Here is a complete listing from the Somerset and Dorset Folk Diary. To receive regular updates to this listing, along with other news items, please subscribe.
Regular events, such as music sessions and dance clubs are listed separately here.
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You can be assured that our February gathering will be warm words on a cold night. Martin Horler - The Somerset Storyteller will be your Host for the evening so brace yourself for more riddles. Yet again an evening of Tales Old and New, Myths and Legends, Humorous and Serious. We have such a verity of styles in presentation so there will, no doubt, be something for everyone
£5 in the hat if you can afford it
7.30-9.30 pm
Contact Colin Emmett: 01275 332735
mendipstorycircle AT gmail.com
www.mendipstorycircle.com
Audiences up and down the country will be transported back to the heart of an impromptu Irish house party: a traditional song-and-dance celebration dating back to the early 19th century, where loved ones were given a final farewell before emigrating to America, Canada, Australia and the UK.
£25.30
7.30 pm
Contact Box Office: 01202 885566
boxoffice AT tivoliwimborne.co.uk
https://www.tivoliwimborne.co.uk/events/the-irish-house-party/
Dive into the fantastic world of folk harp playing! We're delighted to welcome back Steph West, Stacey Blythe and Fidelma Hanrahan, to lead a weekend of harp workshops and sessions in our annual weekend dedicated to harp playing in a folk context.
This year we have Irish tunes including ornamentation from Irish harper Fidelma Hanrahan, Welsh traditional music and composition with Stacey Blythe, and Steph West will be focusing on session skills, using a variety of tunes. All tutors will rotate through our three classes: beginners, improvers and intermediate/advanced.
Using a range of repertoire we'll explore the music, arrangements and techniques for playing the harp in traditional music, and there'll be classes for players of all levels.
There will be a tutors’ concert on Saturday evening and plenty of time for informal playing and socialising!
This weekend is for players of any level, or anyone who is interested in getting started. Our Folk Harp Weekend will require more advanced players to work by ear, with music provided at the end.
For complete beginners, and those who have taken a beginners course but want a refresher. Working on basic technique, making a great sound and learning how to play in comfort. We work slowly and carefully with more individual attention.
Steph West is providing harp hire again for anyone who does not have their own instrument yet. This will need to be booked in advance so let us know at the time of booking if you wish to reserve one of these.
Our improvers class is for players who can already perform a simple tune. If you can play a simple Christmas carol with a simple left hand then this is for you. We’ll work steadily and calmly on building your skills and include some technique work if needed.
Our intermediate/advanced class is for players who want to try faster tunes with more complicated music.
Harpist and singer Steph West works as a performer, teacher and workshop leader. She embraces both English and Irish trad styles, working with artists and organisations in both fields. Steph currently plays with the English Harp Project, celebrating English folk tunes on the harp through concerts and workshops. The only harpist with 9.5 fingers, Steph works within the integrated/disabled arts world as a performer with the British Paraorchestra and RNS Moves, and has mentored for Open Up Music who are pioneering the National Open Youth Orchestra.
www.stephwest.co.uk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4n4CVBW4dw
Stacey Blythe is a Composer, performer, and multi instrumentalist who has performed all over the UK and America. She is a regular composer for the Welsh National Opera's max department (new opera '9 stories high' is coming soon!). She also performs with Ffynnon and Elfen duo.She has toured and recorded as a composer and performer with many different artists (Maria Hayes), poets (including Patrick Jones), musicians (Dylan Fowler, Julie Murphy, Meredith Monk) and storytellers including Nick Hennessey. Stacey is currently touring with Adverse Camber, 'Hunting the giants daughter' with Michael Harvey and Lynne Denman.
https://youtu.be/hQe7PPCC3sY?si=Qe9Ls1gW6Socz8o1
Fidelma Hanrahan is a London-based harpist and Irish harp teacher from Co. Clare. She holds a BMus from University College Cork and an MA Ethnomusicology from Goldsmiths College, University of London. She has taught widely in Ireland and London, including a semester as Harp Tutor at University College Cork. Fidelma is interested in traditional music’s place in contemporary culture. She is a member of Shovel Dance Collective, a nine-piece experimental folk group, and also performs as part of the Irish Gamelan Orchestra.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/folk-harp-weekend-2026
Ceilidh - a fundraiser for the village hall with well explained dances and music from one of Dorset's longest established bands.
£12 adults, £6 for 8 to 18 year olds
7.00-11.00 pm
Contact Hannah Palmer: 07790 716845
h.palmer AT sav-ed.co.uk
https://www.hambledonhopstepband.co.uk/contact
Are you interested in how, in times past, the people of the South West of England marked the changes throughout the year by singing "SONGS OF THE SEASONS"? If so, then you are cordially invited to join us and learn some such songs.
The ability to read music is not essential as we learn everything by ear under the directorship of Eddie Upton, the holder of the English Folk Dance and Song Society Gold Badge for services to folk music.
Hot drinks are supplied free of charge.
New members receive free admission at their first session. Thereafter £10
10:00am for registration and tea/coffee. 10:30 start singing.
Finishes 1pm
stanchesterquire2 AT gmail.com
stanchesterquire.org
The Blessèd Crow are a dynamic father-daughter folk duo whose performances are marked by infectious energy and heartfelt storytelling. With Iona’s clear vocals and Tim’s accomplished musicianship, they deliver an energetic and uplifting performance. Their original songs blend traditional and modern folk, drawing inspiration from folklore, historical events, and spiritual themes. Many pieces reference local Welsh tales such as The Pwca and events like The Newport Rising, complemented by classic protest songs that reflect folk music’s tradition of championing the underdog.
https://www.youtube.com/ AT theblessedcrow
The Coffee Bar opens from 7.00pm beforehand and during the interval, offering fresh filter coffee or tea. We will also have a range of soft drinks and snacks for sale (NB for cash only). You are welcome to bring your own refreshments, but please note that there is a no-alcohol policy in the church building.
Music starts at 7.30pm with the first hour open to anyone who wants to sing or play. Floorsingers are invited to arrive early to sign up in the book on the evening, but as space is often limited you are welcome to email beforehand to book a slot. We try to ensure that everyone gets at least one song, but we operate a first come/first served policy.
Our guest artists perform from about 9.00pm and we finish music at 10.00pm. Our Folk Nights are free to enter, but please remember to come prepared with cash to make a generous donation to our guest performers.
laurieguitars AT gmail.com
Two musicians. 870 miles. One unforgettable sound. Filkin’s Drift bring their unique blend of intricate guitar work and soaring harmonies to Bridgwater. Fresh from a headline-making tour, this duo promises an evening of folk music that feels both timeless and thrillingly new.
Book now for a night of pure acoustic magic!
7:30pm
Tickets £15
https://bridgwatertheatres.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173665801
Filkin’s Drift reimagine traditional melodies through pizzicato grooves, intricate guitar tunes, and boundless improvisation. Their 870 mile foot-powered-tour has recently propelled them into the spotlight. This radical approach to sustainable touring has earned the duo global attention from major news outlets including BBC News, Billboard, The i, Radio New Zealand, Canadian Broadcasting Company, and The Times.
The debut album from Filkin’s Drift captures the essence of their 870 mile walk. Their compositions are sophisticated, yet rooted in tradition. From delicate Welsh folk-songs to traditional English dance tunes, the pair blend fiddle and guitar with their close vocal harmonies.
Seth Bye and Chris Roberts have earned widespread acclaim with extensive national airtime on BBC Radio 2, 3, 4, 6 Music, and BBC World Service. Renowned for their live performances, the duo have enchanted audiences across the UK including FolkEast, Warwick Folk Festival, St George’s Bristol, and Llangollen International Eisteddfod.
Filkin’s Drift are dedicated to exploring innovative avenues in music creation. In tandem with their groundbreaking commitment to sustainable touring, the duo’s latest endeavor involves the formation of Filkin’s Ensemble, a 14-piece orchestral-folk band.
£15
Bar 6.00pm, Doors 7.15, Show start 7.30.
https://www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk/event/filkins-drift/
Dance workshop from 6 - 7pm
Main dance from 7 - 9.30pm
All welcome, no experience needed
Tea and coffee available
Free town centre parking
£4
Contact Chris Edmunds 07530 103228
chrismartinedmunds AT gmail.com)
https://balcrew.wixsite.com/balcrewkerne
We’re really excited to be joining up once again with Chris Dyer, Tom Evans, and members of the Third Beat Dance Collective for a music and dance course exploring the folk cultures of the Nordic countries.
For dancers, the main focus will be Swedish polska, but there will also be chances to learn other popular dances such as vals, schottis and slängpolska.
Musicians will explore the rich repertoire of Swedish dance music and will venture into other repertoires including Danish, Norwegian and Finnish. As well as learning tunes and styles, you’ll be looking at elements of the Nordic style, like traditional second voicing and harmonies, and learning how to play for the dancing. During evening dances, musicians will be offered the chance to play solo/in groups/with tutors in short slots.
Although dancers will be concentrating on learning the dances in workshops, they will be most welcome to join in on an instrument in evening sessions. Instrumentalists will have the chance to learn to polska too (see information about shoes below).
You’ll receive sheet music for all the tunes that the tutors plan to teach.
Dancers: This course is open to all levels of dance experience, from beginners to advanced. Whatever your level, there will be something in the course for you. Ideally, you’ll be able to bring a pair of leather-soled shoes with a very low heel or any soled shoes with some slide.
Instrumentalists: The course is suitable for any instrument, including diatonic. You should have a reasonable level of proficiency to get the most out of the course (it’s not suitable for anyone who isn’t fairly competent on their instrument, but you don’t need to have any prior experience of Nordic music). Instrumentalists don’t need to be able to read music, but should ideally be able to pick tunes up by ear.
Fiddler and nyckelharpa player Chris Dyer is MC of the London Scandi Session. She’s a regular performer and workshop leader at UK festivals and bal folk dance clubs and is a guest player with Boda and Falun Spelmanslags in Sweden.
Known for his jazzy interpretation of a range of folk styles, multi-instrumentalist Tom Evans has been an engaging figure on the folk scene since his early days with Shooting Roots. Twice New Roots finalist on accordion (solo 2017, duo “Missing Richard” 2019), he shares his skills around a range of ensembles including Climax Ceilidh Band, Suntrap, The Twagger Band, Missing Richard, and others, with material ranging from England to Quebec, ceilidh to bal, dance to song.
Ella Sprung and Andrew Parr each completed the diploma in folk dance at the Eric Sahlström Institute in central Sweden. Since their return they have been teaching Swedish folk dance across the UK, as part of the Third Beat Dance Collective. They bring a contemporary look at the intricacies of partner dance, and shine a new light on what traditional dance can offer for connecting with our bodies, the music, and each other.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/nordic-music-and-dance-2026
Dancing at Combe St Nicholas Village Hall alternate Thursdays.
Admission is 4.00 per person and includes a cuppa and a piece of cake!
Group is friendly and inclusive and welcomes everyone who wants a bit of dancing and social chat. Live music and a different caller every fortnight.
4.00
7.30 - 9.30 pm
Contact Neil Arnold: 01460 234693
neil.j.arnold AT gmail.com
Ahoy there—local group The Chantry Buoys sing traditional sea shanties and other well known songs. Join them for a fun sing-along with local drinks, old seafaring melodies, and maritime frolics.
Based in Colyton, they sing traditional sea shanties, and other well known songs. They have performed at many Sea Shanty festivals, including Falmouth, Teignmouth, and recently performed on Lyme’s Marine Parade, to close Lifeboat week.
Sea shanties were work songs, set to a rhythm for working, to reduce the monotony of undertaking repetitive tasks aboard ship. But they were also Foc’sle songs, which were storytelling verses to be listened to at leisure, to remind sailors of home and these helped to keep alive traditions and record local events and people.
7:30 P.M.
Free entry - no tickets
https://www.marinetheatre.com/the-shanty-sessions-50/
We are sailing out to deep dark Dorset,Gussage All Saints , Bless us, to the village pub, Huzzah, to sing some shanties and songs of the seas, come and join us me hearties, you know you need to
7.30 pm until when the ship sails
Contact Michael Worth: 07817 939623
mikeihw51 AT gmail.com
This is the 10th PIVA Real Roots! course at Halsway, where you will be exploring the world of late 16th-century popular music. The core of the programme will consist of playing in a mixture of large and small ensembles, as well as a range of other options each day, including a focus on ensemble techniques, ornamentation and will hopefully also include some vocal sessions. PIVA will be aiming to enhance your knowledge of this snapshot of English music history through exploration and practice, as well as offering you opportunities to improve your small ensemble skills, in an approachable and enjoyable way.
You'll be focusing on new repertoire, while building on and practising your pre-existing technique and skills. You'll spend the majority of the time being guided by the tutors in small groups, with some time guided as a whole group and self-led in small groups. We'll send you a timetable in advance and have sheet music ready for you when you arrive.
Please note: in order to get the most out of the long weekend, the first session for this course starts at 2pm, and sessions continue into Sunday evening. You'll be able to check in to your rooms in the first break on Friday afternoon.
The focus of the PIVA Real Roots course will be playing 4 or 5 part harmony but it doesn’t matter whether you are new to this music or an experienced renaissance specialist; sessions will be adapted to suit all levels. You will need to be competent on your instrument(s) and have a reasonable sight reading ability.
The course is suitable for you if you play woodwinds, reed instruments, historical brass and strings (ancient and modern), as well as other instruments such as bagpipes & nyckelharpa. Please let us know your instrument(s) when booking your place, and we can check with PIVA if you’re unsure whether it will be suitable!
Thanks to The Bagpipe Society, there will be an opportunity to have a beginner’s session on their loan pipes.
The members of PIVA – The Renaissance Collective have wide and diverse musical backgrounds and between them they have experience in playing renaissance, classical, and roots music. They bring all of these diverse musical influences together and fuse them with their knowledge of renaissance music and instruments. Below are some of the members of PIVA who will be attending the course.
David Jarratt-Knock - Cornetto, Recorders, Double Reeds, Bagpipes. David is constantly in demand in both the UK and abroad for historically informed performances of works such as Monteverdi's Vespers and he has played with some of Europe’s leading ensembles, including The Gabrieli Consort, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Ex Cathedra. He has worked with both the RSC and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and performs regularly at the Historic Royal Palaces. David will be running some 'loud wind workshops' as part of this year's course.
Eric Moulder – Renaissance woodwinds (curtal, shawm, rauschpfeife, crumhorn, recorder). Eric is PIVA’s founder and director of music. His passion for early music was inspired by the late David Munrow, amongst others. He has been an early woodwind player for many years and has performed with a number of ensembles. He is an internationally renowned maker and researcher in the field of historic woodwind instruments from the Renaissance period and his instruments are played by leading professional musicians and amateurs alike. He also provides many of the instruments played by PIVA as well as being responsible for creating many of the group’s musical arrangements.
Jane Moulder – Bagpipes and Renaissance woodwind. Jane Moulder is the resident bookworm of the group and, alongside Eric, she researches and develops PIVA’s repertoire and performance programmes. She is a freelance researcher and writer on music, dance and manners of the 14th to 18th Centuries. Jane runs Piper’s Publishing which has produced a number of successful historical music books. She also works for the National Trust as a historical interpreter specialising in the Tudor period. She balances all of these roles with working alongside Eric making historical woodwind instruments.
Jude Rees – Bagpipes and Renaissance woodwind, voice. Jude Rees is a professional oboist and woodwind specialist with extensive experience in classical, folk, contemporary and early music. As freelance multi-instrumentalist and sought-after session musician, Jude has worked with some luminaries of the folk world and has guested on numerous albums and live tours. She currently plays with BBC Radio2 Folk Award nominated Pilgrims’ Way and has played for theatre and television including the BBC and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Jude also co-runs a lively early music group for children in Warwickshire.
Kate Moran - Strings/Recorders. Kate is a versatile musician with extensive experience teaching and performing classical, contemporary, early music and traditional music. She is particularly interested in the point where classical and folk music meet, and enjoys playing for dancers. Living in Hong Kong since summer 2023, Kate is a member of Baroque ensemble Concerto da Camera and Hong Kong chamber orchestra, plays fiddle in an Irish band, dances with Hong Kong morris, and has established a popular ceilidh series. She also continues to teach violin and direct string ensembles.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/piva-2026
Barn Dance
The hall is on the left when travelling north. The only street light along the main road is on the hall. Roadside parking.
All are welcome, no experience necessary. We enjoy an evening with live music and a caller who will guide you through all the dances. You don't need to bring a partner. No refreshments other than water provided, feel free to bring your own.
Do come along have some fun and laughter.
£7.50. Accompanied under 16 free
7.15 for 7.30 - ends 9.30
Contact Sally Condon: 01300 348250
riverpiddle2 AT icloud.com
Join us for an evening performance of historic folk music with PIVA the Renaissance Collective. Discover the Real Roots! of folk music from the late 16th century. PIVA play popular traditional music and instruments of the time as heard in both court and country.
PIVA musicians have wide and diverse musical backgrounds and between them they have experience in playing renaissance, classical, and roots music. They bring all of these diverse musical influences together and fuse them with their knowledge of renaissance music and instruments.
David Jarratt-Knock - Cornetto, Recorders, Double Reeds, Bagpipes. David is constantly in demand in both the UK and abroad for historically informed performances of works such as Monteverdi's Vespers and he has played with some of Europe’s leading ensembles, including The Gabrieli Consort, The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Ex Cathedra. He has worked with both the RSC and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, and performs regularly at the Historic Royal Palaces. David will be running some 'loud wind workshops' as part of this year's course.
Eric Moulder – Renaissance woodwinds (curtal, shawm, rauschpfeife, crumhorn, recorder). Eric is PIVA’s founder and director of music. His passion for early music was inspired by the late David Munrow, amongst others. He has been an early woodwind player for many years and has performed with a number of ensembles. He is an internationally renowned maker and researcher in the field of historic woodwind instruments from the Renaissance period and his instruments are played by leading professional musicians and amateurs alike. He also provides many of the instruments played by PIVA as well as being responsible for creating many of the group’s musical arrangements.
Jane Moulder – Bagpipes and Renaissance woodwind. Jane Moulder is the resident bookworm of the group and, alongside Eric, she researches and develops PIVA’s repertoire and performance programmes. She is a freelance researcher and writer on music, dance and manners of the 14th to 18th Centuries. Jane runs Piper’s Publishing which has produced a number of successful historical music books. She also works for the National Trust as a historical interpreter specialising in the Tudor period. She balances all of these roles with working alongside Eric making historical woodwind instruments.
Jude Rees – Bagpipes and Renaissance woodwind, voice. Jude Rees is a professional oboist and woodwind specialist with extensive experience in classical, folk, contemporary and early music. As freelance multi-instrumentalist and sought-after session musician, Jude has worked with some luminaries of the folk world and has guested on numerous albums and live tours. She currently plays with BBC Radio2 Folk Award nominated Pilgrims’ Way and has played for theatre and television including the BBC and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Jude also co-runs a lively early music group for children in Warwickshire.
Kate Moran - Strings/Recorders. Kate is a versatile musician with extensive experience teaching and performing classical, contemporary, early music and traditional music. She is particularly interested in the point where classical and folk music meet, and enjoys playing for dancers. Living in Hong Kong since summer 2023, Kate is a member of Baroque ensemble Concerto da Camera and Hong Kong chamber orchestra, plays fiddle in an Irish band, dances with Hong Kong morris, and has established a popular ceilidh series. She also continues to teach violin and direct string ensembles.
£12 Concession (full-time students) £6
8.00 pm
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/gig-piva
A night of solid shanties and no doubt a lot of fun!
With the wonderful voices of High and Dry and the irrepressible Port of Bristol Shanty Crew. In aid of Memories at the Barn supporting local people with dementia. Just £10. Huge interest in this one!
Tickets available from: http://ticketsource.co.uk/nailsea-folk-club
A night of solid shanties and no doubt a lot of fun with the wonderful voices of High and Dry and the irrepressible Port of Bristol Shanty Crew.
In aid of Memories at the Barn supporting local people with dementia and their carers.
7:30.
SykesMartin is the exciting collaboration from two of British folk's finest voices. Miranda Sykes (Show of Hands) and Hannah Martin (Edgelarks, Gigspanner Big Band) join forces to present a set of songs that take them back to their shared roots.
A sociable Devon winter evening led to an exchange of songs, which became rehearsal sessions, and a strong new sound emerged. Centred around their deep knowledge of Roots music, and a love of harmony singing, SykesMartin brings together old songs with new ideas.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
https://www.mirandasykes.com/sykesmartin/
https://www.thedavidhall.com
Workshop Open to All
Would you like to learn to play tunes without the dots? Would you like to try and improvise harmony lines so you can play along in a session? If you are interested to learn some traditional tunes by ear, improve your confidence and skill on your instrument and have opportunities to play with others in small groups then come along.
£6 / free to U18s
2.00 - 4.00 pm
Contact Lucy Allen: 07946 544483
lma24666 AT gmail.com
dorchesterarts.org.uk
Sunday 11th January - with guest tutor, Ben Moss
Sunday 22nd February - with guest tutor, Chas Blacker
Sunday 22nd March - with guest tutor, Thomas Gold
Sunday 19th April
Sunday 10th May - with guest tutor, Jon Dyer
1.30- 4.30pm
Tickets available via the website or on the door www.sherbornefolkband.org
info AT sherbornefolkband.org
Sheet music and audio supplied in advance – please email.
Julia: 07527 508 277
Lady Maisery are back to Halsway in 2026 to lead another edition of their hugely popular Creative Song Week, an exploratory course for intermediate and advanced singers to develop their creative skills.
With traditional and contemporary folk song as our starting point, this mid-week course is a chance to delve deeply into the songs we sing, work on how to make our music more meaningful and discover what might move us forward in our personal musical journeys.
Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans of Lady Maisery will be your guides and mentors in the creation of new music, arranging and harmonising traditional songs, creating new tunes for old song texts and writing new songs. Workshops will be a variety of whole group activities and some small group self-directed tasks, so participants should be open to exploring ideas in this way.
The Lady Maisery Creative Song Week will include: learning some inspiring folk songs by ear, exploring our voices through vocal and breath work, creative musical and writing tasks, improvisation with others, working with archives/library texts, and chances to perform or share songs in a supportive environment.
Though the format remains unchanged from previous years, the trio will choose material carefully, to ensure enjoyable new challenges for returning participants!
Participants are invited to bring along instruments if they wish and there will be chances during the week to focus on playing an instrument if desired, but some parts of the week will focusing purely on singing so all participants have to be happy to sing.
Workshop places are limited, so please book early to avoid disappointment.
This course is aimed at intermediate and advanced level singers. You’ll be interested in exploring your own creativity – making new arrangements, sourcing archive material, and even writing new songs. You’ll need to be open to working in small and larger groups and trying new ways of working.
In an English folk scene currently bursting with bold and innovative folk music, vocal trio Lady Maisery shine brightly. With their unique approach to harmony singing, intelligent and thoughtful arrangements of both traditional repertoire and original compositions, Hazel Askew, Hannah James and Rowan Rheingans harness and celebrate their united voice. Whether unearthing a feminist twist hidden in a traditional tale, delivering a poignant anti-war ballad, or showcasing their immense multi-instrumental talents in original compositions that draw on a myriad of musical influences, Lady Maisery are skilfull explorers of the power, beauty and vitality of song. Over the last five years, the trio have toured widely, performing sell-out shows across the UK and Europe.
Underpinning every performance are Lady Maisery’s distinctive harmonies: sometimes lush and rich, sometimes dark and invigorating, they intertwine with assured precision. The trio are also one of the foremost English proponents of mouth music, or “diddling” – once common in England, and still found across parts of southern and northern Europe, this form of singing without words is a perfect showcase for their sheer musicality. Each also an accomplished instrumentalist, many songs are expertly accompanied by a rich tapestry of Rowan’s fiddle, banjo and bansitar, Hazel’s harp, concertina and melodeon, and Hannah’s accordion and foot percussion.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/creative-song-week-with-lady-maisery-2026
Antoine & Owena - Together they combine the interpretive folk violin styles of Owena Archer, with the folk-rock guitar and bouzouki rhythms of Antoine Architeuthis to create an eclectic mix of original and traditional material inspired by history, tragedy, love and hope.
Les Wild - Enjoy sailing a 29ft yacht, playing guitar and bouzouki, singing. Caravanning. Going to music gigs.
Martin Bliss - singer and guitarist. Keen supporter of Wessex Folk Festival.
Last Tuesday of the month 24 Feb doors open 7:30 and music starts at 8pm in The Skittle Alley of The Drax Arms Bere Regis BH20 7HH.
8pm
Contact Pip Evans: 07598 328479
pip_evans AT btinternet.com
www.bereregisfolk.com
With her strikingly beautiful voice and emotionally direct songwriting, Chloe Foy has a penchant for finding magic in the spaces between light and dark. Growing up in the quiet of the English countryside, it was through music that she first learned how to express the nuance of emotion. Her songs are a reflection of that stillness, woven with threads of vulnerability and longing. Her lyrics speak to the complexity of the human experience — love, loss, and the subtle daily battles we all fight. With a voice that’s as delicate as it is powerful, she creates music that speaks to the heart.
Chloe Foy introduced herself to the world with her 2021 debut, Where Shall We Begin. A rich and meticulously put together debut, the album received rave reviews from the likes of The Sunday Times, Clash and The Line of Best Fit. Tracks from the album regularly featured on BBC 6 Music, with support coming from Guy Garvey and Radcliffe & Maconie. With the album charting in the UK Folk Chart Top 40, Chloe truly cemented herself as an artist that flies the flag for the independent singer-songwriter with skill and finesse.
Chloe’s anticipated follow up Complete Fool, due 6th June via Kartel Music Group, captures a deepened, richer sound; merging rock-tinged folk with classic strings and layered vocals that she is becoming known for.
Complete Fool explores real love and puts a microscope to the finer details of what it means to love long-term. The album isn’t afraid to ask difficult questions. What is the cost of a long-term relationship? How do you balance divergent ambitions and priorities? Do we lose parts of ourselves in the process of falling in love? The answer lies in this beautiful, poignant, yet celebratory tribute to real life and real love.
Please note this is an 18+ all standing event, and the venue is accessed by stairs with no lift. If you have any enquiries please email thetreehouse AT cheeseandgrain.com
£14.50 ADVANCE + BOOKING FEE
7:30 pm
https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/events/chloe-foy/
Fundraising Ceilidh for the Wessex Folk Festival
Doors Open 7.00pm. 7.30pm Start Ends 10.30 pm
Bar
Tickets available on the Website
£10
Contact Martin: 07730 575241
info AT wessexfolkfestival.com
https://www.wessexfolkfestival.com
Barn Dance - fundraiser for Wessex Folk Festival Weymouth
Fundraising Ceilidh for the Wessex Folk Festival - The Last Dance at Hope Church
Go to website https://www.wessexfolkfestival.com/ for QR code to purchase tickets
Doors Open 7pm Start 7.30pm / Bar
Wessex Folk Festival Weymouth - 30th & 31st May 2026
£10
Contact Wessex Folk Festival : 07941 044561
worktjrabbetts AT gmail.com
https://www.wessexfolkfestival.com/
A concert with husband and wife duo, Wildwood Jack. Jayne and Adam perform mostly their own material, but usually include a few more familiar songs too.
Opening support is from Anne-Louise Richards, one of our very popular regular support acts.
£15, ONLY pre purchased or reserved
8.00 pm (doors open 7.45) Legion open from 7.00
Contact Kathy Dunn: 07590 411515
kd.79 AT live.com
www.wessex-acoustic.co.uk
Kimmeridge Keilidh - All Welcome! No bar, so bring your own drinks & nibbles
Adults £7.50 under 16s £2.50
7:30 - 10:00
Contact Steve & Helen Earwicker: 01929 480737
arish.mel AT btinternet.com
www.earwicker.org/arish_mel.htm
+ Special Guests - Concrete Prairie - Trio
Multi award winning & un-missable Irish Folk Rock.
Roving Crows are an Irish Folk Rock band who deliver the goods with unbounded amounts of riotous energy and banter. Paul O’Neill (guitar and lead vocals); Caitlin Barrett (fiddle & vocals); Laurence Aldridge (drums & vocals) and Jim Smith (bass & vocals).
Their passion and energy on stage is infectious, never failing to deliver a great time with their vibrant live show! Their music pushes the boundaries of the Irish Folk genre, the jumping jigs and reels will get you dancing whilst their enquiring and provocative lyrics will make you think.
https://www.rovingcrows.com/
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
https://www.thedavidhall.com
plus Special Guests - Concrete Prairie - Trio
Multi award winning & un-missable Irish Folk Rock.
Roving Crows are an Irish Folk Rock band who deliver the goods with unbounded amounts of riotous energy and banter. Paul O’Neill (guitar and lead vocals); Caitlin Barrett (fiddle & vocals); Laurence Aldridge (drums & vocals) and Jim Smith (bass & vocals).
Their passion and energy on stage is infectious, never failing to deliver a great time with their vibrant live show! Their music pushes the boundaries of the Irish Folk genre, the jumping jigs and reels will get you dancing whilst their enquiring and provocative lyrics will make you think.
https://www.rovingcrows.com/
Concrete Prairie - Trio
United by a love of all things Folk, Country & Americana, Concrete Prairie are a quintet delivering a veritable soundtrack for the glamour and grit of modern living. While their compositions tackle themes such as hardships, loss & well-being, the songs are shot through with silver linings, evidenced by a spirited and rousing sound orchestrated with twanging guitars, straining fiddle and yearning prose which has been dubbed "hope-Folk", "epic Indie-Americana" and "conscious-Country" all at once.
https://www.facebook.com/concreteprairie/
8.00 pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
https://www.thedavidhall.com
After last year's very successful and enjoyable concert, David is back there again for 2026 and his 'home village' gig!
There will be beautiful traditional folk and classical tunes, alongside original compositions, performed by David on his self-crafted guitar. Music will include tracks from his debut album 'Contours' as well new material.
This Sunday afternoon concert is once again held in the church (with it's wonderful acoustics) in the picturesque village of Thorncombe, Dorset.
There is no need to book for this event.
Entrance is by donation so just turn up, enjoy the music and then pay what you can.
Refreshments will be available.
Doors: 2:30pm - Music starts: 3pm
Finishes: 5pm
Contact David Mitchell
dmitchellmusician AT gmail.com
https://www.davidmitchellmusician.com
Members of Moonrakers return to Halsway Manor bringing their exciting and dynamic Folk Orchestra event for musicians and singers.
Expect a relaxing, stimulating and engaging multi-instrumental week. Whether you play bowed, fretted or reed instruments, whistles or flutes, or simply like to sing, you are very welcome on this course!
We’ll work on our own arrangements - some written, some improvised - of about 15 folk tunes and songs throughout the week. You don’t need to read music, but some instrumental experience is required.
In the evenings there will be plenty of opportunity to showcase some of your own material.
This course is aimed at instrumentalists with some experience under their belts. You'll need a good understanding of your instrument and to be open to working in small and larger groups and trying new ways of working.
You'll be able to download resources (sheet music and videos for each tune) for the week in advance of the course. We'll send this material directly to you nearer the time. Don't worry if you've been on the course before, there will be plenty of new material to choose from.
The idea is not to just learn tunes but to look in detail at how we might arrange these within a mixed ensemble of instruments. The video files will provide the skeleton of the tune itself and the beginnings of an arrangement. What we may come up with together as we work with the tune could be quite different. All will be explained on arrival.
The written music will be a mix of traditional tunes and those written by Moonrakers. They'll contain melody, countermelody, bass and chords. During the week we'll develop this further, perhaps with a short introduction, a solo spot or a particular rhythm or strumming pattern. We'll also bring a couple of songs to work on. Please print out the music and bring a music stand and a note book/pencil.
Expect to have quite a relaxed week with opportunities to also have some one-to-one advice on developing your playing or writing. Don’t worry about your skill level, we will accommodate all standards of playing.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/moonrakers-folk-orchestra-2026
Dancing at Combe St Nicholas Village Hall alternate Thursdays.
Admission is 4.00 per person and includes a cuppa and a piece of cake!
Group is friendly and inclusive and welcomes everyone who wants a bit of dancing and social chat. Live music and a different caller every fortnight.
4.00
7.30 - 9.30 pm
Contact Neil Arnold: 01460 234693
neil.j.arnold AT gmail.com
Spiers & Boden have been at the forefront of the English traditional folk scene for 25 years both as a ground breaking duo and as founder members of folk phenomenon Bellowhead.
Described by The Guardian as ‘the finest instrumental duo on the traditional scene’, they bring their joyous folk sounds to our theatre, including hits from their acclaimed album Fallow Ground.
Tickets from: £26.40
7:45 pm
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/spiers-boden/
Previous winners of BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for ‘Best Original Track’ and nominees for ‘Best Band’, with their uniquely blended sound of fiddles, voices, feet, banjos, electric guitar, synths, and the powerful bass drones of the medieval tambourin à cordes, The Rheingans Sisters remain one of the most visionary acts on the British folk scene today. With their latest album, Start Close In, being declared by The Guardian as Folk Album of the Month and hailed by MOJO magazine as one of the
Advance £21.00 | On the door £25.00
10% off for members
https://www.marinetheatre.com/the-rheingans-sisters/
Spiers & Boden have been at the forefront of the English traditional folk scene for 25 years both as a ground breaking duo and as founder members of folk phenomenon Bellowhead.
They bring their joyous folk sounds to our theatre, including hits from their acclaimed album Fallow Ground.
£26.40 (inc. £2.40 cmsn)
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/spiers-boden/
The Northumbrian Smallpipes weekend offers a enjoyable opportunity to develop technique and repertoire with a variety of workshops, sessions, plus an informal performance from the tutors. You’ll work in groups according to ability level, with some optional sessions too, allowing you the opportunity to work with all tutors over the course of the weekend. Some music will be available in advance, for workshops that require it.
This popular workshop weekend is designed to give everyone from beginners and improvers to intermediate and advanced level players a thoroughly enjoyable opportunity to develop their abilities, technique and repertoire.
Andy May was introduced to the smallpipes by his father Stan, later learning from Roland Lofthouse and Adrian Schofield, and from studying the recordings of Billy Pigg and Tom Clough. Through the 90s Andy entered many piping competitions and studied music at the University of York with the pipes as his chosen instrument. Andy has been a full-time musician since 2002, with the Andy May Trio, UK/Finnish/Danish ensemble Baltic Crossing, and with North-East band Jez Lowe and the Bad Pennies. Andy is a notable pipemaker, learning much from his father, and also Colin Ross, and teaches on the folk music degree course at Newcastle University.
Pauline Cato is one of the leading exponents of the Northumbrian Pipes. She took up the pipes at the age of thirteen and over the next few years won all the major competitions for the instrument. She has been a professional musician since 1993 and has performed all over the world – both solo and in a duo with fiddler Tom McConville. Pauline’s style is traditional, but she is also well known for expanding the repertoire of the pipes and is often in demand for new projects.
Chris Ormston was given his first set of pipes on his 15th birthday and nine months later won the Northumbrian Pipers’ Society Junior Class. Within three years he had won every Open competition in the county. Early in his piping career he acquired a taste for the classic repertoire of the pipes, with a particular interest in the music of the Clough family. Chris has collaborated with the NPS Society in the publication of two collections: ‘The Clough Family of Newsham’ (2000) and ‘The Clough Family Tunebook’ (2012). In 2011 Chris was honoured to take possession of ‘Young’ Tom Clough’s pipes, a Reid set gifted to Tom by his grandfather.
Iain Gelston took up his father’s smallpipes at the age of 21 in 1988 and, under the guidance of Adrian Schofield, won his first piping competition the following year. In 2011, Iain took up the border pipes and went on, entirely self taught, to win every Open competition in Northumberland and Scotland over the next few years. He now plays smallpipes and border pipes regularly, both solo and in the trio The Grand Assembly alongside flautist Trish Winter and fiddler Rachael Hales, concentrating primarily on the 18th and early 19th century piping repertoire of northern England and Scotland. Iain has published two volumes of his own compositions and features playing pipes and bouzouki on the LP “Drive Away Dull Care” by Tyneside folk band Lowp.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/northumbrian-smallpipes-2026
In their usual light hearted way, The Wareham Whalers will explore the mysteries and superstitions that affected life aboard sailing ships in the 18th and 19th centuries. Come and discover why sailors wore one gold ring or never cut their hair or nails whilst at sea and at the same time be entertained by rousing shanties.
£10
7.30pm
Contact Durlston Country Park: 01929 424443
wareham.whalers AT gmail.com
https://www.durlston.co.uk/event/shanties-and-strange-storie-wareham-whalers-concert-06-03-2026-1900
Shillingstone English Barn Dance Evening
Barn Dance evening. Usual easy and fun dances, friendly atmosphere, but no bar. BYO if you wish. No need to come with a partner.
£7.50
7.15 for 7.30 - 9.15
Contact Jenny and Ian Edlin: 01258 861184
jenny_harrison_1123 AT yahoo.co.uk
A flowing folk fantasia of Celtic and original tunes.
Violin, flute, mandolin, bouzouki, guitar and bass weave unexpected changes and tight rhythms in virtuosic explorations of music old and new.
youtube.com/ AT maythorne_band
£15 OTD
7.30pm
Contact David Williams : 07751 877120
musoid500-56 AT yahoo.co.uk
https://ludomusic.co.uk/maythorne/pages/home.shtml
Magical in-the-moment music from a virtuoso duo.
Profound and eloquent, epic, haunting and dramatic, masters of improvisation The Ciderhouse Rebellion sees virtuoso musicians Adam Summerhayes and Murray Grainger combine to produce incredible spontaneous tapestries of sound.
The pair specialise in creating music in the moment, based on traditional tunes or their own compositions – often springing from a single note, key, time signature, or emotion. It’s this unusually improvisatory focus that is uniquely magical. Their quest is to create music with no conscious thought between conception and playing – always searching for the unexpected and the possibility to create a deep sonic narrative that transports the audience.
Both Adam (violin) and Murray (accordion) are recognised virtuoso musicians in their own right, touring the world as professional artists. Although the pair only started working together in 2020, they have already released 4 celebrated albums, been featured on Folk on Foot, scored a BBC Radio 4 play, and played significant festivals across the UK and Europe.
£16.00
7.45 pm
Contact Taunton Brewhouse: 01823 283244
boxoffice AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/the-folk-series-the-ciderhouse-rebellion/
One of the most exciting new folk duos to come out of the UK, Good Habits’ award winning genre-fusing sound has received international critical acclaim in the short 4 years they have been performing, including performances at Glastonbury, WOMAD, Cambridge Folk Festival and festivals throughout Europe and Australasia.
Composed of Bonnie Schwartz ( cello and vocals) and Pete Shaw ( accordion) the pair mix virtuosic musicianship and vocal harmony with vivid storytelling, drawing on their diverse musical tastes and weaving them into an action-packed narrative of folky goodness!
Tickets available from takeart.org or ticketsbaltonsboroughhall AT gmail.com
£12 ( £10 reduced income)
7.30pm (door and bar from 7pm)
Contact Amanda Clow: 07540 855746
ticketsbaltonsboroughhall AT gmail.com
takeart.org
Sound of the Sirens are a singer-song writing duo based in Exeter, Devon comprising of Abbe Martin & Hannah Wood.
Honing their craft over the past decade, Martin & Wood have cemented themselves as firm favourites as “one of the UK’s finest folk acts” not only on the Westcountry scene, but nationally, and internationally too. Their status, and fast-growing fan-base is not only testament to the pair’s prowess as songwriters and musicians, but as people too.
Martin & Wood are two of the hardest working musicians on the scene and wear their hearts very much on their sleeves in terms of their song writing. The pair glide gracefully through laments of past relationships, and life experiences, as well as highlighting the important topics of the day, namely mental health awareness, and homelessness.
Without being pigeonholed into any stereotypical genre, the instrumentation of the band is vast, and varied. Martin plays acoustic and high-strung (Nashville tuning) guitar, mandolin, and bass drum, while partner in crime Wood plays acoustic and electric guitar, tambourine, snare drum, and the piano. The pairs’ musical and vocal dexterity dovetail beautifully on the co-written songs, which range from beautiful, emotive ballads, to up-beat, foot stomping, hands in the air, sing-along anthems.
The dynamic duo and their musical creations translate very well onto recorded media, but it is in the live arena where the pair truly excel. There is a certain majesty about their live performances that simply cannot be put into words. It is this “je ne sais quoi” that keeps their loyal fans returning from far and wide to see these two perform.
8pm
https://www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk/event/sound-of-the-sirens/
Christina Alden & Alex Patterson are multi-instrumentalists and songwriters from Norwich. Their music is rich with intertwining harmony, sensitive accomplished musicianship and a creative song-writing style that is both delicate and moving. Deeply inspired by the world around them, they have a keen environmental eye to craft stories with the natural world at its heart, reflecting on the relationship between humans and the wild.
8pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
https://christinaaldenandalexpatterson.com
https://www.thedavidhall.com
Workshop Open to All
Would you like to learn to play tunes without the dots? Would you like to try and improvise harmony lines so you can play along in a session? If you are interested to learn some traditional tunes by ear, improve your confidence and skill on your instrument and have opportunities to play with others in small groups then come along.
£6 / free to U18s
2.00 - 4.00 pm
Contact Lucy Allen: 07946 544483
lma24666 AT gmail.com
dorchesterarts.org.uk
Discover French and Breton dance or develop your dance horizons! Both experienced and novice French dancers are invited to a week of expert tuition led by Peter Clifton, and supported by Karen Prager, and Yannick Minvielle-Debat returns to teach traditional singing-for-dancing. The course will be taught to exemplary live music from Richard Heacock (violin) and Paul Hutchinson (accordion), with guest musicians joining us for the Thursday night finale Bal.
Dancers will be introduced to French couple dances: Scottish, Bourrée, Waltz and Mazurka, and to Breton circle and chain dances. (You don’t need to bring a partner for the couple dances). Lesser-known dances will also be taught, including some from the Vendée and Poitou regions. The focus will be on dance variation and developing communication and dynamics through both couple and circle dances.
Yannick will add some easy-to-learn French songs to the mix, which can be applied to well-known dances, and practised within the week at workshops and evening bals.
Dancers who also play are encouraged bring to bring instruments if they wish; there will be opportunities to play for some of the dances in the bal each evening.
You’ll have some experience in traditional dance – Playford, English Country Dance, Contra, Scottish etc – but you can be completely new to French dance. For those with experience of French dance, the course offers the opportunity to discover lesser known dance repertoire.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/french-breton-dance-2026
As our French and Breton Dance Week draws to a close, you're invited to join our ace tutor team and the course participants for a French Bal.
The teaching team of Peter Clifton, Yannick Minvielle-Debat, Richard Heacock and Paul Hutchinson will be joined tonight by guest musicians Helen Gentile (clarinet) and Lewis Wood (fiddle).
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/bal-french-and-breton-dances
Ahoy there—local group The Chantry Buoys sing traditional sea shanties and other well known songs. Join them for a fun sing-along with local drinks, old seafaring melodies, and maritime frolics.
Based in Colyton, they sing traditional sea shanties, and other well known songs. They have performed at many Sea Shanty festivals, including Falmouth, Teignmouth, and recently performed on Lyme’s Marine Parade, to close Lifeboat week.
Sea shanties were work songs, set to a rhythm for working, to reduce the monotony of undertaking repetitive tasks aboard ship. But they were also Foc’sle songs, which were storytelling verses to be listened to at leisure, to remind sailors of home and these helped to keep alive traditions and record local events and people.
7:30 P.M.
Free entry - no tickets
https://www.marinetheatre.com/the-shanty-sessions-51/
Bill and Rosie’s successful Halsway song weekends returns in 2026. Bill Crawford and Rosie Upton, assisted by Penny Rigby, will lead a weekend of traditional song for experienced singers (non-singing partners welcome).
Join them, and friends old and new, for a weekend of singing and presentations. Bring your voices, instruments and walking boots for an optional circuit of the ‘Halsway Loop’ to blow away the cobwebs!
The weekend is aimed at experienced singers of both traditional songs, and songs written ‘in the tradition’, who do not need to read the words.
This is a partnership event so to register an interest you will need to contact the team directly. Please email quantocktradsing AT gmail.com/call 07875 174401 (Penny). It is anticipated that Expressions of Interest forms will be sent out in mid-September.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/bill-and-rosies-2026
THE folk-rock band to see! Merry Hell bring a selection of their stirring songs, many with actions to get involved with, or immensely singable choruses. Please join in.
Dancing space available too
Tickets only available from We Got Tickets https://wegottickets.com/event/683831/
Profits from this night will go towards the Mayor's chosen local charities. There will be a chance to make donations on the night too.
STOP PRESS
Merry hell's fabulous fiddle player, Simon Swarbrick, has just been awarded Musician of the Year by FATEA music magazine. Huge congratulations to Simon!
A CASH ONLY licensed bar will be available.
£25pp
8.00 pm (doors open 7.30)
Contact Kathy Dunn: 07590 411515
kd.79 AT live.com
www.wessex-acoustic.co.uk
Christian Garrick & the Budapest Café Orchestra
Refreshingly unconventional and snappily attired boutique orchestra BCO play gypsy and Folk-flavoured music in their unique and surprising way. From Balkan and Russian traditional music to their artful distillations of Romantic masterworks to soaring Gaelic folk anthems, BCO is an infectious musical experience and like none other.
A show by the BCO is enough to make you want to book that holiday down the Danube!
8.00 pm
Tickets: £22.50 Full. £21.50 Concessions
www.budapestcafeorchestra.co.uk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1889213
Ceilidh
An afternoon treat for Mother's Day! Barn dancing at a civilised time of day with well known local band and caller.
Suitable for all abilities.
Soft drinks available or bring your own. Also bring teatimey food for sharing if you wish
£10
3.00 - 5.30 pm
Contact Ruth Thompson: 07984 547980
ruthfiddler1 AT outlook.com
Maddy Prior MBE and her daughter Rose-Ellen Kemp BSc (Hons), supported by Jerry King, return to Halsway in 2026 for another song week dedicated to the voice. Maddy and Rose-Ellen have been teaching people and their voices at their own teaching centre, Stones Barn in Cumbria, for many years, and we're delighted to host them in the South West. The course will be for singers of all levels who want to work to build confidence, progress and improve their singing, and learn about voicing and the voice itself.
Working both all together, and in smaller groups, you’ll have fun learning practical techniques to improve and maintain the voice, gain knowledge of vocal anatomy and physiology and hear some interesting insights into the current voice research. In the smaller groups you have the option to work individually with one of the leaders, with the supportive audience of your fellow group members. You will also – of course – enjoy some group singing for the sheer love of it.
A programme, timetable and music/lyrics sheets will be available nearer the time. We will also be joined by Jerry King, a pianist and music theory expert who can assist with learning the pieces and to quickly answer any queries you may have about the written music.
Each evening participants can gather in the bar to put these new techniques into practice during informal sing-around performances; these are hugely enjoyable and a chance to extend your confidence.
Past participants have found the course to be an absorbing and fulfilling singing experience.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/maddy-prior-song-week-march-2026
St Patricks night
Fiery jigs and reels and beautiful airs and rousing songs … pub session at . Free. Collection in aid of Memories at the Barn.
7.30 pm
Dancing at Combe St Nicholas Village Hall alternate Thursdays.
Admission is 4.00 per person and includes a cuppa and a piece of cake!
Group is friendly and inclusive and welcomes everyone who wants a bit of dancing and social chat. Live music and a different caller every fortnight.
4.00
7.30 - 9.30 pm
Contact Neil Arnold: 01460 234693
neil.j.arnold AT gmail.com
For 50 years Bob Fox has been regarded as one of “the iconic voices” of British Folk song.
Masterful interpretation of Traditional and Contemporary song combined with an outstanding guitar technique has earned him countless nominations in the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards.
Bob was “Songman” in The National Theatre’s production of WarHorse and can also be heard singing extensively on the new BBC Radio Ballads.
Don’t miss the chance to see and hear one of our finest exponents of storytelling through song, expect to hear of love, joy, work and humour all accompanied by a wonderful guitar style that can both drive or embellish his supreme singing.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £19. No concessions
www.bobfoxmusic.com
https://www.thedavidhall.com
There are only shared rooms remaining on this course
We’re always delighted to host West Country Concertina Players at Halsway Manor for their packed concertina workshop weekend for intermediate and advanced level players of all systems. You do not need to be a member of WCCP to come (though you might consider joining them – it’s only £10 annually); the weekend is open to all, though this is a popular weekend and priority will be given to WCCP members through an opportunity to book early.
There will be time to relax in the comfort of Halsway Manor, with evening playing sessions in the bar, plus an informal tutors’ concert on the Saturday evening. There’s also the option to stay an extra night and book for Sunday supper and B&B – the perfect time to relax and unwind after a busy weekend of music and socialising.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/wccp-weekend-2026
Martin Harley is celebrated as “One of the UK’s finest contemporary roots musicians” (Guitarist Magazine) and a “slide guitar master” (Roots Magazine).
Known for his spellbinding slide guitar and ability to blend Americana, Blues, and Folk, Harley has captivated audiences for three decades, recording albums worldwide.
His sold-out shows at venues like London’s Union Chapel and appearances at Glastonbury and the Royal Albert Hall highlight his dynamic stage presence. His music has featured on TV shows like The Vampire Diaries and Banshee and in live segments on PBS’s Music City Roots. Harley has collaborated with icons like Jerry Douglas and Grammy winner Derek Mixon, and his album Static in the Wires reached #2 on the iTunes Blues charts.
His latest release, Morning Sun, produced by Nigel Stonier, showcases his finest songwriting, with inventive contributions from Michael Blair, Mark Lewis, and Chris (CJ) Hillman. Harley’s heartfelt music continues to push boundaries in contemporary roots.
Ticket price: From: £22
8:00 pm
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/martin-harley/
Twice winners of BBC Radio 2’s Best Duo, Sean and Kathryn deliver a spellbinding mix of storytelling and song. Expect heartfelt ballads, witty lyrics and masterful musicianship from two of Britain’s most celebrated folk artists.
Don’t miss this rare chance to see them live!
7.30pm
Tickets £21
https://bridgwatertheatres.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/1173671568
Duos come and go, but few nurture and refine their craft with such dedication and originality as Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman.
Roberts and Lakeman have forged a creative bond that is as enduring as it is inspiring. Their 30 year journey together — from young trailblazers in the 1990s folk supergroup Equation to one of Britain’s most admired and decorated folk duos — stands as a testament to their artistry, authenticity, and masterful musicianship.
Their contribution to the British folk landscape has not gone unnoticed. Kathryn and Sean have twice been named ‘Best Duo’ at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, in addition to accolades from Spiral Earth and Fatea Magazine. Their live shows — brimming with charm, wit, and musical mastery — have earned them a devoted following and a reputation as a cornerstone act of the British folk and acoustic scene.
In 2025, the duo celebrated an extraordinary 30 years of music-making with the release of their first live concert album, “Another Day at the Circus” which captures the warmth, humour, and emotional depth that have made their live performances so cherished — an invitation into the magic of an evening spent in the company of two artists completely at ease with their craft.
7.30pm
Ticket price: £21
https://www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk/event/sean-lakeman-and-kathryn-roberts/
Commissioned and produced by Pete Townshend and created by Reg Meuross, Fire & Dust - The Woody Guthrie Story is a journey into the heart and soul of one of America’s finest folk musicians. At this show Reg Meuross is joined by two members of his band, The Strike. With songs and stories that highlight Guthrie’s fight against racism, inequality, and injustice, Fire & Dust draws poignant parallels between Guthrie’s time and our present day. Townshend saw this project as drawing a direct line from Woody Guthrie through Bob Dylan to Reg Meuross, and described it as “folk music at its best".
Joining Reg will be Welsh pianist and accordionist Geraint Watkins (Nick Lowe, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler, Paul McCartney) and renowned string player Marion Fleetwood (TRADarrr, The Sandy Denny Project).
Narration of the story (written by Reg) between the songs is shared between Reg and Marion.
The breadth and depth of Reg Meuross’s material is unparalleled in contemporary folk: songs about forgotten heroes, famous names, folk legends, the climate emergency, tales from the kitchen sink and news from the world stage. If something needs to be sung about then Reg Meuross has a song for it and with Fire & Dust another important chapter of impeccably researched story-telling has begun.
Bar opens 7:00 P.M.
Starts 8:00 P.M.
Advance £21.00
On the door £25.00
10% off for members
Unreserved Seating
https://www.marinetheatre.com/fire-dust-a-woody-guthrie-story/
The hall is on the left when travelling north. Roadside parking.
All are welcome, no experience necessary. We enjoy an evening with live music and a caller who will guide you through all the dances. You don't need to bring a partner. No refreshments other than water provided, feel free to bring your own.
Do come along have some fun and laughter.
£7.50. Accompanied under 16 free
7.15 for 7.30, ends 9.30 pm
Contact Sally Condon: 01300 348250
riverpiddle2 AT icloud.com
Celebrate St Patrick's Day and join us as we welcome acclaimed Irish band, Lí Ban, led by RTÉ and BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, Ríoghnach Connolly.
Blending the historic with the innovative, Lí Ban reimagine genres, stories and sounds from their ancient counties. Delving into Irish mythology and traditions with a revived energy, their most recent release, Rud Nach Léir, spans four different generations of musicians and singers. It remembers old and creates new aspects of traditions from Lough Neagh and the Bann in the ancient province of Ulster in Ireland.
The name Lí Ban is the spirit of the lough itself. Lí Ban, the ‘most radiant of women’, was the legendary mermaid of Lough Neagh.
Ríoghnach Connolly is a professional vocalist, flautist, lyricist, workshop facilitator, and musical activist. She grew up surrounded by a rich musical familial heritage. Now based in Manchester, she has toured internationally and extensively, performing and recording with bands such as The Breath (Real World Records), HoneyFeet (Stardust Works), Band of Burns (Órd Bán), and Afro Celt Sound System (ECC).
Bar opens 7:00 P.M.
Starts 8:00 P.M.
Early Bird £23.00
General Admission £26.00
On the door £30.00
10% off for members
Book online at any time, at the Lyme Regis Bookshop and Bridport Tourist Information Centre during normal opening hours, the Marine on Monday mornings 10 – 1, and over the phone on 01308 424901. The displayed price includes a £1 restoration levy.
Our booking fees cover the cost of providing ticketing services and software. We don't charge this to make a profit, but it contributes to our overheads as a charity.
https://www.marinetheatre.com/st-patricks-day-with-rioghnach-connollys-li-ban/
Rupert Hughes (guitar) Evan Davies (mandolin) Niles Krieger (fiddle) Sam Quintana (jazz bass)
The Often Herd transcend the Traditional boundaries of Bluegrass music. Although they might resemble an American string band, complete with driving energy, tight vocal harmonies and dazzling instrumental interplay, their vibrant, transatlantic sound is deeply coloured by their surroundings; the striking natural and industrial landscapes of Northern England.
Together, their sound is both boldly Contemporary and soothingly familiar, taking time-honoured traditions to new places with a fresh perspective.
Flock to the herd, you won’t be disappointed.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
https://www.theoftenherd.com/
https://www.thedavidhall.com
BBC Radio 2 Folk Award Best Duo - 2016 & 2013. "Rightly regarded as one of the most engaging folk duos on the circuit"
7.30 pm
Tickets available from: http://ticketsource.co.uk/nailsea-folk-club
The Dubliners Encore is the official stage show celebrating the greatest folk band of all time.
Produced by The Dubliners’ John Sheahan; renowned fiddle player and legendary Irish icon, this new show packs 50 years of songs, stories, and craic, into one unforgettable night.
Rediscover the original bad boys of Irish music – the beards, the ballads, and the band that put Ireland on the world stage. This hugely talented cast captures the magic of The Dubliners singing all their hits, including The Wild Rover, Seven Drunken Nights, The Black Velvet Band, Whiskey in the Jar and The Irish Rover.
Be a part of the ultimate Irish sing-along. This music extravaganza will have you singing your heart out and dancing your cares away long after the lights have dimmed.
Ticket price: From: £30.25
7:30 pm
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-dubliners-encore/
Workshop Open to All
Would you like to learn to play tunes without the dots? Would you like to try and improvise harmony lines so you can play along in a session? If you are interested to learn some traditional tunes by ear, improve your confidence and skill on your instrument and have opportunities to play with others in small groups then come along.
£6 / free to U18s
2.00 - 4.00 pm
Contact Lucy Allen: 07946 544483
lma24666 AT gmail.com
dorchesterarts.org.uk
Singing workshop, followed by concert
Lester Simpson of "Coope Boyes and Simpson" will be coming to Crewkerne in March 2026
Lester will be running a Song Workshop in the afternoon. Songs to be learned by ear.
He will then be appearing in a concert in the evening.
£12 for each individual event or £20 for both
Workshop 2.00-5.00 pm
Concert starts 7.30.
Contact Meg Rose: 07877 206124
meg.rose AT btinternet.com
Sunday 11th January - with guest tutor, Ben Moss
Sunday 22nd February - with guest tutor, Chas Blacker
Sunday 22nd March - with guest tutor, Thomas Gold
Sunday 19th April
Sunday 10th May - with guest tutor, Jon Dyer
1.30- 4.30pm
Tickets available via the website or on the door www.sherbornefolkband.org
info AT sherbornefolkband.org
Sheet music and audio supplied in advance – please email.
Julia: 07527 508 277
A full-on, fun packed workshop weekend for Nyckelharpa players - beginners as well as more experienced players of this unusual Swedish folk stringed instrument. Vicki Swan will be leading the weekend, with support from a guest tutor who will be announced soon.
The weekend includes the opportunity for complete beginners to meet and play the instrument. Eight spaces are up for grabs for the complete beginner course with a loan instrument provided. Spaces fill up fast so don’t delay!
Plenty will also be on offer for the improver / intermediate level player. Workshops will cover all aspects of playing the nyckelharpa: posture, technique, bowing, Swedish tunes, British tunes, chord playing, ensemble playing (by ear), exercises and Nyckelrythmics!
Sunday B&B is available for anyone wishing to extend their weekend. Request this extra night when booking.
This course is aimed at both total beginners, and those with some experience, up to about intermediate level. More advanced players should check out our 'Harpas at Halsway: Nyckelharpa Festival'.
Vicki Swan graduated from the Royal College of Music on double bass, specialising in performance. Well known on the British folk scene she is a full time folk musician performing on nyckelharpa, bagpipes and singing. Being half Swedish the nyckelharpa was a natural choice to add to her armory of instruments and is now leading the development of the nyckelharpa in Great Britain with the UK Nyckelharpa Project and spearheaded the newly formed UK Nyckelharpa Society. In addition to various duo recordings Vicki has recently published the ‘British Session Tunes for Nyckelharpa’, a book of Duets in the Swedish Style and Scandinavian Fiddle Tunes published by Schott. Vicki is a qualified teacher, specialising in instrumental teaching and has a masters in Education (specialising in distance tuition on the Scottish smallpipes) and composes and arranges music for the nyckelharpa and other ensembles. She was a member of the ENCORE (European Nyckelharpa Co-operation – Orchestral Experience, 2013) and a tutor on the International Nyckelharpa Days in Germany in 2014, 2015 and 2020.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/spring-harpas-2026
Legendary folk rockers Fairport Convention are heading your way this March as they traverse the country this Spring on their 2026 UK Tour.
With their most well-known track Who Knows Where The Time Goes reaching over 32 million Spotify streams this year, Fairport are true statesmen of British music - cherished by critics, musicians and fans alike. The band have also won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award and Radio 2 listeners voted their ground-breaking album Liege & Lief 'The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time' in 2006.
Formed in 1967, Fairport pioneered the blending of traditional and electric instruments, in turn becoming synonymous with the 'electric-folk' sound. Their annual music festival has attracted up to 15,000 people to the fields of Oxfordshire each August, and unlike many of their peers, they continue to sell out venues across the country - delighting both existing fans and new converts alike.
7:30pm
https://bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/fairport-convention-q2ct
Tickets: https://tinyurl.com/ydu6f8w8
£38.40 including booking fee
Whalers will entertain you with stories and songs which explore some of the strange beliefs and superstitions held by sailors in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Tickets: £12 from North Perrott Farm shop or by ringing 01460 73308
Doors open and bar available from 7.30pm.
£10 from each ticket will go to the RNLI and PLANETS Charities
£12
8pm
Contact Pip Oxenbury: 01460 73308
2oxenburys AT gmail.com
https://www.northperrottvillagehall.co.uk/
Jez Lowe is making a return visit with his inimitable style and mix of songs, mostly based on life in his home region of Durham and the North East. The history, legends, social life and traditions of the coal miners and their families, and more!
Welsh folk songstress Linda Watkins is the opening support act.
£15, ONLY pre purchased or reserved
8.00 pm (doors open 7.45) Legion open from 7.00
Contact Kathy Dunn: 07590 411515
kd.79 AT live.com
www.wessex-acoustic.co.uk
Kimmeridge Keilidh - All Welcome! No bar, so bring your own drinks & nibbles
Adults £7.50 under 16s £2.50
7:30 - 10:00
Contact Steve & Helen Earwicker: 01929 480737
arish.mel AT btinternet.com
www.earwicker.org/arish_mel.htm
Ceilidh hosted by South Petherton and Combe St Nicholas Folk Dance Clubs
Includes tea / coffee and delicious cakes
£10
7.00-10.30 pm
Contact Maggie McNulty: 07754 538412
maggie.mcnulty AT hotmail.com
Come join us for an intimate evening with E.R. Thorpe at The Wight Bear. Haunting, poetic songs performed live.
E.R. Thorpe is a Nottinghamshire-based singer-songwriter and visual artist whose haunting sound blends poetic storytelling with raw emotional depth. Raised in rural North Nottinghamshire by a blues guitarist father and a folk-inspired mother, her music draws deeply from landscape, memory, and quiet resilience.
Her debut LP, Human Love (out Spring 2026), was produced by Jim Baron of Crazy P and features collaborators from Crazy P, Spiritualized, and Torn Sail. The album explores themes of endurance and renewal, delivered through songs that feel both intimate and quietly powerful.
Thorpe performs regularly with The Low Drift, a collective inspired by the folklore and stories of the British Isles. On stage, she captivates with a magnetic, understated presence—her voice carrying equal measures of vulnerability and strength.
Signed to Vicious Charm Recordings after label boss and Skint founder Damian Harris discovered her 2023 EP Guided By The Sea (Came Death), Thorpe is emerging as a distinctive voice in contemporary British songwriting.
Another intimate evening of spellbinding songs at The Wight Bear.
For those wanting to purchase the records, Emma will have some stock with her of this wonderful L.P on the night.
6pm doors, 7.30pm Performance
Contact Micky Browne: 07890841572
mickybrowne AT hotmail.co.uk
https://www.instagram.com/thewightbear?igsh=MWIybnR0NGJhajFwMg==
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/er-thorpe-sunday-29th-march-the-wight-bear-tickets-1980821270743
Stompin' Dave performs a broad spectrum of vintage style music including blues, bluegrass, classical, country, folk, jazz, rock n roll, and old time. He is equally capable of providing a whole evening of entertainment in one genre, or mixing it up. Stompin' Dave was nominated for a UK Blues Award 2024.
Dorset based Stompin' Dave has worked exclusively as a musician performing across the UK and beyond. Dave started to perform with the stage name Stompin' Dave over fifteen years ago. Since then he has released forty albums and made well over two hundred festival appearances, including some major ones such as Glastonbury, Camp Bestival, and Bestival.
Dave has stomped his way onto the line up of many top folk festivals including Cork, Warwick, Towersey, Priddy, and many other folk and music clubs. Dave's vast repertoire ranges from traditional songs and tunes to vintage covers and his own originals.
free
4.30 - 6.30 pm
Finish time: 6.30pm
Phone: 01202 673517
www.stompinstore.com
venue link: https://www.facebook.com/PortsmouthHoyPooleQuay/
Love dancing AND the great outdoors? This is the holiday week for you! Enjoy a light-hearted springtime week of dancing, with opportunities to walk in the beautiful Quantock Hills each afternoon. Discover and learn about our beautiful local landscapes, while also brushing-up on your folk dance steps!
We’re delighted to welcome back caller and keen walker – Rhodri Davies. He will be joined by musicians and dedicated hikers - Vicki Swan and Jonny Dyer. The team is completed by our regular walk leaders Nan Ward & Roger Phipps, who might be persuaded to dance.
You can enjoy a mixed programme of country dance workshops each morning with Rhodri and the band. Then head off into the hills – quite literally – to enjoy the spectacular landscapes of this distinctive and nationally important protected area. Guided walks will be led by our knowledgeable and enthusiastic local guides - Nan and Roger, giving you a chance to learn more about the history and wildlife of the hills, or simply to enjoy an amble with in beautiful countryside in amiable company!
After your walk in the Quantock Hills, it’s back to the Manor, for dinner, and dances every evening.
Feel free to bring along instruments for the odd informal session in the bar!
This course aims to be suitable for everyone with a reasonable level of fitness.
The morning dance workshops will be friendly and encouraging. Novice dancers will have the opportunity to gain confidence and more expert dancers can refine their skills and try new dances.
There will be a choice of two walks each afternoon, tailored to meet the requirements and abilities of the group. A shorter ‘stroll’ option, and a longer and more challenging route. The opportunities for walking on the Quantocks are endless!
Please note that we are not offering full-day walking options. This is primarily a dance week, with opportunities to enjoy afternoon walking in a friendly and social group.
A reasonable fitness level is required – even short walks may include steep climbs – and appropriate clothing and footwear suitable for a variety of weather conditions is essential. Car sharing will be necessary for some of the walks.
Rhodri Davies is well known as a regular caller on the UK Folk Festival scene. While he particularly specialises in contras, he covers a wide variety of styles and these will be in evidence over the week. Based in Stockport, he started dancing at Manchester University through both the folk dance society and the hiking club ceilidhs. It used to be joked that 10% losses were acceptable on any one club hike; Rhodri will be aiming for a much better success rate when teaching the dances!
Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer have developed a strong reputation for a delivering great performances time and time again. Well known for their varied instrumental skills – Scottish smallpipes, accordion, guitar, Swedish nyckelharpa, cowhorn and more – they have developed a sound that is both familiar and fresh. The duo have a great affinity for playing for dancing, and in addition to many festival and dance club appearances, have cornered the market as a ‘zoom band’ during the corona pandemic!
Nan Ward and Roger Phipps are regular walk leader for Halsway Manor. They are keen walkers and have lived for many years in a small hamlet on the Quantocks; they invite you to join them and share their love of the Quantocks.
The Quantocks
The Quantock Hills National Landscape (previously AONB), received its protected status in 1956; its distinctive character, natural beauty and cultural heritage are so outstanding that it is in the nation’s interest to safeguard them. Explore and you will find rocky Jurassic coastline, exposed heathland summits, deep wooded combes, undulating farmland and attractive villages. A haven for wildlife, the Quantocks offer many rare habitats for flora and fauna, and are home to an important population of red deer. Evidence abounds of early settlements; Bronze Age barrows, ancient stones and ridgeways, Iron age hill forts and earthworks. Inspired by this wild hilly ridge, the young rebel poets Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth roamed, writing as they walked, forming the Lyrical Ballads and their notion of English Romanticism.
www.quantockhills.org.uk
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/dancing-and-walking-2026
Dancing at Combe St Nicholas Village Hall alternate Thursdays.
Admission is 4.00 per person and includes a cuppa and a piece of cake!
Group is friendly and inclusive and welcomes everyone who wants a bit of dancing and social chat. Live music and a different caller every fortnight.
4.00
7.30 - 9.30 pm
Contact Neil Arnold: 01460 234693
neil.j.arnold AT gmail.com
Develop your ensemble playing skills on this extended weekend course for musicians. Drawing on European folk/contemporary/popular music traditions, we'll be making new arrangements that can go in any direction! We aim to explore and combine all sorts of influences and ideas to make spine tingling music that is more than the sum of the parts.
The course is fairly intensive and includes all-day ensemble workshop sessions. We will aim to perform all the pieces we create together at a public concert on the Sunday night.
The course was started by musician/composer/arranger Paul James (Blowzabella). He now has handed over the leadership to Merit Zloch, harpist, composer and music tutor from Berlin, Germany. We are delighted that Germán Diaz (Spain) and Matthias Branschke (Germany) will return to tutor in 2026, along with new tutor Michal Müller (Czech Republic) - with Merit taking care of the administration!
As you can see you will be in safe hands with a very experienced tutor team, playing in a mutually supportive atmosphere. We’ll have a lot of fun too with time for relaxation and informal music making.
This is an advanced level course suitable for advanced and advanced-intermediate musicians of ages 18 years and above, any instrument (acoustic, electric, ancient, modern) from any musical background (folk, jazz, rock, classical, early music).
The focus is on learning by ear in the traditional way but it can also be helpful to be able to read sheet music.
To get the most from this course you don’t need to be the greatest musician. You do need to be able to play confidently and be positive, flexible minded and a team player prepared to try things outside your comfort zone.
If you play more than one instrument we advise you to bring it/them as this will help you to get the most from the course in terms of playing easily in different keys/modes, and also to be able to contribute in a way that is sympathetic to the style of the piece (panpipes don’t sound great on everything...). Please let us know your needs on the Participant Info Form – which must be completed once you have booked your place and paid a deposit.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/euro-ensemble-weekend-2026
Shillingstone English Barn Dance Evening
Barn Dance evening. Usual easy and fun dances, friendly atmosphere, but no bar. BYO if you wish. No need to come with a partner.
£7.50
7.15 for 7.30 - 9.15
Contact Jenny and Ian Edlin: 01258 861184
jenny_harrison_1123 AT yahoo.co.uk
An opportunity for young musicians to work with supportive folk artists, to develop skills, confidence and creativity. Help to create a new performance piece to be shared with parents and friends at Halsway at the end of the week!
Musician, composer and educator Becki Driscoll is back as our Creative Lead. For this years’ Young Folk Intro Week she’ll be joined by a team of professional musician-tutors: Matt Norman, Archie Churchill-Moss and Kerrie Seymour.
We’ll be providing an immersive week of music, creativity and fun, in the beautiful surroundings of Halsway Manor. It will be intensive and challenging, but also supportive and fun! Young musicians will spend the week working together to learn, arrange and rehearse new repertoire, developing musical skills and performance technique, and creating their own interpretations of traditional material. The group will live, work and play together, with opportunities for informal rehearsals and social gatherings to enrich their experience and understanding of the folk arts.
Arrival on Monday is from 11.30am and you’ll have your first session with the tutors at 12pm followed by lunch. Before you go home, on Friday at 1pm, there’ll be a chance to perform the pieces you’ve been working on for family and friends. This performance usually lasts for about an hour.
We don’t allow parents to stay on site – these residentials are for young people only. If you’re looking for a musical experience that you can enjoy together, check out our Family Folk course in the summer. Our pastoral lead, Kerrie, helps everyone to settle in and feel at home. We often find that, by the end of the residential, no one wants to leave!
This course is designed as an introduction to folk for young people aged 11-16 (ie secondary school, KS 3 & 4). Prior musical experience is essential, and all acoustic instruments are welcome, but it’s OK if you’re new to folk. If you’re a pianist, you’ll need to bring a keyboard and power supply with you so that you can take part.
It’s intensive and hard work at times, but we guarantee you’ll have fun too and make new friends. If you come away hooked on folk, you might be invited to join us on the Halsway Young Folk ‘Intermediate’ Week in the summer, which culminates in performances at Sidmouth Folk Week!
If you’ve already been to this course and one of the summer courses, the Intro week isn’t really designed for you to participate in again. We want to give young people who haven’t had chance to develop their folk playing or who haven’t tried residential courses before the opportunity to dip their toes in the water in a safe and supportive environment, with other young people who are at the same level of experience. However, if you really feel that taking part again would benefit your musically, get in touch and we’ll work out if there’s space in the group for your instrument.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/halsway-young-folk-intro-2026
See the link for more details and how to book.
Now in its ninth year, our popular Halsway Young Folk Juniors is a great introduction to folk music and song for ages 7 – 12. Led by an experienced creative team, this short residential will be filled with fun and imaginative folk activities, using local traditions and customs as inspiration. Children will explore music and song, and create and perform a show for family and friends.
The course starts at 11am on Wednesday and finishes with a performance for family and friends on Friday afternoon.
For young musicians aged 7 – 12. Any instrument will be welcomed, and we just ask that young people have either had some tuition, or experience of playing their instrument in a group. The main thing, though, is that you enjoy music, song and dance, and being creative!
We don’t allow parents to stay on site – these residentials are for young people only. If you’re looking for a musical experience that you can enjoy together, check out our Family Folk course in the summer. Our pastoral lead, Kerrie, helps everyone to settle in and feel at home. We often find that, by the end of the residential, no one wants to leave!
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/halsway-young-folk-juniors-2026
The the link for more details and how to book.
Join Louise Siddons, band WillPower (Will Allen and Will Chamberlain), and fiddler Linda Game for an intensive weekend of contra dancing. Expect high energy and plenty of action on this workshop-packed weekend, complete with late-night ceilidhs and sessions.
The team will be using gender-free calling to guide you through the dances, with morning workshops available for ‘DIY’ sessions – bring a dance you’d like to work on. To give you an idea of what you might expect on our Contra Camp, here’s the sort of thing we get up to:
Friday
8pm – Dance
10pm – Ceilidh
Midnight onwards – Bar session
Saturday
9.15am – Breakfast
10.15am – DIY workshop
11.30am to 6.15pm – Workshops
8pm – Dance
10pm – Contra Games / Session in the bar
Sunday
9.15am – Breakfast
10.15am – DIY workshop
11.15am to 1pm – Workshops
2pm – Survivors’ dance!
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/contra-camp-2026
Two of the finest innovators within their own country’s traditional music culture, turn a lockdown collaboration into an exciting live show.
Hartwin Dhoore is an accordionist who grew up and is based in Flanders, Belgium. For many years he has been roaming international stages as a professional musician. Inspired by traditional European music, Hartwin has crafted his own style. Performing across Europe, Canada, and the USA his original compositions have found their way to a wide audience.
Ross Grant is a violinist who grew up in the midlands, England. His playing is rooted in English traditional music, but sees him take influence from many genres across the globe. He is a composer, educator and has performed with some of the biggest names in folk music and has toured across Europe.
£16.00
7.45 pm
Contact Taunton Brewhouse: 01823 283244
boxoffice AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/the-folk-series-ross-grant-and-hartwin-dhoore/
Sarah’s stunning distinctive vocals combine her engaging personality and musicianship on acoustic and electric guitars, keyboards and floor tom drum to create a truly immersive experience. Expect a varied programme of original music, folk songs and a few familiar covers. Tickets from www.caryfordhall.co.uk
£12 advance / £15 on door
7.30 pm
Contact Helen Leary helen AT caryfordhall.co.uk
www.caryfordhall.co.uk
A fun and friendly ‘House Party’ for all who enjoy folk dancing and playing and want to try a range of dance styles. There will be dance workshops each morning, afternoons are free to explore this lovely area or take a ramble in the Quantock Hills. Bring your walking boots and instruments. There’s a dance each evening with the occasional music session and sing-around in the bar afterwards.
Whatever your level of experience in dancing and/or playing, come and enjoy a convivial few days with like minded people.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/late-easter-house-party-2026
The Gigspanner Big Band are a unique force in British folk music…
Beginning life as a trio – with legendary Steeleye Span fiddle player Peter Knight being joined by percussionist Sacha Trochet and guitarist Roger Flack – the line-up has been expanded to form the Gigspanner Big Band, with acclaimed multi-instrumental duo Edgelarks (Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin – BBC Folk Awards ‘Best Duo’) and Bellowhead co-founder and melodeon player extraordinaire, John Spiers, joining the fray.
Their high-energy, virtuosic performances appeal equally to traditionalists and to those looking for something more experimental, and they have garnered praise from publications as varied as fRoots,The Telegraph and The Wire, where they were described as ‘melodically folk-rooted yet open and innovative beyond the constraints of genre’.
Their 2025 album 'Turnstone', ended the year with three 'Best Folk Album of 2025' Awards, and three nominations for Album of the Year 2025.
£30.00
8.00 pm
Contact +44 1297 442394
https://www.marinetheatre.com/the-gigspanner-big-band/
+ Five Groats and a Ferret
Bristol based folk rock band known for their energetic, modern take on traditional maritime music and drinking songs. Who is the Ferret? Nobody knows
8.00 pm
Tickets available from: http://ticketsource.co.uk/nailsea-folk-club
Born in Essex, raised by the Devon seaside and making his bones in the bars and clubs of Liverpool, England's one and only John Smith has been at the pioneering forefront of British Folk Guitar Music for twenty years.
He has amassed over 125 million Spotify streams and played his songs all over the world. He cut his teeth opening for the late, great John Martyn, and has since worked with a host of artists including Sarah Jarosz, the Milk Carton Kids, Patty Griffin, Joan Baez, David Gray, Tom Jones and Jackson Browne.
As he marks his 20th anniversary in music this October, John’s new release Gatherings celebrates, revisits, and reimagines songs from his first three albums, with brand new interpretations of his own and audience favourites from over 2,000 live shows.
Reflecting on these treasured compositions, John said: “I’ve learnt as time goes on that the songwriter isn’t necessarily in charge of the songs. Sometimes it feels as if it’s the other way round, that a song will reveal itself fully when it’s ready to be sung.”
Gatherings features guest appearances from Lisa Hannigan, The Staves, Siobhan Miller, Dan Mangan (all vocals) and Adam Levy (guitar). It was produced by John and mixed by Ryan Freeland (Bonnie Raitt, Aimee Mann, Joe Henry, Ray LaMontagne).
Ticket price: From: £24.75
8.00 pm
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/john-smith/
Join singers and choir leaders, Ben & Dom, for a weekend of fun & uplifting harmony singing. This will be a relaxed weekend of singing in glorious harmony and embracing the togetherness of group singing. They will guide you through a mixed tapestry of songs, drawing on music from far and wide, old and new, including folk song and some self-penned creations.
Ben & Dom will teach a selection of accessible and tuneful songs in a relaxed and inclusive way, to open your eyes and ears to the joy of singing with others. We hope that you’ll go home with a tune in your heart, a spring in your step, and a fire in your belly!
This weekend is open to singers of all levels of ability, and no previous singing experience is required. All songs will be taught by ear, so there is no requirement to read sheet music either.
The focus will be on singing together in harmony, though there will, of course, be chance to bring your own songs to the bar in the evening.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/ben-doms-singing-weekend-2026
Welcome back to The Budapest Café Orchestra – a music-driven phenomenon and specialist performance-entertainment outfit, who enthrall audiences everywhere with their infectious energy. The band will sweep you off your feet and stay in your heart forever! Journey from one emotional pole to another – from a desperately tragic evocative heart-rending ancient Jewish melody to a dance from Romania or Russia and all the fiery exuberance that goes along.
7.30pm, doors 7pm
£20/£18 Members & Concessions
https://www.dorchesterarts.org.uk/2025/11/27/fri-17-april-budapest-cafe-orchestra/
The Gigspanner Big Band are a unique force in British folk music…
Beginning life as a trio – with legendary Steeleye Span fiddle player Peter Knight being joined by percussionist Sacha Trochet and guitarist Roger Flack – the line-up has been expanded to form the Gigspanner Big Band, with acclaimed multi-instrumental duo Edgelarks (Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin – BBC Folk Awards ‘Best Duo’) and Bellowhead co-founder and melodeon player extraordinaire, John Spiers, joining the fray.
Their high-energy, virtuosic performances appeal equally to traditionalists and to those looking for something more experimental, and they have garnered praise from publications as varied as fRoots,The Telegraph and The Wire, where they were described as ‘melodically folk-rooted yet open and innovative beyond the constraints of genre’.
Their 2025 album 'Turnstone', ended the year with three 'Best Folk Album of 2025' Awards, and three nominations for Album of the Year 2025.
£30.00
7.30 pm
Phone: +44 1749 834483
https://cedarshallwells.co.uk/events/gigspanner-big-band/
Suntou Susso is a multi-instrumentalist: kora player, percussionist, singer, and composer from The Gambia. Born a Griot in a 700-year-old tradition, the kora – a harp-lute with 22 strings – is unique to the Griots of the Mandinka people. Griots have a unique societal role as oral historians, transmitting and preserving a people’s culture through the generations in song, music, and poetry. His musical abilities are outstanding, perhaps unique for his generation. An in-demand and charismatic performer, he attracted attention as soon as he arrived on the UK music scene.
www.suntoususso.com
8.00 pm
Tickets: £22.50 Full. £21.50 Concessions
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1899089
Sunday 11th January - with guest tutor, Ben Moss
Sunday 22nd February - with guest tutor, Chas Blacker
Sunday 22nd March - with guest tutor, Thomas Gold
Sunday 19th April
Sunday 10th May - with guest tutor, Jon Dyer
1.30- 4.30pm
Tickets available via the website or on the door www.sherbornefolkband.org
info AT sherbornefolkband.org
Sheet music and audio supplied in advance – please email.
Julia: 07527 508 277
Dance workshop from 6 - 7pm
Main dance from 7 - 9.30pm
All welcome, no experience needed
Tea and coffee available
Free town centre parking
£4
Contact Chris Edmunds 07530 103228
chrismartinedmunds AT gmail.com)
https://balcrew.wixsite.com/balcrewkerne
Ruth Notman is a folk singer/songwriter from Nottingham who is, most notably, known for being one of the leading ‘nu-folk revivalists’ in the late 00’s who bridged folk music into the 21st Century and plugged it into a mainstream audience.
Ruth first rocketed into the consciousness of the wider music scene in 2007, at 18 years old, with her debut album ‘Threads’. Notman’s unique voice coupled with her novel and vibrant interpretation of folk songs garnered her overnight national critical acclaim and media attention seldom seen by a small independent release. ‘Threads’ also gained Notman support from luminaries such as BBC Radio 2’s Bob Harris, Kate Rusby and Mike Harding to name a few.
Ruth further cemented her musical stature and identity with extensive touring and the release of her second album, ‘The Life of Lilly’ (2009), which enjoyed similar accolades to her debut.
In 2015, Notman was invited to join the impressive collaborative artist roster of the ‘Evamore’ project where her studio contributions and stunning vocal compositions attracted the late Sinead O’Connor. The song ‘One More Yard’ was released in 2019 and featured Ronnie Wood, Nick Mason and Imelda May.
Notman teamed up with BBC Radio 2 Folk Award-winning artist Sam Kelly in 2019 to record their album ‘Changeable Heart’ with Kate Rusby’s label, Pure Records.
Now, 16 years after her second album, Ruth is preparing to record, what must surely be, the most eagerly awaited album in British folk music.
Ruth will be joined by Saul Rose and Jon Doran.
Saul Rose is a renowned English folk melodeon player and singer known for his work in bands like Waterson:Carthy, Faustus, and Eliza Carthy & The Wayward Band, as well as duos with Maclaine Colston and James Delarre. He is a celebrated figure in the English folk scene, with a long and prolific career spanning numerous albums, awards, and performances, including a role in the West End play War Horse.
Jon Doran is a Newcastle-based folk singer and multi-instrumentalist from Gloucestershire. His captivating song delivery coupled with his effortless and sensitive musicianship landed him a spot in the finals of the 2019 BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards. Jon also plays in an acclaimed duo with Janice Burns and tours with his own band ‘The Northern Assembly.
General admission: £18 Students: £9
Performance starts at 7:30pm, doors from 6:30pm with bar available.
Contact Ilminster Arts Centre: 01460 54973
info AT ilminsterarts.org.uk
www.ilminsterartscentre.com/performances
With the fiddle leading the charge, Noble Jacks are out to take no prisoners with their high-energy foot-stompin’ rhythms, which have taken crowds by storm across the UK and beyond. Nominated Live Act of the Year 2023 by the Americana Music Association UK, Noble Jacks are considered by many to be the finest purveyors of Folk-influenced Americana.
Noble Jacks have been touring relentlessly, with sold out shows across the UK on their headline tours, as well as shows at major festivals including Glastonbury and Bestival. Hailed as the finest purveyors of Folk-influenced Americana, look out as Noble Jacks take the liveliest show around.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £23.50 Full. No concessions
www.noblejacks.com
https://www.thedavidhall.com
Our Guitar Study Week is an intensive and enjoyable guitar-school for steel-string acoustic guitarists, led by three fantastic tutors. You'll have the opportunity to spend a day with each of the tutors in workshops aiming to develop your technique, skills and repertoire - and provide for an enjoyable course of guitar playing in the manor.
The course will help you to develop your skills and confidence, with options to explore finger style, flat-picking, alternative and open tunings, arranging tunes and song accompaniment, chord vocabulary, and useful theory too. Whole group, smaller group and one-to-one teaching, to leave you enthused and inspired! There will be down-time too, for you to practise, jam, socialise and spend quality time with your instrument.
The tutor team bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience embracing a variety of styles and the programme for the week will be subject to change, tailored to the experience and needs of the group.
This course is aimed at acoustic guitarists (steel-strung) of an intermediate level and above, it’s not really suitable for beginners.
As a guide, to get the most from the course you’ll need a grasp of the following topics:
All common open major and minor chords
Familiarity with one or two moveable barre chord shapes
Some basic fingerpicking ability
Steady, even strumming rhythm in 4/4 time
Beyond this, enthusiasm is much more important than skill level; we only ask that you join in to the best of your ability. This week is all about helping you develop your playing, whatever your current level of ability, and sending you away with the inspiration and tools to continue to improve.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/guitar-week-2026
Dancers of all levels are invited to join our fun, friendly weekend and widen their international folk dancing experience.
There is dancing every evening led by Janet Woolbar with Stella Wentworth and Maggie Kaye providing live music, taking you on a journey of discovery around the world teaching wonderfully authentic dances for novices and experienced dancers to enjoy together. There are dance walk-throughs and calling to suit all. Guided walks are arranged during the day in the wonderful Quantock Hills or along the coast. Otherwise, there is plenty to visit locally with time to explore on your own. In the grounds there is also a chance to try out Maypole dancing.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/society-for-international-folk-dancing
A folk/Americana trio, based in the West Country with a cool Laurel Canyon vibe. With a sound reminiscent of the California folk scene of the late 60’s/early 70’s, their three part harmonies have been described as “flawless”, “spine tingling” and “magical”. Tickets from www.caryfordhall.co.uk
£12 advance / £14 on door
7.30 pm
Contact Helen Leary helen AT caryfordhall.co.uk
www.caryfordhall.co.uk
John Jones is best known as the powerful and charismatic singer with Oysterband, veterans of the folk and roots scene since the 1980s. They started as The Whitstable Oyster Company Ceilidh Band, one of the best ceilidh bands in the business, which then evolved into the folk/punk/rock group Oysterband, releasing over 20 albums and playing every major festival in the UK, Europe and Canada. They recorded and toured with some of the UK’s most revered folk artists, including acclaimed tours and two award-winning albums with singer June Tabor.
John’s solo work developed alongside his Oysterband duties. In 2009, he released his first solo album, Rising Road, and began walking between gigs with musicians and fans in a group he called The Reluctant Ramblers. In ten years, the Reluctant Ramblers walked over 1000 miles between shows and John released his second album, Never Stop Moving, in 2015.
Now, with Oysterband saying farewell to their armies of faithful fans across the UK and Europe with their hugely successful The Long Goodbye tour, John is about to embark on his next chapter, enlisting the help of his two long-standing friends and fellow musicians: Ray Cooper a.k.a. Chopper and Al Scott. Ray joined Oysterband in 1990 and brought in the cello sound alongside his bass and backing vocals before leaving in 2013 to go solo. Al has been associated with Oysterband for over 30 years as producer and stand-in guitarist. Al joined the band in 2013.
Between them, the trio play a variety of instruments and will be performing a range of songs and tunes from over the years, from each of their back catalogues, alongside new songs and traditional numbers.
The Song Goes On Tour launches across the UK in Spring 2026, with further dates planned at summer festivals and in winter 2026, and with European shows in the pipeline as well. So whilst one chapter may be coming to an end, another is just beginning: The Song Goes On!
8.00 pm
www.oysterband.co.uk
Tickets: £24.50 Full. £23.50 Concessions
https://www.thedavidhall.com
The Sam Sweeney Trio brings together three of the UK’s most compelling folk musicians to play music from across Sam’s discography: Sam Sweeney (violin), Ben Nicholls (double bass), and Louis Campbell (guitar). Known for his expressive playing and bold musical vision, Sweeney leads the trio through richly textured arrangements of traditional and original material. With Nicholls’ deep, resonant bass and Campbell’s innovative guitar work, the trio crafts a sound that is both grounded in English folk tradition and alive with contemporary energy.
Sam Sweeney is widely regarded as one of the finest fiddle players of his generation. A member of Bellowhead and Leveret, and now an acclaimed solo artist, Sam has carved out a unique space in contemporary folk music — blending English fiddle traditions with cinematic composition and innovative ensemble work. His playing is known for its expressiveness, virtuosity, and storytelling power.
Joining him is Ben Nicholls, a double bass player renowned for his inimitable tone and groove. With a background that spans many genres, Ben brings depth and drive to the trio’s sound. A long-time collaborator with Seth Lakeman and a seasoned session musician, his trademark sound provides the perfect foundation for the group’s intricate interplay.
On guitar is Louis Campbell, a rising star of the British folk scene whose playing defies categorization. Combining dazzling technical skill with an instinctive understanding of harmony and space, Louis adds colour and edge to the trio. His innovative approach to accompaniment and melody makes him a captivating musical presence.
Together, the Sam Sweeney Trio creates music that is at once intimate and expansive — weaving traditional English melodies with contemporary arrangement, improvisation, and a deep sense of musical conversation. Whether reinterpreting ancient tunes or unveiling new compositions, the trio captivates audiences with their precision, passion, and powerful storytelling through music.
Bar opens 6:30 P.M.
Starts 7:30 P.M.
Advance £21.00
On the door £25.00
10% off for members
Unreserved Seating
Book online at any time, at the Lyme Regis Bookshop and Bridport Tourist Information Centre during normal opening hours, the Marine on Monday mornings 10 – 1, and over the phone on 01308 424901. The displayed price includes a £1 restoration levy.
Our booking fees cover the cost of providing ticketing services and software. We don't charge this to make a profit, but it contributes to our overheads as a charity.
https://www.marinetheatre.com/sam-sweeney-trio/
We’re really delighted to welcome Marit Fält to Halsway for the next in our series of courses for plucked strings (following on from two brilliant years with Jon Doran!).
The course will focus on instrumental music played on two-course instruments. Marit will cover a range of techniques and skills, and look at how to get the most out of your instruments as both a tune player and an accompanist. Although you won’t be focusing solely on repertoire from any specific geographical area, there will definitely be a Swedish polska or two thrown in as a nod to Marit’s Scandinavian roots.
You’ll spend most of your time learning together as a group, with some opportunities to divide into smaller groups during the week.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/plucked-tunes-techniques-may-2026
The Halsway Playford Weekend is always a stimulating and enjoyable experience, and we are delighted to welcome back dancing master Andrew Swaine along with musicians Josh Newman, Mitch Keely, and Louis Thurman who together form The Oakstone Trio for the 2026 event.
A vigorous and fun weekend of dancing, the course is aimed at dancers – both experienced and new to Playford are welcome – who want to explore the music and dances published in the English Dancing Master.
An extremely brief history of Playford, in Andrew’s words: “John Playford was a publisher in the mid-17th century who published a lot of “country dances” which were being danced in the English Inns of Court at the time. It’s commonly believed that that they were initially dances for light relief based on what the common folk were doing, but dancing masters got involved and many of the dances are quite elaborate! They evolved considerably when Charles II came back from exile and country dancing became very popular throughout the nation and much of Western Europe, declining in the early 19th century. At the beginning of the 20th century Cecil Sharp, reviving interest in all things traditionally English, reinterpreted and and taught these dances.”
Andrew likes to promotes a relatively lively and accessible style of Playford dancing, aiming to rediscover what made these dances fun in the first place. Expect a varied and joyful programme of workshops and social dancing, aimed at interpreting the dances for a modern audience with enthusiasm and enjoyment, whilst also setting the dances in historical context and referring back to the original sources.
There will be a Playford Assembly Ball on the Saturday evening – costume strongly encouraged!
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/playford-assembly-2026
West country-based Gaz Brookfield is predominantly a solo musician. Although, on occasion you will find him on stage with his band, The Company of Thieves.
He was the first independent musician to sell out Bristol's, The Fleece, (450 cap), and The Bierkeller, (750 cap), and SWX, (1000 cap).
Gaz has an impressive back catalogue of nine studio albums. The latest of which, Morning Walking Club, went straight in at #1 in the Official UK Folk Album Charts, #3 in the Official UK Indie Breaker Charts, #6 in the Official UK Download Charts, #10 in the Official UK Indie Album Charts, and even #37 in the Official UK Album Sales Charts.
Not a bad result for this fiercely independent musician, with no record label, no manager, and no agent - just a guitar, a van, and a steadfastly belligerent refusal to give in.
Tickets: £15. No concessions
Please note that The David Hall is not selling tickets for this event.
To book tickets visit https://wegottickets.com/event/673321
https://www.thedavidhall.com
Sunday 11th January - with guest tutor, Ben Moss
Sunday 22nd February - with guest tutor, Chas Blacker
Sunday 22nd March - with guest tutor, Thomas Gold
Sunday 19th April
Sunday 10th May - with guest tutor, Jon Dyer
1.30- 4.30pm
Tickets available via the website or on the door www.sherbornefolkband.org
info AT sherbornefolkband.org
Sheet music and audio supplied in advance – please email.
Julia: 07527 508 277
Our much loved annual midweek Spring American Contra course is hosted by Meg Griffin, with a great all-American team of caller Diane Silver and music from Contra Sutra (USA).
There will be dance and music workshops in the mornings, afternoons are free for you to explore this lovely area, and there are dances every evening. This is a really popular week so early booking is advised.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/american-contra-2026
Together for fifty six years now, Steeleye Span changed the face of folk music forever by taking it into the world of gold discs and international tours. Now they return with Conflict, their first full studio album in over five years. All traditional singers have sung modern and self-composed pieces alongside old songs, Conflict is an album that follows in that very tradition. The album’s title was chosen as much to reflect the times we find ourselves in, but also the stretch and tear of our relationship with this planet that hosts us.
The band will undertake a full UK tour in support, their first live dates of the year. As ever – and with such a rich history to choose from – the night will offer a selection of songs from across the years and firm fan favourites.
£33.00
7.30 pm
Contact Taunton Brewhouse: 01823 283244
boxoffice AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/folk-rock-pioneers-steeleye-span-in-concert/
Jon Boden performs alongside his band, The Remnant Kings. Expect Boden’s Waitsian parlour ballads and Napoleonic power-pop, as well as the band's sixteen-year back-catalogue of traditional and original songs and tunes. Bringing together some of the biggest names in English folk music, Jon and the Remnant Kings deliver a deep understanding of traditional music with musical audacity and theatrical brio.
Jon Boden has become the ‘stand out performer of his generation’ (The Guardian) of traditional folk artists, but one whose repertoire extends far beyond the boundaries of the genre.
He is best known as the lead singer and main arranger of the progressive folk juggernaut Bellowhead who achieved a quarter of a million album sales, seven singles on the Radio 2 playlist, and sold out hundreds of venues, notably the Royal Albert Hall.
Meanwhile in 2009, Jon founded his band, The Remnant Kings. Originally formed to perform the album ’Songs from the Floodplain’, the first in his post-apocalyptic trilogy of albums, the band have reunited and relaunched to record subsequent albums. These include: ‘Afterglow’ in 2017, ‘Rose In June’ (2019), performances of Jon’s final album in the trilogy, ‘Last Mile Home’ (2021), and their latest album ‘Parlour Ballads’ (Hudson Records) – released Sept ’24.
The Remnant Kings feature the enormous talents of Sam Sweeney (Bellowhead), Rob Harbron (Leveret), Ben Nicholls (Seth Lakeman Band), Sally Hawkins (Bellowhead) and the vocals and pedal-steel guitar of cult singer-songwriter M.G. Boulter.
Bar opens 6:30 P.M.
Starts 7:30 P.M.
Advance seated £24.00
Advance standing £21.00
On the door seated £29.00
On the door standing £26.00
10% off for members
Unreserved Seating
Book online at any time, at the Lyme Regis Bookshop and Bridport Tourist Information Centre during normal opening hours, the Marine on Monday mornings 10 – 1, and over the phone on 01308 424901. The displayed price includes a £1 restoration levy.
Our booking fees cover the cost of providing ticketing services and software. We don't charge this to make a profit, but it contributes to our overheads as a charity.
https://www.marinetheatre.com/jon-boden-and-the-remnant-kings/
A very popular dance weekend for experienced dancers. Join the A-team of callers Maggie Daniel and Lucy Slemmings, and Irish musicians Rise the Dust for another rip-roaring weekend at Halsway.
Maggie and Lucy will teach daytime workshops helping you to brush up on your skills, and there will be ceilidhs on Friday evening, Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon for you to enjoy dancing to top-notch live accompaniment. We recommend that you book early for this course!
There’s the option to stay Sunday night for an extra £60 per person, to include light supper, B&B. Bring instruments if you have them, and enjoy a relaxed evening session!
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/irish-set-2026
“His song-writing comes straight from the heart, the melodies fall under his fingers. This is folk music at its best.” – Pete Townshend `
Tickets available from: http://ticketsource.co.uk/nailsea-folk-club
Plumhall (Michelle Plum and Nick B Hall) are an acclaimed UK song-writing duo known for their beautiful vocal harmonies and powerful blend of acoustic guitars and occasional electric instrumentation. Their original songs have earned them widespread acclaim.
In 2024, the duo completed a successful 30-date tour as special guests of Fairport Convention on their Winter Tour, with Fairport joining Plumhall on stage each night to perform “One Star Awake,” the title track of Plumhall's latest album, which also features Fairport's Ric Sanders. They were thrilled to be invited to perform at Costa Festival in Ibiza in May. They then reunited with Fairport at the Cropredy Convention in August, where they performed as part of an extended Fairport lineup including Ralph McTell. They will be performing a full band set at Cropredy in August 2025, and plans are are in the pipeline for a future collaborative project with Fairport's one time member Iain Matthews, and Andy Roberts.
From the Alt-Country feel of their debut album to the more experimental sound of the follow-up, Plumhall have shown their ability to blend strong song-writing with diverse musical influences. Their much-anticipated third album, One Star Awake, was released in June 2024 to critical acclaim.
8.00 pm
www.plumhallmusic.co.uk
Tickets: £17.50 Full. £16.50 Concessions
https://www.thedavidhall.com
With a shared passion for modern bluegrass, The Charlotte Carrivick Band brings together four of the most exciting musicians in the UK today. Charlotte Carrivick is a flatpicking guitarist of international renown, sought for her inventive lead playing and regarded as an expert fiddle tune interpreter on the guitar.
Joining Charlotte is long time collaborator and in-demand fiddler, Kieran Towers (Pet Yeti); master of tone and taste, Evan Davies, on the mandolin (The Often Herd); and the firm hand of fellow Midnight Skyracer bassist, Eleanor Wilkie. Together, their music is at times joyous, poignant, dark, pensive or exuberant with virtuosic instrumentals and close harmony singing.
As a founding member of IBMA award nominated, Island Records signed bluegrass powerhouse band, Midnight Skyracer, and one half of the more folk infused and award winning duo The Carrivick Sisters, Charlotte’s taste covers the breadth of the genre as well as taking influence from old time and jazz. It was during the recording of her debut solo album, showcasing her guitar playing and tune writing, that the band was formed.
If you are a fan of new acoustic music, bluegrass, old time and swing you won’t want to miss this band.
Ticket price: From: £20
8:00pm
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-charlotte-carrivick-band/
With Celtic and Eastern influences, the 3 Daft Monkeys’ dynamic style of World Folk music reflects the global village in which we now live. Their infectious dancing rhythms lead you through a musical journey of the senses and emotions and will leave you breathless, enthralled, and exhilarated.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
www.3daftmonkeys.co.uk
https://www.thedavidhall.com
+ Louella Jade Eke
The Ocelots’ UK tour – celebrating their acclaimed second album, Everything, When Said Slowly – highlights the twins’ rich blend of folk, indie and rock.
Twin brothers, Ashley and Brandon Watson from Wexford, Ireland, explore themes of Irish migration, the perception of time, love and the simple joys of cycling through their music.
Blood harmonies are the centre of The Ocelots’ sound – the imperfections of a voice breaking or a tempo shifting. The twins blend absurdity and sincerity in an array of literature-inspired musings. Their imagery is very much urban, living outside of the romanticised world of cottage-core nostalgia.
Supported by Louella Jade Eke
“Louella’s astonishing lyrical range is capable of evoking anything. Projecting folk and blues across a contemporary backdrop with crystalline clarity.” NME
From £16; students £14. 10% off for BAC Supporters
7:30PM
https://www.bridport-arts.com/event/the-ocelots/
We’re delighted to be hosting another enjoyable summer weekend of Ukulele music and song for players of all levels of experience.
The mix of the three tutors is what makes this course special. Jon deals with the ‘tools of the trade’, introducing new fingerstyle and strumming techniques along with some theory. Sam takes you down the classical route with tablature and ensemble playing. Phil is a jazz and blues specialist who introduces a bit of extra spice in your playing. There will be plenty of time to relax and socialize too. The evenings include opportunities to perform your own material, plus enjoy an informal concert on the Saturday by the tutors.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/ukulele-weekend-2026
The Unthanks have been described as “a take on tradition that flips so effortlessly between jazz, classical, ambient and post-rock, it makes any attempt to put a label on them a waste of time”.
Using the traditional music of the North East of England as a starting point, the influence of Miles Davis, Steve Reich, Sufjan Stevens, Robert Wyatt, Antony & The Johnsons, King Crimson and Tom Waits makes The Unthanks a unique band, earning them a Mercury Music Prize nomination and international acclaim along the way.
Ticket price: From: £35.20
7:30
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/the-unthanks/
Phil Beer is the multi-instrumental half of the west country’s award-winning acoustic duo, Show of Hands. With a professional career of over 36 years, Phil has a great deal of material to draw on for his solo appearances, which are an eclectic mix of traditional tunes, covers of Springsteen or The Hollies, together with his own compositions and songs from his contemporaries.
All are songs and music of memory and significance sung in the subtle and melodic Phil Beer style and interjected with musings and amusings to an almost personal audience. It is a treat of past and current favourites from one of the most popular musicians on the acoustic circuit.
7.30pm
£23
https://www.bridgwaterartscentre.co.uk/event/phil-beer/
Being ‘happily stranded’ in New Zealand in 2020 launched Good Habits’ full-time musical adventure, and their joyous genre-fusion has received international critical acclaim.
Originally a duo composed of Bonnie Schwarz (cello + vocals) and Pete Shaw (accordion + synths + perc), Good Habits mix revved-up virtuosity, harmony, and vivid storytelling into an action-packed narrative of genre-bending goodness. In 2025, Good Habits evolve into a trio, welcoming drummer Jenny Walinetski (Miles Kane) into the band. This addition brings a high-energy, full-band sound, pushing their Indie-Folk fusion into dynamic new territory.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
www.goodhabitsband.com
https://www.thedavidhall.com
An un-tutored course for experienced singers and players of early instruments.
Non-fixed ensembles of recorders and viols form the main part of the week with a variety of small singing groups depending on participants. Evening sessions for all are conducted and include music for instruments and voices. All of these sessions are at 440 pitch. We usually have harpsichords available and arrange chamber groups at 440 and 415 and are also able to welcome baroque oboe, flute, and violin as second instruments. Cornett, cornamuse, sackbut, curtal and crumhorn are also welcome as second instruments and we can usually arrange sessions for these. The repertoire is primarily renaissance and baroque.
The association organises two meeting a year (end May and mid-September). Those who wish to join us must be experienced on viol and/or recorder, able to play one to a part, and be good sight readers. We welcome additional harpsichords (the owner will not be expected to play continuo exclusively all week).
This course is a partnership event, organised by The Voices, Viols and Recorders Association who can be contacted via Halsway Manor or directly through our email vvr-association AT hotmail.com
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/voices-viols-recorders-association-1
Do you enjoy playing for dancing, but need some inspiration to transform your playing from toe-tapping to foot-stomping? This is the course for you! While emphasising confident, passionate playing to serve and uplift the dancers, the team, led by pianist Jacqueline Schwab, will help you to explore various contemporary English dance styles with tunes old and new (some driving and percussive; others more songlike and flowing). You’ll create simple, vigorous basslines, improvise alternate melodic paths, and attempt to drive the rhythm while also lilting the melodies. You’ll be encouraged to experiment — at your own playing level — to discover and then confidently play your new ideas.
The team will be encouraging you to practise your existing skills and techniques for playing for dancing, while building on these skills as you build on your repertoire and ideas. You’ll be working as a whole group, as well as dividing into smaller groups to create some improvisatory arrangements together, in both guided and self-led sessions.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/playing-for-dancing-2026
Laura Wilkie is a Fiddle player from Tain in the Highlands of Scotland. She has a unique style which has roots in the Highland fiddle traditions but is influenced by an eclectic range of music from all genres.
Her latest project ‘Vent’ is centred around ancient women’s work songs – Waulking songs. She studied these to adapt them for the fiddle, immersing herself in the Scottish archives as well as having them passed on from friend, tradition bearer and one-woman-ceilidh, Rona Lightfoot.
Laura has toured across the world in various different groups and artists within the contemporary folk music scene, including Kinnaris Quintet, guitar-virtuoso Ian Carr, Ross Ainslie, Salsa Celtica, NITEWORKS and with Scots Singers, Claire Hastings, Beth Malcolm & Siobhan Miller.
As a founding member of Glasgow-based Jazz/Funk/R&B/Synth/Folk Juggernaut, Fat-Suit, Laura has been inspired to play with elements of improvisation in different styles, making her a versatile influence on each project. Collaborations include performing, writing and arranging with top bands and artists including Shooglenifty, Man of the Minch, Rachel Sermanni, The Elephant Sessions, Paul Towndrow’s Keywork Orchestra, Fatherson, GRIT Orchestra and many more.
Now is the time for Laura to shine in her own right and demonstrate what a versatile, creative and adept artist she is.
£16.00
7.45 pm
Contact Taunton Brewhouse: 01823 283244
boxoffice AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/the-folk-series-laura-jane-wilkie/
Cara Dillon, an extraordinary, multiple award-winning Irish folk singer, and acclaimed musician and producer Sam Lakeman, will captivate listeners once again with their exquisite and enthralling live performance. Every note and word sung with a passion and confidence earned through a life of experience
singing traditional songs. Throughout an enviable career which has seen them explore opportunities to tread many different paths, Cara has continuously chosen to firmly plant herself within the landscape of her Irish cultural heritage and that’s something to celebrate.
www.caradillon.co.uk
8.00 pm
Tickets: £29. No concessions
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1899205
A huge privilege to be hosting this concert. A thrilling combination of instrumental brilliance, heartfelt songs and unforgettable live energy. Early Bird tickets available!
8.00 pm
Tickets available from: http://ticketsource.co.uk/nailsea-folk-club
John McCusker, one of Folk music's most celebrated musicians and producers, marks over 30 years at the heart of the tradition. From his award-winning solo records to worldwide tours with Mark Knopfler and the legendary Transatlantic Sessions, his influence is woven through the scene. In this new trio, he's joined by two of the most exciting voices of the next generation: BBC Folk Award winner Sam Kelly and acclaimed multi-instrumentalist Toby Shaer. Together they balance experience and fresh energy, creating a live show rich in masterful playing, powerful songs, and the thrill of established tradition meeting new possibilities.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £23.50 Full. £22.50 Concessions
www.johnmccusker.co.uk
https://www.thedavidhall.com
Raised in the East Yorkshire flatlands on the fringes of Hull (UK), Katie Spencer’s landscape has always been that of open skies and widening rivers. It is this sense of space and movement that flows through her assured guitar style and songwriting.
Her writing, and most notably her guitar playing stems from a time when the steel-stringed instrument was truly finding its voice. Artists like Joni Mitchell, Judee Sill, Julie Byrne and perhaps most evidently Michael Chapman, weave into her sound. Katie absorbs these influences into her song-writing and with her distinctive deep vibrato and crystal-clear guitar style, she makes the music inimitably her own.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full. £17.50 Concessions
www.katiespencer.net
https://www.thedavidhall.com
Dance workshop from 6 - 7pm
Main dance from 7 - 9.30pm
All welcome, no experience needed
Tea and coffee available
Free town centre parking
£4
Contact Chris Edmunds 07530 103228
chrismartinedmunds AT gmail.com)
https://balcrew.wixsite.com/balcrewkerne
The Irish House Party is the ultimate feel-good Irish music and dance show. There are no twee costumes or backing tracks here. Instead you get incredibly talented musicians and dancers who simply want to bring you the sound and fun of Ireland in an intimate and homely setting. Combining lively traditional Irish music, song and dance with infectious comedy, it is a theatre going experience not to be missed! Look forward to seeing you at The Irish House Party!
Tickets: £25.00
Concessions: £23.50
Footlights/Groups 10+: Discount applies
A £1.50 ticket levy is included in all stated ticket prices.
All bookings are subject to a £2 transaction Fee.
https://www.westlandsyeovil.co.uk/whats-on/music/the-irish-house-party/
The Sam Sweeney Trio brings together three of the UK’s most compelling folk musicians to play music from across Sam’s discography: Sam Sweeney (violin), Ben Nicholls (double bass), and Louis Campbell (guitar).
Known for his expressive playing and bold musical vision, Sweeney leads the trio through richly textured arrangements of traditional and original material. With Nicholls’ deep, resonant bass and Campbell’s innovative guitar work, the trio crafts a sound that is both grounded in English folk tradition and alive with contemporary energy.
Ticket price: From: £20
8:00
https://www.lighthousepoole.co.uk/event/sam-sweeney/
Aidan Moodie (Guitar/Vocals) Graham Rorie (Fiddle/Mandolin/Electric Tenor Guitar) Connor Sinclair (Flute/Whistles/Vocals) Craig Baxter (Bodhran/Percussion)
Gnoss’ signature sound is a rich tapestry of acoustic layers; outstanding musicianship, deep traditional roots and contemporary compositional flair combine to create songs and tunes brimming with character. Triple Scots Trad Music Awards nominees, the band have built an invested following through their forward-thinking take on Traditional music and the unique warmth of their live shows.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £20.50 Full. £19.50 Concessions
www.gnossmusic.com
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1900025
Sheelanagig have been whipping up a storm of foot-stomping, roof-raising, high-energy live Folk for nigh on twenty years. With an arsenal of strings, soaring flute, pounding drums and a sprinkle of fairy dust they spin melodies that have set feet flying all across the globe. Their shows are a heady mix of raucous dance medleys and thoughtfully crafted original pieces feverishly brimming with fire, flair and finesse. Floors tremble and windows rattle in their presence; these rapturous minstrels are not to be missed under any circumstance.
Tickets: £20.50 Full. £19.50 Concessions
www.sheelanagig.co.uk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1900034
One of the UK's high rising songwriters Sarah Yeo, performs material in her own "beautiful voice" (BBC) from Joan's early career from the first recording, 'Harvard Square' and onward through her lengthy journey to date, telling pivotal stories and singing key songs from the Newport Festival days, her Years in Nashville, activism around the world, her relationship both on and off the stage with Bob Dylan, and her love of recording just great songs.
The set list takes note of the political climate in 2025 and includes self penned songs 'Diamonds and Rust', 'The Winds of the Old Days', Dylan greats such as 'Love Is Just A Four Letter Word', 'There But For Fortune', 'Farewell Angelina' and the wonderful catalogue from songwriters Stevie Wonder, Phil Ochs, Janis Ian and not forgetting the early Folk covers, 'The Banks of the Ohio', 'House of the Rising Sun' and many more hits. Sarah also delves into the Spanish language repertoire Joan loved so much.
Sarah's 'warm rich voice' with sweet higher notes, lends itself perfectly for this special evening of songs and stories, on this the hometown date of the tour.
As Sarah learns more about Miss Baez's life and career, she feels she really can relate to her in many ways, making the project a very personal and inspiring experience.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £16.50 Full. £15.50 Concessions
https://www.sarahyeomusic.co.uk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1919245
This entertaining duo bring a carefully curated repertoire plus self-penned songs drawing on early bluegrass, old-time mountain music, country blues and their own Scots-Irish Roots. Influences range from The Stanley Brothers, The Carter Family, Doc Watson and Hazel Dickens through to Patsy Cline. They present an authentic sound driven by guitars, clawhammer banjo and percussive Appalachian step dancing. Tickets available from www.caryfordhall.co.uk
£10 advance / £12 on door
7.30 pm
Contact Helen
helen AT caryfordhall.co.uk
www.caryfordhall.co.uk
Kimmeridge Keilidh - All Welcome! No bar, so bring your own drinks & nibbles
Adults £7.50 under 16s £2.50
7:30 - 10:00
Contact Steve & Helen Earwicker: 01929 480737
arish.mel AT btinternet.com
www.earwicker.org/arish_mel.htm
Dance workshop from 6 - 7pm
Main dance from 7 - 9.30pm
All welcome, no experience needed
Tea and coffee available
Free town centre parking
£4
Contact Chris Edmunds 07530 103228
chrismartinedmunds AT gmail.com)
https://balcrew.wixsite.com/balcrewkerne
Holly Clarke, a singer who draws from the old ballads and stories, conjures a performance that immediately captivates any listener. As a performer, Holly transports the listener into the heart of ballads, immersing them in the narratives that have shaped humanities experience through time. From songs of the supernatural and folklore, to the tales of love and loss, Holly Clarke sings with an infectious energy and passion for traditional song. Rising in popularity among folk audiences and performing with the likes of Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Daoiri Farrell and Queer Folk, Holly Clarke has made a name for herself as a powerful singer and accomplished guitar player. Performing at festivals and venues such as The Glasshouse International Centre For Music, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Bromyard Folk Festival, Tiree Music Festival, The Fire Station Sunderland and many, many more.
Alongside Holly’s affinity for traditional ballads, she is a strong composer in her own right, with her tune compositions being performed by Norwegian Hardanger Fiddle legend Annbjørg Lien and Shetland’s very own Catriona Macdonald. Outside of performing, between 2019 to 2020 Holly was The Glasshouse International Centre for music’s Artist in Residence specialising in Traditional Folk Song and Ballads. As well as performing solo, Holly has a duo with George Sansome (Granny’s Attic), The powerhouse band RE:VULVA (Amy Thatcher, Janice Burns, Cathy Geldard) and also gigs with the trio ‘Holly and the Reivers’, featuring Newcastle based musicians Bertie Armstrong (Banjo and Voice) and Merle Harbron (Fiddle and Voice), with whom she supported the legendary Billy Bragg at Folk on the Tyne Fest.
£16.00
7.45 pm
Contact Taunton Brewhouse: 01823 283244
boxoffice AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/the-folk-series-holly-clarke/
Multi-award winning Merry Hell offer joyful, uplifting Folk-Rock, with a message for troubled times. Native to the North-West of England, the 8-piece musical charabanc was built from the embers of the much loved folk-punk band The Tansads, developing a life and feel all of its own. Their energy and passion is are complemented by their love of what they do and desire to share hope and togetherness with as many people as are willing to listen. With chart hit album releases, positive press and radio reviews and plays, major festival appearances and a host of sell out gigs, everything points to a band not to be missed!
Tickets: £19 Full. £18 Concessions
www.merryhell.co.uk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1936515
Recognised with a double page feature in global Guitarist magazine, Jon is a guitarist of exceptional calibre. His stand-out talent has received regular acclaim from publications such as Uncut Magazine and The Guardian.
With his latest album, Needless Alley, has come a further raft of appreciation – ‘Wilks is a genuine gem in British folk and beyond.’ (Songlines ****). ‘Wilks fully deserves his place alongside names such as Jansch, Carthy and Simpson.’ (KlofMag) His penultimate album was chosen as The Guardian Folk Album of the Month. His recent music career includes five solo albums and one EP.
Released on 19th September 2025, Jon’s 5th solo album is a patchwork of memories, “what you’d find if you rummaged around in my head for an afternoon.” Both lyrically and sonically, Needless Alley looks back at the sounds Jon connected with in his teens, shaped by early songwriting instincts and formative band experiences. With influences including Nick Drake, The Pentangle, Paul Simon and other folk luminaries the album never strays too far from the folk music he’s become known for. The title and title track relate to a street in Birmingham, Jon’s home city, on which he used to busk as a teenager.
With this album Jon makes a shift from his previous, more traditional repertoire to a collection of nearly all original songs. It’s a recording that is set to unite Jon’s heartfelt songwriting with his wide-ranging influences and experience in traditional music and far beyond.
£16.00
7.45 pm
Contact Taunton Brewhouse: 01823 283244
boxoffie AT tauntonbrewhosue.co.uk
https://www.tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk/events/the-folk-series-jon-wilks-in-concert/
Dance workshop from 6 - 7pm
Main dance from 7 - 9.30pm
All welcome, no experience needed
Tea and coffee available
Free town centre parking
£4
Contact Chris Edmunds 07530 103228
chrismartinedmunds AT gmail.com)
https://balcrew.wixsite.com/balcrewkerne
Hailing from the Isle of Skye, the legendary Scottish trailblazers have created a glorious mixture of traditional sounds and dance-floor grooves that have been embraced worldwide. Drawing upon a dazzling myriad of influences from jigs and reels through Dance Music, Jazz, African, and more, they bring the sound of Scotland fresh-faced and breathless to the new audiences around the world.
Starts 8pm
Doors/bars open 7pm
£26 adv / door
(14+ / U18 must be accompanied by an adult)
https://www.electricpalace.org.uk/events/event/peatbog-faeries/
Bellowhead celebrate the 20th anniversary of their full-length debut album. The 11-piece folk outfit made a watertight case for ‘big being beautiful’ with the release of which features songs including London Town, Frog’s Legs and Dragon’s Teeth and Rigs of The Time.
Showcasing their unique blend of traditional English folk music with a modern big- band sound, Bellowhead went on to record another 4 studio albums (selling over a quarter of a million copies), were the proud recipients of 2 x silver discs and won a staggering 8 x BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards before calling it a day in 2016. After a hiatus and prompted by a record-breaking online stream during the pandemic, the band reunited for a joyous sold-out tour in 2022 and repeated the success in 2024 as they celebrated their own 20th anniversary. Both tours reaffirmed their status as one of the biggest and most in demand UK folk acts.
Doors & bars 7:00 PM
Show start 8:00 PM
£39.60 (inc. fees)
https://bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/bellowhead-tour-83ms
Dance workshop from 6 - 7pm
Main dance from 7 - 9.30pm
All welcome, no experience needed
Tea and coffee available
Free town centre parking
Free as it's Christmas (usually £4)
Contact Chris Edmunds 07530 103228
chrismartinedmunds AT gmail.com)
https://balcrew.wixsite.com/balcrewkerne