Chris Harrison - musician, teacher and composer. I grew up in the north-east and am now based in London.  After a career in music education, I have now turned my attention to making more of my own music and to developing community music-making. I run an instrumental band and a singing group in Charlton, where I live, and am also musical director of the Hackney Community Orchestra.

As a pianist I play a wide range of music – classical, jazz, folk and popular. I have recorded a CD The Banks of the Deveron of solo piano versions of Scottish folk music from the 18th and 19th centuries, and a recording of Cuban piano music is in progress.

As a singer/guitarist I have focused recently on performing my own settings of poems by my great-great-grandfather, Joseph Skipsey (1832-1903) - a Northumberland miner who taught himself to read and write and became a nationally respected poet.

These songs – which I have recorded on a series of CDs entitled Carols from the Coalfields – offer a vivid picture of the life and times of the mining communities in the north-east.

This is a free event but you must book a ticket.

Please Note: Due to the expected demand for free tickets the organisers and the Fisher Theatre reserve the right to offer your seats to other festival customers if you arrive after the performance start time.