'A new venture in performing the folk songs of the North East comes from Roly Veitch, native of Blaydon. The result is a gentle sound, his own warm singing voice accompanied by expert, light guitar playing. What is distinctive about his style is the new settings for the tunes, more harmonically adventurous than the usual chord patterns, but sounding a treat. He has a style which impresses me as genuinely original and lovely guitar playing to boot'.
Bill Griffiths of the Durham & Tyneside Dialect Research Group, July 2002 - review of 'Canny Tyneside' CD.

'Roly resolutely cranks down the volume in his characteristic style, has adapted the songs with sensitivity, wit and an unforced Blaydon dialect. He sheds new light on old tunes'.
Judith Murphy - Northern Review, volume 14/2004 - review of 'Geordie Roots' CD.

'We've always felt there's a subtler, gentler, sadder side to these songs, and a wittier one too, that didn't quite find it's place. Now we have a recording that really satisfies us. It has the wit; it also has that more haunting, delicate side we've never found before in a collection of Tyneside songs'.
UA Fanthorpe (poet) & Dr RV Bailey (UA chose my version of 'Keep your feet still Geordie Hinny' for her Radio 4 Desert Island Discs selection in May, 2004). The track was from 'Canny Tyneside' CD.


GEORDIE ODYSSEY (released March 2021)
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Roly Veitch - vocals/guitar/banjo/ukulele (with overdubs)
James Birkett - guitar (tracks 1, 15 & 19)
Stewart Hardy - fiddle (tracks 7 & 18)

Geordie Odyssey – a journey through our regional dialect songs. A selection specially chosen to be representative of our heritage of dialect song repertoire from right across the ages.
Also I wanted to make an album that would reflect on my own interest in our dialect repertoire which now spans well over forty years.
The CD contains a mix of several new recordings together with a selection of songs from my previous albums (Gan Canny, Wherever Ye Gan and A Legend Evermore) which have all been remastered. I'll mention in particular one of the new recordings 'Come up and See Your Ganny'. It's a very short song that my grandmother used to sing to me as a child. It would be the first dialect song I ever heard and it somehow just sticks in my mind. It brings me full circle. The CD insert booklet gives information about the known composers of these songs.
Review - 'The Living Tradition' Magazine - issue 139 June/July 2021 'a better overview of the unique Tyneside song tradition would be hard to find'. Full review viewable on-line.

Track Listing - -
1 - Billy Boy - trad.
2 - The Keelman's Way - R Veitch
3 - The Keel Row - trad.
4 - Ma Bonny Lad - trad.
5 - Wor Nanny's a Mazer - T Armstrong
6 - Cappy, the Pitman's Dog - W Mitford
7 - Winlaton Hopping - J Leonard
8 - Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny- J Wilson
9 - The Water of Tyne - trad.
10- Morpeth Rant/Hesleyside Reel - W Shield/T Elliot
11- Wherever Ye Gan You're Sure to Find a Geordie - JG Robson
12- Wor Geordie's Lost His Penker - trad.
13- The Cliffs of Old Tynemouth - DR Lietch
14- The Lambton Worm - CM Leumane
15- When This Aad Hat Was New - trad.
16- Come up and See Your Ganny - trad.
17- Bobby Shaftoe - trad.
18- Coffee Johnny Wore a White Top Hat - R Veitch
19- Gan Canny - R Veitch
20- Blaydon Races - G Ridley


A LEGEND EVERMORE (released 2019)
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Roly Veitch - vocals, guitar, banjo, uke (with overdubs)
Stewart Hardy - fiddle (tracks 4, 7, 8, 11, 16, 18)

The aim of this CD is to tell, in song, the story of one unique corner of Tyneside and of its remarkable history. The term 'legend' is certainly appropriate for indeed several aspects of this history.
The song 'Blaydon Races' is known worldwide but what, when and where were they exactly? And who was Coffee Johnny, who has been immortalised because of the song? Where did North East coal mining begin? Just who were the keelmen? Where did the Industrial Revolution really begin? Which UK businessman, politician and working class leader was a devout left wing republican and radical who clandestinely supported those of similar persuasion across Europe? Which North East town was the first to have a Co-operative Society, located at what was said to be one of the most distinctive Co-op buildings in the entire UK? If you would like to find out some answers to these matters you might enjoy this CD. The songs tell of the miners, keelmen, blacksmiths and industrialists who created their own remarkable legend here.
Blaydon, Winlaton & Stella together have a rich history ranging from very early coal mining at the very beginnings of North East mining to Crowley's Ironworks, which was, by the early 1700s, probably the biggest integrated industrial operation in Europe with 1500 blacksmith workers. It was a forerunner of the Industrial Revolution and, furthermore, it ran a prototype social welfare scheme which embraced schooling and pension/illness/injury benefits for its workers and their families at a time when such things were unheard of. After the Crowley era came industrialists Joseph and son Joe Cowen, both businessmen but committed leaders of working men and Joe (The Blaydon Brick) became an internationally known left wing radical, republican and activist with unwavering conviction. Then of course Blaydon had its famous horse race meeting leading to the song 'Blaydon Races', THE Tyneside anthem, which is known worldwide. The races ended their days at Stella Haugh, site of a great battle between the English and Scots back in 1640. The races and hoppings were highlights of the local social calendar. Finally there was the modernisation of Canny Old Blaydon in the late 1960s/early 1970s when the Victorian era shops and terraces were replaced by a modern town. The older residents remember the old town with great fondness.
The songs on the CD tell individual stories but listened to in running order give an evolving story of some of this history and the 6 page 'CD size' insert booklet with the CD gives a potted history as related to the songs.
Composers - Winlaton Hopping (John Leonard) & Blaydon Races (George Ridley). The other songs and lyrics are all composed by Roly Veitch except Winlaton Rapper Song, Keel Row & Down by the Riverside (melody used on last chorus of The Spike) are traditional songs of unknown authorship.
My thanks to the great folk fiddle player Stewart Hardy who came into the studio and played on six of the songs.

PS. This CD is a revised version of my earlier CD 'A Canny Tale' issued under the pseudonym of 'Crowley's Crew', issued in 2017. This was rebranded as 'A Legend Evermore' in 2019 in conjunction with a small grant from Durham Community Foundation, which was used to produce a book with all the song lyrics and a potted history for each song topic. The grant, made to Winlaton History Society, was used to place this book and CD in all local schools, at no cost, as a teaching resource.

Track Listing - -
1 - Winlaton Coal
2 - Crowley's Crew
3 - A Keelman's Lament
4 - The Lead Road
5 - Silver Hill Days
6 - The Blaydon Brick (The Cowen story)
7 - Winlaton Hopping
8 - Winlaton Rapper Calling On Song
9 - A Legend Evermore
10 - Blaydon Races
11 - Coffee Johnny Wore a White Top Hat
12 - The Battle of Stella Haugh
13 - The Spike (Down by the Riverside)
14 - Summerhill Blue
15 - Canny Old Blaydon
16 - Three Cheers for Blaydon Co-op
17 - The Keelman's Way
18 - The Keel Row
19 - Summerhill Sunset


WHEREVER YE GAN (released 2015)
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Roly Veitch - vocals, guitar, banjo & uke (with overdubs)

For this CD I chose my personal favourites of the well known Geordie repertoire. The recordings were all done during 2015 using a mixture of voice + acoustic guitar, tenor banjo and soprano uke and including some overdubbing. Once again I tried new ideas in the songs to make them different to past versions.
Review from The Crack Magazine in 2015 - ' Roly Veitch gets his jaunt on for this collection of traditional local songs that take in everything from Wor Geordie’s Lost His Penker to The Lambton Worm, along with one of my personal favourites, Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny. Utilising guitar, banjo and ukulele he keeps the toe-tapping vibes turned up to the max, and he has a warm voice that really put over the passion and humour in the songs. Does The Blaydon Races get another run out, though? But of course it does and it’s sounding as good as ever in Veitch’s capable hands… '
Review the leading UK folk magazine 'The Living Tradition - 'Roly is dedicated to his Tyneside roots, presenting the songs as they should be sung'. The full review, from issue 113, is available to read on line.

Track Listing - -
1 - Wherever ye gan you're sure to find a Geordie - MP Thornton/JG Robson
2 - Wor Geordie's lost his penker - trad.
3 - Cullercoats Bay - JG Robson
4 - Keel Row - trad.
5 - Ma Bonny Lad - trad.
6 - Wor Nanny's a Mazer - T Armstrong
7 - Water of Tyne - trad.
8 - Lambton Worm - CM Leumane
*9 - Morpeth Rant / Hesleyside Reel - W Shield/T Elliot
10- Pitman's Lament - N Turnbull
11- Bonny at Morn - trad.
12- Alang the Roman Wall - N Turnbull
13- I've got a little whippet - E Boswell
14- Keep your feet still Geordie hinny - J Wilson
15- Bobby Shafto - trad.
16- Blaydon Races - G Ridley
17- Canny Tyneside - JG Robson
* instrumental track


GAN CANNY (released 2012)
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Roly Veitch - vocals/guitar/banjo
James Birkett - guitar/banjo (solo guitar features on Tr. 6 & 11)

This recording was made with my pal James Birkett, a fine guitarist. James has often accompanied me at concerts and here he is featured with two beautiful guitar solo pieces (asterisked). All the songs were recorded during 2011/2012. They include a slower than usual version of 'Blaydon Races', a calypso version of 'Wor Geordie's Lost His Penker' and a new melody for 'The Row Between the Cages'.
Review from The Crack magazine July 2012 - 'The Blaydon Aces have come up a glorious celebration of Tyneside with a selection of songs synonymous with the region. Veitch’s vocals really draw you in (augmented by some sterling guitar and banjo work from the pair) and the familiar nature of some of the songs are given impetus by some original arrangements. For example, ‘Wor Geordie’s Lost His Penker’ has a lovely calypso feel. Tremendous stuff.' GM

Track Listing - -
1 - Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny - J Wilson
2 - Wor Geordie's Lost His Penker - trad.
3 - Sair Fyeld Hinny - trad.
4 - When This Aad Hat Was New - trad.
5 - Wherever Ye Gan You're Sure to find a Geordie - JG Robson
6 - *Bonny at Morn - trad. 7 - Bobby Shaftoe - trad.
8 - Canny Old Blaydon - R Veitch
9 - Blaydon Races - G Ridley
10- Billy Boy - trad.
11- *Water of Tyne - trad.
12- The Lambton Worm - CM Leumane
13- Gan Canny - R Veitch
14- The Row Between the Cages - T Armstrong
15- Big River - J Nail
16- Fog on the Tyne - A Hull
* - J Birkett guitar solo pieces


GEORDIE ROOTS (early recordings)
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Roly Veitch - vocals/guitar (2nd guitar overdubbed)

Some early Blaydon Aces recordings. Most of these songs tell of a bygone age and of working class attitudes, roles and culture very different from today’s lifestyles, social and welfare conditions. In their own way, in a light hearted and amusing manner, they encapsulate social history from those times.

Track Listing - -
1 - Dance ti Thy Daddy- W Watson
2 - Aa Hope Ye'll Be Kind te Me Dowter - J Wilson
3 - Geordie Haad the Bairn - J Wilson
4 - The Cliffs of Old Tynemouth - DR Leitch
5 - Not Much Left - R Veitch
6 - The Weshin' Day - T Wilson
7 - The Neighbors Dopon Belaa - J Weams
8 - The Paanshop Bleezin' - JP Robson
9 - Cappy, the Pitman's Dog - W Mitford
10- The Fiery Clock Fyece - R Nunn
11- Ma Bonny Lad - trad.
12- Blaydon Races - G Ridley


CANNY TYNESIDE (released 2002)
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Roly Veitch - vocals/guitar (2nd guitar overdubbed)

I recorded this first album in 2002 using my own arrangements for two guitars plus voice. The CD received a lot of nice comment then it received quite a lot of local radio airplay (including me giving some local radio interviews about it). In 2004 one song, 'Keep your feet still Geordie hinny', was played on Radio 4 Desert Island Discs at the request of poet UA Fanthorpe. Then my version of 'Blaydon Races' was played for a short while at St. James' Park home of Newcastle United FC which was quite an honour. The encouragement from this experience spurred me on to do more with the repertoire and to go on to record further albums. I've occasionally performed concerts as 'The Blaydon Aces', supported by my pal, guitarist James Birkett.

Track Listing - -
1 - Wherever Ye Gan You're Sure to Find a Geordie - MP Thornton/JG Robson
2 - Canny Tyneside - JG Robson
3 - Wor Nanny's a Mazer - T Armstrong
4 - Ma Bonny Lad - trad.
5 - Keep Your Feet Still Geordie Hinny - J Wilson
6 - Pitman's Lament - N Turnbull
7 - Cushie Butterfield - G Ridley
8 - The Ha'penny Woods at Bedlington - JG Robson
9 - Cullercoats Bay - JG Robson
10- Alang the Roman Wall - N Turnbull
11- Pot Pies and Puddens - JG Robson
12- The Weshin' Day - T Wilson
13- The Neighbours Doon Belaa - J Weams
14- My Cheviot Hills - JG Robson
15- The Lambton Worm - CM Leumane
16- The Howty Towty Lass - JG Robson
17- Water of Tyne - trad.
18- Blaydon Races - G Ridley

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All CDs are licenced with the copyright society MCPS.

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