News
S.F. Es 26 - Closing Press Release
24th Apr 2026
Sore Fingers Week ES26 Review
ks, and apologies for several days of radio silence!
Getting back from Sore Fingers Week is a challenge. Resetting our home office, retrieving all the paperwork we need to close out the event, pay the bills, etc. And we are both absolutely worn out….
No complaints though, as this move has proved a total success and everybody is pleased—you, the school, the tutors—just about everyone!
As Ringo Starr once said: “It’s Been A Hard Day’s Night!”
I’ll issue an update regarding October 26 and Easter 27 in a separate press release.
For now, make a note of the dates:
October 2026: Arrivals Friday 23rd, Departures Sunday 25th October
Easter 2027: Arrivals Sunday 4th April, Departures Saturday 10th April 2027
PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO SCHOOL TERM TIME SCHEDULING WE HAVE TO RUN A WEEK LATER THAN OUR TRADITIONAL EASTER WEEK.
Regarding future bookings, we have to meet with LWC to review the pricing schedule. This will not occur until after the Crossover festival, probably soon after Tuesday 5th May. A realistic target for the availability of the final booking form is 30th May for both October and Easter events.
ES26 Review
As we stated in our closing staff brief, Sore Fingers Week has come a long way in thirty years, and we are going to go much further over the next thirty. We have a super management team who work to the highest standards and totally get the spirit of the event. They are young and energetic. The future is secure.
During the week, we had the opportunity to speak with a couple of senior school managers, and we were congratulated on our organisational skills. They also remarked that we are a “lovely crowd of people”!
A sudden invasion of around 360 people onto a site like LWC represents what one would describe as a big let for the school. There was some apprehension from their side as to how this would all work out. But, with your positive attitude, good humour, and pragmatism, we succeeded in delivering the event without major incidents or putting undue pressure on the school’s staff or infrastructure.
We are also delighted at the turnout, breaking the 300 student mark for only the second time in S.F.’s history. Your continued support for this amazing event is greatly appreciated and spurs us on to continue running it for the scene.
That was our plan, and we delivered!
Of course, we encountered some issues, and there was an element of the unknown due to the new layout and LWC’s operating practices. We are pleased to reassure you that no one is standing still, and all the niggles are being reviewed and positive solutions are being tabled to improve the catering provision and to bring the bar servery under cover.
We have a much better idea of how the crowd wishes to use the facilities too. Predicting crowd movement outside of clearly programmed activities (classroom time, concerts, etc.) is easy to plan for, but outside of those times, where would people congregate for sessions, general relaxation, etc.? We had to wait and see and allow our congregation the freedom to make the place their own. It’s as much your event as it is ours to manage.
The move to LWC has thrown up some opportunities which we will capitalise on and make improvements in a gradual and evolutionary way, i.e. only fix the things that are not working and leave the good things alone.
We also wish to thank all the people who have sent in feedback or annotated the “Day Book”. We have seen some very encouraging suggestions regarding classes and other little issues we need to attend to. Feedback is not closed—you may continue sending us ideas and comments.
So, we move to say a few thank yous!
First and not least, all of you, the faithful students who keep this thing alive. We often said that without you, there would be little point at all! Keep coming—it’s just the best thing around in acoustic music.
Second, all the fantastic high-ranking tutors who travel across the Atlantic, the UK, and Europe without hesitation to come and teach you to play this fine music. What a great line-up we had this year, and let’s thank them for the music!
Third, the amazing management team that make things happen on the ground—administration support, scratch band team, electives coordinators, concert managers, and showcase coordinators…. The list goes on. It just wouldn’t happen without them.
Fourth, the lovely staff at LWC who supported us, often facing the unknown, and at no point adopting an obstructive attitude. It was cooperation all the way. A special mention to Andy and his bar team who stood out on quite chilly evenings to serve the booze!
Fifth, a special mention to all the “Arrivals Day” volunteers (37 of them) who welcomed you into your accommodation and helped you find your tent or caravan pitch. A thankless task which they did with good humour and due diligence.
The credits
Tutors
Karen Mueller - AUTOHARP
Heather Farrell-Roberts - AUTOHARP
Leon Hunt - BANJO
Ned Luberecki - BANJO
Tony Trischka - BANJO
Eric Thorin - BASS
Billy Cardine - DOBRO
Becky Buller - BLUEGRASS FIDDLE
Percy Copley - FOUNDATION BANJO
Peter Earle - FOUNDATION BASS
Edward Hicks - FOUNDATION GUITAR/MANDOLIN ETC
Michael Daves - GUITAR
Ross Martin - GUITAR
Mike Compton - MANDOLIN
Jacob Jolliff - MANDOLIN
Andrew Mackenzie - MUSIC DEVELOPMENT
Mike Pryor - MUSIC DEVELOPMENT
Mitch Depew – OLD TIME FIDDLE
Luke Richardson - OLD TIME BANJO
Stephen Mougin - SINGING
Joe Newberry - SONGWRITING
Matthew Stead - UKULELE
BOARDING HOUSE & CAMPING RECEPTIONISTS
Sue Edwards
Neil Gillard
Judith Haddock
Jeffrey Haddock
Len Hampson
Catherine Hanssen
David Knowles
Ishbel Leddy
Martin Lewis
Chris Owen
Simon Pomeroy
Sue Pomeroy
Justine Raynsford
Clodagh Reynolds
Judy Roberts
Sebastian Rogers
Tom Roucoux
Helen Slade
Christine Zylawski
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
Paul Armer
Ian Goodall
Callum Jones
Maisie Langridge
Brian Leddy
Zack Lipton
John Pomeroy
Tom Ryan
STAFF
Note: we have allocated roles, but the team are all multitasking and turn their hands to anything that needs doing!
Josh Clark – LIVE SOUND AND PRODUCTION/STUDENT CONCERT CD
Sam Draper – SCRATCH BANDS & ELECTIVES COORDINATOR
Martin Froud – SCRATCH BAND TEAM
Leo Guillot – SCRATCH BAND TEAM
Helen Hutchinson – SCRATCH BAND CONCERT MANAGER
Dave Kosky – HENDERSON**’S** TUCK SHOP BOSS
Chris Lord - CLASSROOM LOGISTICS
Laura Nailor - MERCHANDISE
Philippa Jane Ogden – SOCIAL MEDIA
Rex Preston - TRANSPORT
Emily Smith – CONCERT & SHOWCASE MANAGER
Fiona Taylor – HENDERSON**’S** TUCK SHOP BOSS*
Eryn Kosky – RESIDENT ARTISTS & ASSISTANT TO TUCK SHOP TEAM
Kieran Towers – SHOWCASE COORDINATOR
Max Vizard - SOCIAL MEDIA
Lizzie Watson – ADMINISTRATION MANAGER
Daniel Watson – STUDENT CONCERT MANAGER & IT MANAGEMENT
Eleanor Wilkie – PRODUCTION SUPPORT & HOUSE BASS PLAYER
Moira Wirtz – EVENT DIRECTOR
John Wirtz – MOBILE DESIGNATED SMOKING AREA
(* - It is estimated Fi and Eryn washed and dried approximately 2000 mugs over the week.
They are getting a commercial glass/cup washer for Christmas!)
OUR SPONSORS
Every year, we get donations and support from organisations and individuals. It’s mainly aimed at the funding pot to allow us to include more young people into this famous institution and help them financially to attend.
DADDARIO - STRINGS & ACCESSORIES
SLIM JIM BANJOS
THE BRITISH BLUEGRASS MUSIC ASSOCIATION (BBMA)
FRANCE BLUEGRASS MUSIQUE ASSOCIATION (FBMA)
RAINFORD JUNCTION
THE BANJO, MANDOLIN & GUITAR FEDERATION (BMG)
AUTOHARPS UK
PLUS
Several generous private donors