For a personal view and direct experiences of visiting specific West Country folk and country music sessions that provide a more detailed view than just a calendar of events, Rob’s site Folk Music Articles, Fiction and Opinion is ideal.
Folk Music Festivals and Sessions
- Reconciliation or divorce - my new life with bells on as a Morris Dancing band musician meets my old life of traditional music pub sessionsI've always known that combining my already busy old life of travelling around playing in traditional music pub sessions in the West Country of England with my new pastime of playing in the Exmoor Border Morris band (a life with bells on) would be challenging.Last weekend was the first big test of their mutual co-existence. Events proved, like in marria […]
- Live music entertainment at Ring o' Bells, Prixford, Barnstaple, Devon 1st Tuesday of the monthThe Ring o' Bells at Prixford, Barnstaple, North Devon rocked last night to a great evenings live music entertainment provided by local musicians playing traditional English, Irish and other popular tunes from around the world.Located in the sleepy Devon countryside village of Prixford (about three and a half miles from Barnstaple), Rob Jenkins does a g […]
- Bell Inn, Chittlehampton, South Molton, Devon mainly traditional English tunes session second Monday of month rocked!Rarely have I been to a traditional English tune session that had so many excellent traditional English musicians as when I visited the second Monday of the month traditional English session at the Bell Inn, Chittlehampton, Devon this week (14th December 2009).The great news is, with the kind support of Bell Inn publicans Mark and Lynne Jones, they are doing […]
- Opportunities in Morris dance sides for beginner pub session folk music musicians and traditional dancers in Devon, the West Country and EnglandWhen I suggest to beginner musicians that folk music sessions are a great way to start playing in public, inexperienced acoustic musicians often reply that they are afraid that the standard is too high for them and they would be too nervous to play before strangers in a pub folk music session, especially if they had to 'take a turn' in a sing-aroun […]
- Bampton Free Folk Festival 2009, North Devon sessions rock with an English, Irish, Breton traditional music flavourIt's Monday and the sun is shining through the window of my writing room as I reflect happily on one of the best weekends I have ever spent at the Bampton Free Folk Festival 2009 ("After the Fair") in North Devon.I arrived on Friday lunchtime just before twelve o'clock and there were already musicians waiting at the White Horse which is u […]
- Plymouth Inn good Saturday session at Baring Gould Festival 2009, Okehampton, DevonOn the spur of the moment, I decided to pop down to the Baring Gould Festival 2009 in Okehampton, Devon and join the other musicians at the lunchtime session in the Plymouth Inn hosted by Malcolm Woods and had a great time.I arrived early and the friendly pub lady pointed out the area where the session was to take place but added that there was a Morris dan […]
- Superb traditional English folk music session at Bell Inn, Ash, Martock, SomersetWith a strong desire to revisit old haunts, I spent yesterday evening at the folk music session in the Bell Inn at Ash near Martock, Somerset which replaced the Wheatsheaf in South Petherton and now hosts a fortnightly traditional English folk music session on Wednesday evenings starting around 8.30pm led by Martin Hughes. It was one of the most enjoyable ev […]
- Sun, sand, sea and sociability at Swanage Folk Festival 2009 in DorsetWhen I was invited by Exmoor Border Morris to join them at the Swanage Folk Festival 2009, I was flattered but not prepared for the fantastic Dorset weekend of sun, sand, sea and especially sociability that I found.Joining Exmoor Border Morris at the camp site on Friday evening felt like a warm blanket of friendship being placed around my shoulders and, as I […]
- Best ever folk music session at Hunters Inn, North Devon with Ian Hudson & Captain Banjo's Street Band membersWith juggled firesticks flaming in the night, many folkies at the 4th Sunday of the month folk music session at Dave Orton's friendly and welcoming Hunters Inn voted it the best session ever with Martin Hughes, Ian Hudson and members of Captain Banjo's Street Band playing through an epic evening of tunes and songs.Romance seemed in the air as Capta […]
- Pilton Green Man Festival 2009 rocking at the heart of a strong communityI just got back from playing my soprano sax with Captain Banjo's Street Band at the Pilton Green Man Festival 2009. It was a fantastic community experience and got me to thinking about what it takes to make a successful community and how some towns and villages achieve success whilst others always seem to miss the mark.Pilton, Barnstaple in North Devon […]
- Traditional English and Cornish folk music sessions at Priddy Folk Festival 2009The Mendip Hills of Somerset rocked and reeled to the sound of Priddy Folk Festival 2009 last weekend with its reassuringly English blend of village green, Somerset countryside and musical talent.Of particular note for me was the traditional English session run by Chris Timpson and Anne Gregson. I always enjoy this session. Chris keeps the tunes going nicely […]
- English Country Music Weekend 2009 (ECMW 2009) a great success at Ampthill, Beds organised by Taz Tarry and friends from Redborne MorrisLast weekend (19th - 21st June 2009) the Rugby Club and pubs at Ampthill, Bedfordshire rocked to the sounds of some of the best traditional English folk musicians who were gathered for the annual English Country Music Weekend 2009 (ECMW 2009) this year brilliantly organised by Taz Tarry and friends from Redborne Morris.I always enjoy the English Country Musi […]
- Captain Banjo's Streetband successfully rocks Barnstaple Town CentreYesterday, Captain Banjo's Street Band exceeded all expectations for a new and largely inexperienced band and rocked Barnstaple town centre to its core. Enthusiastic onlookers were seen dancing in the streets and collections for the North Devon children's hospice exceeded all expectations with the band returning to its base in Pilton with collectin […]
- Captain Banjo's Streetband entertainment to rock Barnstaple Town Centre 23rd May 2009Recently I have been spending less time in traditional folk music sessions and have instead been playing my saxophone with an exciting new community entertainment street band based in Pilton, Barnstaple who are playing their first gig on Saturday.Captain Banjo's Streetband leaps into dynamic (and very loud) action on Saturday 23rd May lunchtime in Barns […]
- Crediton Folk Festival 2009 at Cheriton FitzpaineJust got back from a great weekend playing in the sessions at Crediton Folk Festival at Cheriton Fitzpaine with lots of other great folk musicians including the renowned Bill McKinnon and John and Wendy from the Hips & Haws English Country Dance Band.Several interesting looking folk festivals came to my notice, particularly West Somerset Folk Festival, R […]
- Winter Sidmouth folk festival musician's reunion at Sea Angling and Sailing Club, SidmouthLast weekend I nipped down to Sidmouth to join in this Winter's Sidmouth folk festival reunion at the Sidmouth Sea Angling and Sailing Club and had a fantastic time.Hosted by those friendly and sociable musicians, the Loose Knit Band and the ever welcoming Sidmouth Sea Angling and Sailing Club, we played a wonderful variety of traditional English folk […]
- French traditional English and Irish folk music sessions at l'Homme Vert, St Pierre Sur Orthe, Mayenne, Pays De La Loire, FranceIf you like playing in traditional English and Irish folk music sessions and would like to do it in the traditional French countryside village setting of St Pierre Sur Orthe, Mayenne, Pays De La Loire, France, the French bar / English pub l'Homme Vert might just be the place for you to be Tuesday evenings.Like many, I have occasionally wondered whether […]
- Traditional English folk tunes rocked at Sidmouth Folk Festival February 2009 Radway Inn Reunion, Sidmouth, DorsetTraditional English folk tunes rocked at the Sidmouth Festival February 2009 Radway Inn Reunion, Dorset last weekend with the wide variety of instruments played proving traditional English folk music remains a truly vibrant musical art form.However, there were also moments of sadness as some beautiful tunes were played in memory of Rosie Turner-Bisset, a sta […]
- Butcher's Arms Carhampton Wassailing 2009 a success despite bad weatherThe Wassail celebrations in Carhampton were going with a swing at the The Butcher's Arms when I finally got to this popular West Somerset pub on 17th January 2009, after a desperate dash from a gig I was playing with some other folkies earlier in the evening.As a consequence of all this rushing about, I managed to forget my little digital camera to reco […]
- Transfer of Wheatsheaf, South Petherton English folk music pub session to The Bell Inn, Ash, Martock SomersetMartin Hughes has just emailed me to say that his excellent fortnightly English folk music pub sessions are no longer to be held at the Wheatsheaf in South Petherton, Somerset.The new venue is to be at The Bell Inn in Ash, Martock, Somerset. As Martin says:Hello Everyone,Just a quick email to let you know that, despite the closure of the Wheatsheaf, we now h […]
Rob
Festival stories and articles from Rob Hopcott
- Opportunities in Morris dance sides for beginner pub session folk music musicians and traditional dancers in Devon, the West Country and EnglandWhen I suggest to beginner musicians that folk music sessions are a great way to start playing in public, inexperienced acoustic musicians often reply that they are afraid that the standard is too high for them and they would be too nervous to play bef... […]
- Bampton Free Folk Festival 2009, North Devon sessions rock with an English, Irish, Breton traditional music flavourIt's Monday and the sun is shining through the window of my writing room as I reflect happily on one of the best weekends I have ever spent at the Bampton Free Folk Festival 2009 ("After the Fair") in North Devon.I arrived on Friday lunchtime just befo... […]
- 4th Sunday Folk music session Hunters Inn, Heddon Valley, DevonAnother great 4th Sunday traditional folk tune session at the Hunters Inn, Heddon valley, North Devon, hosted by Ian Hudson last night with lots of traditional folk instrumentalists […]
- Plymouth Inn good Saturday session at Baring Gould Festival 2009, Okehampton, DevonOn the spur of the moment, I decided to pop down to the Baring Gould Festival 2009 in Okehampton, Devon and join the other musicians at the lunchtime session in the Plymouth Inn hosted by Malcolm Woods and had a great time.I arrived early and the frie... […]
- Superb traditional English folk music session at Bell Inn, Ash, Martock, SomersetWith a strong desire to revisit old haunts, I spent yesterday evening at the folk music session in the Bell Inn at Ash near Martock, Somerset which replaced the Wheatsheaf in South Petherton and now hosts a fortnightly traditional English folk music se... […]
- WESSEX FOLK FESTIVAL 2010If you came this year you will know what we mean - if you didn't have a look at the photos and comments to get an idea of a fun filled weekend. After the success of 2009 the hardworking organisers have started again planning for 4-6th June 2010. The Or... […]
- Sun, sand, sea and sociability at Swanage Folk Festival 2009 in DorsetWhen I was invited by Exmoor Border Morris to join them at the Swanage Folk Festival 2009, I was flattered but not prepared for the fantastic Dorset weekend of sun, sand, sea and especially sociability that I found.Joining Exmoor Border Morris at the c... […]
- Barnstaple town centre rocks again to Captain Banjo’s Street Band August Bank Holiday WeekendBarnstaple town centre rocked again to the pulsating sounds of Captain Banjo's Street Band this August Bank Holiday Saturday lunchtime with Barnstaple onlookers giving generously in aid of fundraising for Children's Hospice North Devon.Although lead mu... […]
- Best ever folk music session at Hunters Inn, North Devon with Ian Hudson & Captain Banjo’s Street Band membersWith juggled firesticks flaming in the night, many folkies at the 4th Sunday of the month folk music session at Dave Orton's friendly and welcoming Hunters Inn voted it the best session ever with Martin Hughes, Ian Hudson and members of Captain Banjo's... […]
- North Devon Leisure Centre Beer Festival entertainment rocks with Captain Banjo’s Street BandThe North Devon Leisure Centre Beer Festival rocked to an evening of toe tapping drumming and traditional tunes played by Captain Banjo's Street Band with a floor show performed by resident fire stick juggler Tim, 22nd Aug. 2009 with fundraising collec... […]