Everyone loves a good singaround, don’t they? There’s nothing quite like that electric feeling of everyone coming together on a rousing chorus, or seeing a singer stand up and take an unaccompanied ballad alone, their entire focus and being channelled into that moment and song.
Those moments when the instruments are tucked away and it’s just the singer and the spell they weave… they’re to die for.
In our time-honoured Tradfolk way, we’re attempting to catalogue as many traditional singarounds as we can so that other people around the country can find their way to their nearest. We’ve put together a Google Form for you to help us gather information, so if you know of a killer singaround that absolutely blows your mind, we’d like you to tell us all about it. Click the button below to get started.
In the meantime, a few pointers:
- We’d prefer to document singarounds that focus on traditional songs, but we’re not being too picky.
- Please be sure that the singaround still exists before submitting info.
Many thanks, and please do share this article and Google Form around. The more the merrier!
Find your nearest singaround here
This information is in the early stages of being collated. Add your singarounds info and check back when you can.
On this page, you’ll find…
England
- Bristol
- Cumbria
- Hampshire
- Lancashire
- London
- Merseyside
- Norfolk
- Nottinghamshire
- Oxfordshire
- Somerset
- Staffordshire
- Suffolk
- Tyne and Wear
- Wiltshire
- West Midlands
- West Sussex
- Yorkshire
Scotland
Australia
England
Bristol
Dragon Folk Club
The Bridge Inn
Shortwood
BS16 9NG
Website: dragonfolkclub.blogspot.com
When: Every Friday, 8:15pm
The Dragon Folk Club began at The Lamb, Iron Acton in the summer of 1969, where it thrived for 17 and a half years. The club moved to the Rose and Crown, Iron Acton, for two years followed by the George and Dragon for six months and then found a home for the next five years at the Green Dragon, Downend. It moved to the Bridge Inn at Shortwood in 1995 where it has been ever since, except for a short spell at the New Inn, Westerleigh 2015-2016. While it was at one stage a guest club, it has been a singaround for many years. The last “guest” they had was John Alderslade in 2013 for a one-off charity event. They keep a very tidy songs account from every session on their blog. See the link above.
Bristol University Folk Society Song Session
Highbury Vaults
164 St Michael’s Hill
BS2 8DE
Social media: Facebook
When: First Sunday of every month
A popular young session taking place at the Highbury. Purely unaccompanied singing, mainly focusing on traditional songs. Having run for years up until COVID, it went into a long hibernation, only returning again in recent months. All welcome.
Folk Song Session
The George & Dragon
140A Church Rd
Redfield
Bristol
BS5 9HN
Contact: Instagram
When: Second Tuesday of the month
Brand new for 2023, this Redfield singaround is being organised by Nick Hart, Anna Cornish (The Norfolk Broads) and Sister Scholastica. Expect it to be focused on unaccompanied traditional folk songs.
Cumbria
Lake District Folk and Acoustic Club
Staveley Pavilion
87 Main St
Staveley
Kendal
LA8 9LN
Social media: Facebook
When: Second Friday of alternate months, 8pm
Originally in Hawkshead Brewery in Staveley, the club has singers and musicians nights alternating with guest performers. No bar, so it’s bring your own bottle. There’s a £3 door charge for singers’ nights. Song policy: anything goes.
Hampshire
Overton Folk Club
Overton Community Centre
5 High St
Overton
RG25 3HB
Contact: overtonfolkclub@hotmail.co.uk
When: First Wednesday of every month
Running for more than 10 years, the Overton Folk Club is a singaround with an ‘anything goes’ songs policy. They regularly attract a decent crowd of over 20 people and sometimes book guests to perform. All welcome.
The Whitchurch Acoustic Sessions
The White Hart and the Sports and Social Club
Whitchurch
RG28 7DN and RG28 7RB
Social media: Facebook
When: Every other Sunday, alternating between venues
The Whitchurch Acoustic Sessions is run by Keith Bell. It swaps between two venues (The White Hart and the Whitchurch Sports and Social Club) every other Sunday. The singaround is not traditional, although Keith is very enthusiastic about, and welcoming of, traditional performers and musicians of all genres. There is regularly a crowd of about 15 people with a very welcoming atmosphere. Find out which venue the next event will take place in via their Facebook page.
Lancashire
Arnside Song and music
Arnside Sailing Club
The Old Customs House
17 The Promenade
Arnside
Carnforth
LA5 0HD
Social media: Facebook
When: Second Tuesday of every month, Oct-Apr, 1pm
Relocated from Staveley’s Eagle & Child following the COVID lockdown, this monthly song and tunes session runs from October to April. All music styles are welcome. There’s a door charge of £1 and a soup lunch for £3.
London
The Goose is Out!
The Ivy House
40 Stuart Road
London
SE15 3BE
Website: thegooseisout.com
Social media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
When: Every second Sunday of the month
Over the course of more than a decade, The Goose is Out! has built a reputation for itself as one of London’s finest singarounds. Starting life in a very tiny sidebar of a pub which no longer exists, it gradually expanded through various venues before arriving in the ballroom at London’s first community-owned pub. Run by London folk legends, Nygel Packett and Sue Whitehead, it is heavily song-focused, with an any-song-goes policy.
The Harrison Singaround
28 Harrison St
London
WC1H 8JF
Website: sophiecrawfordmusic.com
Mailing list: Sign up here
When: Every third Saturday of the month, 2pm-5pm
A singaround rather than a tunes session, this monthly event focuses mainly on traditional songs. Founded by Sophie Crawford in 2018, the event moved online during lockdown where it was MC-ed by co-organisers, Caroline Stupnicka and James Eagle (editor of Folk London). Returning to the Harrison post-lockdown, the singaround is usually MC-ed by Sophie, Caroline or James.
Sharps Folk Club
Sharps Bar
Cecil Sharp House
2 Regent’s Park Rd
London
NW1 7AY
Website: sharpsfolkclub.co.uk
Social media: Facebook | Twitter
When: Every Tuesday, 7:30pm
World-famous traditional singing night held in the basement bar at Cecil Sharp House. Paul Sartin was only one of many stars of the folk scene who took their early folk singing steps here, and it’s where Irish Traveller singer Thomas McCarthy first started performing publicly. Tom Paley, who taught a thing or two to Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, was a regular at Sharp’s for many years, and Peggy Seeger has been known to drop in.
Brickfolk
The Bricklayers Arms
Waterman Street
Putney
SW15 1DD
Social media: Facebook
When: Last Sunday of the month (except July & August), 2:30pm. Please check the Facebook page in case of time or day changes.
A mostly-unaccompanied, mainly traditional singaround that focuses purely on songs. Over a decade in existence, the event regularly attracts a neat little crowd of tradfolk purveyors.
Effra Singaround
The Sun
61-63 Coldharbour Lane
SE5 9NS
When: Last Thursday of the month, 7:30pm
The organisers tell us: “It has moved around a lot in the area, which is why it’s named after an underground river. It continued online through lockdown. At the moment our venue seems fairly stable. It tends to be more traditional than not, but the main thing is to pass on songs.” Mostly unaccompanied, purely about song.
Merseyside
Bromborough Folk Club
The Merebrook Pub
Allport Road
Bromborough
CH62 6DD
When: Every Wednesday, 7:30pm
Running for over 40 years, this weekly tunes and songs session regularly attracts over 50 eager players and singers. Most are on instruments and there’s no restriction over whether you sing trad or non-trad songs.
Norfolk
Denver Windmill Folk and Acoustic Session
Blackstone Engine Bar
Denver Windmill
95 Sluice Rd
Downham Market
PE38 0DZ
Social media: Facebook
When: First and third Fridays of the month, 7:30pm
A pleasantly-sized gathering of people turn out for this fairly new (under two years) tunes and songs session. Mostly traditional, all acoustic instruments welcome.
Folk Around the World
The Bell
King Street
Thetford
IP24 3PW
Social media: Facebook
When: Third Wednesday of every month, 7:30pm
Organiser, Mike Harding-White, tells us: “Folk Around the World grew out of the Open House Music Night, the idea being to focus more on traditional music, songs and instruments without losing what had developed into a very popular performance group. In our first nine sessions, we have enjoyed ballads and shanties, jigs, reels and polkas, and heard chromatic harmonica, violin, hammered dulcimer, recorder, flute, small Scottish pipes and guitar.”
Nottinghamshire
Trent Acoustic Roots and Folk
Royal British Legion Club
17 Main Road
Radcliffe-on-Trent
NG12 2FD
Social media: Facebook
When: First Monday of the month, 7:30pm
Mainly focusing on traditional songs, this singaround in Racliffe-on-Trent is run by Norman Randall and is open to unaccompanied singers and musicians alike (although it’s definitely a song session rather than a tunes session). At the time of writing, it has been going for just under two years. Keep an eye on their Facebook page for more information.
Oxfordshire
Half Moon Singaround
The Half Moon
17 St Clement’s St
Oxford
OX4 1AB
Social media: Facebook
When: Second Monday of every month
A mostly unaccompanied, traditional-song-focused singaround organised by Jack Evans. The session has been running for over three years and regularly pulls in between 10 and 20 singers.
Somerset
Traditional Singarounds
Eli’s pub
Rose and Crown
Huish Episcopi
Langport
TA10 9QT
When: Third Saturday (September to May), 8pm
Taking place in an unspoilt pub, known historically as the ‘Men’s Kitchen’, this session started back in 1995. The session welcomes all abilities and features a traditional singaround format, mostly unaccompanied. Despite its longevity, the session has maintained its original character and continues to attract locals and visitors alike. Overall, the session is a great opportunity for people to come together and enjoy traditional music in a friendly and welcoming environment.
Staffordshire
Kinver Traditional Folk Song Club
Kinver Senior Citizens Hall
Legion Drive
Kinver
DY7 6ET
Social media: Facebook
When: First Tuesday of every month, 7:30pm
Roger Tyler has been running the Kinver Traditional Folk Song Club for just under a year. The get-together is exclusively traditional songs, with most of the singers singing unaccompanied. For more info, hit the Facebook link above.
Tyne and Wear
Stumble Inn Folk and Acoustic Afternoon
The Stumble Inn
88 Chester Road
Sunderland
SR2 7PR
Social media: Facebook
When: Fourth Tuesday of the month, 1pm
Mainly traditional, mostly unaccompanied, this Sunderland singaround has been running for just under 10 years and regularly attracts a decent crowd. Hit the Facebook link above for more information. Your organiser is Eileen Richardson.
Come-all-Ye
The Cumberland Arms
James Place Street
Byker
Newcastle-upon-Tyne
NE6 1LD
Social media: Facebook
When: Second Tuesday of every month, 8pm
A mainly traditional, mainly unaccompanied singaround in Byker, attracting a modest crowd now for just under a decade. This monthly event is run by Jo Ellis.
Suffolk
Folk at the Boat
The Steamboat Tavern
78-80 New Cut W
Ipswich
IP2 8HW
Social media: Facebook
When: Last Thursday of the month, 7:30pm
Over 20 years in existence, this monthly folk gathering features tunes and songs with an anything-goes policy towards the kind of music represented. For more info, head to the Facebook page on the link above.
Wiltshire
The Traditional Sunday Singaround
The Ashford Road Club
17-18 Ashford Road
Swindon
SN1 3NT
Social media: Facebook
When: Second Sunday of the month, 3pm
Swindon’s Traditional Sunday Singaround is a brand new event for 2023, offering the town an outlet for all its tradfolk singing desires. Run by Craig Boswell, it’s only for traditional song and it’s mainly unaccompanied. All welcome. Note that the event takes place upstairs in the function room at the Ashford Road Club. Keep an eye on Facebook for updates.
West Midlands
The Bedcote Music Dance and Song Session
The Duke William
25 Coventry St
Stourbridge
DY8 1EP
Social media: Facebook
When: Every other Tuesday from 8pm
Run by Craig Simmonds, this singaround/session has been running for over three years and regularly attracts a merry little crowd of between 10 and 20 people. Craig tells us, “A group of friends wanted an informal session where anything goes. We have tunes, singing, poetry and the occasional jig. The main ethos is a friendly, welcoming environment, so we quite often have a bit of a chat between songs and tunes.”
West Sussex
Chichester Folk Song Club
The Chichester Inn
38 West street
Chichester
PO19 1RP
Website: chifolksongclub.co.uk
When: Every Monday except Christmas and New Year’s day, from 7:45pm
The Chichester Folk Song Club, currently organised by Marilyn Campbell and something of an institution, has been running weekly for over 50 years. A singaround rather than a tunes session, it mostly features unaccompanied singers with an anything-goes policy on songs. Join the throng each Monday evening at the Chichester Inn.
Partridge Folk
The Partridge Pub
Partridge Green
RH13 8GW
When: Fourth Monday of each month, 7:30pm
Brian Skinner, Mick Bullen and Tim Carter run a popular tunes and songs session at the Partridge Pub, mainly focusing on traditional music. For more info… just turn up!
Yorkshire
Folk at the Grove
Back Row
Holbeck
Leeds
LS11 5PL
Social media: Instagram | Facebook
When: Every Monday, 8pm, except on monthly guest nights and during summer holidays
The Grove Folk Club has been running weekly in the same location since it began in 1962. These days it is run by Heather Woodhead, Alan Murphy, Fran Hughes and Heather Sharp. The Monday evening events are a mix of singarounds and tunes sessions, but the focus is mainly traditional music. Bring your old songs, bring your instruments – everyone welcome.
The Meanwood Singaround
Meanwood Institute
94 Green Rd
Meanwood
Leeds
LS6 4LD
Social media: Chris Brain’s Instagram
When: First Sunday of every month, 6-9pm
Launching on May 7th, 2023, this brand new Leeds singaround is being started by Chris Brain, the energetic young folk obsessive behind the Hyde Park Folk Club. “Running one folk club isn’t enough for me,” he laughs. “There’s nothing like it here and I think it’ll go down a storm. The thing with Leeds is you have to go into the city to get to a folk club or singaround, so I think it’ll be great to bring it back to smaller communities.” All the best, Chris!
Chorus Songs
The Red Deer
Pitt Street
Sheffield
S1 4DD
When: Second Sunday of every month, 3pm
The popular Kelham Island Tavern Sings have not restarted since lockdown, so Chorus Songs has sprung up in its place. A very new Sheffield singaround, the session focuses on traditional and modern folk songs, although it tends to be traditional and is always unaccompanied. We’re told that there may be an outdoor singaround starting on the fourth Sunday of every month at General Cemetery, beginning in May.
Scotland
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Song Session
The Canons’ Gait
232 Canongate
Edinburgh
EH8 8DQ
Social media: Facebook
When: Second Sunday of every month, 3pm
With its origins as the Traditional Song and Tunes Session, this monthly event has inhabited various venues in Edinburgh, but now seems to be settled in name and venue. Run by Bob Murray, it is mostly focused on traditional songs and tunes, but it’s an anything-goes policy.
Glasgow
Glasgow Singaround
Dram
232 Woodlands Road
Glasgow
G3 6ND
Social media: Facebook
When: First Monday of the month, 8pm
Organiser, Martin Graham, tells us: “This singaround was inspired by the welcoming and vibrant folk scene in Manchester, and was started to provide a song-based session in Glasgow. It has been through lots of venues before settling on Dram, where the staff are fantastic.” Regarding choice of song, it’s an anything-goes policy, but it tends to focus on unaccompanied singing.
Highlands
Ardersier International Folk Club
Wendy’s Cafe
School Place
Ardersier
IV2 7SZ
Website: ardersierfolkclub.org.uk
When: Every Tuesday, 7:30pm
This is a mostly traditional sing round the table with everyone getting a turn, accompanied or unaccompanied – anything goes. The club has a guest last Tuesday of the month. They’ve been nominated in the Scottish Trad Awards for club of the year 2023 and they run a weekend festival in September. Run by John Ross, Dave Godden and George Livingstone, get in touch via the website for more info.
Perthshire
The Taverners
The Tavern
103 South St
Perth
PH2 8PA
Social media: Facebook
When: Tuesdays, 7:30pm
Previously known as Folk at Kinnears, Scone, the Taverners have been gathering for a couple of years now. A mix of singing and tunes, it’s mostly accompanied music with an anything-goes policy towards song selection.
Stirling
Stirling Folk Club
Stirling County Rugby Football Club
Bridgehaugh Park
Causewayhead Rd
FK9 5AP
Website: stirlingfolkclub.co.uk
Social media: Facebook
When: One or two Monday evenings each month – see website for schedule – 7:30pm
Running for more than 30 years, the Stirling Folk Club singaround focuses on songs rather than tunes. Mainly traditional repertoire, there’s no restriction on instruments. For more info, head to the website on the link above.
Australia
Queensland
Traditional Session
Neurum Creek Music Festival
Neurum Creek Bush Retreat
268 Rasmussen Road
Mt Archer
Website: neurumcreekfestival.com
When: Annual
The organisers tells us: “The session was created to encourage the singing of unaccompanied traditional British song, the emphasis here is on joining in. The session has a songbook that can be downloaded on to phones/tablets but singing is not restricted just to these songs. It has been described by an Anglo-Australian as the best, most egalitarian session he has been to. Almost certainly an exaggeration but it is slowly gaining interest and participation. UK tourists passing through are most welcome.”
Please DON’T include your singarounds in the comments below. Please fill in the submission form so that we can keep all the info in one place. Thanks!
