This week, final year students from Newcastle University's Folk & Traditional Music Degree were giving perfomances in The Sage, Gateshead, as part of their final examinations. Each student gives a separate concert lasting around 45 minutes, tickets are free and anyone can get one (if you book early enough). I could take some time off work so I thought... why not? So I got tickets to every one and spent every afternoon this week watching some amazing performers.

I have seen 6 fiddle players, 2 accordion players, 1 guitarist, 1 singer, 1 singing guitarist, 1 singing pianist, 1 singing harpist and 1 woodwind player. And that's not counting all their accompanists! All for free!

I rarely felt like I was watching students, as the quality was easily equal to that of professional musicians. I enjoyed every show, and there were several performers I would happily pay to see in a professional concert -- in fact, next week I am!

I'll certainly try to see the same event next year. And I've also heard that the classical music degree students do something similar, so I'll try to see that next year too!