The Wilson Family - Celebrating 50 Years of Sibling Revivalry!
Respected. Roof raising. Spine tingling harmonies ahoy.
The Wilson Family, a North East folk group hailing from Billingham, Teesside have been singing and performing a cappella folk songs since 1974. Over those decades members have included sister Pat and five brothers: Tom, Chris, Steve, Ken and Mike.
They’re seen as the benchmark for powerhouse unaccompanied singing, receiving the Gold Badge of the English Folk Dance & Song Society (EFDSS) in 2017, the society’s highest honour.
The present-day lineup has original members Tom, Chris and Steve and Mike. In 2024 they’ll mark 50 years of singing together with the release of their latest album “Sibling Revivalry”.
Along with performing, The Wilson Family promote and encourage the development of folk song by hosting one of the UK’s longest established uninterrupted weekly Folk Club gatherings.
Following a highly acclaimed performance at The Royal Albert Hall BBC Proms, The Wilson Family collaborated with Sting, providing the backing vocals on his album “The Last Ship”. To promote the album and subsequent Broadway show, the Brothers performed with Sting and his touring band in a series of celebrated sell out shows at New York City’s Public Theatre.
Need to know
Price: £22
Stage Times:
7.30pm Doors to Sage Two
8pm – 9.10pm First Set
9.10pm – 9.30pm Interval (30mins)
9.30pm – 10.30pm Second Set
Timings are subject to change.
Age: Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Heads up, there are some temporary closures on the Tyne Bridge on this day. If you usually take the bridge, you may need to take an alternative route. The bridge remains open for walking and cycling. Find out more.
What they Say
‘They have a family sound and a natural, bone-deep understanding of music and harmony. And it’s quite something.’
Sting
“There`s a musical honesty about them that links past and present together. They are among the people who go about singing traditional songs that move me – which I really love, because that’s what I try to do. But what appeals to me about them, apart from their musical skill, is their honesty. They are what they are and do what they do and say what they say and it’s very direct and I love that. They’re not pretenders.”
Dick Gaughan