AN Ashton-under-Lyne musician who struck up an unlikely friendship at a Manchester folk festival is celebrating 10 years of making music with her “refreshing” musical partner.
Ildiko Csige and Trafford folk musician Michael Billington first met at Góbéfest a decade ago, when Ildiko was running a Hungarian folk workshop at the city-centre event.
Now, the pair are returning to the same festival stage to mark a partnership that has taken them across the north of England – and all the way to Hungary.
Their collaboration began as a cultural exchange after Michael, who had long been fascinated by Hungarian folk music, attended Ildiko’s workshop.
The pair agreed to swap skills, with Ildiko teaching Michael Hungarian language and traditional music, while Michael helped her with English and folk music from this side of Europe.
Since then, they have performed together in venues across the region including Manchester Cathedral, Chester, Hull and Northwich, before making their Hungarian debut in 2024.
They are now preparing to release their first joint album later this year, featuring songs in both English and Hungarian.
Speaking ahead of their anniversary performance, Ildiko said: “Making music with Michael is really refreshing. Whenever he has a new idea for our next song, I always like it. I think it comes from the fact that we trust each other professionally and know that the other person really understands what they do.”
The Ashton resident, who works as an activities coordinator at Tameside Hospital and also performs with Manchester International Roots Orchestra, said Michael’s huge range of instruments makes him unique.
Among the instruments he plays are the citera, ütőgardon, hurdy gurdy and the duda – a traditional Hungarian bagpipe.
She said: “I admire how many instruments Michael plays, which is partly due to the fact that he has a huge collection of musical instruments. He spends all his pocket money on them!
“I learned a lot from Michael. There is a big age difference between us – Michael could be my dad! He has much more life experience and knows what is important and what is not.”
Michael, a familiar figure on the north west folk scene who previously hosted BBC Radio Manchester’s Folk Like Us, said his love of Hungarian folk music stretches back more than three decades.
He said: “I have loved Hungarian folk music since one of my bands represented England, along with Kathryn Tickell, at a Budapest festival in 1990.
“Ildiko and I have the same musical passions about performing the traditional music from both Hungary and England. We are more than just musical colleagues; we have also become firm friends.”
The duo will perform at Góbéfest in Manchester’s Cathedral Gardens on Saturday, June 20, as the festival celebrates its own tenth anniversary with a weekend of music, dance and Hungarian culture.