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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Good Habits are a dynamic Indie-folk band with a knack for turning existential musings into bursts of relentless optimism.
With vocals, cello, accordion, synths and drums at their core, they carve out a sound that’s virtuosic, cinematic and unapologetically fun. A blend of folk-ish storytelling, groove-driven energy and existential hope.
Formed by singer-cellist Bonnie Schwarz and accordionist/synth Pete Shaw, this couple began their band’s journey with a twist of fate: stranded in New Zealand during the pandemic, they set about transforming their temporary home into a whirlwind of creativity.
They fell in love with troubadour life of sharing songs, swapping stories, and building real human connections wherever they went. That sense of adventure, of music as both anchor and passport, has remained at the heart of their identity as they came home.
In 2025, Good Habits evolved into a new powerhouse line-up with the addition of drummer Jen Walinetski (Miles Kane), supercharging their already dynamic live show with a rhythmic drive that has electrified audiences. Together, they create performances that are equal parts virtuosic musicianship, mischievous energy, and deeply meaningful connection.
Their UK Top 40 Folk charting album ‘Quarter-Life’ won praise from BBC Radio 2, 6 Music, and 5 Live, and glowing reviews describing their sound as “musicianship at its 21st century best” (Tom Robinson, BBC), alongside recent festival appearances at Glastonbury, WOMAD, Cambridge, Green Man, Kendal Calling and much more
Good Habits thrive on connection. With ‘Better for Now’ out in October, their first album as a trio, Good Habits are stepping boldly into their next chapter: a vibrant, optimistic collision of stories, songs and sheer musical joy.
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
£15 ADVANCE + BOOKING FEE
All Standing - 18+ Show
7.00 pm
https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/events/good-habits/
What are the stories you thought you’d never tell?
Join BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award winner Maddie Morris, described by Jim Moray as “leading the next generation of socially conscious songwriters,” for an intimate and powerful live show. Blending folk, protest song, and personal storytelling,
In this new show, Maddie invites you on a journey through stories of their life, while opening space for you to explore your own. Blending folk traditions and protest song with their perspective as a queer autistic person, this show examines identity, gender, disability, survival, and joy in community with warmth, humour, and honesty.
A hopeful and generous storyteller, Maddie creates a welcoming and inclusive space for all, rooted in connection, creativity, and community for all and especially for those who don’t feel at home in traditional live music settings.
Tickets from £16, Under 25’s £10 (ID required)
7.30 pm
https://www.bridport-arts.com/event/maddie-morris-songs-and-stories/
Barn dance
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
7.15 for 7.30 - 9.30
Contact Sally Condon: 01300 348250
riverpiddle2 AT icloud.com
Barn Dance for Charity at the North Down Cider Orchard near Haselbury Plucknett. Dancing from 7.30, bar from 6.00, food available to buy from Popsthaikitchen.
Tickets from the North Down Farm website, www.northdownorchard.com.
£10
7.30 - 10.30
Contact David Mangles
david AT northdownfarm.co.uk
www.northdownorchard.com
Honey & the Bear have been a tour de force on the UK festival circuit in recent years. The British folk and roots duo bring folklore to life with delicately interweaving vocal harmonies inside a dynamic world of songwriting. With a diverse range of sounds and textures, and rhythms that flow from the fast and furious to gentle ballads, their live performances are spirited and enthralling.
Conjuring stories in song, they tell tales of Suffolk folklore, courageous people they admire and their passion for nature which has been enchanting audiences up and down the country.
The multi-instrumentalist pair, comprised of songwriters Jon Hart (guitar, bass, bouzouki) and Lucy Hart (guitar, ukulele, bass, banjo, mandolin & percussion), are joined on-stage for this show by band guests Toby Shaer (Fiddle/Flutes/Whistles) and Archie Churchill-Moss (Melodeon) who also feature on all three Honey & The Bear studio albums.
Their new album "A Wish and a Tide" was released in April 2026.
www.honeyandthebear.co.uk
8.00 pm
Tickets: £18.50 Full, £17.50 Concessions.
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2221347
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/
For those who appreciate lively sing-alongs featuring classic sea-faring tunes, our much-loved local shanty group, Half a Shanty, is sure to impress. Their energetic performances ignite the spirit of camaraderie and adventure, inviting everyone to join in with heartfelt choruses. Tickets from www.caryfordhall.co. uk and on the door.
£5
4.00 - 6.00 pm
https://www.caryfordhall.co.uk
The workshops are suitable for all levels and acoustic instruments. Sheet music and audio supplied in advance – please email.
1:30 - 4:30 pm
Admission: £20 on the door
Or cheaper when paid in advance via the website.
www.sherbornefolkband.org
info AT sherbornefolkband.org
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
A session with added feet!
Musicians, dancers and singers (and listeners) all welcome.
8.00 pm
Contact Steve Cunio: 07811 680534
steve AT cunio.co.uk
www.somerspte.org
Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly is a ground-breaking collaboration seeking to capture the excitement that lies within traditional song and breathe new life into old stories from the British Isles by injecting the energy they feel these narratives deserve.
With striking vocals from Jon Doran (BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist 2019), combined with the virtuosic playing of instrumentalists, Heather Ferrier (accordion) and Jordan Aikin (whistles and pipes), the trio create dynamic songs that combine exhilarating contemporary arrangements with the much-loved traditional folk canon.
Consciously moving away from the conventional folk song performance style, the trio rely upon their vastly dissimilar musical upbringings and experiences to conjure emotions and communicate a story far deeper than the words of the song.
Running time: 90mins + interval
Touring with Artsreach, Dorset’s rural arts charity.
£15, £6.50 u18s
7.30pm
Contact Tel.: 07823 778758
info AT artsreach.co.uk
https://artsreach.co.uk/event/jon-doran-northern-assembly
Join Jane Harris and Pip Wright, guest tutor from Cornwall, for the fourth Songways singing weekend at Halsway.
A joyous weekend learning and singing harmony songs from a wide range of traditions, including their own original compositions. Jane and Pip both play the fiddle and have a special musical bond, bringing much joy to all their music-making.
The weekend will include a Nos Lowen (Cornish Ceilidh) on the Saturday evening - if you play an instrument you are welcome to join the band - and a special Songs with Spirit, Songs for the Soul session – meditative harmony singing with Pip.
Open to anyone who loves to sing. Teaching will be ear with scores provided for some songs.
Jane Harris is an experienced choir leader and Director of Songways, based in Bath. She leads singing workshops and singing retreats in beautiful places, and thriving choirs in Bath and Bradford on Avon. With her lively, clear and enabling teaching style, Jane brings out the best in singers’ voices, with open, resonant, heart-felt singing.
Jane teaches by ear and loves to explore songs in different ways to enrich and deepen the singing experience. She writes original songs for choirs, has released her own album, One touch of nature, and performs with her vocal ensemble, Rolling Harmony.
Pip Wright is a choir leader and musician from West Cornwall where she runs two established community choirs: the Dawn Chorus and Levow an Bys (Voices of the World in Cornish). Pip is passionate about singing for wellbeing and enhancing peoples’ skills and confidence with singing and music. She has been teaching her ‘Find your own Voice’ and Musicianship courses to adults for over a decade.
Pip enjoys playing and singing many different genres of music including fiddling in Cornish bands, sessions and festivals and leading informal ‘Shout’ (traditional song) sessions in local pubs. She enjoys facilitating community song-writing projects – especially bringing together different generations and groups who may not usually sing or play together. Having trained in Singing for the Brain and Singing for Lung Health, Pip led the first groups in Cornwall for both fields. For over ten years she has been bringing world-class singing leaders to Cornwall to lead workshops through her Kana Kernow (Singing Cornwall) initiative.
https://www.songways.co.uk/
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/songways-singing-weekend-2025-1
From the frozen highways of Canada to massive festival stages around the world, Northcote has built a reputation as one of modern folk-punk’s most commanding and road-worn voices, and this October, he’s bringing that raw grit and soul to Frome.
Northcote is the musical project of Canadian singer-songwriter Matt Goud, known for his heartfelt songwriting and dynamic live performances. Since launching in 2008, Northcote has toured internationally, performing alongside artists such as The Gaslight Anthem, Frank Turner, Hot Water Music and many more while building a loyal fanbase across North America and Europe.
In 2026, Northcote is set to release To Cherish, a full-length album recorded at Rain City Studios in Vancouver and produced by Jesse Gander (Japandroids, White Lung). The project showcases an evolved sound with contributions from a talented ensemble of musicians including Paul Rigby (Neko Case) and long-time collaborator Stephen McGillvray.
Northcote has released seven studio albums and multiple singles, steadily growing an audience through powerful, emotionally resonant performances in intimate venues and major festivals alike. With over 42,000 monthly listeners on Spotify and a strong social media presence, Northcote continues to expand his reach, aiming for a sustainable international career while contributing meaningfully to the music community.
Special guest Tom Jenkins ended 2025 as the BBC Radio Wales Artist of Year in recognition of his critically acclaimed fourth album ‘When The Coal Dust Settled’ a concept album on working class Wales and the oppression of mining communities, inspired by his family of coal miners and hill farmers.
As word of this album spread, it would gain praise State Side giving him the honour of being the first ever Welsh Artist to open for Willie Nelson at his Ranch in Texas.
A story like no other, Jenkins cut his teeth as traveling shepherd / Sheep shearer, and rancher, writing his debut album in the New Zealand outback. ‘Misery In Comfort’ was tracked in Fort Worth, Texas and released in 2019 gaining him instant recognition from Oscar and Grammy winning singer song-writer, Ryan Bingham, who invited him on his tour of Ireland and the UK, before the album came out.
Now with four albums under his belt in 5 years, his back catalogue holds a broad mix of sounds, somewhere between alternative, Indie-folk with a splash of country, collaborating with the likes of the late, Phil Campbell of Motörhead and Marc Ford of The Black Crowes in various expansive album projects. The variation in sound has led to tours and support Slots with the likes of Bastille, Megan Moroney, Frank Turner, Cardinal Balck, Katherine Priddy and Kids In Glass Houses.
£15 ADVANCE + BOOKING FEE
All Seating - 18+ Show
7.00 pm
https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/events/northcote/
Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly is a ground-breaking collaboration seeking to capture the excitement that lies within traditional song and breathe new life into old stories from the British Isles by injecting the energy they feel these narratives deserve.
With striking vocals from Jon Doran (BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist 2019), combined with the virtuosic playing of instrumentalists, Heather Ferrier (accordion) and Jordan Aikin (whistles and pipes), the trio create dynamic songs that combine exhilarating contemporary arrangements with the much-loved traditional folk canon.
Consciously moving away from the conventional folk song performance style, the trio rely upon their vastly dissimilar musical upbringings and experiences to conjure emotions and communicate a story far deeper than the words of the song.
Running time: 90mins + interval
Touring with Artsreach, Dorset’s rural arts charity.
£14, £6 u18s
7.30pm
Contact Tel.: 01258 820458
info AT artsreach.co.uk
https://artsreach.co.uk/event/jon-doran-northern-assembly
Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly is a ground-breaking collaboration seeking to capture the excitement that lies within traditional song and breathe new life into old stories from the British Isles by injecting the energy they feel these narratives deserve.
With striking vocals from Jon Doran (BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award Finalist 2019), combined with the virtuosic playing of instrumentalists, Heather Ferrier (accordion) and Jordan Aikin (whistles and pipes), the trio create dynamic songs that combine exhilarating contemporary arrangements with the much-loved traditional folk canon.
Consciously moving away from the conventional folk song performance style, the trio rely upon their vastly dissimilar musical upbringings and experiences to conjure emotions and communicate a story far deeper than the words of the song.
Running time: 90mins + interval
Touring with Artsreach, Dorset’s rural arts charity.
£14, £6 u18s
7.30pm
Contact Tel.: 07740 949904
info AT artsreach.co.uk
https://artsreach.co.uk/event/jon-doran-northern-assembly
This will be a proper Ceilidh with Dancing / Music / Songs a Supper and Morris Dancing
The Band will be the Wessex Ceilidh Band with Caller Pip Oxenbury .
Tickets are just £10 to include a Light Supper.
Cerne Abbas Beer will be available plus soft drinks etc.
For Tickets contact - bagman AT wessexmorrismen.co.uk
Twenty years on from winning the Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections, Breabach remain securely ranked amongst Scotland’s most skilled & imaginative contemporary-folk acts and at the forefront of the burgeoning traditional music scene. The band unite deep roots in Highland and Island Gaelic tradition alongside progressive musical influences and have cultivated a unique sound, anchoring double bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, step-dance and song with energetic double bass and guitar accompaniment.
Tickets: £24.50, concessions £23.50
8.00 pm
www.breabach.com
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2020152
Social Folk Dance
We are a very livey group and enjoy welcoming new members.
No experience or partener necesary
£4 to include tea/coffee and a biscuit
7.30 - 10.00 pm
Contact Chris: 07832 369819
chriscoates129 AT hotmail,com
www.wiveliscombe.com/members/wivey-folk-dance-club
Chard Folk Dance Group
7.30 - 9.45 pm
£4.00 each which includes a cuppa and cake at "Half Time"!
More information then please contact Elaine on 01460 495058
We are pleased to welcome TradTöchter to Halsway Manor. Vivien Zeller and Ursula Suchanek present a guided tour of traditional music, beautiful melodies, groovy tunes and breath-taking dances from Germany. There will be spotlights on various instrumental aspects such as working on second voices, harmonies and danceable accompaniments, playing together as an ensemble and of course some dancing. All instruments welcome.
Instrumentalists of all levels of experience welcome. You need to be comfortable with your instrument to get the best from this workshop. Intermediate level recommended.
TradTöchter (meaning Daughters of Tradition) are two German violinists who love traditional dance tunes as much as newly written dance music, and play both for the joy of dancers and listeners. Stirring compositions join with virtuosic arrangements of traditional tunes and songs.
Ursula Suchanek grew up in Bavaria as a classical musician, involved in various projects with renowned orchestras in Germany, Lithuania and Poland. Having loved Jazz and free improvisation all along the way, she finally encountered traditional dance music in her twenties and found her new musical home there. She studied with European fiddle masters such as Dave Shepard, Julien Barbances and Janusz Prusinowski, but most of all Vivien Zeller to whom she owes her love for and knowledge of Northern German dance music. In order to explore the inseparable connection between music and dance further, she studied dance at the Eric-Sahlström-Institute in Sweden.
Vivien Zeller is a musician, singer, dancer and composer from Berlin. She has been playing and dancing to traditional music since the age of 16, with a particular focus on tunes and dances from Germany. Her work as a performer in many different contexts brings together her reinterpretations of German folk songs with her own compositions and a dedication to playing dance music with a compelling groove. As a teacher, Vivien runs dance workshops and instrumental courses in arrangement, improvisation and playing for dance. Her ongoing research into archived historic manuscripts has produced a wealth of material which she co-curates as the online collection www.tanzmusikarchiv.de and the German traditional music youtube channel “TradTanzMusik”. She is involved with the Centre for Traditional Music in Schwerin and is one of the organisers of the festival Klangrauschtreffen.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/german-weekend-october-2026
EARTH KEEPS TURNING is inspired by The Lost Words and Spell Songs, featuring songs rich with harmony reflecting the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
* Spell Songs choral arrangements Jay, Oak, The Snow Hare, Silver Birch, Thrift & The Lost Words Blessing
* Nature-inspired contemporary choral music from England, Scotland, Ireland & the US
Rolling Harmony is a vocal ensemble from the South West of England performing a rich variety of music rooted in English and American harmony singing traditions. Formed by Jane Harris, Director of Songways in Bath, the group brings together experienced singers united by a passion for vocal harmony and a love of performing.
£10 | Under 18s £5
4.00 - 5.00 pm
Contact Jane Harris: 07894 205255
jane AT songways.co.uk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/songways/2356042
Rooted in the rich musical traditions of the Congo, Kasai Masai is a dynamic soukous band known for their electrifying performances and infectious rhythms. Led by the charismatic Nickens Nkoso, a multi-talented musician, singer, songwriter, composer, percussionist, dancer, the band brings the raw energy of Congolese folklore to the global stage.
Kasai Masai has become a powerhouse in the world of Rumba and Soukous, blending infectious guitar melodies, pulsating rhythms, and electrifying stage performances.
Their high-energy performances and unmistakable grooves have earned them a reputation as one of the most exciting live acts in the contemporary soukous world. Whether performing in London, Paris to New York, the band continues to spread the joyous and rhythmic spirit of Congolese music to the new generations. With a legacy built on passion, rhythm, and cultural pride.
We are marking Black History Month at this event. The last two years were more reflective events, this year we decided to party!
http://www.kasaimasai.com/index.htm
8.00 pm
2023 saw a fresh start from multi award winning Scottish Hall of Famers, the Peatbog Faeries.
Fuelled with a new enthusiasm following the addition of the superbly talented Shetlander Norman Willmore on keys and alto sax, renowned multi-instrumentalist Innes Watson on acoustic guitar, additional fiddle and vocals and one of Scotland’s top percussionists, Stu Brown on drums, percussion and programming, the Peatbogs released, to great acclaim, their tenth album, “I See a World”.
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.
From the moment they take to the stage, the mood is set for a no-nonsense feel-good atmosphere, each number sounding like an encore itself. The traditional styles that influence the musicians are still to be heard and when an unexpected drop-down to those glorious core melodies sneaks in the result is spine-chilling! In short, it rocks, and the audience becomes part of the experience.
The band is made up of Peter Morrison on pipes and whistles, Ross Couper on fiddle, Innes Watson on fiddle, vocals and acoustic guitar, Tom Salter on guitar, Norman Willmore on keyboards and sax, Innes Hutton on bass and Stu Brown on drums.
Peatbog Faeries have become firm favourites at festivals and venues across the UK and have toured the world with their inventive and unique brand of music never failing to fill the floor and delight crowds.
£26
8.00 pm
https://www.electricpalace.org.uk/events/event/peatbog-faeries/
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/
EARTH KEEPS TURNING is inspired by The Lost Words and Spell Songs, featuring songs rich with harmony reflecting the beauty and fragility of the natural world.
* Spell Songs choral arrangements Jay, Oak, The Snow Hare, Silver Birch, Thrift & The Lost Words Blessing
* Nature-inspired contemporary choral music from England, Scotland, Ireland & the US
Rolling Harmony is a vocal ensemble from the South West of England performing a rich variety of music rooted in English and American harmony singing traditions. Formed by Jane Harris, Director of Songways in Bath, the group brings together experienced singers united by a passion for vocal harmony and a love of performing.
£10 | Under 18s £5
4:30 - 5.30 pm
Contact Jane Harris: 07894 205255
jane AT songways.co.uk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/songways/2357344
Conrad Bird is a rambling rover from North Yorkshire, and after over a decade of fronting the very popular festival act, Holy Moly & The Crackers, he is finally taking it back to the roots, with a brand-new solo EP of poetic folk songs, and Dylan-inspired balladeering. His gravelly voice and his on-stage story-telling result in a very charming stage show. Tickets www.caryfordhall.co.uk
£12 advance / £15 on door
4.00 - 6.00 pm
https://www.caryfordhall.co.uk
With a professional conductor and aimed at a more advanced level of playing, being able to play a bass recorder of some description is essential. All participants are expected to frequently change instruments through the course to give everyone the opportunity to play a variety of recorders. This course will focus on cannons and fugues.
Because of the challenging nature of the repertoire, all course participants should have a very good sense of rhythm and be experienced ensemble players. Ideally you should also play both F and C instruments, including tenor AND bass. Being able to play a bass recorder of some description is essential.
This partnership event is organised by Recorders for All, an entirely voluntary, not-for-profit organisation with Pam Smith as musical director and Jan Epps as secretary and administrator. For more information go to the Recorders for All website.
https://www.recordersforall.org.uk
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/recorders-for-all-2026
Fire & Dust: The Woodie Guthrie Story
Reg Meuross’s third song cycle - commissioned by Pete Townshend and created by Reg, ‘Fire & Dust: The Woody Guthrie Story’ is a journey into the heart and soul of one of America’s finest folk musicians. For this concert it will be performed by Reg and Phil as a duo.
£18 advance, £20 door - if available
8pm
Contact Tony King: 07960 471170
admion AT upweymusic.org.uk
www.facebook.com/music-upwey
For over 30 years, this group have blended African and Celtic music into an electrifying mix that's got everyone dancing! Their music isn't just about beats; it's about bridging cultures and spreading joy. Inspired by the Baka Pygmies of Cameroon, Baka Beyond doesn't just play their music – they live it.
Martin Cradick and Su Hart, the brains behind the band, were so moved by the Baka’s spirit during their first visit to the Cameroon rainforest that they knew they had to share it with the world. Their album “Spirit of the Forest” catapulted them to global fame, but they’ve stayed true to their roots. To ensure the Baka people benefit from their music, they set up the charity “Global Music Exchange” and still visit the same Baka extended family every year to ensure that they continue to benefit.
From humble beginnings to a multicultural phenomenon, Baka Beyond’s stage shows are a testament to the power of music to unite us all. With band members hailing from across the globe, each bringing their own unique flair, Baka Beyond honours the Baka philosophy: “everyone is to be listened to.”
The current touring unit brings the Spirit of the Forest to the Marine Theatre. Martin Cradick (guitar), Su Hart (vocals) have both spent time living and playing music with the Baka Pygmies in their rainforest home. : Ayodele Scott (percussion) brings the rhythms and colour of his native Sierra Leone into the mix, while all these elements are grounded by the solid Congolese grooves of Kibisingo (bass) who toured with Kanda Bongo Man for many years. The lineup is completed by Irishman David Farrel (drums) and fiddle prodigy, Ben Weedon bringing a Celtic flair.
Join the celebration and let the music take you on a journey around the world!
Bar opens 7:00 P.M.
Starts 8:00 P.M.
Early Bird £16.00
Standard £19.00
On the door £22.00
10% off for members
Book online at any time, or book at the 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/baka-beyond/
Why “Churchfitters”? Nobody knows! They’re not fitters and have absolutely nothing to do with churches. The name’s origin is lost in the mists of time, but there is one aspect that suits them perfectly - its quirkiness. When your array of instruments includes a motorcycle petrol tank, a musical saw and a Mercedes Benzouki made from hubcaps there’s little point worrying if the name makes sense! Saucepan dulcimer, glass harp, Bing-Bong machine and magic boots all join some more conventional instruments (fiddle, banjo, sax and whistle to name a few) to back Rosie Short’s sublime voice.
These three flamboyant characters present their uplifting and entertaining show with a unique dynamism, and describe their music as “Folk Unlimited”. Mike Harding calls it “Brilliant and beautiful” while Dave Pegg says they are “The most musically inventive group I’ve seen in decades”.
Tickets: £18
8.00 pm
https://www.churchfitters.com/
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2223214
A social dance week for more experienced dancers; enjoy dancing in a happy, friendly atmosphere working together as a team to get the greatest possible satisfaction from your dancing. There will be a selection of workshops and evening dances, looking at dances from both sides of the pond.
The event is designed for dancers of an intermediate and experienced level.
Rosemary Hunt leads the course; she regularly calls at festivals in UK, and has been a guest caller at events in the USA, Holland and Belgium.
This year Rosemary is supported by Brian Stanton and Liam Binley, and a workshop with Liesbeth Krijgsman will bring an international flavour. The band is Orion’s Ring, well known for their lovely sound and their supportive 'lifting' playing, allowing the dancers to enjoy the dances to the full.
For more information and booking, contact Rosemary Hunt: rosemaryashunt AT icloud.com
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/mosty-english-rosemary-hunt-2026
Social Folk Dance
We are a very livey group and enjoy welcoming new members.
No experience or partener necesary
£4 to include tea/coffee and a biscuit
7.30 - 10.00 pm
Contact Chris: 07832 369819
chriscoates129 AT hotmail,com
www.wiveliscombe.com/members/wivey-folk-dance-club
Chard Folk Dance Group
7.30 - 9.45 pm
£4.00 each which includes a cuppa and cake at "Half Time"!
More information then please contact Elaine on 01460 495058
A Night of Irish Music
Step into the rich and evocative world of Tor, a band that unites some of the finest musicians in the genre. Tor is led by Tim O'Dowd and Dominic Henderson on duelling uilleann pipes, flutes and whistles, backed up by Alex Korom-Percy on fiddle and guitar. The core trio is joined at larger outings by multi-instrumentalist Louis Bingham on guitar and bouzouki, and Sam Lifton driving the rhythm on percussion. Together, they craft a vibrant soundscape that honours traditional roots whilst infusing it with their own interpretations and compositions.
This promises to be an unforgettable evening of virtuoso Irish instrumental music - not to be missed!
www.torband.com
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
Ceilidh - Price includes a Ploughman's Supper.Tickets available in advance from Winstone's Bookshop (Sherborne) or from the Sherborne Douzelage Secretary. All proceeds go to Sherborne Douzelage.
£15
7.00 - 10.30 pm
Contact Secretary - Mary Clothier: 01963 251255
secretary AT sherbornedouzelage.org.uk
https://sherbornedouzelage.org.uk/events/
“Bathed in the gentle glow of a solitary spotlight, she steps onto a stage set with a range of instruments. She picks up her electric guitar and walks to the microphone. What follows has been entrancing audiences around the world for decades.”
Renowned Irish singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy returns to the UK in November 2026 with It’s Good to Be Here - a warm, witty and uplifting concert celebrating the simple joy of being alive.
Best known for her world-renowned hit “A Woman’s Heart”, the title track to the biggest-selling Irish album of all time, McEvoy’s live performances are celebrated for their intimacy, storytelling and musicianship.
Her songs have been described as “touching, inspiring and consoling thousands” (The Guardian) and have featured regularly on screen and TV, including in the cult classic series Derry Girls. Her works have been covered by numerous artists, including Emmylou Harris, Jack L, Emma Langford, Derek Ryan, Saint Sister and Mary Black.
https://eleanormcevoy.com/
8.00 pm
Tickets: £22.50 Full. £21.50 Concessions
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/1975284
This will be an intensive week of skills-based learning focusing on your development as a musician, discovering new ways to interpret and play, and to make the music your own. You need to be open to trying new things, and to be prepared to work hard – it will be intensive but also an enjoyable and rewarding week, with time to relax in the evenings and enjoy informal sessions.
The group - limited to approximately 22 students - will be split in two by the tutors at the start of the course; you'll spend roughly the same amount of time with each tutor. This will be done according to ability level; if you are coming with friends this may mean you will be working in different groups, but there's plenty of informal time to meet, chat and play with others.
Arrival is from noon on Monday, with lunch at 1pm, and work begins after lunch at 2pm! The course ends late morning on Friday.
This course is for advanced and advanced-intermediate level players of the DG melodeon (If you also have a box in GC, you’re welcome to bring that along as well).
Please read the Halsway Melodeon Levels description carefully before you make a booking, this course is for levels 4 and 5.
If you have any doubts please email us for advice.
We are delighted to welcome Lucas Thébaut and Lolita Delmonteil Ayral to teach this extended course (please note the earlier start and later finish) at Halsway Manor for advanced, and advanced-intermediate level D/G melodeon players.
This will be an intensive week of skills-based learning focusing on your development as a musician, discovering new ways to interpret and play, and to make the music your own. You need to be open to trying new things, and to be prepared to work hard – it will be intensive but also an enjoyable and rewarding week, with time to relax in the evenings and enjoy informal sessions.
Lucas Thébaut is a diatonic accordion player from Poitou (France). He started music and dance in his early twenties and hasn’t stopped yet experimenting to improve phrasing and groove over various repertoires in search of what in dance and music movement will make the specificity, the essence of each dance.
All these elements brought together in a unique, musical universe.
After 20 years of thinking and tinkering, of sharing experiences and joy all over the world, still the path ahead lies anew, full of possibilities – and the journey continues. Rest assured that he will never miss an opportunity to share a tune, a dance… or a drink with you.
Plus one tutor TBC.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/advanced-melodeons-2026
Known for her hauntingly beautiful voice and, increasingly, her poignant self-penned songs, Hannah Rarity is a leading figure in the Scottish folk scene. Since winning the prestigious BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year award in 2018, she has consistently impressed audiences and critics alike.
Hannah’s talent has led her to collaborate with some of the most respected names in folk music, including Blazin’ Fiddles, Rura, Niteworks and Cherish the Ladies.
Her albums, Neath the Gloaming Star (2018) and To Have You Near (2022), were both widely praised and shortlisted for Album of the Year at the BBC Alba Scots Trad Music Awards. In 2022, she was invited to serve as co-musical director for the Opening Concert of Celtic Connections: ‘Neath The Gloaming Star’.
Her career highlights include featured performances in ‘A Celtic Christmas Sojourn’ alongside The Fretless, with Brian O’Donovan & WGBH in Boston (2018), collaborations with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Proms in the Park, and numerous UK television appearances, including BBC Hogmanay (2015, 2017, and 2020). With performances across Europe, Australia, and the UK, Hannah continues to captivate audiences worldwide.
Bar opens 6:30 P.M.
Starts 7:30 P.M.
Advance £19.00
On the door £25.00
10% off for members
Unreserved Seating
https://www.marinetheatre.com/hannah-rarity/
Contra dancing originated in New England as an evolution of the English and European country dances that the early settlers had taken with them to America. It is usually danced in two long lines with your partner opposite, or ‘contrary’, to you. In the 1980s, a more ‘zesty’ form of contra emerged, with the emphasis on high-energy dancing, smooth flowing transitions, and lots of interaction with neighbouring dancers. Contra dancing is still evolving, with new dances continually being written in this style.
Rhodri Davies and Mark Elvins return in 2026 to lead you through some of the best of these contras, new and old! Music will be provided by Mollie Koenigsberger and Ali Messer, joined by Matt Norman on Saturday evening. With two evening dances, morning workshops, as well as open mic and musicians workshops, this is a “not to be missed” weekend for both new and experienced contra dancers.
You’ll spend most of your time as a whole group, with some opportunity for smaller group work on specific themes and topics. We’ll send you a timetable before the course starts so you know what to expect, but there’s nothing to prepare. Just come and have a great weekend of dancing!
This weekend is aimed at those with at least some experience of social dance, but no previous experience of Contra is necessary. It will feature plenty of new material not covered in recent Zesty Contra weekends so is suitable for dancers who have taken part before. The tutors will be guiding you towards improved technique, a greater knowledge of key moves and formations, and will help you to explore new dances in an informative and enjoyable way.
If you are a musician, don’t forget to bring your instrument if you’d like to take part in the musicians’ workshops, or to play in the bar after the dancing has finished.
Dance callers Rhodri Davies and Mark Elvins are two of the very best contra dance callers in England. Their annual double-act of workshops and dances gives them an extended opportunity to work with and to entertain dancers.
Mollie Koenigsberger has been playing for sixty five years and divides her time between playing fiddle for folk dance and viola for chamber and orchestral music.
Ali Messer plays piano and accordion, and when playing for dancing likes Chick Corea’s rule no 11: Play to make the other musicians sound good. Play things that will make the overall music sound good!
They’ll be joined by Matt Norman on Saturday afternoon – Matt is a Halsway regular, mandolinist and fiddler, choir leader, and step dance champion.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/zesty-contra-november-2026
Barn dance
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
7.15 for 7.30 - 9.30
Contact Sally Condon: 01300 348250
riverpiddle2 AT icloud.com
For three decades, Baka Beyond has been a pioneering force in world music. With a multicultural lineup from Congo, Sierra Leone and the UK, they create an irresistible, joyous sound by fusing the rhythmic traditions of Baka Forest People with the melodic soul of Celtic folk.
Formed after founders Martin Cradick and Su Hart lived with the Baka Pygmy people, their music is both a celebration and a means of direct support, with royalties funding projects in the Baka's Cameroonian homeland.
The band welcomes back drummer Clyde Kramer after a 6-year absence, adding his powerful dynamic to their celebrated live performances and contributing to new recording sessions for a new album to be released in 2026.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £21.00 Full, £20.00 Concessions
https://bakabeyond.net
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2223291
The workshops are suitable for all levels and acoustic instruments. Sheet music and audio supplied in advance – please email.
1:30 - 4:30 pm
Admission: £20 on the door
Or cheaper when paid in advance via the website.
www.sherbornefolkband.org
info AT sherbornefolkband.org
Julia: 07527 508 277
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 & 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.
7:30 PM
*All show timings are approximate and subject to change.
From £55-50
https://www.bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/bellowhead-83ms
Social Folk Dance
We are a very livey group and enjoy welcoming new members.
No experience or partener necesary
£4 to include tea/coffee and a biscuit
7.30 - 10.00 pm
Contact Chris: 07832 369819
chriscoates129 AT hotmail,com
www.wiveliscombe.com/members/wivey-folk-dance-club
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
A session with added feet!
Musicians, dancers and singers (and listeners) all welcome.
8.00 pm
Contact Steve Cunio: 07811680534
steve AT cunio.co.uk
www.somerstep.org
Chard Folk Dance Group
7.30 - 9.45 pm
£4.00 each which includes a cuppa and cake at "Half Time"!
More information then please contact Elaine on 01460 495058
Join us for the second Halsway Old-Time Weekend, hosted by one of the UK's foremost Appalachian bands, Old Spot. The weekend will be a relaxed and joyful way to connect with the roots of Appalachian music at the foot of the beautiful Quantock Hills and will include:
Workshops - building repertoire, technique and deepening understanding of the genre. We will draw from classic string band repertoire and find hidden gems in the Halsway archive. We'll help you build the technique, ear and understanding to deepen your enjoyment of Old-Time music.
Jams - supported and friendly Old-Time jams, with the opportunity for a slower pace if that's requested. We'll leave plenty of room for spontaneous jams to pop up all weekend and fill the manor with music.
Square Dance - this is dancing music, and we'll be including some dancing as part of the weekend! If dancing is not your thing, you can join the scratch band.
You'll also be able to enjoy informal performances by Joe and Rowan, when you'll hear Old Time music explored and brought to life.
Most of the sessions will be guided by the tutors in small groups, with some self-led time, and will offer you a chance to learn new skills, techniques and repertoire, or an opportunity to build on what you already know.
Everyone will go away with a deeper understanding of the European roots of Old-Time music and have developed techniques and understanding to help you thrive in an Old-Time session. You'll also have the chance to explore some of the ways Old-Time music is evolving and developing in 2025, looking at arrangements, instrumentation and harmony, and how it's received by modern audiences.
Joe and Rowan hope to offer you a weekend where players can feel connected or re-connected to their instrument, this repertoire and their fellow musicians, through the meditative, connective magic of Appalachian music.
This is a course for instrumentalists who play Fiddle, Banjo, Double Bass, Viola, Mandolin, Guitar, Dulcimer or Autoharp- the classic String Band instruments.
You will need to be comfortable with learning by ear, but you don't need to be able to read music.
You won't need to prepare anything in advance of the course. The tutors will send you a timetable, a list of what to bring with you, and course materials a few weeks in advance.
Rowan Piggott & Joe Danks were introduced in 2021 and bonded over a shared passion for Old Time Appalachian music. An initial campsite session turned into living room jams, sharing lifts to sessions and ultimately the creation of a new old-time duo - Old Spot. Old Spot play Old-Time Appalachian music made with modern audiences in mind, seeing two musicians from strong traditional backgrounds exploring a shared musical love, creating new music that is bursting with joy and imagination. Old Spot have taught workshops at Gainsborough Old-Time Festival and Sidmouth Folk Festival, and both have extensive experience as educators and facilitators in various traditions.
Joe is a multi instrumentalist, singer and Morris dancer based in Wirksworth, Derbyshire. He has released a number of solo projects (Seaspeak 2021, Take Courage 2024) to critical acclaim and national press coverage. His solo work has been featured on BBC Shows across the UK, Wales & Scotland. Joe is also currently performing with experimental folk acts Nick Jonah Davis and Jim Ghedi. Despite being best known in the English folk scene, he grew up surrounded by the patchwork of American folk musics played by his parents, and found himself drawn home to these traditions in the confusion of lockdown. Five string banjo became Joe's place of solace and is now the beating heart of Old Spot. His trademark rhythmic intensity and energy is more present than ever.
Rowan is a folk fiddler, traditional singer and tune collector who grew up in the foothills of the Burren on the west coast of Ireland, surrounded by traditional music. The author of two successful tunebooks, he is an experienced teacher and has also written articles for several magazines and led workshops at festivals all over the UK. His debut album, Mountscribe, was met with critical acclaim, as was his SONGHIVE folksong project to raise awareness of the current plight of the bees. Rowan is best known for performing and writing with his folk trio, The Wilderness Yet, and he brings his scholarly passion for different traditions to link Old-Time to its European and African roots with his inventive and unique 5-string fiddling.
www.oldspotmusic.co.uk
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/old-time-weekend-2026
Step into the magic of a traditional winter celebration with GreenMatthews’ Midwinter Revels.
Spanning several centuries, GreenMatthews’ Midwinter Revels is a celebration of Yuletide Past guaranteed to warm the cockles of the most Scrooge-like heart. Featuring Christmas carols, winter folk songs, toe-tapping tunes and a plethora of weird and wonderful instruments, the show is brought to life with GreenMatthews’ trademark wit and humour.
Midwinter Revels is the perfect antidote to winter gloom and enough to melt even the most Scrooge-like heart.
7.30 pm
Premium £19.00, Standard £18.00 (under 25s £16.00), Restricted View £17.00
https://www.bridport-arts.com/event/midwinter-revels-greenmatthews/
Now that the dust has settled on this year's summer festival, we want to take the opportunity to invite you to a very special event coming up at the Marine Theatre here in Lyme Regis.
Come and join us on Saturday November 27 for an early Christmas party — an evening of live music, great company, festive cheer and a whole lot of dancing!
First, a little history… the event, known simply as ‘The Christmas Party’, has been a much-loved fixture in London since 1986, bringing musicians and friends together for an annual celebration of live music, good times and Christmas excess. Now, as it reaches its 40th anniversary, it’s coming to Lyme Regis for a very special one-off celebration!
We’re bringing together an ensemble of brilliant musicians from Lyme, London and beyond for a night of music in aid of Lyme Folk Weekend’s summer festival. The show brings together members and former members of acclaimed groups including Turin Brakes, The Apartments, Fatima Mansions, Billy Bragg's Red Stars, The Wilsons and Airport Contention, alongside some familiar faces from Lyme Regis and talented semi-professional musicians from London and the South West.
Expect a gloriously unpredictable musical journey through party bangers, classic pop and rock, folk, country — and even a touch of opera. There’ll be songs you know, songs you love, and probably a few surprises along the way.
The idea is simple: brilliant musicians, great songs, a packed room and an excuse to let your hair down before Christmas really gets going.
So whether your musical tastes run from rock to folk, opera to country — or simply anything you can dance to — there should be something for you.
And, of course, by coming along you’ll be helping to support Lyme Folk Weekend, our much-loved summer festival, helping us keep live music, performance and community celebration at the heart of Lyme Regis. Tickets are £20 (plus booking fee) and you can buy them by following the link on our website.
Bring your friends. Bring your dancing shoes. Bring your Christmas spirit.
Come for the music, stay for the party — and help us raise the roof while raising funds for next summer’s Lyme Folk Weekend!
Forty years of Christmas parties. One very special night in Lyme Regis.
Let’s make it a night to remember. Christmas starts here!
https://www.lymefolk.com/copy-of-tickets-1
A fantastic singer/songwriter who has been a regular visitor to us for many years. Martyn Joseph creates a performance with a huge, far-reaching sound that is energetic, compelling and passionate. He is gifted with the rare ability to speak to the soul with his expressive and poignant lyrics. A jaw-dropping guitar player with a percussive style, teamed with a powerful, show-stopping voice, he has been called “The Welsh Springsteen”. Martyn’s career spans over 40 years, 27 albums, and countless live shows that have left audiences spellbound across the globe.
Tickets: £23 Full, Concessions £22
8.00 pm
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2180570
You are invited to an afternoon concert of some of the old Christmas Carols which have either been collected from, or written about, the South West of England, including some from within a 15 mile radius of South Petherton.
£10 pre-booked, £12 on the door
3pm - 5pm approx.
Contact Daqphne Woodhouse
daphne.woodhouse AT southpethertonbenefice.org
stanchesterquire.org
Janice Burns & Jon Doran are an award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music. Their songs tell vivid stories about the nature of life and our place in the world.
Janice & Jon’s ‘clever and uncluttered musical storytelling’ (Songlines) comes alive through tight vocal harmonies and sensitive interplay between mandolin, bouzouki and guitar. Their arrangements have a spellbinding presence and an understated energy that transports songs from the pages of books and manuscripts into the imagination of the listener.
With their relaxed and personable approach to performance, Janice & Jon are renowned for the warmth of their connection with audiences. From opening Stage 2 at Cambridge Folk Festival, to playing at the likes of Celtic Connections, Edinburgh Tradfest, Sidmouth Folk Festival and Cecil Sharp House, the duo are highly sought after across the UK and beyond.
Following the success of their self-titled EP in 2020, Janice & Jon released their debut album, "No More the Green Hills", in Autumn 2022. The album had overwhelmingly positive feedback, finding its place in the Official UK Folk Albums Chart, as well as gaining airplay on BBC Radio 2 and BBC Radio Scotland. In 2024, they followed this up with "Great Joy to the New", an album of winter songs which reached #17 in the Official Folk Albums Chart, as well as being played on BBC Radio 2 and featured in The Guardian.
The duo's winter gigs have become something of a tradition over the last few years. People have always forged customs to survive the winter, with rituals that bring people together and bring light to the dark nights. These rituals have often been born of necessity. Beautiful, colourful, musical traditions, linked by the common cause of sustaining people spiritually, mentally, or financially through a harsh winter. Janice and Jon’s new album and live show explores these themes through a collection of traditional folk songs about Christmas, winter, and optimism for the new year.
£14 + 2 in advance, £16 + 2 on the door
7.45
Contact Lucy Franklin
lucy AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
The Long Road Tour 2026
Following a hugely successful run of shows, Steve Knightley and the Winter Yards Band return in Autumn 2026. Best known as co-founder of revered folk phenomenon Show of Hands, Steve Knightley’s latest work blends poetic songwriting with a cinematic acoustic sound, a ‘folk noir’ style which has been winning audiences across the UK. Featuring David Delarre, John Parker and Evan Carson, the show combines songs from the Winter Yards album with powerful new material written on the road — stories of landscape, community and the changing world around us.
Tickets: £29.50
www.steveknightley.com
8.00 pm
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2145979
Join Miranda & Jim in celebrating the festive season with some gorgeous West Country carols, medieval and secular carols from around the British Isles, moving settings of Christmas poems by Cornish poet Charles Causley, as well as a choice selection of seasonal songs by contemporary songwriters on the UK folk scene. All delivered by two of Britain’s best-loved voices, accompanied on a variety of instruments and gurt dollop of festive fun!
If you are feeling a little dismayed with the over-commercialisation of “Christmas present”, then join Miranda & Jim for a journey through Christmas past that will be guaranteed to get you in the festive spirit!
8.00 pm
Tickets: £19.50
www.jimcausley.co.uk
www.mirandasykes.com
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2225551
‘Christmas Tidings from Wessex!’
The Ridgeway Singers & Band invite you, your family and friends for an afternoon of Traditional carols, Dorset songs, dance tunes, and local poems and stories to celebrate the coming of Christmas.
From a 2013 Artsreach project with Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership Scheme, we perform a growing repertoire of Dorset music old and new, in the tradition made famous by Thomas Hardy in Under the Greenwood Tree.
Singers are accompanied by a ‘Village Band’ of musicians playing stringed and woodwind instruments, and the concerts evoke old-fashioned country Christmases when we made our own entertainment.
The group is led by renowned serpent player of the Mellstock Band Phil Humphries, who arranges original harmony parts to traditional and new tunes.
New this year are a locally penned Anthem celebrating our quality of life in Hardy’s Wessex, and an ever popular audience participation ‘Cobblers song’ featuring the trade’s percussive chorus.
4 concerts this year in some of Dorset’s beautiful churches begin with matinees on 6 December at St Mary’s in Bridport, 13th December in Lady St Mary Church Wareham, followed by evenings on Thursday 17th December at St Peter and St Paul’s parish church Blandford Forum marketplace. The finale concert will once again be at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester on Friday 18 December.
Tickets via www.ridgewaysingersandband.org or call 01305 262159
Adults £12, Under 18s £6 We have held prices again this year in acknowledgement of living cost rises
4.00 - 6.00 pm
Contact Deborah Coombes: 01305 262159
RidgewaySingersAndBand AT protonmail.com
https://ridgewaysingersandband.org
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
Are you looking for an opportunity to take some time away from the December hullabaloo? Then look no further than our Festive Retreat - a chance to sing, make music, craft, relax, walk and generally enjoy the festive surroundings of Halsway Manor decked for Christmas.
The flexible programme might include options such as:
Sing and play traditional folk carols in harmony
Learn some great new folk tunes and creative things to do with them
A spot of seasonal crafting with tree decorations to take home
An introduction to Dartmoor step dancing and playing for dancing
Optional walks in the beautiful Quantock Hills, weather permitting
A storytelling session
Each session includes something for instrumentalists and non-instrumentalists, so we'll keep you entertained - however, if you're looking for some time out, that's OK too! We hope to see you there and will light the fire in anticipation.
All are welcome - guided sessions will mainly cater for singers and instrumentalists, all instruments, all abilities, but you are also welcome to use this time as a getaway if you would prefer.
There will be a range of parts, notation parts in all clefs and keys available. We will work both by ear and with dots. We want this week to be fun for all, with guidance and support to help you develop your musicality, at whatever level you're at.
Matt Norman is a performer, teacher, composer, arranger, workshop leader and conductor.
He predominantly works with traditional English music, steeped in the traditions of Devon and Dartmoor. He is also blues and classical musician, and a Dartmoor Step Dance Champion!
As a multi-instrumentalist, Matt plays mandolin, fiddle, mandola, banjos, piano and also sings. He performs solo and in bands including Gadarene and A New Vintage ceilidh band, and regularly deps in other line-ups. He's also a singer and choir-leader.
Matt's extensive teaching experience includes working in community and festival settings with all ages and abilities. He has a relaxed, fun and accessible approach to learning, tailored very much to the group. He has a broad expertise embracing mixed-instrument ensembles, choral and voice work, instrument specific tuition (mandolin, fiddle, banjo), and also step dancing.
Rosie Butler-Hall is a Sheffield based English-folk fiddle player, morris dancer and textiles artist. Her work - whether that be music or weaving - is directly influenced by the Yorkshire landscape, which she spends much of her time in. In 2022 Rosie became the Dance Director for the Shrewsbury Folk Festival.
She has a wealth of experience as a performer, appearing at festivals across the UK and around the world. She can often be found MC’ing, playing fiddle for ceilidhs (Relentless Ceilidh Band, Urban Folk Theory), for audiences (The English Fiddle Ensemble, The Rosie Hood Band), dancing morris or at sessions. Rosie has taught on our Young Folk residentials at Halsway.
Social Folk Dance
We are a very livey group and enjoy welcoming new members.
No experience or partener necesary
£4 to include tea/coffee and a biscuit
7.30 - 10.00 pm
Contact Chris: 07832 369819
chriscoates129 AT hotmail,com
www.wiveliscombe.com/members/wivey-folk-dance-club
You are cordially invited to join the choir as they return to Cheap Street Methodist Church to perform a Christmas Carol Concert as part of the United Sherborne Churches Christmas Free Festival. All of the old carols have either been collected from, or written about, the South West of England including several from within a 15 mile radius of Sherborne.
7pm
Contact Cathy Broadley
cathydonaldson AT yahoo.com
stanchesterquire.org
Chard Folk Dance Group
7.30 - 9.45 pm
£4.00 each which includes a cuppa and cake at "Half Time"!
More information then please contact Elaine on 01460 495058
Two of the most recognised musicians on the British folk scene today combine their considerable talents to provide a beautiful and warm evening of the highest calibre music; the perfect antidote to the materialism of the festive season.
With their understated brilliance, the duo invite you into their captivating world of English carols, wassails and other historical traditions, festive songs and tunes from the British Isles and far beyond. Concerts include original music and selected covers, and a host of instruments are played - fiddle, melodeon, percussion, recorders and stomp box - creating a richly textured sound. By sharing insights into their own family traditions, the duo provide inspiration for a simpler and wholesome Christmas - one where tradition, family, ritual and celebration are the beating heart.
Multi-award-winning and hugely influential folk musicians Jackie Oates and John Spiers bring their breadth of experience to this finely matched duo. Jackie (two-time BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winner and five-time nominee) is an exquisite singer, expressive fiddler and composer with a string of critically acclaimed albums and a reputation as one of our most gifted interpreters of traditional song. John (Bellowhead, Spiers & Boden) is a leading squeezebox player and composer who mixes infectious dance tunes with incredibly moving and sensitive slow airs. John expertly blends traditional squeezebox styles with contemporary dance music to create an infectious acoustic groove.
8.00 pm
www.johnspiers.co.uk
www.jackieoates.co.uk/
Tickets: £20.50 Full, Concessions £19.50
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2089924
Members of Moonrakers return to Halsway Manor bringing their exciting and dynamic Folk Orchestra event for musicians and singers, now over a weekend!
Whether you play bowed, fretted or reed instruments, whistles or flutes, or simply like to sing, you are very welcome on this course.
You'll work on your own improvised arrangements of folk tunes and songs, guided by the tutors, in big and small groups. You'll be able to download resources (sheet music and sound files) for the week in advance of the course via a link sent out to participants. The idea is not to just learn tunes but to look in detail at how they can be arranged for a mixed ensemble of instruments. The sound files will provide the skeleton of the tune itself and the beginnings of an arrangement. What you may come up with together as the group works with the tune could be very different!
In the evenings, there will opportunities to showcase some of your own material.
If you're looking for a longer Folk Orchestra course, Moonrakers will also be with us in March.
This Folk Orchestra Weekend is aimed at instrumentalists and singers 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. Diatonic instruments are welcome.
You'll need to be able to read music but there'll be no requirement to learn by ear.
Don't worry if you've been on the course before, there will be plenty of new material to choose from!
You should be happy to look at at least some of the material in advance. Please print out the music and bring a music stand and a notebook/pencil.
The tutors are two of Moonrakers' members - Jon Bennett (guitar, bouzouki, ukulele, whistles, vocals) and Jacqui Johnson (cello, fiddle, whistle, vocals). Both tutors have many years’ experience of running enjoyable workshops and folk orchestras across the country.
You are invited to an evening of some the old Christmas Carols which have either been collected from, or written about, the South West of England,including several from within a 15 mile radius of Leigh.
7pm
Contact Eddie Upton: 07813 089002
upton.eddie AT gmail.com
stanchesterquire.org
William Lyons and Richard Thomas from The City Musick will be heading back to Halsway Manor this Christmastide, bringing with them all the joys of the festive season during the Renaissance. We can't promise a Boar's Head bedecked with bay and rosemary, but plenty of other music delights will be on offer.
Intended for players of renaissance wind, brass and strings, this course will celebrate the huge variety of sounds and styles of Christmas music heard during the Christmas season in renaissance Europe. We will look at the splendors of music written by Giovanni Gabrieli and co. in the churches and courts of Venice, and of the music written by Germanic composers including Hans Leo Hassler and Michael Praetorius for grand festive occasions in German court and city. There will also be chances to explore smaller scale repertoire from the British Isles, France, and Spain, much of which had its origins in traditional song and dance.
We're offering you the chance to gain a greater knowledge of renaissance Christmas music while enjoying communal music-making on historic instruments. The Christmas tree will be decorated and the fire lit - a perfect December treat.
This Renaissance music course is for players of the cornett, shawm, dulcian, sackbut, any members of the violin family, and viol players. You might play more than one of those instruments - that's OK too! If you play an instrument not listed above but are keen to take part, please get in touch so that we can advise.
You should be a strong sight reader, consider yourself to be playing at an upper intermediate to advanced level, and be prepared to look at repertoire in advance if necessary. We will send you a timetable in advance, with any sheet music that the tutors provide. You will need to be able to read music for this course.
The majority of the weekend will focus on whole-group teaching and learning, with some opportunity for smaller group work, both tutor- and self-led. You'll be able to work on and improve your existing skills and techniques, while learning new repertoire, and perhaps working on some that you're already more familiar with.
William Lyons is artistic director of the acclaimed ensemble The City Musick. As a player, he has performed with leading historical performance ensembles for over thirty years. He has featured as a specialist session musician on the soundtracks of such iconic films as the Harry Potter series and The Hobbit, as well as several Wes Anderson creations. He is also a composer for theatre and film, including for many productions as composer and musical director at The Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London from 1998 to 2015. Most recently he has worked as historical consultant and composer on major films including Emma, and Mary, Queen of Scots. In 2019 he won the Crystal Pines award for Best Original Score for his work on the Oscar winning The Favourite. In the world of academia William is a Leverhulme Research Fellow, and a professor at the Royal College of Music. Published works include a chapter on theatre musicians in early modern London and articles for the Chanter journal. William is currently writing his PhD on theatre musicians in Shakespeare’s London.
Richard Thomas studied at the University of Wales, the Royal Academy of Music and the Schola Cantorum, Switzerland. Richard was a band member at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, London for many years, and plays regularly with ensembles directed by Sir John Elliot Gardiner, Sir Roger Norrington, Trevor Pinnock, Harry Christophers and Paul McCreesh, touring throughout Europe as well as to North & South America, Asia, and Australia. An interest in period instrument performance began at university and eventually led to the formation of the acclaimed sackbut and cornett ensemble QuintEssential in 1993. Richard is also a founder member of The City Musick and the 19th century saxhorn quintet, The Prince Regent’s Band. Richard teaches natural trumpet and cornetto at the Royal College of Music, the University of Birmingham, and the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, and at the Dartington International Summer School for several years.
The City Musick was formed by William Lyons to explore the diverse repertoire of civic and court wind bands in early modern Europe and is now firmly established as the premier renaissance wind band in the UK. The City Musick made their BBC Proms debut in 2012 with a performance of Venetian music in collaboration with the vocal ensemble I Fagiolini. The Decca recording of this and that of the Striggio Mass, also involving the ensemble, have both met with great critical acclaim. The ongoing collaboration with I Fagiolini continues, with a recording of the magnificent Benevoli Missa Tu es Petrus released in 2023 and the next in the sequence of works by this sorely neglected composer being recorded in 2024. Their recording of music of the London Waits, The Topping Tooters of the Town received unanimous critical praise. The new project by the ensemble: The Count & The Duke – A Renaissance Big Band was premiered at the Stour Festival and York Early Music Festival in 2023 and is a gloriously varied programme featuring a band of twenty shawms, dulcians, recorders, sackbuts, crumhorns, racketts, cornetts, trumpets, keyboards, strings and percussion!
After a sell out tour in the Spring, Katherine Priddy is coming to the South West for candlelit church concerts in midwinter; it will be Christmassy, however hard that is to imagine in a heatwave!
She released her third album, These Frightening Machines in March 2026 to critical acclaim, produced by Rob Ellis (PJ Harvey).
With her haunting vocals and distinctive finger-picking guitar style, Priddy opened for Suzanne Vega on her tour.
She also recently wrote and released two songs with Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and performed on the legendary BBC Later with Jools Holland TV show.
£25.00 advance
https://www.ticketsource.com/booking/select/krooregebdrm
A seasonal selection of traditional carols and songs from the West Country
£7.50 suggested donation
2:00pm (doors open 1:30 pm) - 4:00pm
Phone: 01935 825565
Stanchesterquire2 AT gmail.com
https://www.stanchesterquire.org/
‘Christmas Tidings from Wessex!’
The Ridgeway Singers & Band invite you, your family and friends for an afternoon of Traditional carols, Dorset songs, dance tunes, and local poems and stories to celebrate the coming of Christmas.
From a 2013 Artsreach project with Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership Scheme, we perform a growing repertoire of Dorset music old and new, in the tradition made famous by Thomas Hardy in Under the Greenwood Tree.
Singers are accompanied by a ‘Village Band’ of musicians playing stringed and woodwind instruments, and the concerts evoke old-fashioned country Christmases when we made our own entertainment.
The group is led by renowned serpent player of the Mellstock Band Phil Humphries, who arranges original harmony parts to traditional and new tunes.
New this year are a locally penned Anthem celebrating our quality of life in Hardy’s Wessex, and an ever popular audience participation ‘Cobblers song’ featuring the trade’s percussive chorus
4 concerts this year in some of Dorset’s beautiful churches begin with matinees on 6 December at St Mary’s in Bridport, 13th December in Lady St Mary Church Wareham, followed by evenings on Thursday 17th December at St Peter and St Paul’s parish church Blandford Forum marketplace. The finale concert will once again be at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester on Friday 18 December.
Tickets via www.ridgewaysingersandband.org or call 01305 262159
Adults £12, Under 18s £6 We have held prices again this year in acknowledgement of living cost rises
4.00 - 6.00 pm
Contact Deborah Coombes: 01305 262159
RidgewaySingersAndBand AT protonmail.com
https://ridgewaysingersandband.org
A welcome return to Crewkerne by The WINTER WONDERBAND, featuring four of the most talented musicians on the Folk Scene, together they create a unique and distinctive sound.
SAUL ROSE (Faustus, Eliza Carthy Band. (melodeon, vocals) MACLAINE COLSTON Eliza Carthy's Kings of Callicut (hammered dulcimers, vocals) BETH PORTER
Spell Songs ensemble, Bookshop Band (cello, vocals) JENNIFER CROOK (harp, guitar, vocals)
ADVANCE BOOKING ESSENTIAL
£15
Doors 7pm start 7.30pm
Contact Meg Rose : 07877 206124
meg.rose AT btinternet.com
It’s a staggering 25 years since St Agnes Fountain first launched their unique brand of festive music into the world. Originally comprising David Hughes (guitar, vocals), Chris Leslie (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, flutes, vocals), Chris While (guitar, percussion, vocals) and Julie Matthews (keyboards, guitar, bouzouki, vocals), the band quickly carved out a sound all of their own.
Blending original Christmas songs with traditional carols, delivered in their unmistakable style, St Agnes Fountain have become an essential part of the festive season for thousands of people. So much so, they inspired the much-loved phrase: “Christmas starts with St Agnes Fountain.”
Following David Hughes’ retirement due to ill health in 2020, and his sad passing in 2023, Chris While, Julie Matthews and Chris Leslie continued as a trio. Since then, they have released two studio albums and one live album, adding further depth to an already formidable catalogue of festive recordings.
December 2026 will see St Agnes Fountain tour their Silver Jubilee Show - a celebration of a quarter-century of music-making and festive celebrations. The show will draw from their extensive back catalogue of songs and tunes, poems and stories, as they once again raise the stained-glass arches and drape the fairy lights.
If you like Christmas, you’ll love St Agnes Fountain.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £25
www.stagnesfountain.net
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2188465
Something new for December 2026 - a chance to learn traditional and contemporary carols in unique arrangements, and perform as a choir with full instrumental support from the The Carnival Band. If you’ve ever been part of their Carnival Choir before, this is an opportunity to explore the songs over a longer period in the festive surroundings of Halsway dressed for Christmas.
On this course you’ll learn folk carols and festive songs drawn from The Carnival Band's long association with Maddy Prior on much-loved albums such as A Tapestry of Carols and Carols and Capers. Since 2012, the band has regularly formed a Carnival Choir to perform with them in their concerts with Maddy, culminating in their final Carols and Capers tour in 2024. Even if you missed that, here’s another chance to take part!
The course will begin with Andy Watts and Giles Lewin teaching you the carols in four part harmony (SATB). Scores will be provided, and for those not so confident with musical notation, recordings will be available on The Carnival Band's website. Later in the week, the other band members, Steno Vitale and Jub Davis, will join the party to give you full instrumental support. The final evening session will be a public gig given by The Carnival Band and The Carnival Choir, open to the public.
This course is for singers working at an intermediate level, who enjoy singing with others. The ability to read music would be advantageous, but not absolutely necessary. You’ll want to build on your existing skills and technique, mostly working in a big group with the tutors, but with some opportunities for smaller group work during the week.
Andy Watts grew up with ‘early music’ in the 1960’s thanks to an enthusiastic teacher in his Yorkshire primary school who was a fan of David Munrow. Shawms, crumhorns, recorders and viols were just as much a part of Andy’s musical life as clarinet and subsequently bassoon.
After graduating from Cambridge University, he studied bassoon and recorder at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and baroque bassoon at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. London’s period instrument orchestras, including The Academy of Ancient Music and The English Baroque Soloists. In 1984, he formed The Carnival Band, who have won acclaim for their recordings and live performances with folk-rock star Maddy Prior. They are also the lead ensemble in the 100 Ballads project, which was awarded the Roy Rosenzweig Prize for Creativity in Digital History by the American Historical Association.
A keen music educator working with children and adults, Andy previously taught at the Royal Academy of Music and continues to teach at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire. As musical director of Shropshire Harmony Quire, he is exploring the Country Psalmody of the 18th and early 19th centuries. Not one to stand still, he has recently taken up jazz clarinet as a refreshing change from historically informed performance!
Giles Lewin is equally at home in folk, medieval and Arabic music. In the 1980s he joined theatre company The Medieval Players playing rebec and medieval fiddle and in 1987 became a founder member of The Dufay Collective. At the same time he was working with Irish band After Hours. He has performed with June Tabor, is in a trio with Maddy Prior and Hannah James and was a founder member of folk supergroup Bellowhead. He has studied Arabic violin in Cairo with Ashraf Sharki and Abdu Daghr and oud (Arabic lute) with Lebanese singer Abdul Salaam el Kheir. With singer Vivien Ellis he formed the duo Alva.
Jub (Andrew) Davis is one of the most sought after bass players on the classical and contemporary scene. He co-founded the Kreisler String Orchestra which won the 1986 Jeunesses Musicales competition, and has played with the London Mozart Players and English National Opera. He played with indie pop group The Band of Holy Joy and has worked with Youssou N’Dour, Tanita Tikaram, Abdullah Ibrahim, Loose Tubes, Brian Eno and Sting. He has undertaken world tours for choreographer Hofesh Schecter and taken part in the collaboration with Anthony Gormley on mixed media and physical theatre production ‘Survivor’.
Steno Vitale began his career with rock band Kashmir and folk rock band Chanter. With a talent for words he was drawn naturally to the theatre and worked as musical director with Leicester based company Bamboozle. He has devised the show Magical Mishaps for the Dearngate Theatre Northampton and appears frequently as a workshop leader at festivals. Several of his songs have been recorded by Maddy Prior and The Carnival Band.
‘Christmas Tidings from Wessex!’
The Ridgeway Singers & Band invite you, your family and friends for an evening of Traditional carols, Dorset songs, dance tunes, and local poems and stories to celebrate the coming of Christmas.
From a 2013 Artsreach project with Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership Scheme, we perform a growing repertoire of Dorset music old and new, in the tradition made famous by Thomas Hardy in Under the Greenwood Tree.
Singers are accompanied by a ‘Village Band’ of musicians playing stringed and woodwind instruments, and the concerts evoke old-fashioned country Christmases when we made our own entertainment.
The group is led by renowned serpent player of the Mellstock Band Phil Humphries, who arranges original harmony parts to traditional and new tunes.
New this year are a locally penned Anthem celebrating our quality of life in Hardy’s Wessex, and an ever popular audience participation ‘Cobblers song’ featuring the trade’s percussive chorus
4 concerts this year in some of Dorset’s beautiful churches
This evening on Thursday 17th December at St Peter and St Paul’s parish church Blandford Forum marketplace.
Tickets via www.ridgewaysingersandband.org, Ticketsource, or call 01305 262159
Adults £12, Under 18s £6 We have held prices again this year in acknowledgement of living cost rises
7.30 - 9.30 pm
Contact Deborah Coombes: 01305 262159
RidgewaySingersAndBand AT protonmail.com
https://ridgewaysingersandband.org
‘Christmas Tidings from Wessex!’
The Ridgeway Singers & Band invite you, your family and friends for an evening of Traditional carols, Dorset songs, dance tunes, and local poems and stories to celebrate the coming of Christmas.
From a 2013 Artsreach project with Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty as part of the South Dorset Ridgeway Landscape Partnership Scheme, we perform a growing repertoire of Dorset music old and new, in the tradition made famous by Thomas Hardy in Under the Greenwood Tree.
Singers are accompanied by a ‘Village Band’ of musicians playing stringed and woodwind instruments, and the concerts evoke old-fashioned country Christmases when we made our own entertainment.
The group is led by renowned serpent player of the Mellstock Band Phil Humphries, who arranges original harmony parts to traditional and new tunes.
New this year are a locally penned Anthem celebrating our quality of life in Hardy’s Wessex, and an ever popular audience participation ‘Cobblers song’ featuring the trade’s percussive chorus
With 4 concerts this year in some of Dorset’s beautiful churches,the finale concert will once again be at the Dorford Centre in Dorchester on Friday 18 December.
Tickets via www.ridgewaysingersandband.org, Ticketsource, or call 01305 262159
Adults £12, Under 18s £6 We have held prices again this year in acknowledgement of living cost rises
7.30 - 9.30 pm
Contact Deborah Coombes: 01305 262159
RidgewaySingersAndBand AT protonmail.com
https://ridgewaysingersandband.org
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
7.15 for 7.30 - 9.30
Contact Sally Condon: 01300 348250
riverpiddle2 AT icloud.com
There’s nothing quite like Kate Rusby at Christmas. For more than two decades, Kate has enchanted audiences with her sparkling Christmas concerts — nights filled with warmth, wonder, laughter, and that unmistakable Rusby magic.
Returning in December 2026, marking a remarkable 21 years of her annual Christmas outing, Kate brings her much-loved festive show back to stages across the UK, blending traditional Yorkshire carols, Rusby-fied Christmas classics, and her own beautifully written songs. Her voice — angelic, tender, and timeless — wraps every melody in pure seasonal comfort. It’s no surprise that for thousands of families, Kate Rusby marks the true beginning of Christmas.
Sharing the stage once again will be her supremely talented band, along with the legendary Brass Boys, whose soaring arrangements and joyful musicianship have become a cherished hallmark of the tour. Expect a magical journey from glittering, full-bodied soundscapes to delicate, intimate moments, each performance glowing with good cheer, humour, and heart.
This is Christmas as only Kate Rusby can create it — cosy, captivating, and utterly unforgettable. Gather your loved ones, warm your mulled wine, and step into a heart-warming world filled with tradition, sparkle, and song.
7:00 PM
*All show timings are approximate and subject to change.
From £45 (under 16s, £25-75)
https://www.bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/kate-rusby-n25f
Celebrate the New Year in style – folk style that is! See out the Old Year and bring in the New with dancing, singing, music and games in the glorious setting of Halsway Manor.
With good food, good music and a packed programme of activities for musicians and dancers, plus with workshops and evening dances. There will be plenty of activities to keep you entertained, or room by the fire to relax with a good book. If the weather is fair, optional walks will be arranged, and you can expect playing sessions too; pack your walking boots and instruments.
Enjoy the Manor is its festive finery and see in the New Year with good company!
An enjoyable New Year break for anyone who wants to enjoys folk music and dancing, and a ‘Country House’ style New Year!
The team returns for 2026, led by Bridget Flett, with music provided by Rod & Frances Stradling as the house band. Rod and Frances have an energetic style, with a broad variety of repertoire that covers all styles of English and Scottish dancing and much more. Bridget will be assisted by Anne & Fritjof Koerber, Jane Thomas, and Beverley Tapper.
Bridget Flett, a Somerset based caller for Ceilidhs, Folk Dance Groups and Scottish Country Dancing, looks forward to welcoming you to the festivities at Halsway.
Jane Thomas is a regular on the Devon and West Country folk dance scene who will help you make the most of your week at Halsway.
Anne Koerber, who sings with a Bristol based classical choir and leads two West Gallery choirs, looks forward to singing with you.
Rod (accordion) and Frances Stadling (percussion) will be your music for the period. They play for English, Scottish and International dancing and, being active dancers themselves, will provide lively music to keep you going through the day.
Beverley Tapper runs a U3A Folk Dance Group in Taunton and calls for other groups in the area. She is also a Scottish dancer and a member of Sou'westers - the South West region handbell orchestra.
Real Ale bar. Cheese and biscuits included. Piper to welcome the New Year. Tickets from www.sherbornefolkband.org
Discounts for groups and earlybird tickets
7.30pm – 12:30am
www.sherbornefolkband.org
info AT sherbornefolkband.org
Julia: 07527 508 277
Ring in the New Year with a celebration ceilidh at The David Hall. Everyone is welcome to this fun evening with live music from Crooked Furrow and traditional ceilidh dances suitable for all ages and abilities.
A light supper is included to keep you going. Please get in touch with us in advance with any dietary requirements.
Tickets £19
Doors open 8pm with dancing starting at 8.30pm
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2226142
Wondering what to do just after the big day?
Well, you are invited to an afternoon concert of some of the old Christmas Carols that have been collected from, or written about, The South West of England, including some from within a 20 mile radius of Thorncombe.
Admission by donations
2:30pm - 4:30pm approx.
Contact Olive Mitchell: 01460 30539
stanchesterquire.org
Join us for the GreenMatthews Midwinter Getaway – a relaxing holiday of fun and festivities in the sumptuous surroundings of Halsway Manor with hosts Chris Green and Sophie Matthews.
GreenMatthews are well-known for their touring Christmas shows such as A Brief History of Christmas, A Christmas Carol and Midwinter Revels.
This holiday is an opportunity to get up close and personal with Chris and Sophie and enjoy 3 days of music and merrymaking. Please note: the course takes place Monday - Wednesday this year.
The Midwinter Getaway is very much about fun and relaxation, rather than Halsway’s usual intensive workshop-type weekends. With good food and good company, the house is the perfect place to gather with old friends and meet new ones. Free time will be an important part of the holiday, giving you the opportunity to explore the surrounding area or simply relax by the log fire with a glass of something warming.
If you play an instrument (to any level) then please do bring it along. If you don’t play, bring a voice, and if you’re not comfortable with either, please bring an appreciative pair of ears or a pair of dancing feet. There’ll be feasting, drinking, carolling and storytelling as well as a wintry walk across the beautiful Quantock Hills (the oldest area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in the UK).
The GreenMatthews Midwinter Getaway is for anyone who fancies a relaxing break at the Manor without the pressure of an intense timetable. You can recover from Christmas, recharge for the New Year, or simply enjoy time with good company.
Chris Green and Sophie Matthews are modern-day balladeers, specialising in telling stories through song.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/greenmatthews-midwinter-getaway-january-2027
GreenMatthews are firm believers in the age-old power of narrative song to delight contemporary audiences. Taking their cue from ancient troubadour tradition, they are 21st-century wandering players. They tour throughout the UK and Europe. Their music and tales are rooted in the past, but their performances are entirely of the 21st century – immediate and accessible to modern audiences.
Born into a musical family in Coventry, Chris began playing guitar at the age of eight and piano from the age of nine, and plays most things with fretted strings or keys. Largely self-taught, he’s worked in a variety of musical genres including folk, theatre and early music. He’s a regular musician at Shakespeare’s Globe and was also one of the musicians on BBC’s Poldark, appearing in series 1 and 2.
He also writes and composes, having adapted The Wind in the Willows (2017), and A Christmas Carol: In Concert (2018). His solo album Switched-On Playford, fuses 17th-century dance music with electronica, using a blend of early instruments, synths and loops. His latest commission from English Heritage is a live score for the 1922 silent film Nosferatu which will be touring in Autumn 2023.
www.chrisgreenmusic.co.uk
Sophie began playing flute at the age of ten but is known best as one of the foremost players of the English border bagpipe in the UK. She plays a variety of early woodwind instruments such as shawm, rauschpfeife and recorder. She’s one of a handful of British players of the baroque musette, an 18th century French bagpipe similar to the Northumbrian smallpipes. Sophie is a superb interpreter of narrative song with a clear, pure and unaffected soprano voice. When not touring with GreenMatthews, Sophie is an accredited lecturer for The Arts Society, lecturing on Music in Art. Sophie also makes instruments (she made her own baroque oboe) and works with respected luthier Tony Millyard on his flutes. As a musician Sophie plays with The Oxford Waits as well as the early music collective Piva.
www.sophiematthewsmusic.co.uk
Our popular Klezmer weekend course returns, now as a long weekend, with Susi Evans, Szilvia Csaranko, Indra Buraczewska and Flora Curzon at the helm to inspire you to explore this celebratory, soulful and melodic music from nineteenth century Jewish Eastern Europe.
Learn some great tunes and gain knowledge of the modes, ornamentation, rhythms and accompaniment that give klezmer its unique flavour. Play in an orchestra led by four of Europe’s top klezmer specialists, join a small ensemble where you can develop your arrangement skills and learn tips and tricks on your instrument to play music in a klezmer style. There will also be an informal tutors’ concert and plenty of opportunity for jamming in the bar!
We’ve added an extra night to our Klezmer music course to give you a bit more time to work with the tutors and play together. Sunday will now be a full day of workshops instead of ending after cream tea. Although we ask that you check out by 12pm on Monday morning, you may leave earlier if necessary.
This is a course for all* instrumentalists from all musical backgrounds. We welcome people who are new to klezmer, but you will need a good grasp of your instrument in order to participate. The course will be taught by ear as well as using the dots and there will be opportunities to develop both of these skills. We aim to set a pace that is right for everybody, and we will sometimes divide the group by instrument or level of experience.
If you’ve taken part in the course before, you’d be welcome back as the majority of the material covered will be new, and you’ll have the chance to build on your existing skills and techniques. The majority of your time will be spent working with a tutor in a small group, with some opportunity to play as a whole group.
*For diatonic instruments such as whistles and diatonic accordions, the klezmer modes can present a bit of a challenge. Please contact us if you’re not sure.
Susi, Szilvia, Indra and Flora are all exceptional musicians who are passionate about the tradition of klezmer music. Susi and Szilvia perform internationally and are in demand as teachers at the major klezmer festivals such as Yiddish Summer Weimar, Klezfest London, Yiddish New York and KlezKanada. They are also the authors of the Klezmer Playbook and founders of the KlezmerPlaybook CLUB where they regularly have up to 100 participants attending their online workshops.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/halsway-klezmer-weekend-2027
The London Klezmer Quartet is a dynamic group of performers whose deep understanding of klezmer, the celebratory and soulful music of Eastern European Jews, is reflected in exuberant, passionate and accomplished performances that captivate audiences of all ages and backgrounds.
The group plays old and new traditional material guaranteed to move audiences from toe-tapping to tears and back again in moments.
LKQ was formed in 2009 by a group of klezmer specialists keen to explore the almost-lost wedding music tradition of Jewish eastern Europe. The band was swiftly picked up by some of the UK’s foremost folk & world music promoters - Songlines Magazine, Continental Drifts and The Magpie’s Nest offered stages for the group's unique combination of artistry and exuberance. The band is also one of the few in the world who lead the Yiddish dances that this music would traditionally have accompanied.
8.00 pm
£12 (full time students £6)
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/gig-a-night-of-klezmer
Winter Warmer is a fun and friendly folk break to get your year off to a great start! Expect a range of activities - all optional - including dances, dance workshops, music workshops, games, quizzes, singing, craft activities, and hopefully a walk or two, depending on the weather.
You'll be guided by the Winter Warmer team: Sue Irving, Jane and Mark Hunter are your hosts for the event and will lead some fun and games to keep everyone relaxed and entertained; Madeleine Smith - well-known to many as a friendly and knowledgeable caller - will lead the dancing, assisted by Jane and Mark; and musicians Dampiers' Round (Peter & Moira Gutteridge) will lead music for dancing and also offering workshops for musicians. There will also be opportunities for anyone attending to call a dance or run an activity, if they so wish.
There will be a range of activities to keep you entertained including daily music and dance workshops, plus afternoon activities and walks for those who want to get out into the fresh air. Dances every evening, with the option for you to play in the band or call a dance should you so wish, before retiring to the bar to enjoy the convivial relaxed atmosphere of the manor.
This break begins with an introductory meeting in the bar at 5pm, before dinner at 6.30pm, which is followed by the Welcome Dance.
Who is it for? Everyone! The week offers a varied programme including folk dance, music and song, games, quizzes and fun, and all levels of experience are welcome to come and join a fun and sociable winter folk break. Bring instruments if you have them and would like to play.
Sue Irving
Sue began playing folk fiddle and participating in folk dancing in Worcestershire, towards the end of her career in education. Happily, Sue can now enjoy a second career in the world of folk music, putting her sense of merriment and imagination into helping run and participate in folk events, as well as playing with her local bands for dances. Sue has been a frequent guest at Halsway, often on courses run by Dampier’s Round and Madeleine Smith, and is delighted to be a member of the team for the Winter Warmer.
Jane and Mark Hunter
Jane and Mark have been involved in the folk scene for many years as dancers and more recently as callers. They are regular attendees of many folk festivals including Chippenham and Lichfield. They are very involved with their local folk dance club at Sytchampton where they run dance workshops for newer members. They also organise walks, trips and other activities for the club members.
Madeleine Smith
Madeleine learned her art from some outstanding teachers, including Pat Shaw and Ethyl Anderson. She is known for her clear calling and teaching, her sense of fun, and her ability to use her extensive knowledge of country dancing and its historical context to create interesting workshops and dance programmes. As a musician, Madeleine works on the principle that 'dance is music made visible', and puts the tune, phrasing and rhythm at the centre of her teaching. She was the recipient of an EFDSS Gold Badge in 2022.
Moira and Peter Gutteridge
Moira and Peter are the Worcester-based dance band Dampiers’ Round, well known at Folk Festivals and Dance events round the country. They will be leading music workshops as well as playing for dancing. Multi-instrumentalists both, they enjoy helping players of all abilities to discover and develop their skills playing together in mixed-instrument ensembles. They will no doubt be helping Sue and Madeleine with the fun and games, and lead a walk or two, weather permitting.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/winter-warmer-2027
We’re delighted to be working with Leveret – three of England’s finest folk musicians – again to offer this intensive weekend exploring ensemble playing, aimed exclusively at young adults, aged 18 to 30(ish) looking for folk music development.
During their first decade together, Leveret’s captivating interaction and intimate presentation style charmed audiences, helping the trio build a loyal following, and demonstrating the enduring appeal and endless potential of the folk tune.
All three are experienced teachers and workshop leaders, sharing a commitment to developing the next generation of folk musicians, and Leveret are committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for all participants both during and outside workshops.
Who is it for? You’ll be a competent musician with a good knowledge of your instrument; the weekend will focus on general music-making skills rather than instrument-specific technique, so you’ll need to have a sufficient grasp of your instrument to get involved. You’ll be happy to learn by ear, with a desire to build confidence, develop musical ideas, and experience playing in ensembles. There will be some degree of spontaneity during the weekend, both musically and organisationally, so you'll need to be prepared to go with the flow.
Because of the time limitations inherent in running a weekend course, you will be asked to do a little preparatory work in the run up to the weekend, to make sure everyone arrives ready to start.
Participant numbers will be limited and we anticipate this weekend will be popular so don't miss your chance!
Fiddler Sam Sweeney was voted ‘Musician of the Year’ at the 2015 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards thanks to his work in Bellowhead, Eliza Carthy’s Wayward Band, The Full English and his own Made In The Great War project. He was the inaugural Artistic Director of the National Youth Folk Ensemble.
Melodeon genius Andy Cutting is a three-time winner of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards ‘Musician of the Year’ award, and as well as his new trio with Martin Simpson and Nancy Kerr currently performs with Blowzabella, Topette, June Tabor, and Roger Daltry.
Concertina wizard Rob Harbron is known for his work with The Full English (Best Group and Best Album BBC Folk Awards 2014), Emma Reid, Fay Hield, Jon Boden and others. He has, for many years, led the English Acoustic Collective Summer School.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/leveret-18-30s-weekend-january-2027
In a shift of emphasis from his mandolin courses over the last few years, Simon will be giving ensemble playing and playing by ear equal attention for a few days. So if you want to perfect that elusive ability to instantly 'play what you hear', alongside brushing up your music and/or tablature reading skills, this is the course for you. There'll be plenty of technique tips along the way, and a chance to talk through with Simon any of your own mandolin related questions.
Workshops will take place each morning, with afternoons free for personal practice, exploring the local area, delving into the library, or impromptu ensemble work.
Who is it for? Mandolinists, mandola players, mandocellists and mandobassists (are there any out there?) are all invited to this group experience involving some ensemble playing (with easy parts to follow).
All ability levels are welcome, with the exception of complete beginners who may find themselves struggling. Ideally you’ll be able to get from start to finish of a fairly simple tune without stalling, and you’ll be able to read music or tablature to a reasonable standard (if you’re an experienced player but have only ever played by ear, tablature is very easy to learn). If you’re a guitarist or violinist trying a mandolin for the first time, you should be OK, but this is otherwise not going to be suitable for a beginner. Simon will send out PDFs of music/tablature and sound files in advance.
Simon Mayor is one of the world’s leading mandolin virtuosos and composers for the instruments. His many faceted career includes his own series on BBC Radio 2, an album in the Classic FM Top Ten chart and causing mayhem at a Canadian humour festival, but his most thrilling moment was a journey through the square window on BBC’s Playschool!
Simon moves effortlessly between classical, traditional folk, jazz & blues. His dazzling technical skills grace all the music he plays. He’s also a fine guitarist & fiddle player, with a delicious sense of humour & great teaching ability. In 2022, he and Hilary James were awarded honorary directorships of The Classical Mandolin Society of America.
www.mandolin.co.uk
Simon will be joined by Hilary James with her mandobass.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/spring-mandolins-2027
Guaranteed to be one of Halsway’s noisiest weekends, our popular Hurdy-Gurdy Weekend runs alongside our Bagpipe Weekend, with masterclasses, workshops, sessions and a Saturday night concert/dance. A frenzy of reeds, drones and buzzing things! Early booking advised.
The weekend is hosted by Claire Dugué, hurdy-gurdy maker and repairer, and she’ll be available to help people get the most out of their instruments with tips for maintenance. Our international tutor team includes:
Lucy Laigle and Iván Abal (Intermediate/Advanced Hurdy Gurdy Workshop – one group each)
Scott Marshall (Beginner Hurdy Gurdy Workshop).
Discussions are welcome before the course to adapt the content to the students. Each tutor will dedicate themselves to a specific group for the full weekend allowing for maximum learning and progression. You will need to decide which tutor you wish to work with and tell us when booking; numbers in each group are limited.
Want to make a long weekend of your trip? For an extra £65, you can stay until Monday morning, including supper and B&B. Please enquire when booking your place.
Iván Abal’s class - Playing Galician bagpipe tunes on Hurdy-Gurdy
In this workshop, we will explore the main rhythms of traditional Galician music, typically played on the bagpipes, and examine their application on the hurdy-gurdy. We will focus on aspects such as fingering adaptation, ornamentation, variations, and how to create rhythms with the right hand based on traditional percussion.
Additionally, we will also discuss the different phases of repertoire study and how to acquire resources to improve our technique on the instrument.
Lucie Laigle’s class - Making the Hurdy-Gurdy Dance: Variations, Cadences, and Arrangements
First, we will focus on hurdy-gurdy interpretation. Making the hurdy-gurdy dance means highlighting the cadence through both melodic and rhythmic playing. We will therefore dissect certain melodies in order to make them danceable, working on left-hand ornamentation and right-hand wrist techniques.
Next, making the hurdy-gurdy dance also involves creating arrangements that serve the dance. In the second part of the workshop, we will invent additional musical elements together to accompany the melody (modal harmonies, loops, exploring different playing styles of the hurdy-gurdy). The goal will be to create one or several beautiful arrangements designed to make people dance! The repertoire will be quite varied, ranging from traditional tunes from Centre France to more recent folk melodies.
Because course places are limited, we aren’t able to take bookings from those not wishing to fully participate in one of the workshop groups (unless you’re coming as the friend or partner of a participant, and sharing a room).
This course is for players of the hurdy-gurdy who already have their own instrument (including beginners).
Beginners/Improvers Class with Scott Marshall
This class is for the beginner who has a hurdy gurdy (or has borrowed one from a friend) and wants to spend some time to check out if playing the instrument is for him/her.
It is also for the player who has been playing for a few years but hasn’t yet progressed far, and needs to strengthen his/her ability to play tunes/use the trompette.
Intermediate/advanced classes with Lucie Laigle or Iván Abal
On both these classes, we expect players who are in control of their instruments, can set them up and tune them. They need to have a repertoire of tunes under their belt and master the trumpet techniques to a coup de quatre minimum.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/hurdy-gurdy-weekend-2027
+ support
Jim Moray is an English folk musician, singer, and producer known for his innovative approach to traditional folk music. First gaining notice in the early 2000s for his startling reimagining of traditional songs, blending acoustic instrumentation with electronic production, he has established himself as one of the key figures in the English Folk Revival of the last 25 years.
A true polymath, he is known for playing nearly all the instruments on his recordings as well as producing, arranging and mixing. He is also in demand as a producer for both a new generation of forward-looking folk musicians and the older generation of musicians who came before him. Never satisfied with staying still, the artist is still moving after shaking the folk world to its foundations twenty years ago. And in a genre where musicians reach their peak the older they get, there’s a sense that he has only just begun.
8.00 pm
Tickets: £19.50
www.jimmoray.co.uk
https://www.tickettailor.com/events/thepethertonartstrust/2134669
We’re really excited to be joining up once again with Chris Dyer, Tom Evans, Ella Sprung and Andrew Parr for a music and dance course exploring the folk cultures of the Nordic countries. There will be separate strands for dancers and musicians, and you will need to choose your main group at the time of booking (saying both isn’t an option - sorry!).
For dancers, the main focus will be Swedish polska, but there will also be chances to learn other dances throughout the week.
Musicians will explore the rich soundscape of Nordic dance music with tunes from Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Finland. As well as building repertoire we’ll be looking at elements of traditional style such as second voicing, harmony, and ornamentation. There will be opportunities to form small ensembles to work on arrangements.
As well as a slow session in the bar, each evening dancers and musicians can come together to work on music or steps. On the final night there will be a more formal showcase of music and dance.
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. The majority of tunes will be in approachable keys (eg, D, G, Bm, Em, etc) but there will be a few modal outliers. The course is suitable for both ear learners and music readers and sheet music will be provided. The tutors will aim to tailor the course to the participants.
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-dance-2027
Award-winning flamenco guitarist Daniel Martinez returns in 2027 with the UK premiere of his brand-new album and production, Al Compas del Querer, a deeply personal and emotionally charged journey through the life of one of flamenco’s most celebrated touring artists.
Since 2023, the Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company has captivated sold-out audiences across the United Kingdom with three acclaimed productions. Daniel’s debut album, Art of Believing, received the prestigious Herald Angel Award at the Edinburgh International Festival, while his second production, Andalucia, earned widespread five-star reviews and established his reputation for creating unforgettable theatrical flamenco experiences. His third production, Art of Andalucia, toured extensively throughout 2025 to outstanding acclaim.
Now with a rapidly growing international presence across Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Ireland and beyond, the Daniel Martinez Flamenco Company has welcomed well over 120,000 audience members in the last three years.
With Al Compas del Querer, Daniel opens the doors to his most intimate production to date. Through a powerful fusion of flamenco guitar, exquisite singing and breathtaking dance, the audience is taken on a journey through the defining moments and people that shaped his life; from childhood and artistic discovery, to illness, family, love, and the creation of his internationally acclaimed company.
In flamenco, ‘compas' is rhythm, but in this production, it becomes the rhythm of life itself, shaped by the people we love and the moments that define us. Each composition is dedicated to a person or chapter of Daniel’s story, transforming the stage into a deeply human and emotionally immersive flamenco experience.
Raw, honest, visually stunning and filled with extraordinary musical virtuosity, Al Compas del Querer promises an unforgettable evening of passion, storytelling and flamenco at its most personal.
Doors & bars
6:30 PM
Show start
7:30 PM
*All show timings are approximate and subject to change.
£30-70
https://www.bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/daniel-martinez-skr2
Recorders AT Plymouth are back for their annual visit to Halsway Manor, offering an opportunity to explore the huge diversity of recorder orchestra repertoire. The recorder orchestra will be led by a professional conductor to enable players to develop their playing to a better standard, in a supportive environment with convivial company!
Players must be confident ensemble players, able to play both C and F instruments and ideally including bass; in a recorder orchestra there are many more basses, greats and contras, than small instruments. This course is not suitable for beginners or for descant-only players.
Helen Hooker the conductor for the orchestral sessions studied recorder at Trinity and has many years of experience of teaching and conducting. The non orchestral sessions will be conducted by Steve Marshall who is a prolific composer and arranger of recorder music. Steve has conducted many groups of recorder players on a variety of courses.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/recorder-orchestra-weekend-2027
This is a partnership event organised by Folk Camps who are offering a fully catered residential holiday at Halsway Manor, the UK’s National Centre for Folk Art. Expect taster workshops on many different crafts as well as daily music workshops and evening ceilidhs.
The leader for this weekend is Mic Spenceley, with music by Chris Jewell.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/folk-camps-craft-break-2027
A weekend event for The Madding Crowd who research and perform the church and secular music of the English village bands and choirs in the period 1660 to 1861.
This partnership event is organised by The Madding Crowd.
The Madding Crowd is one of the largest and longest established of the revival groups specialising in West Gallery music. They meet each week, just as the old gallery bands and choirs did. The group was founded in 1975 to lead a village evensong, and we have given carol concerts every year since 1977, summer concerts since 1979, harvest concerts since 1989, and have led the singing at many church services, baptisms, weddings and harvest festivals. We have broadcast on radio and television several times, including the Songs of Praise programme shown in 1990, and in “Going the Rounds” on BBC Radio 4 in December 2003. We also provided music for a television programme about Isaac Watts, shown on the PAX channel in North America. In the 1990s we created an early 19th century village wedding and celebration for English Heritage Special Events at various locations in the South of England.
If you’d like to find out more, head to the website www.maddingcrowd.org
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/madding-crowd-2027
Sam Kelly is a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award winning musician, singer, songwriter, and producer from Norfolk, UK. His band The Lost Boys are festival favourites across the UK folk scene and beyond, and his portfolio as a guitar and bouzouki player includes playing with the likes of Kate Rusby, Seth Lakeman, John McCusker, Phil Beer, and Katherine Priddy. Sam has become known as a unique and innovative arranger and pioneer of traditional folk song, and has produced albums by The Changing Room, Kitty Macfarlane, Chris Cleverley, Ainsley Hamill and more. He is also is a published songwriter, with his music being used on Sky Sports, Sky Arts, Channel 4, Channel 5, as well as BBC Radio 1, 2, and 3. Described by legendary folk broadcaster Mike Harding as ‘one of my favourite singers ever’ and by Cara Dillon as ‘an amazing singer with so much soul’, Sam will be performing a rare solo show, showcasing material from across all of his varied projects, with a signature dash of humour!
£14 + 2 in advance, £16 + 2 on the door
7.45 pm
Contact Lucy Franklin
lucy AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
Dive into the fantastic world of folk harp playing! We're delighted to welcome back Steph West, this time joined by Clotilde Trouillard and Harriet Earis, to lead a weekend of harp workshops and sessions in our annual weekend dedicated to harp playing in a folk context.
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.
Harriet will be teaching mostly traditional Welsh tunes, while Clotilde explores music from Brittany. There will also be 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 beginner harp hire again for anyone who does not have their own instrument yet. These 22 string un-levered harps are suitable for the beginners course only. Help will be given to keep them in tune over the weekend. These harps 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
Harriet Earis
Harriet started the harp aged 7 and was originally classically trained. When asked to join a London-Irish band in her gap year, she had a religious conversion to trad music and has never looked back since. She is now considered one of the foremost exponents of the Celtic harp in the UK, specialising in Welsh, Irish and Scottish music.
With her trio of harp, bass and drums she also mixes Celtic music with jazz - and more recently with tap dance.
Together with her love of Celtic music, Harriet speaks Welsh, Irish and Scots Gaelic and has an MA in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic Studies from Trinity College, Cambridge. She has been a busy full-time musician since 2001, touring extensively throughout the UK, Europe, Canada and America.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/folk-harp-weekend-2027
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.
The tutors are two of Moonrakers' members - Jon Bennett (guitar, bouzouki, mandolin, ukulele, whistles, vocals) and Jacqui Johnson (cello, fiddle, accordion, vocals). Both tutors have many years’ experience of running enjoyable workshops and folk orchestras across the country.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/moonrakers-folk-orchestra-2027
Members of Moonrakers bring you an evening of music as part of their teaching residency at Halsway Manor.
Jon Bennett has performed at festivals, arts centres and clubs in Lincolnshire, Shropshire, Oxfordshire and the North East since the 1980s. He has published children's songs commissioned by the National Cooperative Movement and the BBC and, with arrangements by Jacqui, has two books of original and traditional tunes published by Mel Bay. He's a previous winner BBC-radio/Folkwrite Magazine songwriting competition and a finalist of the International Songsearch competition. Jon's music has featured on the BBC's award-winning Global Echoes programme and on Radio 4.
Every year, with Jacqui, he manages and teaches Folk Orchestra, Songwriting and Ukulele courses at the National Centre for the Folk Arts (Halsway Manor) and Benslow Music, and has also run courses at festivals such as Common Ground (Scotland), Broadstairs Folk Week, BunkFest and the Ukulele Festival of Great Britain. He has written more than 80 reviews for Shire Folk magazine and is a staff/contributing writer for RnR Magazine. He founded Moonrakers in 1998.
Jacqui Johnson graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in Melbourne, Australia. She subsequently became a full time member of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and later played with the Australian Opera and Ballet companies. She broadcasted and recorded recitals for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, gave many solo and chamber recitals throughout Australia, and toured China and Hong Kong. On moving to Oxford, Jacqui became a freelance musician, combining teaching, chamber music and solo performances with orchestras such as Milton Keynes Sinfonia, Oxford Symphony Orchestra, John Radcliffe Orchestra and Didcot Concert Orchestra. She plays an 18th century Italian baroque cello as well as a modern cello. She joined Moonrakers in late 2018 and from 2019 joined Jon as a tutor at the Folk Orchestra events.
£12 (£6 full time students)
8.00 pm
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/gig-moonrakers-2027
This is the 11th PIVA Real Roots! course at Halsway, where you will be exploring the world of late 16th-century popular music - this year concentrating on music from Germany. 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.
Richard Boothby - viols, viola de gamba. After studying with David Fallows and Nikolaus Harnoncourt in Salzburg, Richard founded the Purcell Quartet in 1984 and was a founding member of Fretwork in 1985. Since then his career has been bound up with these two groups, with whom he records and tours; and through whom he plays the broadest range of repertory for the viol, from the earliest music to the latest contemporary music. Richard is a prime mover in the quest to enrich the viol repertory with new music and has been involved in commissioning music from George Benjamin, Michael Nyman, Alexander Goehr, Orlando Gough and Elvis Costello, among many others.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/piva-february-2027
Fairport Convention have been entertaining music lovers for sixty remarkable years, having formed in 1967. In that time, the band that invented British folk-rock has evolved through many chapters, but one thing has never changed — Fairport’s enduring passion for performance.
This year’s Winter Tour celebrates their Diamond Anniversary, presenting a vibrant mix of long-established Fairport favourites alongside fresh surprises from across their extensive catalogue. It’s a rare chance to experience the band’s history, heart, and humour in one unforgettable evening.
Fairport Convention have won a BBC Lifetime Achievement Award, and Radio 2 listeners voted their groundbreaking album Liege & Lief “The Most Influential Folk Album of All Time.” Their extraordinary story has been celebrated in television documentaries on BBC Four and Sky Arts.
The band features founding member Simon Nicol on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass guitar and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin, bouzouki, banjo and vocals, and Dave Mattacks on drums and keyboards — a line-up whose musicianship and camaraderie continue to define the genre they created.
Doors & bars
6:30 PM
Show start
7:30 PM
*All show timings are approximate and subject to change.
£40-60
https://www.bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/fairport-convention-q2ct
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.
Who is it for? 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.
Peter Clifton is an expert tutor of French and Breton Dance, and teaches regularly at the French Dance Stroud monthly events. He has also run workshops at Pentreffest, European music and dance festival (Kinnersley), Shrewsbury folk festival and the Festival des Panards.
Yannick Minvielle-Debat’s involvement in traditional French and Breton music ranges from singing for dancing in a band, The Wizards of Noz and in a duo with an accordionist, Steve Turner, organising an annual French music festival in Todmorden, teaching Breton call and response songs to running dance workshops for all abilities and ages. She also plays the hurdy-gurdy to the great despair of her husband! Born in France, Yannick now lives in Keighley, Yorkshire within earshot of the heritage railway line featured in the Railway Children. www.frenchdanceschools.org.uk
Richard Heacock (violin) began playing for folk dance with The Vale Islanders Playford group and Icknield Way Morris. He later joined English traditional group Boldwood, and produced their first CD “Feet Don’t Fail Me Now.” He discovered French and Breton dance music in 2004 and played in a duo with accordionist Becky Price at Kinnersley, Horsley and Ide. He currently plays in Breton trio The Andro Sisters, and with Paul Hutchinson. Richard is a frequent visitor to Halsway, and has taught and played on the Playing Playford, French Dance and Poldark Dance courses.
Paul Hutchinson (accordion) was half of the much-loved duo Belshazzar’s Feast (nominated for Best Duo at the BBC Folk Awards in 2010), and has most recently been touring with his new band, Coracle. Regarded as one of the top accordionists in the UK, Paul is the resident accordion tutor at Cecil Sharp House, and a regular tutor and musician at Halsway Manor. Paul is much in demand as a player for dancing which has resulted in appearances at festivals in the UK, Europe and the USA.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/french-breton-dance-2027
The Northumbrian Smallpipes weekend offers an 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.
Once again, you’ll be able to make a long weekend of it and book an additional night of B&B on Sunday night for just £65 per person (includes supper).
Please note that supper is only available with a B&B booking. Last date to book B&B: Friday 19th Feb 2027
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.
Andy will be joined by three other tutors for the weekend, who will appear on the website when they are confirmed.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/northumbrian-smallpipes-march-2027
Wielding the distinct voices of fiddle, concertina and mandolin, the Grace Smith Trio brings together three like-minded musicians to create one dynamic and expressive musical dialogue. Acclaimed fiddle and viola player Grace Smith is joined by Sam Partridge (concertina) and Tom Kimber (mandolin) in this innovative ensemble, which offers a fresh take on folk. Drawing deeply from tradition, whilst also expanding their repertoire with new melodies of their own, the Grace Smith Trio explores the boundaries of what folk can be to mesmerising effect; their music will stay with you long after you finish listening. Their debut album Overleaf was released in Autumn 2023 to great critical reception. In their review of Overleaf, Klof Mag said; “If you’re looking for the exciting future of instrumental folk music, you need search no further.”
£14 + 2 in advance, £16 + 2 on the door
7.45 pm
Contact Lucy Franklin
lucy AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
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.
Carolyn Wade - Concertina Band
Carolyn is a retired teacher who has played music since starting the recorder at the age of 7. She took up the concertina over 30 years ago and fell in love with ensemble and band playing. She has coached and directed various music groups while teaching and has, for over 25 years, arranged music and run workshops for concertina groups.
Since retiring she spends a lot of time arranging music, for concertina and recorder ensembles/orchestras. She is the musical director of the Yorkshire Concertina Club and plays with The West Riding Concertina Ensemble. She regularly conducts and tutors at Recorder and Concertina events. She has been the Concertina Band tutor at the Swaledale Squeeze for over 25 years.
Andy Turner - Anglo Concertina tutor
Andy Turner is a highly-regarded singer and anglo-concertina player. Way back in 1984 he won the first ever Sidmouth Singer competition, judged by Shirley and Dolly Collins. Today he sings and plays with Oxfordshire group Magpie Lane, ceilidh bands including Oxford NAGS and Geckoes, and is the musician for Headington Quarry Morris Dancers. His solo performances focus on traditional songs, sung unaccompanied or with sensitive concertina accompaniment, plus a few dance tunes. Andy’s repertoire includes many lesser known songs from his native county of Kent, but also occasional item by writers such as Billy Bragg and even George Formby!
Sam Partridge - English Tutor
A multi-instrumentalist and leading exponent of traditional English flute playing, Sam Partridge is highly regarded as a musician, composer, and music educator. Alongside performances in his own right, most notably premiering his Wind Quintet in 2023, Sam is often heard playing with instrumental 6-piece Pons Aelius, French dance trio Cri du Canard, and as a member of the Grace Smith Trio.
Sam first came to the concertina whilst studying music at university. After falling in love with this fun and versatile instrument, Sam has developed his style as an English concertina player in the Grace Smith Trio, and appeared as a tutor at the famous Swaledale Squeeze.
From 2019-23 Sam was in the role of Artistic Director for the National Youth Folk Ensemble, having been a regular member of the tutor team in the three years prior to this appointment. He currently provides flute and concertina tuition for the Folk and Traditional Music degree programme at Newcastle University, as well as running his woodwind workshops across the UK and abroad under the name Aerophone Club.
Iris Bishop - Duet Tutor
Iris is widely recognised for her skill and originality in playing the Duet Concertina, with a subtle and expressive approach to song accompaniment and a solo repertoire that includes styles not usually associated with this instrument.
She is probably best known for her playing alongside singer Martyn Wyndham-Read with whom she has toured in the UK and Australia and recorded extensively, as well as performing in theatrical productions of shows like ‘Maypoles to Mistletoe’ and ‘Down the Lawson Track’.
While continuing to perform with a variety of singers and instrumentalists, Iris is also in demand as a musical arranger and workshop leader, where she is inspiring a new generation of players with her enthusiasm and expertise.
Steve Dickinson - Concertina Repairs
As for previous residential weekends, Steve will be available for running repairs on course members’ instruments. He can also give advice on more serious works outside the scope of the service provided to course members. Steve is the proprietor of C Wheatstone and Co, Concertina Makers.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/wccp-weekend-2027
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.
Doors & bars
6:30 PM
Show start
7:30 PM
Approx end
9:55 PM
*All show timings are approximate and subject to change.
From £29-60
https://www.bathforum.co.uk/whats-on/the-dubliners-encore-1zqr
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 this year, Merit will be joined by Michal Müller (Czech Republic) will be joined by Julien Barbances (France).
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.
The participants will be divided into two ensemble groups and each group will work with all 3 tutors throughout the course. There will be at least one piece of music that involves everyone playing together as one ensemble.
Friday: Arrive at 1pm for lunch. 2pm - Introductions, what’s happening, questions. Ensemble workshops 2:30 - 5:30pm and 8 - 9:30pm. Then informal music making in the bar.
Saturday: Breakfast 8:30am. Ensemble workshops 10am - 5:30pm. Lunch 1pm.
Dinner 6:30pm. Possible evening trip to the Carew arms pub in Crowcombe for a few tunes (1.5 miles from the manor) or free time to relax.
Sunday: Breakfast 8:30am. Ensemble workshops 10am - 5pm. Lunch 1pm.
Dinner 6pm. CONCERT 8pm (course leaders and ensemble groups) followed by informal music making in the bar.
Monday: Breakfast 8:30am. Workshops 10am - 12pm. Lunch 12pm. Finish.
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.
If you have any queries about the course, send them to office AT halswaymanor.org.uk, marked FAO Merit Zloch and we will pass them on.
When you have booked and paid a deposit please tell us a bit about yourself and your musical needs (for example, music needed for transposing instruments) on the Participant Info Form.
Merit Zloch (www.meritzloch.net) is a harpist, composer and music teacher. She sees herself in the tradition of the itinerant harp players of the 19th and early 20th century, travelling with her harp throughout Europe charming people with her original compositions and arrangements of historical dance music.
She has played in bands almost as long as she has played the harp and is constantly fascinated by the interplay between musicians. She likes to arrange und develop pieces together with her band colleagues and to improvise.
Michal Müller http://www.michal-muller.cz/en_start.php is presently the only educated zither player and teacher of the concert zither in the Czech Republic. Deeply rooted in Czech traditional music, he is one of the most progressive zither players of the world. As a solo player, Michal is popular for his personal expression and approach to the instrument. He prefers free realisation and opportunity to show his individuality with a great respect to history and tradition.
Julien Barbances is a multi-instrumentalist (violin, bagpipes, percussion, oud), singer, and band leader as well as a composer, arranger - and a charismatic tutor! Some might know him as leading member of the celebrated and
groundbreaking Central French band La Machine. Deeply rooted in Central French tradition, he is capable like no one else of merging it with contemporary influences and quotes from other folk music cultures.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/euro-ensemble-2027
Join us for an evening of European folk music with tutors from the Halsway European Weekend, and debut performances of new ensemble pieces created by course participants.
Merit Zloch (www.meritzloch.net) is a harpist, composer and music teacher. She sees herself in the tradition of the itinerant harp players of the 19th and early 20th century, travelling with her harp throughout Europe charming people with her original compositions and arrangements of historical dance music.
She has played in bands almost as long as she has played the harp and is constantly fascinated by the interplay between musicians. She likes to arrange and develop pieces together with her band colleagues and to improvise.
Michal Müller http://www.michal-muller.cz/en_start.php is presently the only educated zither player and teacher of the concert zither in the Czech Republic. Deeply rooted in Czech traditional music, he is one of the most progressive zither players of the world. As a solo player, Michal is popular for his personal expression and approach to the instrument. He prefers free realisation and opportunity to show his individuality with a great respect to history and tradition.
Julien Barbances is a multi-instrumentalist (violin, bagpipes, percussion, oud), singer, and band leader as well as a composer and arranger! Some might know him as leading member of the celebrated and groundbreaking Central French band La Machine. Deeply rooted in Central French tradition, he is capable like no one else of merging it with contemporary influences and quotes from other folk music cultures.
8.00 pm
£12 (£6 full time students)
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/gig-folk-of-europe
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.
This event is for everyone. Whatever your level of experience in dancing and/or playing, come and enjoy a convivial few days with like minded people.
Ian Cummins will be joined by Clare Haythornthwaite and Bev Tapper this year, offering the usual great array of workshops and entertainment.
Music comes from Gareth Kiddier and Linda Game - one of the best known and friendliest folk dance pairings on the UK scene. Once you start dancing with them you wont want to stop! Gareth Kiddier (Piano) has been playing and dancing for over 15 years with driving rhythms and considered harmonics. Linda Game (fiddle, mandolin) (The Broken Ankles, The Kitchen Girls, The Fold) has over 20 years’ folk experience since leaving the classical music world. With stunning improvisational fluency and rhythm she’s an exciting dance musician.
https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/easter-house-party-2027
Ellie Gowers is a UK singer-songwriter crafting emotionally rich, story-driven music described as a “sunset-hued 70s folk-pop hug.” Blending folk, indie, and acoustic pop influences, she has gained acclaim through her debut album Dwelling by the Weir, EP You, the Passenger, and captivating live performances across the UK.
£14 + 2 in advance, £16 + 2 on the door
7.45 pm
Contact Lucy Franklin
lucy AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
Two of the most celebrated figures in English folk music, John Spiers and Jon Boden bring their exhilarating live show to the stage for a special matinee performance.
Since first meeting at an Oxford pub folk session in 2000, Spiers & Boden have become one of the defining partnerships of the modern English folk revival. Combining Boden’s powerful vocals and fiddle playing with Spiers’ extraordinary command of the melodeon, the duo breathe fresh life into traditional songs and tunes with performances full of energy, invention, humour and musicianship.
Their debut album in 2001 propelled them to the forefront of the folk scene, before the pair went on to become founding members of the hugely successful Bellowhead. Across six studio albums as Spiers & Boden, they have built a reputation as fearless and imaginative arrangers, keeping traditional English music vibrant, accessible and – above all – enormous fun.
Their most recent album, Fallow Ground, reached No.3 in the UK & Ireland Official Folk Albums Chart and was named among MOJO magazine’s Top 10 folk albums of 2021. The Observer described the record as “bursting with ideas”, while The Scotsman praised the “perfectly balanced” combination of Boden’s fiddle and Spiers’ melodeon.
Live, their chemistry remains irresistible. From intimate traditional songs to rousing instrumental sets and favourites familiar from their Bellowhead years, Spiers & Boden prove that two musicians can generate an extraordinary amount of sound, excitement and joy.
£25.00 (inc. £2.00 cmsn)
4.00 pm (doors, 3.30)
https://www.cheeseandgrain.com/events/spiers-boden/
After many years of collaborating in various guises, Nick Hart and Tom Moore are finally on the road as a duo. Both renowned interpreters of English traditional music, Tom's playing has been described as “ingenious” (The Guardian) and “irresistible” (The Independent), while Nick has been called “...probably the finest interpreter of traditional English folk songs this generation has produced...” (tradfolk.co).
The unusual combination of Tom's viola and Nick's tenor viol creates a rich set of textures with which they explore a variety of traditional songs and tunes. The result is an absorbing expression of English music by two master players.
2023 Saw the release of their first LP, 'The Colour of Amber', which quickly garnered much critical acclaim and featured in many top ten lists for the year, being described as “An inspired pairing of two musicians at the top of their game.” (Folk London) and “...head and shoulders above just about any English traditional album of the last few years” (FRUK).
£14 + 2 in advance, £16 + 2 on the door
7.45 pm
Contact Lucy Franklin
lucy AT tauntonbrewhouse.co.uk
This event has been rescheduled to Sunday 23 May 2027.
Ruby is a remarkable talent whose musical journey is nothing short of inspiring. Originally from Scotland and now making her home in the South West, she is a passionate songwriter and a gifted multi-instrumentalist. Her incredibly diverse and versatile repertoire, spanning from harmonica to guitar and even bagpipes, has enabled her to busk around the world raising funds for Save the Children. Ruby’s dedication and artistry were recognised last year when she won Best Female Solo Artist at the Wiltshire Music Awards. Please enjoy the following links to a couple of her performances:
£8/£10
4.00 - 6.00 pm
Contact Helen
hlleary AT hotmail.co.uk
www.caryfordhall.co.uk
Be among the first to experience our brand new Costa Autumn Festival at the beautiful Cricket St Thomas in Somerset. Bringing together everything you know and love about Costa in an elegant new setting, this exciting four-day festival combines exceptional live music with first-class hospitality, idyllic surroundings, and the warm, welcoming atmosphere that makes every Costa Festival so special.
Joining us for our inaugural Costa Autumn Festival are Chris While & Julie Matthews, Elles Bailey, Reg Meuross, Track Dogs, Cut Capers, Blackbeard's Tea Party, Marion Fleetwood, Lauren Collier Band, Chris Cleverley, Warehouse of Thieves and Chris Tavener, with more artists still to be announced.
Alongside the concerts, enjoy all the much-loved Costa inclusions, with a programme of musical and active workshops running throughout the festival, late-night sessions where the music continues after the concerts, and plenty of time to relax in the beautiful surroundings. With quality accommodation, excellent dining, an optional return coach service from Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham, and the renowned Costa atmosphere, you have all the ingredients for an unforgettable festival.
Four nights Dinner, Bed and Breakfast
Full festival pass
Ukulele workshops
Costa Choir
Ceilidhs
Daily Pilates classes
Informal tunes sessions
Singaround
Open mic and bar sessions
Full-time service of the Costa Festival team
Optional coach to the festival (additional cost)
Fully protected for your peace of mind – TTA No. X2358
On-site Facilities
Room Type Price per person
Standard Room £739
Standard Room (solo) £999
Signature Room £829
Contemporary Royale Room £849
Historic Room £859
https://www.costafestival.co.uk/costa-autumn-festival-2027/