk Degree at Newcastle University, teaching amongst many others Dave Wood (Malinky), Damian O’Kane (D O’Kane Band, Kate Rusby Band) and Laura Beth Salter-McCrimmon (The Shee, Kinaris Quintet).