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
May 2026
Friday 1st May
May Day Morris Sunrise Dance: Pecsaetan + Sheffield City Morris at Parkwood Springs
Meet in the Parkwood Springs car park 5AM, walking up the hill for a sunrise dance at 5.30AM. All welcome.
Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd May: Wath Festival
Wath Festival, Includes Ceilidh, concerts, Saturday town centre celebrations all culminating in the traditional reading of the will of Thomas Tuke, and the throwing of bread rolls from the church spire. This year artists include Jackie Oates & John Spiers, Bar-steward Sons of Val Doonican, The Hunch and Jacks Rake. TICKETS
Saturday 2nd May
ROSH and Friends in Meersbrook
*Come listen to some rich, orchestral, folk in a top secret, intimate, venue!* Join ROSH and his band for a gig in an intimate and top secret venue in Meersbrook! The band will be premiereing new songs as well as tunes from the new album, ‘those unknown we resemble’, featuring strings, jazz-inflected rhythms and harmonies.
Support comes from Ben and Heather from COWBIRD, who will be doing a set of old folk tunes and Americana. Details of the venue will be released closer to showtime. Those with an eye for design and detail will enjoy the setting! It’s also BYOB. 7PM TICKETS
Klezmer Keilidh at Walkley Community Centre
7-10.30PM 7 Hills Kapelye are delighted to have Avia Moore with us to lead Klezmer dancing. She is over from Canada, and is one of the top names in the business. She recently led the dancing at the annual Kleznorth festival in Derbyshire, and is the Artistic Director of the huge KlezCanada. There will also be a set of Yiddish Songs from 7 Hills Kapelye. And if you like playing Klezmer, bring your instruments, for we will end with a Klezmer Jam Session. TICKETS
Sunday 3rd May
Robyn Gair at The Gardeners Rest 2.30PM
Free entry, plus Sam Wain 4PM
Gavin Fairhall Lever at Cafe #9
GAVIN FAIRHALL LEVER are a stunning explosion of colour in the wild and unruly garden of the London folk scene. A tangle of roots from Northern Ireland, Cornwall and Norfolk gives exuberant life to a truly contemporary folk music, full of thorns and flowers. The trio bring together the exhilarating, joyful tumble of Celtic trad, a melodic warmth, vibrant rhythmic invention, and the subtle expressivity of jazz harmony. Tunes unfold like stories, with dynamic and textured arrangements keeping the pages turning, from chapters of luminous stillness into passages of unstoppable drive. All performed with a compelling combination of fire, precision and mongrel bite. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Hank, Pattie & the Current at The Greystones CANCELLED
Bluegrass visionaries Hank Smith (banjo) and Pattie Hopkins Kinlaw’s (fiddle) innovative twist on traditional bluegrass music is a soulful brew flavored with classical, Motown, jazz, and pop influences. Hard-hitting bluegrass pickers who moonlight as symphonic classical musicians, Hank & Pattie have forged their unique sound by refreshingly embracing their myriad of musical influences to create a unique sound, true to themselves. Their overall musicianship, vocal harmonies, impassioned delivery and innovative arrangements captivate all generations of music lovers. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Monday 4th May
John Showman and Chris Coole at Cafe #9 CANCELLED
Through twenty-five years and thousands of shows together in bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys and The Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Showman and Chris Coole have developed a deep and instinctual musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space that is somewhere on the outskirts of old-time, bluegrass, and folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Tuesday 5th May
Lord Conyers Morris at Kiveton Park Folk Club
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.
John Showman and Chris Coole at Cubley Hall, Penistone CANCELLED
Doors 7.30PM Through twenty years and a couple of thousand shows together in bands such as The Foggy Hogtown Boys and The Lonesome Ace Stringband, John Showman and Chris Coole have developed a deep and instinctual musical bond. Their music lurks in a truly unique space that is somewhere on the outskirts of old-time, bluegrass, and folk. The songs of John Hartford, Hank Williams, Dock Boggs, and The Band share space with the fiddle tunes of Eck Robertson and Ed Haley. The duo’s original songs and tunes take in all these vistas and paint something both personal and timely. TICKETS
Wednesday 6th May
Raahiya Duo, Iona Kaye & Two Mirrors at Samuel Worth Chapel
Join us for an atmospheric evening of genre-blurring music, where contemporary folk, poetic songwriting and Indian classical traditions intertwine. Raahiya Duo bring together violinist Preetha Narayanan and tabla player/producer Camilo Tirado for a spellbinding set that weaves Indian classical traditions with contemporary textures and electronics. Expect rich improvisation, intricate rhythms and a deeply immersive sound world. Sheffield-based Iona Kaye offers tender, poetic songwriting that sits between classical and folk. With warm vocals and delicate instrumentation, her music is both intimate and emotionally raw – drawing you into dreamlike, evocative landscapes. Finally, Two Mirrors present haunting contemporary folk shaped by myth, memory and introspection. Their stripped-back sound – voice and guitar – carries a quiet intensity, with experimental tunings and rhythms that feel both ancient and modern.
Doors 7PM TICKETS
Thursday 7th May
Granny’s Attic St Andrews Church, Psalter Lane
Doors 7PM With exceptional musicianship and boundless energy, Granny’s Attic are going from strength to strength. Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne (melodeon, anglo concertina, vocals), George Sansome (guitar, vocals) and Lewis Wood (violin, vocals) have honed their skills touring the UK and Europe since 2009. The trio have been heralded for their lively performances and skilled delivery of traditional material, playing with verve, energy and their own inimitable style. Though grounded in tradition, they are keen to push new boundaries by exploring fresh approaches and writing their own compositions. TICKETS
The Finch Charmers 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
Jess Vincent and Katie Whitehouse at Cafe 9
Jess Vincent is a UK-based folk and Americana artist whose songs blend emotional honesty with melodic subtlety. Her latest album Lions Den, recorded during her years living in Bulgaria, carries the stories, colours and textures of that period, wrapped in her trademark arrangements for guitar, baritone uke and harmonium. Onstage, she revisits audience favourites from earlier records while opening the door to new work currently in the making. Praised for her crystal-clear, spine-tingling vocals and uniquely original writing, Jess has become an integral part of harmony trio The Lost Trades since returning to the UK, alongside collaborations with musicians including Joseph Chowles and Chris Cleverley.
Stroud-based singer-songwriter Katie Whitehouse brings a quietly powerful presence to the stage: tender, spacious songwriting delivered with clarity and emotional depth. Her debut album Drawing Lines (2024) has been widely praised for its delicate vocals and lyrical insight Katie’s live performances are intimate and atmospheric, offering songs (and spoken word) that feel both grounded and expansive, inviting listeners into the emotional undercurrents of her writing.
swimming together… When Jess and Katie share a stage, something luminous happens. Their contrasting yet complementary artistic voices create a space that is warm, open-hearted and gently surprising. Rooted in a shared love of the natural world and a deep instinct for and connection with writing from landscape, season and place. Two distinct songwriters in conversation with each other, wild swimming together in life and music, in tune with the living world around them. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Sheffield Scratch Contra at Memorial Hall, Hillsborough
Contra dance is a social folk dance similar to a ceilidh, dances are in long lines of couples. No partner needed, all welcome. Address: Memorial Hall Forbes Rd, Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 2NW. 7.30PM £5 suggested donation- pay cash on the door. Facebook
Songs of Strong Women singing session at The Gardeners Rest
8PM Everyone welcome, every genre of songs written by women, about women or performed by Women. Hosts Jaki Booth, Emily Eastwood and Marilla Homes. Every 3 months.
Friday 8th May
Northern Resonance at Bishop’s House
Doors 7PM Northern Resonance is the Scandinavian string trio that takes newly composed folk music into enormous soundscapes. With their previously untested combination of instruments; Anna Ekborg Hans-Ers (Viola D’amore) Petrus Dillner (Nyckelharpa) Jerker “JJ” Hans-Ers (Hardanger Fiddle) they let Scandinavian music meet explosive rhythms and grand chamber-like arrangements that takes folk music in a new direction. TICKETS
Ceilidh Soc Ceilidh at The Edge, Endcliffe Student Village
Lively ceilidhs, all are welcome. Mainly students but many older folk also attend. There is usually a dance display by a Sheffield Morris side in the interval. £5 pay on the door. Doors 7.45PM
New Horizons and guests at Beehive Folk Club- Charity Night for Weston Park
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 9th May
Martin Simpson at Wild Traditions, The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park
Wild Traditions is a new monthly happening involving a concert and tunes & singing sessions at The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield S6 4HD, run by Fay Hield.
For our opening night we are delighted to present local legend Martin Simpson. Universally acclaimed as one of the finest ever acoustic and slide guitar players, and a fine banjo-picker to boot, his solo shows bear witness to an artist at the very top of his game. Whether interpreting material from tradition or singing his own potent self-penned songs, Simpson is a remarkable storyteller: captivating and profoundly moving. Martin is rarely seen in such intimate surroundings, performing as he does on the very finest of stages, so we are honoured to have him celebrating our launch with us – a night very much not to be missed! TICKETS
Roswell Road at Firbeck Village Hall
Jasmine Watkiss and Zoë Wren make up Americana duo Roswell Road. Their music combines guitar, violin and gorgeous vocal harmonies with candid storytelling to create something really special.
Roswell Road’s sound, which has drawn comparisons to Fleetwood Mac and the Indigo Girls, has taken them from sold-out shows at London’s Green Note to stages across Europe, including Costa Festival Ibiza and a showcase at MiCannes, France. They have supported artists including Catherine McGrath, John Smith and Dea Matrona, and played festivals from Cambridge and Shrewsbury Folk Festivals to the Fête de la musique Genève. TICKETS
Sunday 10th May
Peter & Barbara Snape + Jeff Warner at Alder Bar
New Musical Traditions Club Doors 7.30PM TICKETS Peter and Barbara Snape are a very popular duo from the North West of England with a repertoire that is distinctly ‘northern’ in nature and liberally sprinkled with the ‘feel-good’ factor. Barbara’s versatile singing voice is full of character with both the sensitivity to move you with tales of hardships or sentimental love songs and the robustness to belt out invigorating, earthy numbers with such confidence that you will feel compelled to join in. Peter’s well-crafted accompaniments on the melodeon give life to the songs and the occasional dance tune will certainly set your feet tapping.
Jeff Warner is among the nation’s foremost performer/interpreters of traditional music. His songs from the lumber camps, fishing villages and mountain tops of America connect 21st century audiences with the everyday lives–and artistry–of 19th century Americans. “Providing more than just rich entertainment, Jeff will leave you with a deeper appreciation of the land you live in” (Caffé Lena, Saratoga, NY). His songs, rich in local history and a sense of place, bring us the latest news from the distant past. Jeff grew up listening to the songs and stories of his father Frank Warner and the traditional singers his parents met during their folksong collecting trips through rural America. He accompanied his parents on their later field trips and is the editor of his mother’s book, Traditional American Folk Songs: From the Anne and Frank Warner Collection.
Tuesday 12th May
Litany at Kiveton Park Folk Club
Litany: Ed McMcGurk and Nick Caffrey, Julie Proctor (fiddle) and Dave Howard (mandolin & bazouki) 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.
Andrew Metheven and Ruth Webber at Mandala Cafe, Chesterfield Road
Join us for a night of intimate song from Ruth Webber and Andrew Metheven.
Andrew Metheven is an alt-folk songwriter. He released his first EP, A Quiet Life, in March 2022, and his first album – Sister Winter – in June 2024, and has since performed at grassroots venues and festivals across Yorkshire. Still living in his native Bradford, his songs are about births, hills, loss, birds, daydreams… his live performances – characterised by his melodic guitar finger-picking – are unapologetically raw and unfiltered. https://andrewmetheven.co.uk/
Ruth Webber‘s music spans different themes, energies, and instruments. As a singer song-writer she likes to draw the listener into memories and moments, full of half-truths and misremembered events. Ruth released her debut EP ‘Songs for my Father’ in April 2024 with an ensemble of 11 musicians, and plays in several other projects that help to express the many moods of Ruth. Doors 7PM TICKETS
December Flowers + Robbie Thompson at Shakespears
Doors 7.30PM December Flowers: Sheffield base band, The December Flowers blend Americana with the folk-tinged spaciousness of California psychedelia, a touch of British music hall pop, 60’s Wurlitzer organ-driven rock, and a hint of Nashville country.
Robbie Thompson: ‘The poetry of Robbie Thompson is the sort that can stop you in your tracks. His words, drawing on his background and interests in psychotherapy and philosophy, offer generous reflections and insight on his accumulated experiences.’ – Pink Wafer TICKETS
Thursday 14th May
Rebecca Hearne 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
Tara MacLean at Cafe No9
Canadian singer/songwriter Tara MacLean has been an internationally renowned and award-winning recording and touring artist for over 25 years. She released her first album with the Nettwerk Music Group in 1996 and Sony Music Publishing Canada. Since then, she has been signed to Capitol Records as a solo artist and to EMI Canada with her JUNO nominated band Shaye. She has written and recorded seven solo albums and two Shaye records.
Support: Becky Foord is a Leicestershire based singer-songwriter who originally hails from North Yorkshire. Her collection of soft, assured folk and Americana songs share her love of the North York moors and coast, the people and places where she grew up and family life. As well as performing live, she is completing work on her debut album for release later this year. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Jig for a Kiss + Cold Bones + Gloria Monday at Nether Edge Bowling Club
Gloria Monday at Nether Edge Bowling Club 8PM start. Jig for a Kiss, Chesterfield’s multi-instrumental, multi-talented folk big band always bring the house down, as well as filling our stage with more musicians than any other night. Lively, melodic and varied. Nothing to say really, get your tickets early because it will sell out.
Cold Bones is a Sheffield songwriter with real character, in the tradition of many of the great American singer/songwriters of the late 20th Century His songs and his performances are powerful and always worth attending to
Plus your resident Orchestra of Truth, Gloria Monday. All proceeds as usual will go to Rethink Mental Illness TICKETS
Friday 15th May
Cahalen Morrison Live at Sam’s House Concert
Equally at home on guitar, banjo, mandolin, singing three-part harmony or unaccompanied, he has carved out a place for himself as a unique voice in American music. An insightful and poetic wordsmith and songwriter, a subtle and accomplished roots multi-instrumentalist and a captivating singer. Well known for his singular turn of phrase and curiously poignant songs, he dips deep into the well of tradition while continuously pushing boundaries of contemporary songwriting. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Saturday 16th May
Well Dressed Band family ceilidh at the Broomhall Centre 3-4.30PM
The Well dressed Band will be running our next family ceilidh on Saturday 16th May. Come and have fun dancing with your children. Our wonderful caller Jonathan Bland will talk you through the dances, which can be enjoyed by everyone from the age of 3 to 93. No previous experience is necessary and people with two left feet are welcome, so bring all the family. Refreshments will be provided. Children need to be accompanied and supervised by an adult TICKETS
Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow at Open House, Hathersage
For over a decade, Kit Hawes & Aaron Catlow have been a distinctive and powerful presence on the UK folk scene, forging a partnership defined by deep musical connection, exceptional instrumental skill and rich vocal harmony. Rooted in the traditional music of the British Isles, their work breathes new life into centuries-old melodies – including songs collected in Somerset – while sitting seamlessly alongside original material inspired by the landscape and stories of the Southwest. At the heart of their sound is a timeless and intimate combination of guitar, fiddle and voices, delivered with energy, sensitivity and flair.
Their studio albums The Fox (2016) and Pill Pilots (2019) received widespread critical praise, earning five-star reviews and local and national radio airplay. The duo have toured extensively throughout the UK and across Europe, including Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany. Long-time BBC Radio 2 broadcaster Mark Radcliffe has been a vocal supporter, describing them as “reminiscent of the late Dave Swarbrick and Martin Carthy… I can give them no higher accolade. They deserve to be thought of as amongst the best.” Doors 7PM TICKETS
Around About Dusk at Cafe #9
Around About Dusk are an adventurous musical project creating original songs with influences ranging from musette, New Orleans jazz and blues, old-time and European folk and roots traditions, brought to life with eclectic instrumentation and rich vocal harmonies.
Haunting melodies, tightly woven harmonies and stories of wonder, nature, and humanity, shifting around like growing shadows with echoes of cabaret, chanson, early jazz, and folk make their sound. With harmonies, macabre humour and folkloric storytelling, their music conjures the romance of old cafés, the spirit of New Orleans porches, and the intimacy of campfire songs, with touches of macabre humour and familiar folklore tales. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Sunday 17th May
Folk Who Roam Film Screening + Sāwol at Portland Works
7.30PM Folk Who Roam, directed by award-winning filmmaker Emma Crome, explores ongoing land access campaigns and the relationship between folk music, instrument making, and England’s countryside.
The project follows the making of a special violin by luthier Emma Hardy before it is then passed into the hands of its first player, Rosie Butler-Hall. Moving between the workshop and the Peak District, the film reflects on how traditional music is formed by craft and environment. The violin featured in the film will now become a shared instrument, available for musicians to borrow and take out into the landscapes that inspire their own playing.
The event will include a screening of the film and live music from the folk group Sāwol, plus a short Q&A with the filmmakers and contributors. TICKETS
Iona Lane at Cafe #9
Swilkie, the new album from Highlands-based songwriter Iona Lane, weaves ecology, conservation, islands and folklore into poetic songs and contemplative melodies. Written during three residencies on the Isle of Eigg, Isle of Mull and Sanday in Orkney, sense of place and landscape are at the core of these songs. From basking sharks to lighthouses, lichen to vanishing islands, curlews to tree planting; the album was recorded in a boathouse on the West Coast of Scotland and the eager listener may even hear the lapping sound of the tide murmuring through the album. Iona’s connection to places by the sea is translated through these songs with evolving vocal melodies, subtle guitar and droning shruti box. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Phil Beer at The Wesley Centre, Maltby 4PM
Welcoming back to the Wesley Centre for a Sunday MATINEE show is Phil Beer, the multi-instrumental half of the West Countryʼs award winning acoustic duo, Show of Hands.
With a professional career of over 35+ years, Phil has a great deal of material to draw on for his solo appearances, which are an eclectic mix of traditional tunes, covers of Springsteen or The Hollies, together with his own compositions and songs from his contemporaries.
All are songs and music of memory and significance sung in the subtle and melodic Phil Beer style and interjected with musings and amusings. It is a treat of past and current favourites from one of the most popular musicians on the acoustic circuit. TICKETS
Monday 18th May
Chris Brain at The Greystones
Yorkshire based singer/songwriter whose work sits firmly in the British pastoral tradition, shaped by close attention to place, memory and emotional nuance. His fourth album, Red Sun Rising (2026), is a quietly powerful collection of songs centred on yearning, restlessness and the desire to change.
Rooted in acoustic textures and intimate storytelling Red Sun Rising feels like a record made in motion: landscapes shifting, seasons turning, inner lives gently unsettled. His songwriting balances melody and restraint. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Wednesday 20th May
Bird Tunes: Miranda Rutter, Sam Sweeney & Rob Harbron at Crucible Playhouse
Three of the finest folk musicians working today perform a new suite of tunes, crafted from fragments of birdsong recorded on woodland walks by the brilliant fiddle player and composer Miranda Rutter. Performed with “concertina wizard” (The Guardian) Rob Harbron and “the fiddler with the golden ear” (BBC Radio 3) Sam Sweeney, as well as field recordings of this most elemental form of music, it is a love-song to avian beauty and a timely reminder of the struggles faced by migrating birds. Starts at 8PM. As this is a Music in the Round concert, tickets for under 35’s are just £5! TICKETS
Jez Lowe at Nether Edge Folk Club
This event sold out before tickets could be released to non members. Club website
Thursday 21st May
Rube & Rake at Cafe No9 (also Fri 22nd)
Rube & Rake is an award-winning folk music duo based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Josh Sandu and Andrew Laite, natives of Canada’s West Coast and East Coast respectively, sing about a 21st century Canadian experience, unconfined by a single region or musical style. Their original songs reflect on the nature of home, the passage of time, and the spaces where aspiration and obligation intersect. The Rube & Rake live performance combines musical precision and sensitive vocals with the pair’s approachability and easygoing humour. They have released three full-length albums, most recently Good Time After Bad in 2025. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Friday 22nd May
Ceilidh Soc Ceilidh at The Edge, Endcliffe Student Village
Lively ceilidhs, all are welcome. Mainly students but many older folk also attend. There is usually a dance display by a Sheffield Morris side in the interval. £5 pay on the door. Doors 7.45PM
Rube & Rake at Cafe No9 (also Thu 21st)
Rube & Rake is an award-winning folk music duo based in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. Josh Sandu and Andrew Laite, natives of Canada’s West Coast and East Coast respectively, sing about a 21st century Canadian experience, unconfined by a single region or musical style. Their original songs reflect on the nature of home, the passage of time, and the spaces where aspiration and obligation intersect. The Rube & Rake live performance combines musical precision and sensitive vocals with the pair’s approachability and easygoing humour. They have released three full-length albums, most recently Good Time After Bad in 2025. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Saturday 23rd May
Edwina Hayes at Sidney & Matilda
One of the finest female singer/songwriters this country has produced in years, Edwina Hayes brings together English folk, Americana and the rich Northern singer/songwriter tradition to create a sound that’s truly her own. Together with Warrington based The Lower Angel Band (who recently played to a sold out album launch), the two bring their unique folk rock sounds to Sheffield. TICKETS
Sunday 24th May
Whit Sing at The Old Band Room, Dungworth
2-4PM Traditional Whitsun hymns and songs. Words provided. There will be a bar, hot drinks and cakes. Free event, just come along.
Scott Cook & Pamela Mae at Cafe No9
In 2007, Albertan songwriter Scott Cook quit his job teaching kindergarten in Taiwan and moved into a minivan. He’s made his living as a troubadour ever since, touring almost incessantly across Canada, the US, Europe, Asia, Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere, averaging 120 shows and a dozen summer festivals a year, and releasing seven albums of plainspoken, keenly observant verse along the way. His 2020 collection Tangle of Souls spent two weeks at #1 on Alberta’s province-wide community radio network CKUA, and earned Scott his third Canadian Folk Music Award nomination, for English Songwriter of the Year. Its second single “Say Can You See” was the second most-played song of 2020 on Folk Alliance International’s folk radio charts, and took top honours for the folk category in both the 2020 UK Songwriting Competition and the 2020 Great American Song Contest. Since early 2022 he’s been touring steadily with his sweetheart Pamela Mae on upright bass, banjo and vocals, visiting 45 States, 8 Canadian provinces and a big chunk of Australia while broadcasting livestreams from their campervan. In 2026 they’re releasing a new album called Troubadourly Yours with a 240-page hardcover book of liner notes, equal parts memoir and manifesto. Fresh from the open road, these are sturdy, straight-talking songs that see the good in you. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Monday 25th May
Whit Sing at the Old Red Lion, Grenoside
4-6PM, Traditional Whitsun hymns, Organised by the Grenoside carols team.
Joseph Decosimo at Cafe No9
Joseph Decosimo is a multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, banjo, droney things), singer, and leading interpreter of traditional music from Southern Appalachia, where he grew up and learned from the region’s last master musicians. Based in Durham, NC, Joseph is a powerful champion of traditional music—a responsive artist who makes his genre accessible and draws musicians from Durham’s rich traditional, experimental, and indie communities into his orbit to make music that NPR All Song Considered praises as “pushing the sonic boundaries of old-time music … gorgeous.” Doors 7PM TICKETS
Wednesday 27th May
Virginia Kettles Rolling Folk Band at Cubley Hall, Penistone
Doors 7.30PM Virginia Kettle is the very heart of the multi award-winning folk-rock band Merry Hell. Her songs, spirit and energies have helped drive the band ever upwards, giving a significant outlet to her creativity, providing anthems such as Bury Me Naked, which had 20,000 fans swaying in a Cropredy field, as well as irresistible dancing tunes, and slices of wry humour as seen in ‘VIOLET’, her solo tour-de-force during the band set, where she often forgoes the need for amplification and wanders freely among the audience. Her solo album ‘No Place Like Tomorrow’ was a critical and popular success, hitting the heights of No.1 in the Amazon Folk Charts within days of its release.
As a prolific writer of songs, Rolling Folk gives Virginia the chance to share a variety of songs not included in Merry Hell’s sets. It is not a replacement for the band, but an additional outlet for her creativity and energy. Offering the same level of songwriting excellence as Merry Hell, but a different, more intimate feel, plus additional musical explorations, Rolling Folk surrounds Virginia with a fabulous and interesting selection of players, particularly multi, multi-instrumentalist Chris Lee percussionist, whistle player and flautist, Mark Wooley and more recently ace fiddle player Clare ‘Fluff’ Smith. TICKETS
Friday 29th May
Fri 29th to Sunday 31st Barnsley Folk Festival at Barnsley Civic
Line up includes Kate Rusby TICKETS
Katacombs + Ted Osborne at The Samuel Worth Chapel
Step into the atmospheric surrounds of the Samuel Worth Chapel for a one-off performance from Katacombs – an artist whose music is as cinematic and layered as her story. With roots across continents – born in Miami to a Spanish mother and Greek father, and now dividing her time between Texas and London – Katacombs draws on a rich multicultural background to create dark, dramatic and dream-like melodies that linger long after the final note.
Supporting Katacombs, Ted Osborne is an acoustic artist forging a career as a writer of evocative songs that linger long in the memory. Creating his own distinct sound that fuses together influences from Johnny Flynn and Nick Drake to Tom Waits and Nick Cave, Ted’s music is characterised by searching lyrics that weave intricate stories, set against a poignant acoustic soundtrack. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Saturday 30th May
The Levellers at Electric Sheffield
Levellers are still going strong after over 30 years in the game. They have long been, and still are, one of the best live bands around and in 2020 they released new studio album ‘Peace’ which entered the UK Official Album Charts at #8 – the band’s highest charting entry since 1997’s Mouth to Mouth reached #5 and improving on previous release We the Collective’s #12 position in 2018. Tickets Sold Out
Kinnaris Q Afternoon Workshop + Evening Concert at The Greystones
Fresh from their triumph at this year’s Celtic Connections we are delighted to welcome, KINNARIS Q to the Greystones. Kinnaris Q, Jenn Butterworth (guitar, octave, stomp), Laura-Beth Salter (mandolin, tenor guitar), Aileen Reid (5-string fiddle), and Fiona MacAskill (fiddle) are the powerhouse Glasgow group forging new attitudes towards traditional and contemporary folk music. With their signature sound, full of enthusiasm, their music is a celebration of culture, connection, and the sheer joy of making music together. Expect hints of Scottish, Irish, Bluegrass, Classical and Scandinavian music.
In addition to their show [doors 7.30PM], Kinnaris Q are offering a rare opportunity to spend an afternoon [1-4PM] exploring new tunes, techniques and arrangements with one of Trad’s powerhouse groups in a three hour workshop at the Greystones. An afternoon and music making with KINNARIS Q, where they’ll be exploring and sharing arrangements, chords, harmonies, and all things KQ! Limited spaces are available, including gig and workshop bundle packages, so book now so you don’t miss out on this one-off opportunity to work closely with one of the most exciting bands on the scene. Free tea & coffee included! TICKETS
Sunday 31st May
La Cozna & Mary Hampton at Samuel Worth Chapel
La Cozna bring together Clémentine Ristord (bass clarinet, drone box), Benjamin Garson (electric guitar), Pierre-Antoine Despatures (double bass) and Nicolas Jacobée (vocals). Drawing on traditional French songs collected in the 20th century, the quartet reimagines these works for a modern audience. Once passed in whispers through kitchens and domestic spaces, these women’s songs tell stories of love, violence and freedom — rich with humour, drama and poetic intensity. In Ni Nuit Ni Jour, ambiguity and tension run through feverish, immersive soundscapes, alive with desire and darkness.
Mary Hampton is a folk singer, musician and composer whose work sits in the space between traditional song and art music. Influenced by Symbolism, experimental chamber music and folk traditions, her writing is at once fragile, desolate and darkly humorous — exploring the tensions between past and present, myth and reality, nature and civilisation. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Jig for a Kiss & Reclaimed at Whirlow Brook Park 3PM
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
June 2026
Wednesday 3rd June
The Hunch Band at Cubley Hall, Penistone
Doors 7.30PM Five musicians at the top of their game, honed from years of performance. With talent in great measure, they showcase their creativity & technical brilliance in every song. Intriguingly crafted classics and soul searching ballads shine with five-part harmonies and instrumental virtuosity, all introduced with dry wit and audacious humour. A unique band ….. to see them is a must. Mick Doonan was a founder member of the legendary 70s folk-rock band Hedgehog Pie and comes from the famous Tyneside dynasty. John Doonan Snr, was an All-Ireland flute champion. Michael also fronts The Mighty Doonan’s folk-rock band. In The Hunch he provides vocals as well as flutes and pipes.
Bob Thomas fronted another highly respected folk-rock outfit, Kitsyke Will, and has since lent his wonderful soul-inflected vocal style to The Solicitors, as well as singing, playing percussion and harmonica with The Hunch.
Alongside these two are the stunning acoustic guitarist/vocalist Chris Hanks and keyboards/accordionist/vocalist Tony Bacon, both alumni of West Yorkshire’s thriving roots scene. Marcus Frost is the latest addition to the line up; with extensive experience in the local blues/rock scene, Marcus brings his unique style of percussion and vocals. TICKETS
Thursday 4th June
Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango at Sidney and Matilda
Kate Griffin (UK banjo player) and Matchume Zango (Mozambique multi-instrumentalist) are forging a new cross-cultural collaboration celebrating the universal power of traditional music. They both bring echoes of their respective traditions to a vibrant new sound full of world rhythms, contemporary song-writing and joy. 7.30PM TICKETS
Friday 5th June
The Melrose Quartet at Beehive Folk Club
From deep roots in their hometown’s vibrant music, song and dance scene, to smashing concert appearances in the UK and abroad, Sheffield-based Melrose Quartet have attracted a reputation for making music that truly connects with people. All four are internationally renowned singers, instrumentalists, writer/composers and teachers
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 6th June
George Sansome and Sophie Crawford: Queer Folk at Wild Traditions, The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park
Wild Traditions is a new monthly happening involving a concert and tunes & singing sessions at The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield S6 4HD, run by Fay Hield. After discovering a rich seam of LGBTQIA+ folk songs in the archives, George Sansome and Sophie Crawford began performing this powerful repertoire together, breathing new life into long-hidden stories. Accompanied by guitar, bouzouki and accordion, they’re now taking these songs on tour to celebrate the release of their new album. TICKETS
Tuesday 9th June
Topette!! at Crookes Social Club
Doors 7PM Anglo – French folksters Topette!! are delighted to be returning to the fantastic Crookes Club in Sheffield on their 2026 UK Tour. The band play exciting acoustic dance music, perfect for French (balfolk) dancing, but equally good for listeners.
Topette!! will be celebrating the release of their fifth album, Tazon, and playing a varied set from across their 12 year history…
Featuring; Andy Cutting – diatonic button accordion, Julien Cartonnet – French bagpipes & tenor banjo, James Delarre – violin & viola, Laurence Hunt – percussion, Barn Stradling – acoustic bass guitar TICKETS
Thursday 11th June
Bouzouki III at Highfield Trinity Church
Bouzouki III is a fresh new band that brings together three leading exponents of the Irish bouzouki in the UK – Benji Kirkpatrick, James Fagan, and Jon Doran. The three players draw inspiration from their own musical backgrounds and celebrate their love of the Irish bouzouki through tune and, as all are accomplished singers, through song. TICKETS Doors 7.30PM
Tuesday 16th June
Lady Maisery and Jimmy & Sid present Wakefire: An Incantation To Summer at Firth Hall
7PM Having bewitched audiences annually with their much-loved wintertime show, two of the most engaging and inventive acts on the English folk scene return with their hotly anticipated next alchemic collaboration: an essential incantation to the summertime.
Award winning trio Lady Maisery (Hannah James, Rowan Rheingans and Hazel Askew) have for nearly a decade produced “some of the most exquisite, thrilling work in the English folk scene” (The Guardian). The beguiling musical partnership of Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith complete the powerful line-up. With more folk songs collected about the month of May than any other time apart from Christmas, the charismatic supergroup embark on a journey to mark this season in song. TICKETS –
Wednesday 17th June
Sam Sweeney Trio at Samuel Worth Chapel
The Sam Sweeney Trio brings together three of the UK’s most distinctive folk musicians to play music from across Sam’s discography: Sam Sweeney (fiddle), Ben Nicholls (double bass), and Louis Campbell (guitar). Fusing masterful musicianship with emotional depth and a forward-thinking approach to traditional music, the trio creates a sound that is both deeply rooted and strikingly modern.
Sam Sweeney is widely regarded as one of the finest fiddle players of his generation. A member of Bellowhead and Leveret, and now an acclaimed solo artist, Sam has carved out a unique space in contemporary folk music — blending English fiddle traditions with cinematic composition and innovative ensemble work. His playing is known for its expressiveness, virtuosity, and storytelling power. 8PM TICKETS
Sunday 28th June
Treebeard + Ordinary Joes at Whirlow Brook Park 3PM
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
Tuesday 30th June
Spooky Men’s Chorale at Firth Hall
A magnificent, many headed beast which has single-handedly turned the world of men’s singing upside down. Bypassing well trodden avenues, The Spooky Men’s Chorale carve out new territories of mighty man sounds, exquisite tenderness and charming stupidity to both celebrate and mock masculinity. TICKETS –
July 2026
2nd to 5th July
Gate to Southwell Festival near Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Artists include The Proclaimers, Richard Thompson with Zara Philips, Peat & Diesel, Elephant Sessions. TICKETS
Saturday 4th July
Soundpost Special at Wild Traditions, The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park
7.30 PM TICKETS Wild Traditions is a new monthly happening involving a concert and tunes & singing sessions at The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park, Sheffield S6 4HD, run by Fay Hield. Join us for a night of celebration and to meet the Soundpost family. Our adult Forge & Fledge instruments group have been going for 10 years so we thought it would be lovely to show off their skills and have a bit of a party. There will be special guest spots from the staff, including Fay Hield, Rosie Hodgson, Rosie Butler Hall, Nicola Beazley, Robyn Chicot, Seb Stone and Rowan Piggott in various set ups. Expect lively, unique collaborations, expert musicianship and a night you will never experience again.
6th to 10th July
Folk Unbound music camp near Castleton
A residential folk music camp for trans men, trans women, non binary folks, cis women and marginalised genders. DETAILS
August 2026
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
September 2026
Monday 7th September
Spell Songs at Firth Hall
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Tuesday 27th October
Stornoway at Crookes Social Club
+ Indie Folk Band, touring their new album “Beyonder” TICKETS
November 2026
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
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