Please note- The entries are checked regularly but sometimes events are cancelled or artists, venues or dates changed. Please double check venue and date on the ticket website before booking. Sheffield Folk Guide is not responsible for any losses due to changes or errors in the listing. Please let me know if you see an error in the listing. For all sessions please see Jaki’s Sheffield Music Sessions website. For regular singing session please see useful info page. The colours of the blocks indicates the type of event:
Key to events:
Festival or special event
Concert or Gig including ticketed and free events
Dance: Performance or participation
Workshop/ Session
Music and spoken word: Music and poetry/ storytelling/ lecture/ theatre
Mixed: Gig + optional participation (eg Folk club with floor spots, workshop + performance)
Children’s event
► Click on the headline for more information and ticket link
July 2026
Tuesday 21st July
Loctup Together at Kiveton Park Folk Club
Ian Tuplin & Chris Lock. We are a close harmony duo in the folk music genre. We are heavily into maritime themed songs. Also perform as part of Four ‘n’ Aft. Kiveton Park Folk Club, Kiveton Park Colliery Cricket Club, Doors 7.15PM. Floor spots (from 7.45PM) before the guest artist, £10 cash for non-members. The club website is not working. If you would like more details I can pass you email address on to the club organiser.
Juliana Day, Manon McCoy, Benji Wilson & Pefkin at Samuel Worth Chapel
British-French experimental harpist Manon McCoy and Sheffield-based recorder and whistle player Juliana Day come together for a live improvised performance in the atmospheric surroundings of the Samuel Worth Chapel.Blending harp, winds, voice and live electronics, the duo create music that is industrial, dark, dreamlike and deeply immersive — moving between delicate intimacy and dense, shifting soundscapes. Both artists are members of Sheffield’s Emergence Collective and are known for pushing the boundaries of improvisation and experimental composition.
The performance will be accompanied by fully analogue live visuals from Sheffield artist Benji Wilson, using vintage and adapted technology to create abstract textures, glitched video feedback and evolving projections in real time — forming a unique audio-visual experience. Doors 7.45 TICKETS
Wednesday 22nd July
Les Thomas at Mandala Cafe
Australian folk and Americana artist Les Thomas performs at Mandala Cafe for a special evening of story-driven songs and rich acoustic performance, joined by special guest Marilla Homes.
Based in Melbourne, Thomas has built a reputation for literate, emotionally resonant songwriting rooted in history, ordinary lives and social conscience. His live performances combine powerful lyrics, warm vocals and finely crafted guitar work in the great troubadour tradition.
Marilla Homes is a classically trained singer and songwriter whose work spans folk, jazz, opera and music theatre. A captivating and versatile performer, she is known for her expressive voice, original songs and collaborations including Steel Songbirds and Marilla Homes and the Housemen. 7.30-10.30PM TICKETS
Thursday 23rd July
Ruby Muse at Crookes Folk Club
Crookes Folk Club at The Princess Royal, Slinn Street, Crookes Doors 8.15, starts 8.30. Around 45 mins of floor spots before the guest artist in first half. Sign up if you want to perform. Entry by donation (cash only please). See Facebook for details
Thursday 30th July
Sons of Rodger (outdoors) at Crookes Folk Club
Crookes Folk Club at The Princess Royal, Slinn Street, Crookes Doors 8.15, starts 8.30. Around 45 mins of floor spots before the guest artist in first half. Sign up if you want to perform. Entry by donation (cash only please). See Facebook for details
August 2026
Saturday 1st August
George Howard, Iona Kaye and Will Martin: Young songwriter showcase at Cafe No9
Hosting Cafe No9’s third young songwriter showcase, Sheffield native George Howard is an upcoming singer-songwriter with a penchant for crafting fresh, folk-inspired numbers. Often touching on social issues, George aims to move audiences with emotive lyricism, finding inspiration from his own personal conflicts and relating these struggles to a wider audience.
Iona Kaye is a singer, songwriter and improviser based in Sheffield who trained in classical music at the Royal Northern College of Music.
Her songs blur folk and classical, pairing warm, expansive vocals with delicate guitar and piano.
Will Martin is a Singer-Songwriter from Lincoln with a focus on folk music. With a background in Classical Guitar, he blends his instrumental style and reflective lyrics in a way that creates a unique intimacy within every live performance. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Thursday 6th August
Ville & Tommie Concert/Dance + polska workshop at St Andrew’s URC, Upper Hanover Street
A special evening of music and dance at St Andrew’s URC in central Sheffield. Don’t miss this rare chance to see the duo on their UK tour. Expect Nordic dances in abundance with some Balfolk classics to boot. In addition to the concert and dance, there will also be a polska workshop with Lucy Huzzard. Ville & Tommie: A simple duo comprised of confusing people, Ville & Tommie are Swedish-Finnish fiddler Ville Syri (SE/FI) and Helsinki-based Cornish accordionist Tommie Black-Roff (UK). They met while both studying at the Sibelius Academy, and now reunite over a common love of tunes, playfulness and dance music. Swedish, Finnish, Cornish and modernish folk music all finds a home in their able hands. 19:00 – dance workshop 20:30 – concert & dance. TICKETS
Bruce Watson at Crookes Folk Club
Crookes Folk Club at The Princess Royal, Slinn Street, Crookes Doors 8.15, starts 8.30. Around 45 mins of floor spots before the guest artist in first half. Sign up if you want to perform. Entry by donation (cash only please). See Facebook for details
Bruce is a major Australian songwriter and performer in the folk tradition. Based in Melbourne, he performs around Australia and internationally at festivals, clubs and other venues. His performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation, but also the power to move audiences to tears. He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative and heart wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.
Friday 7th August
Bruce Watson at First Friday Folk, The Commercial, Chapeltown
First Friday Folk. Acoustic music club with floor spots and guest artist performing “5 a side” 5 songs in both halves. 8-11.15PM, The Commercial Hotel, 107 Station Road, S35 2XF. Bruce is a major Australian songwriter and performer in the folk tradition. Based in Melbourne, he performs around Australia and internationally at festivals, clubs and other venues. His performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation, but also the power to move audiences to tears. He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative and heart wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.
Thursday 13th August
Carl Jessop at Crookes Folk Club
Crookes Folk Club at The Princess Royal, Slinn Street, Crookes Doors 8.15, starts 8.30. Around 45 mins of floor spots before the guest artist in first half. Sign up if you want to perform. Entry by donation (cash only please). See Facebook for details
Saturday 15th August
Joshua Arnold and Therine at Bishops’ House
Joshua Arnold and Therine are a drone folk duo from the North West consisting of hurdy gurdy player Joshua Arnold and vocalist Therine. As a live act they perform droning, instrumentally eclectic versions of songs in the British folk canon showcasing themes of the dark and macabre alongside thudding Playford tunes and original experimental doom folk backed by dense loops of upright bass, harmonium, drums and DIY instrument drones. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Remember the Coal at Wortley Top Forge
Come and listen to the story of the mining industry, told in original songs, all written and performed in folk style by Alan Wood, one of Yorkshire’s finest singer/songwriters, supported with a spoken narrative by (Welsh immigrant) John Snook. The show highlights the changes that took place in society, and, whilst it inevitably mentions the tragedies that accompanied coal mining, it also has lighter moments, and illustrates how mining influenced wider changes throughout industry and society. The show will be performed in the Forge in front of the historic, water driven heavy hammer. There will be the chance to look round the museum before the show. Tea, coffee and biscuits will be available, customers are welcome to bring their own food and drink (glasses will be provided). Museum open from 4.00pm. Show starts at 7.00pm Wortley Top Forge, Forge Ln, Thurgoland, Sheffield S35 7DN
To buy tickets contact events@topforge.co.uk Website
Thursday 20th August
TBC at Crookes Folk Club
Crookes Folk Club at The Princess Royal, Slinn Street, Crookes Doors 8.15, starts 8.30. Around 45 mins of floor spots before the guest artist in first half. Sign up if you want to perform. Entry by donation (cash only please). See Facebook for details
Wednesday 26th August
Newberry and Verch at The Greystones
Performing original songs and timeless classics, stories that warm the heart and give audiences the chance to see and understand where the roots of their music comes from. An unforgettable live show with lively fiddle and banjo numbers combining with traditional dance steps to illustrate happy times when people made their own fun, these two masters reminding us of why this music existed in the first place. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Thursday 27th August
TBC at Crookes Folk Club
Crookes Folk Club at The Princess Royal, Slinn Street, Crookes Doors 8.15, starts 8.30. Around 45 mins of floor spots before the guest artist in first half. Sign up if you want to perform. Entry by donation (cash only please). See Facebook for details
Saturday 29th August
Paper Sparrows at Cafe No9
“This Place You Call Your Home”, the new album from Scottish roots folk trio Paper Sparrows, is out now on Folksville Records. The follow up to 2023 debut “Hiding Away From the Light” retains the ‘rich songwriting craft’ (Shindig! Magazine) and distinctive twin-acoustic guitar style that won them plaudits on the folk festival circuit.
The new album captures their close-knit sound as road-worn live performers, but is also elevated by cameos from fiddle player Pepita Emmerichs (Oh Pep!, Rain of Animals, Wayward Jane) and Graham Coe (Jellyman’s Daughter). The album firmly captures on record the three-part vocal harmony sound that has become so popular in their live sets, adding a delicate power to the quieter moments on the album and an uplifting joy to the singalong choruses. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Sunday 30th August
Banjo Jen + Cobalt Tales at Whirlow Brook Park
Outdoor Sounds of the Summer Concerts 3-5PM Admission free but suggested donation £5 to support the work of Friends of Whirlow Brook Park. Bring chair/ rug and a picnic. (May be cancelled if weather is bad) Website
Michael Prewitt at Cafe No9
Michael Prewitt learned to play the mandolin a couple decades ago in the hills of East
Kentucky, where he soaked up the music of Bill Monroe, The Stanley Brothers, and J.D. Crowe
and the New South, before lighting out for the Upper Midwest. While there, he became
enamoured of Midwestern and Canadian fiddle music, and co-founded Back Up & Push, a
Minneapolis-based bluegrass band that released a regionally well-received album, before
joining the Grammy-nominated and IBMA award-winning bluegrass band Special Consensus. Doors 7PM TICKETS
September 2026
Thursday 3rd September
The Slambovian Circus of Dreams at The Greystones
New York’s Slambovian Circus Of Dreams’ exciting live shows are legendary. Their cool mix of Southern rock, Woodstock tinged Americana, rootsy, rockin’ psychedelia and British/Celtic folk has built them a huge, devoted fanbase and we’re honoured to have them back at The Greystones on this, their 13th UK tour bringing good vibes and heaps of magic to the Backroom one fun, trippy song at a time. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Friday 4th September
Bob Fox & Stu Luckley at Beehive Folk Club
Beehive Folk club at Harthill Village Hall A few floor spots, followed by the guest artist. Tickets are usually £10., email to go on the ticket list and pay (cash) on the door, see club website for details. Bring your own drinks.
Lunatraktors at Cafe No9
‘A clap of thunder over the lukewarm waters of contemporary folk.’ (Télérama, France). Lunatraktors are choreographer and percussionist Carli Jefferson (she/her), and vocalist and researcher Clair Le Couteur (they/them). Beginning from the bare bones of vocal harmony and percussive dance, Lunatraktors rework Anglo-Celtic traditional music from the 1500s to the present. The duo approach folk music as performance art. They are known for their primal, ritualistic sound, expanding into weird, playful spaces with acoustic beats, analogue synth basslines, whistles and bass accordion. Ancient and contemporary, mournful and joyously deranged, Lunatraktors are ‘simply different’ (RTÉ Lyric FM, Ireland). Doors 7PM TICKETS
Monday 7th September
Spell Songs at The Octogon centre
Folk supergroup Spell Songs with live painting by award-winning artist Jackie Morris – back in the Octagon after a sell out show in May 2025
A much-anticipated live performance by folk ‘supergroup’ Spell Songs, the musical evolution of the iconic Lost Words and Lost Spells books by acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane and award-winning artist Jackie Morris, commissioned by Folk by the Oak Festival and featuring the collaborative genius of Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux.
Spell Songs are renowned for enthralling live performances that expertly blend virtuosic kora, electroharp, cello, Indian harmonium and more, gorgeously layered with musical and linguistic influences spanning from Orkney to Senegal. Inspired by Robert and Jackie’s latest work, The Book of Birds, Spell Song’s new studio album In Thin Air is released on 4th September and this uplifting performance will include a wealth of beautiful new songs alongside favourites from The Lost Words Spell Songs (2019) and Spell Songs II, Let The Light In (2021). TICKETS
Sunday 13th September
Taffy Thomas + Eliza Carthy at Alder Bar, New Musical Traditions Club.
Doors 7.30PM, tunes session before the first act starts at 8PM. Storyteller Taffy Thomas founded and directed the community arts company, Charivari, with their popular touring unit, the Fabulous Salami Brothers, which he fronted and performed in. After a major stroke at the age of 36 Taffy turned back to story telling as self-imposed speech therapy, which turned into a new career. Taffy has a repertoire of more than 300 stories, collected mainly from traditional oral sources, which he is happy to tell in almost any situation. This repertoire was built by meeting and working with virtually all the great traditional storytellers who were alive in Britain. He is now the most experienced English storyteller, having performed in many countries on four continents.
Describing herself simply as a ‘modern English musician’, Eliza Carthy is one of the most recognisable faces in British folk. She has received an MBE; numerous BBC R2 Folk Awards; two Mercury Prize nominations; was the first English traditional musician to be nominated for a BBC R3 Award for World Music, and in 2021 became President of the English Folk Dance & Song Society. Born into a formidable musical dynasty, her mother Norma was one of The Watersons and her father Martin Carthy is a hugely influential singer and guitarist, the incredible range of traditional and contemporary musicians who were part of the extended Waterson/Carthy world helped her develop her own unique approach to music. Eliza and her family were mainstays of the original Musical Traditions Club, and we are delighted to welcome her to our new format. TICKETS
Ranagri at The Greystones
Award winning folk band from England and Ireland with a unique blend of instruments and voices, they create a sound that is mesmerising and unforgettable. One of the most innovative and exciting folk bands in the UK they’ve played many of the major venues and festivals throughout Britain and Europe. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Monday 14th September
Michael Walsh in conversation at Cafe #9
Join Dr Michael Walsh – Ethnomusicologist and celebrated performer of Traditional Irish music with a distinctly Mancunian edge – as he marks the completion of his University of Sheffield doctoral research on wooden flute playing and identity in Asturias, northern Spain. In conversation with folklorist and writer Nicky Crewe, he will weave together music, song, and story: growing up in the Manchester Irish community of the 1980s and 1990s, discovering Sheffield and English folk traditions, and tracing how walking the Camino de Santiago led him to the music and culture of Asturias.
The evening concludes with the first Sheffield performance of his new duo, Folkuuuuunst, with English Melodeon ace Will Hampson – an uplifting, high‑energy journey through music and song from Ireland, England, Asturias, and the wider Celtic world. Doors 7 PM TICKETS
Wednesday 16th September
Mike McGoldrick and Tim Eady at The Greystones
A special meeting of old friends bringing together virtuosity and sheer musical magic. Both are celebrated musicians in the realm of Celtic folk music, renowned for their exceptional skills and innovative approaches. Former Folk Musician Of The Year Mike is a gifted instrumentalist/composer and a master of the wooden flute, low whistles and uillean pipes making him a go to contributer for many artists. Steeped in Irish traditional music he has made an immense contribution to the Irish and UK folk scenes through his many solo and collaborative projects including being a founder member of folk supergroup Lunasa and later through his work with Capercaillie. One of the leading musicians of his generation. Guitarist, melodeon player, BBC musician of the year and BBC Scotland best traditional musician winner Tim spent years touring with artists like The Chieftains, Seamus Begley, Brendan Power, Natalie MacMaster to name a few, Tim is now an accomplished solo artist. 8PM TICKETS
Thursday 17th September
Culverake “Farewell for Now” at St Andrew’s Psalter Lane
It’s been a real treat to watch this band develop and grow over the last couple of years, when they told me that they were having to take a break I knew I wanted to help them go out in style..
Culverake are a traditional singing trio promising gusto and harmonies a plenty. Made up of Seb Stone, Matt Quinn and Lizzy Hardingham, they breathe new life into timeless melodies. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Friday 18th September
Jig For a Kiss + Cowbird at Sheffield Friends Meeting House for CRESST charity
Jig For a Kiss: With six voices and about 20 instruments, we’ll bring you songs and tunes from England, Scotland, Ireland, France and beyond – jigs, slip jigs, and reels; schottisches and polkas; a hint of Klezmer, ska, and some swing; and songs about love, crime, hardship and, on occasion, beer! TICKETS
Bonfire Radicals at The Greystones
Return of this amazing six piece (un) traditional folk band known for their electrifying, high energy fusion of British, Balkan and global folk influences, audacious arrangements, instrumental fireworks and rich vocal harmonies. Expect an intensely creative, unpredictable, exhilarating, danceable and immersive experience. And lots of fun! Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Saturday 19th September
Gaelforce at St. James Rooms, Rotherham
Raising the Rafters folk club returns from its summer break with a bang with a concert from the superb Celtic Folk/Rock outfit GAELFORCE.
They have been to Rafters a couple of times before and played to a packed house, so make sure you get your ticket and don’t miss out ….. Limited number of Early Bird advance tickets now available. Supporting PROSTATE CANCER U.K. TICKETS
Sunday 20th September
Sam Carter at The Greystones
Ballads and songs: Sam Carter sings Nic Jones. There are few folk singers as revered as the great Nic Jones. A towering figure of the English folk revival, his emotive singing and groundbreaking guitar style continue to inspire generations of musicians and listeners. His masterpiece Penguin Eggs remains a touchstone album, treasured more than forty years on. In 1982, just two years after the album’s release, Nic’s career was cut short by a devastating car accident. Yet his influence endures, shaping generations of folk musicians too young to have seen him perform in his prime. Sam now brings his lifelong love of Nic’s music into sharp focus with the release of Sam Carter Sings Nic Jones: Live At Celtic Connections, a new live album created with the blessing of the Jones family. Captured at Celtic Connections in January 2026, the album features songs from across Jones’ recorded output, from the gentle flow of Annan Water through to the propulsive drive of Canadee-i-o. Throughout, Carter’s performances showcase the captivating storytelling and innovative guitar work that has made Jones’s music so enduring. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Friday 25th September
Leveret at The Greystones
Lauded folk trio Leveret, a unique collaboration between three of England’s finest folk musicians, Sam Sweeney, Andy Cutting and Rob Harbron, each regarded as exceptional performers and masters of their instruments. Together their performances combine consummate musicianship, compelling delivery and captivating spontaneity. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Saturday 26th September
John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris with Benji Kirkpatrick at St Andrew’s Psalter Lane
John & Sue met in 1970, married in 1971, and began making music together as a duo on the English Folk Scene and beyond. In 1973 they moved to Shropshire, and went on to produce four sons (Benji is Number Two), five LPs, and two Morris Teams, and spent time in Dingle’s Chillybom Band, The Albion Country Band, Umps & Dumps, and The Richard Thompson Band. They provided music, song, and dance for numerous plays in the theatre and on radio, but gradually worked together less and less, until a final appearance in 1992.
Thirty-two years later they have joined forces again for the occasional gig, usually with Benji, who has been striding out in his own right as a soloist and as a member of Bellowhead, Faustus, and The Seth Lakeman Band. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Sunday 27th September
The Midsommars at Yellow Arch Studios
Monday 28th September
Amble at the Octagon Centre
Amble formed in 2022 with the intention of obtaining free pints by performing cover songs in pubs, the Irish folk band now have acclaimed material all of their own. Join us for a night of outstanding music. 8PM TICKETS
Wednesday 30th September
Andy Irvine & Quilty at The Greystones
Legendary Irish musician Andy Irvine teams up with Irish-Swedish band Quilty to present a show that promises a rich blend of traditional and contemporary folk music bringing together Andy’s decades of experience and Quilty’s dynamic energy. Expect a mix of Andy’s iconic solo work, Quilty’s Scandinavian infused Irish folk and collaborative performances that highlight the best of both acts.
October 2026
Thursday 1st October
Robin Grey at the Lantern Theatre
Robin Grey comes to The Lantern Theatre as part of a tour returning to public performance under his own name after a number of years with his critically acclaimed show, “Three Acres And A Cow”.
The evening will feature songs from his first five albums interwoven with new material written since relocating to Sheffield in 2018. Expect a mixture of experimental folk, wistful observation, beauty, and humour. 7.30PM TICKETS
Friday 2nd October
Sherburn, Bartley, Sanders at Beehive Folk Club
Beehive Folk club at Harthill Village Hall A few floor spots, followed by the guest artist. Tickets are usually £10., email to go on the ticket list and pay (cash) on the door, see club website for details. Bring your own drinks.
Saturday 3rd October
The Wilderness Yet at Sheffield Community Bike Project
This new trio combines the acclaimed talents of folksinger Rosie Hodgson, traditional fiddler Rowan Piggott, and guitarist-flautist Philippe Barnes. With a voice that brings “a ruby-richness to lyrics new and old” (Folk Radio UK), it’s no surprise that Rosie has been a finalist for the BBC Young Folk Award. After a successful EP and the eponymous album from Crossharbour, she recorded her debut album Rise Aurora to critical acclaim, producing what fRoots called “audible magic”. Rosie’s own songs are heavily influenced by the English tradition and her love of literature and the environment. At Sheffield Community Bike Project, King Street, Sheffield, S3 8LF 7PM TICKETS
Remember the Coal at St Mary’s Church, Ecclesfield
This performance is one of a series in the area, commemorating the 160th Anniversary of the Barnsley Oaks Mine Disaster on 12th Dec 1866. Remember coal mining? Come and listen to the story of the mining industry, told in original songs, all written and performed in folk style by Alan Wood, one of Yorkshire’s finest singer/songwriters, supported with a spoken narrative by (Welsh immigrant) John Snook. The show highlights the changes that took place in society throughout that period and, whilst it inevitably mentions the disasters and tragedies that accompanied coal mining, it also has lighter moments, and illustrates how mining influenced wider changes within other industries and society in general. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Wednesday 7th October
Madra Salach at The Foundry
Madra Salach met whilst playing in different outfits on the city’s indie scene and bonded over a shared love of the Irish traditional canon which led to them playing impromptu pub sessions. Taking inspiration from the growing experimental folk scene in Ireland, the group added members, instruments and electronic elements to emerge with their own compositions, which are at the same time strikingly modern and written with a voice that could have emerged at any point throughout the last century.
Their January 26 debut EP It’s a Hell of an Age blended original songs with reimagined traditional material 7.30PM TICKETS standing gig
Thursday 8th October
Martin Simpson trio at Firth Hall
One of England’s most revered folk performers, widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin’s interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His remarkable shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving. Martin was nominated an astounding 32 times in the 18 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards – more than any other performer – and has won numerous awards.
This show from Martin also features Liz Hanks and Louis Campbell in the trio, who also feature on the upcoming album. Liz Hanks is a Sheffield-based cellist who has worked with an impressive and varied array of high-profile artists including Richard Hawley, Liam Gallagher and Self Esteem. Louis Campbell is an alternative-folk guitarist based in Manchester, who regularly tours with Sam Sweeney and Owen Spafford. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Shawn Colvin at Upper Chapel
Shawn Colvin celebrating 30 years of a Few Small Repairs with rare UK Tour. Over the course of three decades, Shawn Colvin has established herself as a captivating performer and a revered storyteller, well-deserving of the commendation of her peers and the devoted audiences who have been inspired by her artistry. Celebrating 30 years of her classic album A Few Small Repairs, Shawn returns to the UK and Ireland for a rare tour. As she enters her thirtieth decade as a songwriter and performer, Shawn continues to reaffirm her status as a vital voice in music.
Shawn Colvin stopped the industry in its tracks with her arresting 1989 debut, Steady On. The following spring, Colvin took home the GRAMMY Award for Best Contemporary Folk Album, establishing herself as a mainstay in the singer-songwriter genre. In the ensuing 30 years, Colvin has won three GRAMMY Awards, released thirteen superlative albums, written a critically acclaimed memoir, maintained a non-stop national and international touring schedule, appeared on countless television and radio programs, had her songs featured in major motion pictures and created a remarkable canon of work.
Support from Blair Dunlop. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Sunday 11th October
Thomas McCarthy + Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne at Alder Bar, New Musical Traditions Club.
Doors 7.30PM, tunes session before the first act starts at 8PM. A regular at the ‘old’ Musical Traditions Club, we are very pleased to offer this new date for Thomas McCarthy, rescheduled from March 2026. Thomas says: “I sing wherever I’m invited, at clubs, festivals, people’s houses, weddings, funerals, christenings, at home, down the road and over the sea. I have sung all over the UK and Europe. I have sung at festivals including Whitby Folk Week, Sidmouth FolkWeek, the Fife Traditional Singing Festival, Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival (Belgium), the South Roscommon Singers festival (Knockcroghery) and the Frank Harte Festival (Dublin) – where I shared a stage with Christy Moore.” I have been invited to folk clubs including the Cellar Upstairs, Walthamstow Folk Club, the Musical Traditions club and the An Goilin club in Dublin. I have toured with Ron Kavana and Sam Lee, all around England, Scotland, Wales and Europe.”
Described in The Living Tradition as ‘captivating, bold and striking’, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne is at the forefront of his generation of English folk musicians as both a powerful and commanding singer and a masterful player of the Anglo concertina and melodeon. Cohen’s music is rooted in the English folk tradition, celebrating the age-old musical heritage of this broad and diverse land. Traditional ballads, songs and tunes form the basis of Cohen’s material, but with a smattering of early music, ragtime, and music hall thrown in for good measure along with regular forays into the music of the Caribbean. TICKETS
Friday 16th October
Grace Petrie at The Foundry (also Sat 17th)
For a decade and a half, Grace Petrie has been one of the UK’s most urgent and passionate songwriters. Coming of age amidst the coalition government, her politically charged folk music quickly gained national attention and propelled her to the main stages of folk festivals from Cambridge to Vancouver to the Blue Mountains of Australia. Characterised by razor-sharp lyricism and the unmistakable passion of her stage presence, her live shows have become synonymous for fans with a unique atmosphere of hope and solidarity, with LGBTQ anthem Black Tie racking up 1.5 million streams and providing a soundtrack of expression for young queer folks all over the world. All Seated show. 7PM TICKETS
Jackie Oates & Belinda O’Hooley at Upper Chapel
–Two of British folk’s most distinctive and highly-regarded artists join together in a brand-new, inspired collaboration.
Belinda O’Hooley, a renowned pianist, singer and composer, is best known as one half of O’Hooley & Tidow, who rose to international prominence for writing and performing the theme to the hit TV series Gentleman Jack (which also led to an acting role for Belinda on the iconic TV drama Happy Valley). Drawing on her heritage in the west of Ireland, Belinda’s music showcases her unique, minimalist and deeply expressive style. The first woman in her family to reclaim a previously all-male tradition, she has found the freedom to interpret the music of her ancestors in her very own, singular way.
Jackie Oates is a respected and sought-after singer, fiddle player, song-writer and multi-instrumentalist, widely known for her tender, arresting interpretations of traditional folk songs. A winner of two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, Jackie has released numerous acclaimed albums including eight solo records. The intuitive and responsive interplay between Belinda and Jackie, two musicians at the height of their power, makes for a compelling live experience. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Saturday 17th October
Grace Petrie at The Foundry
For a decade and a half, Grace Petrie has been one of the UK’s most urgent and passionate songwriters. Coming of age amidst the coalition government, her politically charged folk music quickly gained national attention and propelled her to the main stages of folk festivals from Cambridge to Vancouver to the Blue Mountains of Australia. Characterised by razor-sharp lyricism and the unmistakable passion of her stage presence, her live shows have become synonymous for fans with a unique atmosphere of hope and solidarity, with LGBTQ anthem Black Tie racking up 1.5 million streams and providing a soundtrack of expression for young queer folks all over the world. All Seated show. 7PM TICKETS
Sunday 25th October
Powerhouse Gothic Masquerade Ceilidh at Crookes Social Club
–The Gothic Masquerade returns! Join Powerhouse Ceilidh Band and caller Daisy Black at Crookes Social Club for an evening of ghoulish fun and delight, as we commemorate the spookiest of seasons with our own unique brand of electrifying geek-folk-rock ceilidh. Bring your finest masquerade attire and prepare to dance yourself to death..! Doors at 7.30pm, dancing to commence at 8pm until 11. TICKETS
Tuesday 27th October
Stornoway at Crookes Social Club
+ Indie Folk Band, touring their new album “Beyonder” TICKETS
November 2026
Friday 6th November
Granny’s Attic at Beehive Folk Club
Beehive Folk club at Harthill Village Hall A few floor spots, followed by the guest artist. Tickets are usually £10., email to go on the ticket list and pay (cash) on the door, see club website for details. Bring your own drinks.
Sunday 8th November
Sid Calderbank & The Lancashire Wallopers + Pete Coe at Alder Bar, New Musical Traditions Club.
Doors 7.30PM, tunes session before the first act starts at 8PM. A native speaker of Lancashire Dialect, Sid Calderbank has been collecting songs and stories from Lancashire for over 40 years. Expect songs, novelties, and everything in between! By special arrangement Sid will be joined for one night only by The Lancashire Wallopers. The team was originally formed in 1981 by students of the legendary clog dancer and music hall entertainer Sam Sherry. The purpose of their formation was a one-off performance at the National Gathering at Cecil Sharp House of the bargees social dance taught to them by Bill Gibbons. Their outfits are inspired by the clothing traditionally worn by canal bargees. The Wallopers’ present repertoire includes routines based on most of the steps that Sam Sherry taught, steps danced by other celebrated clog dancers and dance routines in the style of the music hall as performed by The Five Sherry Brothers. The skilled dancing is taken to another level through the creative skills of the team’s two accomplished musicians. Sam had interests in both the traditional styles of clog dancing and the music hall styles which are assumed to have developed, at least in part, from the former. The Wallopers continue that combination of interests and this is reflected in their diverse repertoire. Expect clog dances, music hall routines, and more.
Pete Coe has been a professional musician since 1971, playing at festivals concerts, clubs, dances & schools throughout Britain, Europe, Asia, New Zealand & USA . During the ‘70s he toured and recorded with Chris Coe, was a member of the legendary New Victory Band & with Nic Jones, Tony Rose and again, Chris Coe, he was a member of Bandoggs. In the late ‘80s and early ‘90s he toured and recorded with Red Shift but since 1985 he’s mainly worked as a soloist & earned an enviable reputation. His strong, distinctive voice is enhanced by his instrumental versatility, the ringing strings of his bouzouki, the sweet chords of his mountain dulcimer, the plaintive frailing banjo & the pulsing reeds of his melodeon. He’s also a country dance caller, creator & band musician. He sings, plays & step dances, sometimes all at once! TICKETS
Friday 13th November
The Tumbling Paddies at The Foundry
Ireland’s hottest band, The Tumbling Paddies are coming back to the UK! Their signature, high energy, fun filled live show is not to be missed! The Tumbling Paddies will perform all their hits including Pretty Girl, Night on The Town and The Way I Am, which recently topped the Irish charts for 10 consecutive weeks.
Dance and sing along to the greatest Irish anthems with the Paddies uplifting versions of Dirty Old Town, Fields of Athenry and Zombie, in what promises to be an incredible night of live music. 7.30PM TICKETS
Saturday 21st November
Bellowhead at Sheffield City Hall
6.30PM Supported by Seckou Keita. Bellowhead celebrate the 20th anniversary of their full-length debut album Burlesque in 2026. The 11-piece folk outfit made a watertight case for ‘big being beautiful’ with the release of Burlesque which features songs including London Town, Frog’s Legs and Dragon’s Teeth and Rigs of The Time. TICKETS
The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican at The Lantern Theatre
The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican’s 20th Anniversary Tour: Two decades is too old to quit! Put on yer finest knitted gladrags, style your barnet, put on your dancing shoes and bring your finest singing voices, as we cordially invite you to witness the Greatest Show On Earth (in tank-tops). Founded in Barnsley Rock City in 2006 by their outspoken and energetic ringleader, Scott Doonican, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican are on a mission! Far from being your typical folk ensemble, this cult-like collective of like-minded knit-wear enthusiasts are determined to follow in their spiritual father’s immortal footsteps and keep his legacy alive. Scott and his brothers-from-other-mothers, Mo-Jo Doonican, Dave Doonican and the Rt. Rev. Jeremiah Rickenbacker Doonican III, have quite the talent for Bar-Stewardizing other famous people’s songs with new satirical comedy lyrics, on folk instruments. To complete their outrageously understated image, the Doonicans have become instantly recognisable in festival fields and venues up and down the country for their immaculate hair and their stylish choice of sexy knitwear, and instantly memorable for their lairy, no-holds-barred, anarchic live shows. TICKETS 7.30PM
December 2026
Friday 4th December
The Hunch at Beehive Folk Club
Beehive Folk club at Harthill Village Hall A few floor spots, followed by the guest artist. Tickets are usually £10., email to go on the ticket list and pay (cash) on the door, see club website for details. Bring your own drinks.
Sunday 13th December
Kate Rusby at Sheffield City Hall
7PM 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, each performance will be filled with warmth, wit, and her unmistakable Yorkshire charm. TICKETS
Ken Langsbury & Bernie Cherry + Goblin Band at Alder Bar, New Musical Traditions Club.
Doors 7.30PM, tunes session before the first act starts at 8PM. Ken Langsbury has sung all his life and still knows songs from his childhood and his time with the King’s Dragoon Guards in Malaya. He was a member of the popular harmony group, The Songwainers and fool for Old Spot Morris. He’s also a very fine storyteller. He’s never stopped singing and never will! Bernie and Ken have been friends and collaborators for well over 50 years. Bernie Cherry was born near Rochester in Kent. He has been singing since 1966, mostly English traditional songs from places he’s lived and people he’s met. He was an early member of the Old Swan Band and founding foreman of Old Spot Morris.
Goblin Band are a four piece English trad/folk band based in London. With harmony singing and a range of folk instruments, Goblin Band delivers an unruly alternative expression of English traditional music. The band formed from sessions of the same name run out of the Hobgoblin Music shop in central London, organised by a collection of young queer folk obsessive friends and shop employees looking to forge their own way into folk music. This gave rise to a band of multi-instrumentalists firmly rooted in the folk music of Britain, interpreted via the socialist tradition concerned with folk’s relationship to the history of the working classes, capitalism, and colonialism. Through a fusion of harmony singing, fiddle, squeezebox, hurdy gurdy, recorders and more, Goblin Band deliver a charismatic alternative expression of English traditional culture in a way which is at once riotously joyful and deeply sincere. TICKETS
2027
9th January Hekety’s 30th Birthday Ceilidh at Crookes Social Club. TICKETS
21st February Jon Boden Solo: A Folk Song A Day Tour 2027 at Crookes Social Club. TICKETS
19th March Fisherman’s Friends at Sheffield City Hall