Championing the folk arts
Photo by Craig Newman, courtesy of Folk Dance Remixed
Education
We increase access to the folk arts by encouraging participation, celebrating diversity and promoting equality
Library and Archive
We manage the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library – England’s national folk music library and archive
EFDSS is as indispensable as the music it champions
Peggy Seeger
This month's Members' newsletter is in in-boxes up and down the country. Not a Member? You're missing out on a monthly round up of news and opportunities from the folk scene. Join now for as little as £2 a month for Starter Membership. Become a Group Member for £92 a year and get public liability insurance to cover your whole club / side. Join now. https://bit.ly/4lk6Gqn
We're very proud that Tiffany Hore, our Library & Archives Director, is speaking at The International Association of Music Libraries, Archives and Documentation Centers in Salzburg next week. She is giving a paper with Professor Hazel Marsh from the University of East Anglia: ‘Decolonising the Collection: Romani and Traveller Singers in an Archive of English Folk Song’. This project which is funded by the AHRC's Impact Acceleration fund. @uniofeastanglia @thevwml
We’re seeking up to three Trustees/Directors to join our Board in November. This is a wonderful opportunity for the right people to work with our unique organisation and support the continued development of EFDSS as the national development organisation for the folk arts. We are open to receiving applications from candidates who will bring: - an enthusiasm and support for the aims and objectives of EFDSS; - a belief in the power of culture and education to transform and enrich people’s lives and a commitment to support the work of those involved in it; - a commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion and widening access; and - an understanding of the arts and cultural landscape in England/UK. Find out more and apply. Link in bio - Vacancies
Our Cecil Sharp House Choir will be performing at The Sidmouth Folk Festival next month. You can also join the EFDSS Ceilidh Workshop Band, made up of participants from our Sunday Music Folk Workshop, for a ceilidh during the Festival too. Here is a glimpse of the Choir in action a few years ago at Battersea Power Station.
We're Hiring! We're seeking a Box Office & Events Assistant to support the smooth running of all our sales activities using Spektrix ticketing software. Assisting the Duty Managers with the smooth running of all events at Cecil Sharp House, including weddings, birthday parties, concerts and family events. We'll be looking at applications on a rolling basis, so get yours in as soon as possible, so we can interview you and start working with you asap! Full details and Apply via Link in Bio - Vacancies
Call for papers: Traditional Tunes and Popular Airs Deadline for submission: 30 June 2025 Proposals are invited for presentations (20 minutes + 10 minutes for discussion) on any aspect of the topic. The conference aims to bring together researchers working on ‘traditional’ and ‘popular’ tunes as transmitted and transformed in all manner of musical styles and genres, performance contexts, levels of society, historical periods, and geographical locations. We welcome a broad range of approaches, including historical research and ethnographic studies to illuminate melodic interrelationships. Relevant areas include music for performative dance (such as morris, sword, clog and other forms of step and percussive dance, Scottish, Irish and Welsh dance) and participatory dance (social, country, ceilidh/ceili), instrumental music, ballad operas and theatrical works, religious music, broadside balladry, minstrelsy, music hall, the pleasure gardens, domestic music-making, national and folk music, and children’s songs. Find out more. Link in bio 'Latest News'
Calling all Callers! Online Folk Education Development evening - Focus on Calling, with Lisa Heywood’s @lisah.dance Callers’ Chat project. This event is aimed at dance callers, from any genre and of any level of experience, and working in any context, from weddings to schools to community events and festivals. Wednesday 25 June, 7:30pm. Online. Free, but book your place. Link in bio - click 'Folk Education Network' Image: Lisa Heywood calling with Hardeep Sahota at last year's Bhangra Ceilidh. Photography, Brian Slater
We've just sent out the June Members' newsletter. Not a Member? You're missing out on a monthly round up of news and opportunities from the folk scene. Join now for as little as £2 a month for Starter Membership. Become a Group Member for £92 and get public liability insurance to cover your whole club / side. Join now: https://bit.ly/4lxpN0o
It's #MakeMusicDay next week, Saturday 21 June. The Cecil Sharp House Choir invite you to join them at @cecilsharphouse, along with @bellowfellows, to listen to some gorgeous harmony singing and get involved singing some songs! This event is Free as part of Make Music Day's aim to remove barriers to people playing and enjoying live performance. Book your free place now. Link in bio - Cecil Sharp House Spring Summer Gigs 2025
Resource of the Month: Beginners’ Guide to English Instrumental Folk Music Written by Hazel Askew. A guide to the rich array of instrumental music that is currently understood as English folk music. It is part of a global family of musics that are shared from person to person over generations, often referred to using terms such as ‘folk’, ‘traditional’, ‘roots’, ‘heritage’ and ‘old music’. Read more via the link in bio - click on 'Resource Bank'
Where to catch our latest folk projects, musical groups and youth ensembles this season. We hope you can join us out and about this season at some of the performances by our National Youth Folk Ensemble @nationalyouthfolk, London Youth Folk Ensemble, Bhangra Ceilidh, Cecil Sharp House Choir and EFDSS Ceilidh Workshop Band who are appearing up and down the country. Catch us at King’s Cross Summer Sounds, @shrewsburyfolkfestival, Greenwich Park Family Folk Day, @folkbytheoak , @walthamstow_folk_club or @sidmouthfolkfestival For the current list of dates, check the Latest News section in the link in bio. @royal_greenwich @kingscrossn1c
Audition for the National Youth Folk Ensemble @nationalyouthfolk by video by midnight on Sunday 15 June To apply for a place in the Ensemble you will need to: • be aged 14–18 on 1 September of the year you apply • live in England • be able to play confidently on your chosen instrument • be available to attend a final audition in London Submit a film of you playing your main instrument. Your film should include the following: • Introduce yourself – say your name and what you plan to play. • Play one set of tunes, or two separate pieces, adding up to 6 minutes in total. Find out more and apply. Link in bio - click 'Audition for the National Youth Folk Ensemble'
On Saturday 28 June, London Youth Folk Ensemble will take over @cecilsharphouse at our annual showcase for young musicians. This year we are delighted to welcome two guest bands. The @folkactivecic Youth Ensemble from Southampton, with their leader Chris Nichols, educator and founder of folk band Threepenny Bit. Edit: Bridging Sounds Orchestra Newham Music’s flagship ensemble which brings together the vibrant and diverse communities of Newham and celebrates their musical traditions in a brilliant fusion of sounds. @newhammusic Not E20 Groove as pictured Book your ticket. Link in bio - What's on at the House
The deadline for applications for the £2,000 Alan James Creative Bursaries is approaching fast! The bursary and residency Programme supports artists exploring new creative ideas inspired by and sourced from traditional folk music relating to England. The award offers ● a bursary of up to £2,000 ● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library ● up to five days of rehearsal space at @cecilsharphouse, London or the @theglasshouseicm, Gateshead. ● additional funding for Access needs. If you are a professional creative artist or group taking inspiration from folk music, apply before 15 June. Link in bio - Latest News Image shows previous awardees Lucy and Hazel
Would you like to join London Youth Folk Ensemble? Come to our free Sampler Session at Cecil Sharp House. All instruments welcome! you will need to: be aged 11 to 19 years old (up to 24 years old for D/deaf and disabled young people) be able to play confidently on your own chosen instrument bring your own instrument Book your free place now. Link in bio - Latest News
We're marking the start of Pride Month with a look back at Sophie Crawford and George Sansome of Queer Folk singing folk songs from our Vaughan Williams Memorial Library to explore the queer experience throughout history. The words of Banks of the Nile come from Harriet Verrall of Sussex, collected by Vaughan Williams. The tune comes, via Dolores Keane, from Tom Pháidín Tom of Spiddal. Listen to more of Queer Folk's music www.queerfolk.co.uk Come to our first Queer Folk Festival on Saturday 7 June. @queerfolkuk @sophie.u.crawford @georgesansomefolk
Call for papers: Traditional Tunes and Popular Airs A two-day conference to be held on Saturday 8 – Sunday 9 November 2025 At @cecilsharphouse, London NW1 Proposals are invited for presentations (20 minutes + 10 minutes for discussion) on any aspect of the topic. The conference aims to bring together researchers working on ‘traditional’ and ‘popular’ tunes as transmitted and transformed in all manner of musical styles and genres, performance contexts, levels of society, historical periods, and geographical locations. We welcome a broad range of approaches, including historical research and ethnographic studies to illuminate melodic interrelationships. Relevant areas include music for performative dance (such as morris, sword, clog and other forms of step and percussive dance, Scottish, Irish and Welsh dance) and participatory dance (social, country, ceilidh/ceili), instrumental music, ballad operas and theatrical works, religious music, broadside balladry, minstrelsy, music hall, the pleasure gardens, domestic music-making, national and folk music, and children’s songs. Deadline for submission: 30 June 2025. Find out more. Link in bio - Latest News
Calling all Callers! Online Folk Education Development evening - Focus on Calling, with @lisah.dance Lisa Heywood’s Callers’ Chat project. This event is aimed at dance callers, from any genre and of any level of experience, and working in any context, from weddings to schools to community events and festivals. Wednesday 25 June, 7:30pm. Online. Free, but book your place. Link in bio - Latest News
continues to be custodian of the people’s shared cultural history
Eliza Carthy
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