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
June 2026
Wednesday 24th June
Hannah Scott at Cafe No9
“Your music moved me to tears.” This is the refrain contemporary folk artist Hannah Scott regularly hears as she leaves the stage.
The best stories make us feel deeply and in the 15 years she has been writing and performing, Hannah has become an exceptional storyteller. Her music is shaped by human connections, with family, in all its chaos and glory, sitting at the heart of her work. Her lyrics are powerful and poignant, and her voice feels strangely familiar, though you can’t quite put your finger on why. Her writing may be deeply personal but her music has a universal appeal that goes beyond the melodies you catch yourself humming in the days after listening to her songs. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Thursday 25th June
SNEZ 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
Dean McPhee at Bishop’s House
Dean McPhee is a UK-based guitarist whose work draws on dub, British folk, underground electronic music, and psychedelic rock, evolving from sparse, echo-laden solo guitar pieces into a heavier, more immersive style incorporating deep bass, hypnotic riffs, and layered, loop-based structures. Performing on electric guitar through an expansive pedalboard routed into a valve amplifier and 18” subwoofer, his live sets unfold in real time, building dense, rhythmic compositions from minimal elements. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Friday 26th June
Jim Ghedi at Sidney and Matilda
Jim Ghedi hails from Sheffield, South Yorkshire and although clearly well versed in the history of folk music, he stands out as a potential torch bearer for a new generation of respectful yet experimental performers.
His album ‘Wasteland’, released in March 2025, saw wide acclaim and was recognised as a profoundly bold sonic statement that is some of the most rich, far-reaching and ambitious work in the Folk genre – pushing the boundaries of what folk music can be. His third album released on the Basin Rock record label, this new sound emulates a more brooding, darker and electronic world which is mirrored in his piercing lyrics and singing. He draws from social observations, contemporary songwriting, historical & traditional material. 7.30PM TICKETS
Dance Under The Dome Family Ceilidh at The Harmony Works
7-9.30PM at The Harmony Works (Canada House), 11 Commercial Street, Sheffield, S1 2AT. Organised by Sheffield Music hub (the SCC youth music service), Fundraising for the development of the venue. Well Dressed Band, caller Dave Ball. There will also be a bar (Challenge 25 applies) and a tuck shop available on the night. Please note: All attendees are responsible for their own safety and anyone they are supervising, under 18s must be accompanied by a responsible adult. You may wish to bring a chair if you would like to rest between dances, as seating is limited. Parts of the building will be out of bounds as Canada House is currently in its pre-renovation stage. TICKETS
Saturday 27th June
Adam Beattie + Fiona Bevan at Cafe No9
Multi-platinum, award winning singer-songwriter Fiona Bevan (‘startling odysseys’ The Guardian) and acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter Adam Beattie (‘uplifting reveries of love’ Mojo) return for a run of popular double-header dates in May/June 2026.
Adam will showcase material from his new album Home Fires Burning; a homespun epic which explores family, legacy and belonging. Adam writes melodies inspired by the traditional fiddle tunes of his childhood, played on finger-picked acoustic guitar. Fiona’s new songs explore hope, love and female desire against a political backdrop. Fiona writes otherworldly melodies on piano and unique guitar tunings. Since meeting onstage in London, Beattie and Bevan have been singing in close harmony and accompanying each other on guitar, piano and double bass. Doors 7PM TICKETS sold out
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
Amit Dattani & Chris Cleverley at Cafe No9
For one special Solstice evening this June, Contemporary folk songwriters Amit Dattani and Chris Cleverley bring a rare, collaborative live show to the iconic Cafe #9, for a showcase of dexterous fingerstyle guitar and healing, meditative songwriting to soothe the frayed edges of this fractured modern world.
Folk, blues and Americana singer-songwriter Amit Dattani has garnered attention from the likes of BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, Americana UK and fRoots, with his nimble fingerpicking and striking lyrical originality. Named in ‘Best Gigs of 2023’ by Tradfolk, Amit’s raconteur spirit and superb musicianship has garnered a strong reputation on the live circuit, with over twenty years performing across the UK and Europe under his belt.
Chris Cleverley was born under a solstice moon, in the honeysuckle mysticism of a late 80s Midsummer, where the symbolic sounds of ‘Hunky Dory’, ‘Graceland’ and ‘Ladies of The Canyon’ echoed from the woodchip walls of the South Birmingham terrace where he was raised; quiet and curious, saturnine and shy. Here, the soul of a young artist was shaped. Doors 7PM TICKETS
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
Wednesday 1st July
Luke Daniels at Cafe No9
Luke Daniels consistently strives to reimagine what folk music can be — from his debut composition The Lost Music of the Gaels to his recent solo songs album Old Friends and Exhausted Enemies. Always innovating, Revolve and Rotate saw Luke travelling to the Folk Alliance conference in Kentucky with a a unique musical instrument called the ‘Electrophon’. Inspired by a c1880 polyphon machine, he built the Electrophon to combine traditional source material, with digital and midi time code to create new instrumental music and songs on 20” steel discs.
As a multi-instrumentalist (melodeon, button accordion and guitar), and as a singer/songwriter Luke’s signature style and elegant song-writing has graced stage and studio at home and abroad. In the company of Mark Radcliffe, The London Philharmonic Orchestra, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, Chris Wood, Lau, Cara Dillon, Jon Boden of Bellowhead and toured North America as a member of the internationally renowned Riverdance Band. Doors 7PM TICKETS
Russ Chandler at Nether Edge Folk Club
Nether Edge Folk Club, Nether Edge Bowling Club. There are a few floor spots before the guest artist. Doors 7PM, starts 7.30PM. TICKETS
Thursday 2nd July
Thurs 2nd to Sunday 5th Gate to Southwell Festival near Southwell, Nottinghamshire
Artists include The Proclaimers, Richard Thompson with Zara Philips, Peat & Diesel, Elephant Sessions. TICKETS
Chris Murphy & friends at Cafe No9
In another era, I would have played square dances, been a court musician, or a circus fiddler, and loved every minute of it,” says veteran LA violinist and songwriter Chris Murphy, whose spirited and haunting original music bends genres and even centuries with ease.
Murphy grew up in an Irish-Italian family near New York City, surrounded by the disparate sounds of his neighbors’ traditional music: Italian mandolin songs, pulsing Latin rhythms, and bracing Irish rounds. Eventually falling under the spell of late, great multi-instrumentalist David Lindley (Jackson Browne, Ry Cooder, Bob Dylan) Murphy went on to explore Turkish and Indian music at Bard College, and studied composition at Boston’s prestigious New England Conservatory of Music. 7PM TICKETS (includes BYOA)
Enda McCabe 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
Friday 3rd July
Johnny Coppin 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.
Mountain Hares 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
Saturday 4th July
Soundpost Special at Wild Traditions, The Gathering Ground, Hillsborough Park
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. Doors 7.20PM. 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.
Sharrow Festival at Mount Pleasant Park
12-8PM 4 stages, a mixed line up of artists including some Folk/ Americana: Cobalt Blue, Robyn Gair, Cowgirl. Facebook
Ezio at The Greystones
Sheffield favourites for many years Ezio and Booga make a welcome return to Greystones. Formed in the early 1990’s they’ve built a fanatical, cult following through constant touring throughout the UK and Europe. Their dynamic, genre defying music is a mix of acoustic folk, rock, jazz and blues but it’s a sound that’s impossible to describe, it’s a sound that can range from highly rhythmical, intense, Latin feeling rock to delicate dreamy ballads that are deeply poetic and heartbreakingly honest. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Sunday 5th July
Add to Playlist recording at Montgomery Theatre
Not a gig! This is a free to attend recording of a Radio 4 programme where guests talk about music they have picked. Features Mr Jon Boden. Doors 11.30AM TICKETS
John McCusker Trio at St Andrew’s Psalter Lane
The John McCusker Trio is led by John McCusker, one of the most revered and decorated traditional musicians of his generation. A multi award-winning fiddle player, producer and composer, John has been at the heart of the UK folk scene for over three decades. His distinctive, emotionally charged playing and masterful compositions have made him a linchpin of
contemporary Celtic music. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Monday 6th 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
Tuesday 7th July
Rachel Davis and Darren McMullen at The White Horse Misson
Rachel a virtuoso on the fiddle and multi-instrumentalist Darren McMullen are well respected in the world of traditional music. They have collected a mantle of awards, including 2020 Canadian Folk Music Award for traditional singer of the year. They shift effortlessly from haunting ancient melodies to contemporary folk classics to songs written by some of the generations most notable song writers. TICKETS
Wednesday 8th July
Mathew Byrne and Sherman Downy at The Greystones
Singer/songwriter Sherman Downy and traditional singer Mathew Byrne, two of Canada’s most recognised voices, have combined their individual styles and repertoires to create an exciting fusion of traditional and modern sounds. Mathew Byrne’s rich and powerful vocals, refined guitar style and compelling interpretations of unique traditional songs, have made him a favourite of folk audiences at home in Newfoundland and abroad. He was recently named as Canada’s Traditional Singer Of the Year for the third time and is a multiple time ECMA winner.
Sherman Downey’s unique brand radio friendly folk and natural ability for storytelling, has solidified his reputation as one of Newfoundland and Labrador’s most treasured artists. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Vincent Cross + Emily Portman + Tom Portman at Cafe No9
Writers in the Round at Cafe No.9. 3 unique songwriters Vincent Cross (New York/IRL), Emily Portman (UK) and Tom Portman (IRL) team up for a night of songs and stories.
Vincent Cross is a singer-songwriter, essayist, and educator whose music bridges continents and generations. Born in Ireland and raised in Australia, he now calls New York City home—a melting pot that fuels his unique blend of traditional Irish folk, Americana, bluegrass, and contemporary songwriting. Over the past two decades, Cross has released five acclaimed full-length albums.
Emily Portman is an award-winning singer and songwriter with a passion for traditional songs, hailed as ‘one of the new British folk scene’s most beguiling presences’ (Uncut). She has toured widely for over 15 years as a band leader, with The Furrow Collec6ve and in a duo with Leveret’s Rob Harbron. Emily was awarded a BBC Folk award for ‘Best Original Song’ and has released three critically acclaimed albums of original songs that recast old ballads and fairytales into new shapes. Her new album ‘The Dominion of Spells’ puts Emily’s songwriting back into the spotlight in an album of midlife and magic that is sure to delight.
Tom Portman is a multi instrumentalist, songwriter, recording artist and composer based in the west of Ireland. He specializes in guitar, Dobro®, lap steel and other strings. With 6 solo albums to his name, Portman has been a consistent eclectic and prolific force in Irish music. His work focuses on our relationships to each other and the natural world; exploring themes of place, mythology, the cycles of life and death and the emotional landscape of life. There’s a wide range to his work – from the Blues, Irish melodies, swing, rag time, classical, Indian ragas to good old rock n roll. 7PM TICKETS (includes BYOA)
Thursday 9th July
Raintown Seers 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
Friday 10th July
The SLO County Stumblers at Cafe No9
The SLO County Stumblers are an energetic American string band based in California’s Central Coast. The band features fiddler Casy Meikle, guitarist David Baine, banjo player Daniel Bohlman, and Jerry James on bass. The Stumbers play hard-driving old time fiddle tunes and spirited songs, heavily influenced by the golden-era string bands of the 1920s and 30s. Their performances is filled with humorous stories and banter and is guaranteed to get feet moving across the dance floor.
Saturday 11th July
Moss Valley Barn Dance At Moss Valley Fine Meats
Moss Valley Fine Meats, S8 8BG, with band Rodger the Badger. Join us for a fantastic evening of music, dancing, great food, and family fun — all in support of the amazing work at Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charitable Trust starts 7PM, food included. TICKETS
Sunday 12th July
David Eagle Comedy Show at Shakespears
David Eagle’s Funny Flim Flam. Your favourite blind folk singing comedian returns with another evening of songs and stories. May include: pigeons, French lesbians, gospel music, Daleks, a song from me at seven about my mate who pissed himself in the street, a spot of meditation with a twist, and some Princess Margaret themed erotica. Tickets
The Mayukh Gangopadhyay Trio at Cafe No9
Join us for a captivating night of Indian classical music with Mayukh Gangopadhyay and Chiranjit Mukherjee, two artists whose performances blend depth, tradition and contemporary sensitivity. This special concert brings together the expressive voice of the sarod and the intricate rhythmic language of the tabla, creating a sound world that is both meditative and exhilarating.
Mayukh Gangopadhyay performs on the sarod, a fretless, metal‑fingerboard lute known for its rich, resonant tone and its ability to glide seamlessly between notes. With its sympathetic strings and singing sustain, the sarod evokes both introspection and intensity, making it one of the most emotionally charged instruments in Indian classical music.
Chiranjit Mukherjee accompanies on tabla, the iconic pair of tuned hand drums capable of astonishing nuance. From delicate, whisper‑soft textures to rapid, cascading rhythmic passages, the tabla provides both pulse and poetry — a rhythmic conversation that elevates the entire performance. 7PM TICKETS (includes BYOA)
Monday 13th July
The Hot Seats at Cafe No9
For 22 years, The Hot Seats, have gained and burnished the reputation as the carriers of an important and overlooked tradition of American and international folk music – social commentator, satirist, and entertainer. The Skillet Lickers, The Hoosier Hot Shots, Woodie Guthrie, Gus Cannon, Uncle Dave Macon, Frank Zappa – these are pools in which The Hot Seats swim.
Formed in 2002 by a group of like-minded friends for a weekly bar gig, the band’s live shows quickly became well known for on stage antics, one-act plays, and Dada-esque humor, underpinned by a foundation in hard-driving bluegrass, old time, ragtime, jug blues, and early country music. 7PM TICKETS (includes BYOA)
Wednesday 15th July
Bowers & Pluckers / Duckfoot Vic String Band + Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion Duo + Ms Amy Birks Trio at Crookes Social Club
These evenings are taking place on the third Wednesday of each month between March and July 2026, at Sheffield’s historic Crookes Social Club. Each evening will feature three primarily acoustic acts playing a 40/45 minute set each, all for £10 entry. An aim is to highlight local talent, but also welcome acts from further afield.
This evening will feature Bowers & Pluckers / Duckfoot Vic String Band – A collective of instrument makers playing exquisite traditional Irish music. Zoë Gilby & Andy Champion Duo – Bold, hypnotic and mesmerising jazz with just voice and stand-up bass. Ms Amy Birks Trio – Beatrix Players singer Amy is joined by John Hackett on flute and Matt Lumb on piano, bringing songs inspired by the Brontës and the first Elizabethan era Doors 7PM TICKETS
Thusday 16th July
KYTH + Ric Booth at The Samuel Worth Chapel
Sheffield General Cemetery Trust is delighted to welcome KYTH & Ric Booth to the atmospheric Samuel Worth Chapel for a spellbinding evening of contemporary folk. KYTH are Druid-drone wyrd folk exploring perspectives of the more-than-human-world. Ric Booth is a multi instrumentalist, composer, and producer whose work blends folk, electronic ambient, post pock, contemporary classical, and experimental music. Join us for an evening of innovative folk music that is as fresh as it is timeless, in one of Sheffield’s most beautiful heritage spaces. Doors 7.30PM TICKETS
Julian Jones 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 18th July
Ailsa Mair at Cafe No9
Classically trained and since rewilded, Wales-rooted singer-cellist Ailsa Mair creates elemental tapestries from her strings, voice and loop pedal – experimental folk offerings on the spectrum of grief and joy, woven with nature, magic and threads of Welsh language. Ailsa shares original songs and live improvisations from the heart, driven by a deep love of the land, sea and stars around her – and all their stories. She will play songs from her 2025 EP Mesolithic Mermaid, ongoing musical divination project Fool’s Journey as well as material old and new from 15 years of completely unique songwriting. Doors 7PM TICKETS (includes BYOA)
Sunday 19th July
Dylan Fowler at the Samuel Worth Chapel 2.30PM
A Welsh guitarist and composer with a career spanning more than four decades, Dylan Fowler is known for his distinctive solo performances and wide-ranging musical influences. His work draws on the Celtic traditions of Wales, while weaving in elements of European jazz and global styles, creating music that is both deeply rooted and richly exploratory. TICKETS
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 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 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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.
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