Festivals with singarounds/clubs

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,Fylde player
Date: 03 Jun 17 - 02:13 PM

Thanks all, plenty to consider there. Hi Kitty - hope to make Sidmouth as Simon Deigan our 3rd bit of Reunion Lane is working as MC during the week. White Horse on the list as may be last time. we are booked to play Boars Bridge 1st time and would hope to do sing sessions too. I really enjoyed the 'folk club' sessions run at Sidmouth and Broadstairs if similar elsewhere?

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Mr Red
Date: 03 Jun 17 - 04:33 AM

The barn at Towersey (Three Horseshoes) is essentially a fringe event. The pub can accommodate camping and maybe some motorcaravans. See their Farcebook page.
The main festival has wall to wall dancing, but concertwise I can't recommend the neo-Folk "acts", they may hector you politically!
They do have folk clubs with the usual spots.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 10:36 AM

It would probably be easier to list here those bandwagon festivals that call themselves 'Folk Festivals' and are anything but, just using the name to put bums on seats or just for a tag. They invariably just run a few concerts and are moneymaking ventures. Most proper folk festivals have at least a few singarounds/sessions even if these are on the fringe.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 07:05 AM

[Falkland]

Don't know where Jack got the idea that there is no accommodation

By not finding any.

Where do anonymous posters go?

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/SmartDeals-g551747-Falkland_Fife_Scotland-Hotel-Deals.html

Nearest they list is 1.9 miles away. Google finds two B&Bs in the town. Assuming festival guests get first pick, that will leave nothing for ordinary participants.

It was a godawful choice for a place to move the Muchty festival to. Just about every other town in Fife has better transport links and more options for accommodation.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,Desi C
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 06:49 AM

If you ever get to Southern Ireland and visit Kilkenny, there's a Monday night session open to reasonably good amateurs at Cleere's Bar near the centre, been running for over 30 years now. It's had various members of The Dubliners pop in, Christy Moore, individual Clancy Bros and others just drop in, but it's 90% pure ameteurs, one of the great open mic sessions, oh and I'm there on June 12th ;)

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 06:15 AM

Plenty of singing opportunities at Sidmouth, including Kitty's as above.
Also twice daily -all unaccompanied in the "Middle Bar" at The Anchor, lunchtime and evening. Your turn when the "twig" is offered to you!
Daily themed sessions at The Woodlands Hotel.
Some doubt about the Volunteer this year, where the very trad singing sessions happen: the pub is currently closed while the late landlord's estate is being sorted out: not clear yet if it will re-open in time for the festival.
Evening sessions in the Faulkner also from 8pm: just give your name to the MC on arrival, and you will later be called upon.
Or you can take pot luck in the mixed sessions in The Bedford and The Swan, but it's just just "jump in" there.
And most of these are now listed in the "working programme" - worth buying a copy. Apart from the official listings, they do now include most of the "fringe events" on a separate page or 2.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,Fastnet Maritime and Folk Festival, Ballydeh
Date: 02 Jun 17 - 05:38 AM

https://fastnetmaritime.com/

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 01 Jun 17 - 12:46 PM

Beverley (June), Sheffield Sessions (Easter), Hull Folk and Maritime
(July 21st-23rd.)

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Mr Red
Date: 01 Jun 17 - 03:29 AM

If you want clubs and singarounds/come-all-ye between festivals my map page may help (opens in new tab) - click on a purple dot and see what is within 20 Km (changeable)
The datestamp is your guide to reliability, but there is always some contact number to check.
Desigend for PC, so not brilliant for phones (ie not responsive) but should be OK on a tablet.

It understands Severn Estuary & River.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 31 May 17 - 04:45 PM

Hi Dave - you're welcome at the Sidmouth Faulkner singarounds as you know.... and Derek and I will be running song sessions at Wimborne festival the weekend after next, and of course the White Horse festival in August if you're not otherwise occupied!

Kitty
PS Mr Red - the Wail is now located in Verwood, in a farmer's field rather than a town, and is mainly for unaccompanied singers...

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 31 May 17 - 10:34 AM

Recently back from the Fife sing which was excellent. It does not include singarounds as such but there is after event singing in the Bruce (Pub).

Don't know where Jack got the idea that there is no accommodation - we already have ours booked for next year. Mainly because we particularly like the people who run it.

That said we had no real problem finding accommodation on our first visit even though we did not start looking until about six weeks before the event.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Mr Red
Date: 31 May 17 - 09:56 AM

facebook.com/Towersey-Barn-singaround - mind you the barn is a a car ride from Towersey (Festival & SAR monthly) site now.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Johnny J
Date: 31 May 17 - 06:08 AM

Singarounds are very popular at Scottish festivals even at those where tunes are also prevalent.

Falkland also features The Fife traditional Singing Festival which is a separate event from the actual traditional music festival. However, that is just past.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 31 May 17 - 05:59 AM

I think they're the main content at Falkland (successor to Auchtermuchty). But it's mainly Scottish trad (which probably never features at Broadstairs, which you say is one you like), it's a very long way from where you are, and there's no accommodation.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,Gazz2
Date: 31 May 17 - 04:55 AM

West Somerset Festival has singarounds. Coming up at end of June.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Mr Red
Date: 31 May 17 - 03:22 AM

Mr Happy runs a free festival in Wales, usually Anglesea. This year it was on the mainland.
I think the Wareham Wail 1st Sept is - er um there is a clue in the title. I don't know the best way to Wareham!

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: WindhoverWeaver
Date: 31 May 17 - 03:10 AM

I'll second Moira Furnace, a great festival all round and some lovely singarounds as Acorn4 says.

Also, Boar's Bridge (a very small festival for charity) has a space for informal singing and playing that is in use most of the weekend, sometimes only a few, other times a lot of people.

And, for a late one, Bedworth in November, has several.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 30 May 17 - 09:08 PM

Pig's Ear (or the Kentish Horse Folk Ale) at Markbeech, near Edenbridge, Kent, England is 1 to 4 June 2017. Camping in the field behind the pub. Strongly recommended.

Tenterden is indeed good, but alas I would recommend avoiding the Caxton. It is often possible to have a pop-up sing on the campsite or in the barn behind the Woolpack outside the official sing times - or indeed in the rear grounds of the Woolpack.

Sweeps is now past but the sings in the Good Intent are magnificent.

Sidmouth has in the past been excellent for sings - not always programmed, just wander about and stick your nose into every pub.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,Pete from seven stars link
Date: 30 May 17 - 11:05 AM

Seems tenterden singarounds get very busy and you need to be seated early . There us pigs ale festival which is small , but plenty of opportunity to participate , but I think it's just gone

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Mo the caller
Date: 30 May 17 - 09:00 AM

Just missed Chester too. That had a singaround everyday about 12 -2, then (often at the other end of the village) a 'tunes & songs session' for a couple of hours. And space for informal singing/playing to carry on in the evening. The Fri evening session was ticket only this year (the nearest pub was shut so space in the club tent was limited. Other sessions in pub or beer tent so open to all, not sure about singaround.

Hope the pub is open again for next year as there are usually groups of musicians in each bar.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Acorn4
Date: 30 May 17 - 03:53 AM

Moira Furnace in August has singarounds on the site itself and in the Railway Inn and Rawdon Arms.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,AlbertsLion
Date: 29 May 17 - 03:49 PM

Fishguard - but you just missed it! Next year then - late May Bank Hol.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: MoorleyMan
Date: 29 May 17 - 03:48 PM

Cleckheaton Festival this year will host a special Just Voices session on the Friday evening (30th June).

In general though, I find increasingly that singarounds are regarded as a poor relation at many festivals nowadays, whereas they used to be both dependable and safeguarded. Singing is getting to be something of a dying art...

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Joe Nicholson
Date: 29 May 17 - 02:18 PM

Whitby has quite a few and they differ in many ways with emphasis in some on song others on tunes and otherd a fair mix of both.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST
Date: 29 May 17 - 10:40 AM

Whitby folk festival

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST, guest so so
Date: 29 May 17 - 07:45 AM

Tenterden is strong on singarounds,in my experience it is also inclusive.

Subject: RE: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: Jack Campin
Date: 29 May 17 - 06:57 AM

Lewis? Do you mean Lewes? I didn't know they had a festival.

Subject: Festivals with singarounds/clubs
From: GUEST,Fyldeplayer
Date: 29 May 17 - 06:38 AM

Advice please regarding festivals that would have chances to perform in singaround/club situations. We like town festivals like Broadstairs. We are looking at Tenterden, Lymne Regis, Sidmouth, Lewis for starters - mostly southern festivals. We are not tune session players. Thanks all.