English Folk Dance and Song Society
The national organisation for folk music, song and dance in England. Based at Cecil Sharp House
- We're pleased to be able to share with you a new recording ‘Banks of the Nile’ made by folk musician Thomas Bull, using one of the wax cylinder recordings from our Archive. www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4h7...
- The Alan Surtees Trust is a grant giving organisation that supports young performers whose work is rooted in, or influenced by, folk or traditional music and arts of any culture. Deadline 30 April: bit.ly/4kd88e8
- EFDSS-funded music video! Claire Vine used her Micro Grant from us to create this ‘mesmerising’ video to accompany the track ‘Let No Man Steal Your Thyme’ from her debut album ‘We Carve Our Path’. youtu.be/hPINZPFQlBM?...
- This week's Classic Folk features: @martynjosephwales.bsky.social Hamish Imlach The Rheingans Sisters Mama Yancey Kan @jonboden.bsky.social Chris While & Julie Matthews Jeff Warner The Smoking Stone Band Salsa Celtica And many more..... www.efdss.org/listen
- Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's break time chat will be "Morris and Pubs". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Belles of London City Stick Dance at Thaxted 2024
- Students use music to open up about trauma - Pupils are turning pain into poetry through a new music programme aimed at helping young people process trauma. bit.ly/4q8Cznn
- Our Sunday Family Barn Dances make the perfect weekend family bonding activity - and a fun way to dance off your Sunday roast! Accompanied by live music (fiddle and guitar) and a 'dance caller' to teach you the simple moves Book now: bit.ly/4t4e5hw
- Wonderful to see Satnam Galsian feature in Asian Standard’s Most Influential List (Leeds). Her research work, supported by our Creative Bursary, examined gender-based narratives in folk traditions & inspired her solo work Fragmented Truth, which responds with empowering perspectives. bit.ly/4kqg2Bj
- Applauding this BBC Bitesize initiative, which encourages young people aged 11-14 to continue singing, offers resources such as arrangements, scores, and videos: bit.ly/3M3yiDv
- Reposted by English Folk Dance and Song Society[Not loaded yet]
- Reposted by English Folk Dance and Song Society[Not loaded yet]
- This week's episode of Classic Folk includes tracks by: Cyril Tawney June Tabor Neil Diamond Joni Mitchell Paul Simon The Gigspanner Big Band @ciderhousereb.bsky.social Sandy Denny The English Fiddle Ensemble Waterson:Carthy Vin Garbutt and many more www.efdss.org/listen
- Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's break time chat will be "Wassailing". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Guildford 12th Night Wassail Mummers Play
- Merry neets, morris and more: social and display dancing in the Lake District and Cumbria Our second online Library Lecture of the year Dr Sue Allan @suecumbria.bsky.social cultural historian, writer and folklorist Tue 10 Feb Online Book now: bit.ly/4ri5k1S Image: Dr Syntax (1813) Rural Sport
- Tarren and The National Youth Folk Ensemble play the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall's Music Room Wed 18 Feb, 8pm Book your tickets now: www.liverpoolphil.com/.../tarren-a...
- Just announced! We're delighted to be bringing the wonder that is Bhangra Ceilidh to Shrewsbury Folk Festival this August (27-31). Snap up your tickets: bit.ly/3ZvPiFv #folkfestival #ceilidh #bhangra #folkmusic #folkdance
- This week's Classic Folk episode is now live! Featuring track by: @stickinthewheel.bsky.social @keithhancock.bsky.social @elizacarthy.bsky.social Martin Carthy - Martin and Eliza playing at Cecil Sharp House on Wed 25 Feb. Keith Kendrick & Sylvia Needham - playing this Wed www.efdss.org/listen
- Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's break time chat will be "Mumming". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Guildford 12th Night Mumming - is there a Doctor?
- Reposted by English Folk Dance and Song SocietyThe new Folk London is at the printers and will be out next week. Featuring: * Jump Billy! @angelcakepie2.bsky.social and @drmarylshannon.bsky.social on a forgotten Black hero * Beginner's guide to morris dancing * Broomdasher on 10 years of song Preorder here: folklondon.co.uk/product/febr...
- Our first Trad Night of 2026 is coming: Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham. The uncannily compatible duo produce a striking a cappella harmony sound in their interpretations of traditional English songs. Wed 21 Jan @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social Book now bit.ly/49HFMoI
- The week's Classic Folk episode features track by: @regmeuross.bsky.social @darklander.bsky.social John Renbourn & Jacqui McShee Blind Boys of Alabama Ali Farka Touré Alias Ron Kavana @hanahdarling.bsky.social @winterwilson.bsky.social @harpmonkey.bsky.social and more! www.efdss.org/listen
- Tomorrow evening! Dorothy Marshall and the Women of West Sussex - talk by Dr Elizabeth Bennett The talk will explore the folk song collector Dorothy Marshall, and the vital contribution she made to the first folk song revival in West Sussex. Book now: bit.ly/4qaaaOw
- Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's break time chat will be "Molly Dancing". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Cambridge Morris Molly Lord and Lady Plough Monday 2025
- Don't miss this weekend's Family Barn Dance, a chance to fulfil new year resolutions to be more active and to spend more time with the family, that is actually fun! Sun 11 Jan, 3pm-4:30pm Book now: bit.ly/4j3t1rE
- People who regularly go to the theatre, live music events, museums, galleries and the cinema have nearly half the risk of developing depression.
- Learn folk songs and singing from the comfort of your home with our online course, led by Georgia Shackleton. These weekly sessions are suitable for singers of all abilities. All material is taught by ear. Monday evenings, 7pm-8:30pm Book now: bit.ly/4sDgAr9
- "the beautiful second album by fiddler Owen Spafford and guitarist Louis Campbell" is by two National Youth Folk Ensemble alumni. One of the great pleasures of the first ten years of the Ensemble is seeing what former members go on to do. www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
- Twelfth Night at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library. Old Twelfth Night -Saturday 17 January, 1-4pm Learn about the history and traditions of Twelfth Night: the best part of Christmas you may never have heard of! Expect music, entertainment, and perhaps even a little sip of delicious wassail!
- Don't miss the first of this year's Library Lectures. Tuesday 13 Jan, 7:30pm Dorothy Marshall and the Women of West Sussex - talk by Dr Elizabeth Bennett It's online, so you can stay indoors in the warm! Book now:https://bit.ly/4qaaaOw Image: Chithurst Tipteerers 1912
- Merry Epiphany! Have a Happy New Year with this week's episode of Classic Folk, featuring: Faustus Hazel Dickens Isabel Sutherland Gordeanna McCulloch Carolyne Hughes Methera @nancyannfolk.bsky.social @jamesfagan.bsky.social Elvis Costello @evergreensister.bsky.social www.efdss.org/listen
- First Family Barn Dance of the year! Live music inspires the dancing and friendly callers guide the moves with simple instructions and gender-free calling. No experience necessary! Sun 11 Jan 3pm-4:30pm Cecil Sharp House, London Book now - bit.ly/4j3t1rE
- "Part of the charm of folk songs is that they were passed down through different people, so although we don't know much about Harriet (Verrall), we can get a sense that she was really part of the community. bit.ly/4sauTD6
- You have a while longer to enjoy the 700th episode of of Classic Folk, we are pausing for the Christmas break and you can expect the next episode of Tuesday 6th January.
- This week's episode of Classic Folk is now live! And features track by: @jezlowe.bsky.social @judycollins.bsky.social @theyounguns.bsky.social @duncanchisholm.bsky.social and many more! www.efdss.org/listen
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- Did 'The Twelve Days of Christmas' lyrics once say 'colly birds' instead of 'calling birds'? bit.ly/4paZWw7
- Start 2026 off right with a Family Barn Dance! No experience necessary! Sun 11 Jan 3pm-4:30pm Cecil Sharp House, London Book now: bit.ly/4j3t1rE Image by Brian Slater
- 'The artists tapping into the mystery of the ancient and elemental' from @crackmagazine.bsky.social We've hosted gigs by many of the artists mentioned at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social! including; Daisy Rickman, Tristwch Y Fenywod, Goblin Band, Jacken Elswyth, Muco crackmagazine.net/article/long...
- Folk Education Development Day: Adapting Folk Dance with Older People Professional development day for artists, educators, practitioners, callers, organisers in folk dance FolkActive, Mary Panton, @peopledancinguk.bsky.social 21 Mar, 11am - 5pm Cecil Sharp House, London NW1 Book now: bit.ly/48D5E4x
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- The December issue of English Dance and Song, our Members' magazine is out now. If you would like to receive copies through your door 3 times a year, sign up now! bit.ly/3ME7gTq Starter Members can read EDS magazine online in the Members' Area of the website.
- Meet Cohort 10 of the National Youth Folk Ensemble! You can find all of the Ensemble’s current favourite bits of music of the Meet the Ensemble page on the EFDSS website. All of the photos are by Roswitha Chesher bit.ly/4s0P3zw
- This week's episode of Classic Folk is now live! And features track by: @jezlowe.bsky.social @judycollins.bsky.social @theyounguns.bsky.social @duncanchisholm.bsky.social and many more! www.efdss.org/listen
- Last week, Cambridge University Library launched the open call to recruit the community panel for an exciting new project - Black British Voices: Black British Collections - to research and design the Library’s 2027 exhibition and public programme. Read more: bit.ly/3XN1UHL #blackbritishmusic
- Arts & Minds Campaign's latest research shows that the government has a long way to go to fully restore the status of the arts in schools. Despite the scrapping of the EBacc, only 7% of heads plan to increase the time spent on arts subjects in the next 2 years. bit.ly/48QzAJo
- The arts champion on his quest to preserve our disappearing craft traditions – and the scarecrow painting that left him in tears: bit.ly/44UcoJ6
- A Big Thank You to everyone who donated to our @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge! We reached our target a few hours before the deadline, raising slightly over £14,000, including Gift Aid. This will help to fund bursaries and other essential funding for youth folk activities across England.
- Welcome to our four new trustees working together voluntarily with the team at the English Folk Dance and Song Society to promote the folk arts and support our position as the national development organisation for the genre. Marcie Hopkins, Jeremy Iles, Angharad Cooper and Drew Hill, bit.ly/3MmgRhz
- This week's Classic Folk episode features: @steeleye-span.bsky.social The Watersons @barbaradickson.bsky.social Daoirí Farrell Said The Maiden Purcell's Polyphonic Party @merryhellband.bsky.social Sandra Kerr Cassie and Maggie MacDonald The Galway City Ramblers www.efdss.org/listen
