Morpeth is set to come to life this weekend as it plays host to its popular festival of traditional Northumbrian music, art, dialect and heritage.
The Northumberland town was just named one of the UK's best places to live, and there's more reason to celebrate with the return of the 54th Morpeth Gathering after a three-year hiatus. There are two special anniversaries thrown in as well.
The first is the 90th birthday of the Morpeth Gadgy Alex Swailes MBE, the symbol of the festival which is built around the welcoming back of Lord Greystoke and his soldiers after defeat by the Scots at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. Second is the 140th anniversary of the publication of 'Northumbrian Minstrelsy,' the bible of North East songs and melodies featuring folks songs such as Water of Tyne and Bobby Shaftoe .
