English Folk Dance and Song Society

This week's show tells stories of how lives have been shaped by places, battles, loves and losses. Listen to Classic Folk at efdss.org/listen

Micro Grants £500 for professional folk artists Apply now! Deadline: 1 November www.efdss.org/artist-devel...

Baritone Daniel Tate and pianist Samuel Mitchell will be performing pieces by George Butterworth to mark Remembrance Sunday at St Clement Danes, London & New College Chapel, Oxford. Butterworth, a founding member of EFDSS, was killed in action in WW1. www.sammitchellmusic.co.uk/calendar/lad...

This week's episode of Classic Folk includes tracks by: @rorymcleoduk.bsky.social The Levellers @elizacarthy.bsky.social Martin Carthy @comesingitplain.bsky.social @jimmoray.bsky.social The Barelyworks and many more! www.efdss.org/listen

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House (20th Oct class, then half term resuming 3rd Nov). This week's breaktime chat will be "Fools". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Thaxted Ring Meeting 2025 - beasts, fools, fiddle, taborer and boxes

Listen to our Library Director Tiffany Hore @piccolotacet.bsky.social and Librarian Nick Wall talk about The Lad himself, Cecil Sharp; on the Red Heaven project - an oral history of interviews about the utopian socialists and reformers in industrial Britain www.redheavenproject.com/episodes/cec...

The new Prime Minister is writing a "10-year plan" for the UK. The arts & culture MUST be part of it. I've signed @campaignforthearts.org's petition urging @andyburnham.bsky.social to revitalise the arts – to revitalise the whole nation 🌱 Join me: www.campaignforthearts.org/petitions/10-year-plan/

Painter Mary Millner came seeking inspiration in our Library and Archives at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social and you can see the forest-y results in 'Vert' at Regent's Park Gallery from 26 Oct - 1 Nov. Join Mary for the Big Draw event to have a go yourself too: www.thebigdraw.org/events/drawi...

When England’s queen of folk met America’s king of guitar: faroutmagazine.co.uk/when-folk-queen-shirley-collins-met-guitar-god-jimi-hendrix/

Conference to explore legacy of Naseem Khan’s seminal 1976 report about exclusion of minority ethnic artists www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2026/oct/13/arts-britain-ignores-50-years-on-black-asian-artists-naseem-khan

Putting creativity at the heart of the curriculum: What the government needs to do now. Sign Arts and Minds latest Open Letter to the government. actionnetwork.org/forms/puttin...

This week's Classic Folk features: @naomibedford.bsky.social @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social @offarex.bsky.social @theyounguns.bsky.social - playing at Cecil Sharp House on 20 Dec and many more www.efdss.org/listen

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's breaktime chat will be "Women in Morris" Book now: www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Taylor's Morris 2026 Longborough

Take a look at this great guide supporting musicians' mental health, launched by Music Minds Matter earlier this week for World Mental Health Day Music Minds Matter has a 24/7 helpline, available for free to musicians and anybody working in music: 0808 802 8008 Read: www.musicmindsmatter.org.uk

Our annual one-day conference for people interested in Street Literature and Cheap Print in all its fascinating aspects. Organised by the Traditional Song Forum with the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. Broadside Day 2027 Sat 20 Feb @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social www.efdss.org/whats-on/61-...

We're swelling with pride to have been shortlisted within the Excellence in SEND (Music & Drama ) Award at the Music & Drama Education Awards 2027 for our Inclusive Folk project, supported by the John Lyon's Charity. Thanks to tutors Emmie Ward and Nick Goode. Winners announced in Feb. Wish us luck!

This Sunday! Bring all the family and take part in a lively Barndance to live music. Your caller for this barn dance will be Nancy Potts, who will guide the moves with simple instructions for all ages. @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social Sun 11 Oct, 3pm-4.30pm www.efdss.org/whats-on/27-...

This week's Classic Folk includes tracks by: @nancyannfolk.bsky.social & The Sweet Visitor Band Jo Ann Kelly Hissy Fit New Lost City Ramblers Alasdair Fraser Joni Mitchell Judee Sill Si Kahn Barbara Dymock Moirai Gatehouse @sebstonefolk.bsky.social and many more www.efdss.org/listen

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House This week's breaktime chat will be "Rulers Enjoy Morris". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Fool of the Rose Moresk

Our very own President @elizacarthy.bsky.social will be one of the headliners at the Manchester Folk Festival in March next year, performing alongside so many of our friends and familiar faces. We can hardly wait! manchesterfolk.com/event/manche...

It's nearly Halloween month and we've got lots of gigs for you to go batty over 🦇😉 1 Oct: Tarren 8 Oct: @moonrakersband.bsky.social 17 Oct: @efdss.bsky.social Black British Folk Takeover 20 Oct: Darol Anger and Bruce Molsky 21 Oct: Mishra and Deepa Shakthi events.livetoyourlivingroom.com

This week's episode of Classic Folk includes: @jonboden.bsky.social @jezlowe.bsky.social @regmeuross.bsky.social And many more! www.efdss.org/listen

Organised by the Traditional Song Forum and the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, Broadside Day is the annual one-day conference in street literature in all its fascinating aspects. We are inviting speakers who wish to present a 20-minute paper. Find out how to submit www.efdss.org/about-us/wha...

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social This week's breaktime chat will be "Roots of Morris Dancing". Image: Morris with Taborers in St John the Baptist Church Peterborough which dates from the 15th century like English Morris.

ACE remains built on a 1946 architecture that privileges opera & classical institutions while systematically marginalising jazz, folk, world, brass, choral & grassroots arts & music: theguardian.com/culture/2026/sep/25/arts-council-england-doesnt-need-swagger-it-needs-reform

I first encountered ‘Alexander’ as a fuzzy field recording of Frank Harte. It is so personal and intimate - as though he’s singing right in your ear.' Read Macdara Yeates on 'Alexander' and book to see him at our Trad Night on Wed 4 Nov at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social www.efdss.org/about-us/wha...

Naturally, we believe Folk Music will be the answer to future Eurovision success www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio...

This week's episode of Classic Folk features: Jess & Richard Arrowsmith Harbottle & Jonas Tom McConville John Waltham @samsweeney.bsky.social and Grace Smith Music Richard Trethewey Scolds Bridle Traffic Vin Garbutt Waterson:Carthy Swan Arcade and many more! www.efdss.org/about-us/fol...

£500 Grants for professional folk artists Apply now! Thanks to the continued and generous support of Conrad and Jennifer Bailey. Deadline for applications is midnight on 1 November Image shows previous Micro Grant recipient Claire Vine www.efdss.org/artist-devel...

Inclusive Music Making: Folk Education Development Day 4 Nov, 10am-4pm Free In Person: at Entrust Music Service Staffordshire Online @livetoyourlr.bsky.social Better support disabled people to join your music making classes and events. www.efdss.org/whats-on/66-...

Bring all the family and take part in lively dances in a fun environment Live music inspires the dancing and friendly callers guide the moves with simple instructions and gender-free calling. @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social Sun 11 Oct, 3pm-4.30pm www.efdss.org/whats-on/27-... Photo by Brian Slater

Exhibition now open! Hill Drawings by Melvyn Robinson @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social Free entry An exhibition of paintings accompanied by poems and folksongs, inspired by the style and landscapes of chalk hill figures. Exhibition open until Monday 11 January. View the exhibition online: bit.ly/4gO6YV8

WARNING 🚨 The Dignity in Music survey will close on Sunday 20 September. Time is running out to share your story with us. Help us tackle discrimination in music - take the survey today ⬇️ www.ism.org/news/ism-sur...

This week's episode of Classic Folk features: @themagpiearc.bsky.social Norman Kennedy Flook Laura Mulcahy Pentangle Nauticas Jeannie Robertson Saul Rose Rosie Hood Leonard Cohen The Long Hill Ramblers Oka Vanga Mischief Afoot Kris Dreve And many more www.efdss.org.uk/listen

Not fishing for a nomination myself... but you probably know someone who should win The Arts Hero Award. A category within the Sky Arts Awards, celebrating the people behind the scenes who make the arts possible and help others thrive. Find out more: skyartsawards.sky/arts-hero-aw...

Learn traditional song covering a variety of genres – from ballads and comic songs to work songs and ceremonial songs – as well as a wealth of singing styles. Song Class, taught by Hazel Askew @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social Term starts 20 September 10am-11am Book now bit.ly/4puVE4w

Our tireless Library & Archives Director, Tiffany @piccolotacet.bsky.social is running the next London Marathon (!) If you are able to make a donation, she is raising money for the Motor Neurone Disease Association: socialsync.app/fundraiser/c...

This week's episode of Classic Folk includes tracks by: Culverake Bert Jansch Cyril Tawney Mickey’s Son & Daughter FUNI - Bára Grímsdóttir & Chris Foster @joancbaezofficial.bsky.social @damienandron.bsky.social doghouse roses @caradillonsings.bsky.social The McCalmans www.efdss.org/listen

Join us for the Folk Arts as Intangible Cultural Heritage Conference Saturday 24 October @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social London NW1 Vaughan Williams Memorial Library with Esbjörn Wettermark @esbwet.bsky.social and @accessfolk.bsky.social (University of Sheffield) Book now bit.ly/4gGcKto

Hill Drawings by Melvyn Robinson @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social Free entry An exhibition of paintings inspired by the style and landscapes of chalk hill figures. Exhibition open from Tuesday 15 September to Monday 11 January. View the exhibition online: bit.ly/4gO6YV8