This week on the Local Heroes Podcast, Chris and Dan sit down with musician, composer and local legend Kathryn Tickell, celebrating 40 years of showcasing the Northumbrian pipes.
The conversation begins with handwriting jitters, block capitals, and autograph chaos (including signing and numbering 1,000 CDs), before opening into Kathryn’s extraordinary journey.
From recording her first cassette in her Granda’s farmhouse kitchen to finding her true instrument in the pipes, Kathryn shares how music, place, and identity have shaped her career. We talk about chaotic folk classes that first sparked her love of traditional music, the resilience earned from gigging the regions working men’s clubs, and her collaborations with Sting on The Soul Cages and Last Ship.
Kathryn explains what makes the Northumbrian pipes unique, why she’s stayed rooted in the North East, and how authenticity and heritage matter more than chasing a “modern” sound. There’s also reflection on the folk revival - from schools and football stands, the enduring power of border ballads and Chris’s long-running dream of finally launching his fictional choir, the Canny Chanters.
And because no Local Heroes chat is complete without food: Kathryn shares her crisp canon, her evolving Greggs order and the life philosophy of always saving “the tasty bite.”
If you love stories about music, heritage, humour, food, and everyday life in the North East, this episode has it all.

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