TSF Autumn Conference – Gloucester, 18th October 2025 - CALL FOR PAPERS
Folk Songs in the archive – Where can we find them, and are they safe?
       When the Traditional Song Forum was formed in January 1998 the key topic of discussion was how we could make the many different archives of traditional song more available to researchers. In the years since, much has happened to achieve that goal, a lot of it down to work that TSF members have played a key role in. We now have some wonderful archives created by organisations, particularly the wonderful archive of the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, but a lot of other archives are not as easily available and there are several archives owned by individuals which have an uncertain future. There have also been technical issues, such as those affecting the British Library and the Bodleian Broadside Archive, that have, unexpectedly, made material unavailable.
     It has become clear that the three fundamental elements in archiving - Make it safe, Make it useable, Make it accessible – can never be taken for granted, and need continuous revision and monitoring. Institutional priorities and resources change, technology goes out of date, websites appear and disappear, search engines are re-designed. Many existing collections need to be processed, and personal collections need to be identified, and their survival ensured. it is up to us, as creators and primary users, to use our expert knowledge and whatever power we can muster, to maintain, support and monitor our essential materials.
      We are planning to examine these issues at a full day in-person conference in Gloucester on 18 October 2025. The venue will be the Dunrossil Centre at the Gloucestershire Heritage Hub, Clarence Row, Alvin Street, Gloucester, GL1 3DW. The Heritage Hub is conveniently located for public transport and has ample free car parking for attendees. We are now seeking offers of papers on topics relevant to the issues associated with safeguarding our archives for the future. This will be an in-person meeting but we will be accepting pre-recorded papers from those unable to attend. The timing for the papers will be 20 minutes plus time for questions. The closing date for submissions will be Monday 4 August 2025.
If you would like to submit a paper or short report, please contact Steve Roud steveroud<at>gmail.com

Spring Conference 2026
Planning is underway for an in-person conference in the Spring next year, probably in Northern England, with the topic of “Women in Folk Song”. More details to be announced shortly. 

Latest volume from The Ballad Partners
      Ballad Partners are delighted to announce our newest book, Collectomania! Revisiting the Folk Song Collectors. This collection includes ten papers from the major Collectomania conference organised by the Traditional Song Forum and the English Folk Dance and Song Society, held in London in 2024. It includes the keynote papers from Brian Peters on Cecil Sharp and Martin Graebe on Baring-Gould. Visit our store to get your copy today: www.TheBalladPartners.co.uk

Worcestershire-based
🄵 Worcs The ORCHARD BAND www.orchardband.net
⇒ Ian Craigan, 07879 033823,  ian<at>iancraigan.plus.com

⊕ A high octane mix of tuneful, soulful and sing-along-ful material, ideal for outdoors entertaining, indoors listening or energetic dancing. Good music for good times – bringing you the pick of the crop with a heady mix of folk, jazz & roots!   [May 2025, new listing]

⇒ Contact details: Jan Vaisey, 07979 424897,   jan.vaisey<at>btinternet.com

⇒ Email: rodpenlington<at>aol.com, gillbowmer<at>aol.com

⊕ With founder Rod Penlington, on guitar, and Flash (AKA Les Griffiths) more vocals. Rod is very well known for powerful sea shanties, traditional and contemporary ballads and humorous songs, and Flash is a well known character on the folk scene.   [May 2025, new members]

🄵 Worcs The ORCHARD BAND www.orchardband.net
⇒ Ian Craigan, 07879 033823, ian<at>iancraigan.plus.com
⊕ A high octane mix of tuneful, soulful and sing-along-ful material, ideal for outdoors entertaining, indoors listening or energetic dancing. Good music for good times – bringing you the pick of the crop with a heady mix of folk, jazz & roots!   [May 2025, new listing]

⇒ Contact Danny Sullivan, dannysullivan4<at>yahoo.com

⊕ Irish & Celtic Music in the Grand Strand.  Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.    (2025 May, new listing)

From: Maggi Huyton, 30 May 2025
Dear All
Sadly, John Bartley (Monologue John), a regular at our Zoom sessions, was found dead at home by his carer on Tuesday morning.
John will be much missed by us all and the folk world will be the poorer without his extensive knowledge and recitations.
Rest in peace John - Zoom won’t be the same without you.
Maggi and Mark  (Room at the Top Folk Club / Zoom at the Top)

       John was a well-known and entertaining figure seen on many UK Zooms.

       The “Grand Strand” of South Carolina (the coast from historic Georgetown to the North Carolina border) is somewhat lacking in a traditional music scene. Charleston has more musical variety; the barn jams at Awendaw Green (www.awendawgreen.com/barn-jams.html) have some local and touring folk acts. The further towards the mountains you go, the more traditional music you can hear. Places like Hagood Mill (https://visithagoodmill.com/third-saturday-events/) offer folk and bluegrass jams and performances. 

1st Tuesday The Union Inn - Tremadog 8.00pm ~ Mar,Apr,May,Jun,Jul,Aug,Sep,Oct,Nov,Dec
2nd Tuesday The Ship Aground - Talsarnau 8.30pm ~ Mar,Apr,May,Jun,Jul,Aug,Sep,Oct,Nov,Dec
2nd Sunday The Union Inn - Tremadog 3pm ~ All year round
3rd Tuesday The Prince of Wales - Criccieth 8.30pm ~ Mar,Apr,May,Jun,Jul,Aug,Sep,Oct,Nov,Dec
4th Tuesday Spooners - Porthmadog 5pm ~ Mar,Apr,May,Jun,Jul,Aug,Sep,Oct,Nov,Dec
4th Friday Tyddn Llwyn - Porthmadog 5pm ~ Apr,May,Jun,Jul,Aug,Sep
5th Tuesday Black Rock Beach Club - Morfa Bychan 8.30pm ~ Apr,Jul,Sep

The Travelling Session.   Contact 01766 514 811  email: via website, https://musicbars.co.uk ;     www.facebook.com/groups/tremadogmusic

As always on the first Saturday in July, Shrewsbury Morris host a day of dance, music, song, colour and movement in the wonderful setting of The Square in Shrewsbury town centre. Joining Shrewsbury Morris will be scintillating toe tapping routines from Raise the Dust Appalachian Dancers plus a stunning performance from the very talented young students from Identity School of Dance. Keeping a watchful eye will be the unmissable figure of Septimus the Giant Shrewsbury Cobbler. The merriment will begin at 10.00am and continue throughout the day as performances rotate between the various acts. As always, a free event delighting families, local residents and visitors to Shrewsbury. Shrewsbury Morris dance a mix of stick clashing, garland, clogging and morris dancing. Listen to the bells and watch out for their colourful moves. Who knows you might even be tempted to join them! 

     More information about the day can be obtained from our website www.shrewsburymorris.co.uk via X @shrewsmorris or from us using bev.langton<at>talk21.com

Friday 11th April.  Bob and Gill Berry . Another well attended guest night at the Black Diamond, We welcomed back Bob and Gilll Berry , who were the main organisers of Chippenham Folk festival for a number of years. They performed a variety of songs mainly from the Wiltshire area. Quite a few of the songs were from The Alfred William collection. Bob mentioned that many of the songs he sings were influenced by his parents, Len and Barbara Berry. A lively night, with plenty of opportunities to join in the choruses. 

Friday May 9th. Saw a full house as the Black Diamond welcomed Bob Fox as our guest for the evening, and it lived up to be a fantastic night of music and song. He sang a variety of songs from various projects in which he has been involved including Radio ballads, Pitmen Poets and Warhorse the Musical. Quite a few of his songs originated from the north eastern area of U K from where he was born.     Alan Franklin

Tuesday 1st July:  free, poetry evening, for the Ledbury Poetry Festival, as every year on the Tuesday.  Stimulating poetry and song!  Cafe food & drink is available.  

⇒ Message 07436 588982, Email: penlington.sian55<at>gmail.com,  Instagram/Facebook @sianrobbluegrass

⊕ Lively Old-Time country and early Bluegrass, gorgeous harmonies and skilled interpretations of songs and tunes calling on their own Scots-Irish roots.
These Purbeck Rising 2025 finalists deliver an authentic sound driven by guitars, mandolin, clawhammer banjo and percussive step dancing.  [May 2025, new members]

The following will appear in Folklife West May:
'Cecil Sharp and the soundscape of Somerset: a talk by David Sutcliffe with live music from Sirinu'
Ilminster Arts Centre, East Street, Ilminster, TA19 0AN. 30 May 2025, 7.30pm.  Details see above.

🅄 Monday, weekly Glos STROUD FROM FOLK TO BEYOND  www.facebook.com/groups/333056720524290
→ The Old Crown, Park End, Paganhill, Stroud GL5 4AZ, 7pm for a 7.30 start, to 10pm.
⇒ Contact ​David & Sandra Ireland, hello<at>singaround.org  
⊕ All welcome! - Singers, Players, Poets, Jugglers, Magicians and anyone with something to bring. Good music, good company, good times.  

Ground floor, wheelchair friendly, ample parking - an easily accessible place.

North Yorkshire
🅄 Friday, 2nd & last North Yorkshire RIPON   WILFRID’S FOLK CLUB  www.facebook.com/riponfolkclub

→ St Wilfrid’s Community Centre, Trinity Lane, Ripon, HG4 2AL, North Yorkshire. 7.30pm.
⇒ Contact: Laetitia, sailortish<at>hotmail.com

⊕ Come along to perform or listen. BYOB. Off-road parking available.

→ The Lab416, 298 Brunswick Ave. Doors open at 6:00pm for a 7:00pm start and we aim to finish by 10:00pm
⇒ Contact Sweet Felons All (organisers & house band), sweetfelonsall<at>gmail.com   Any other sites/media?

ØØ Saturday; monthly  ~ Ontario. TORONTO.  ACOUSTIC HARVEST  https://acousticharvest.ca
→ St. Paul's United Church (416.729.7564), 200 McIntosh Street  (1 block north of Kingston Road and Sandown Avenue), Toronto, ON.  20:00 - 23:00
⇒  lillian.wauthier<at>gmail.com .    Contact / join email list: see website Contact form.    www.facebook.com/acousticharvest/,  

Canada Ontario ØØ SWEET FELONS ALL www.facebook.com/SweetFelonsAll/
⇒sweetfelonsall<at>gmail.com , https://sweetfelonsall.bandcamp.com
⊕ A Toronto-based band that specializes in English Traditional music and modern songs that fit the tradition: Paul Read, Kevin Watson, Mary Read, Rob Rohr. Organisers & house band of Toronto's Another Bloody Folk Club (see VENUES).  (2025 April, new listing)

Canada Ontario ØØ PRESSGANG MUTINY www.pressgangmutiny.com/
⇒ pressgangmutiny<at>gmail.com , www.facebook.com/pressgangmutiny , www.youtube.com/@pressgangmutiny9639,

https://pressgangmutiny.bandcamp.com/, pageopen.spotify.com/artist/7Hqytp4VVYmsYGJ9OGaVm8
⊕ Toronto's Shantymen. Dedicated to traveling the globe to discover shanties, works songs, and the people singing them. A quartet of dynamic musicians and tall ship sailors, touring the Canadian and US East Coasts and performing at UK and European festivals.  (2025 April, new listing)

Bob Arnold lived in Burford, Oxfordshire.

Blockley is in Gloucestershire, though at one time, before about 1930, it was a detached parish of Worcestershire. 

Arnold mentions 'Blockley Hill' in verse 3. His version is very similar to the one in "English County Songs", arranged by Lucy Broadwood (p 82) (1), which also has Blockley Hill.  Might this have been Bob Arnold's source, and maybe that of others as well?  I learnt, from revivalist singers, a similar version at the Baker's Arms, Broad Camden, at the foot of Blockley Hill, on the other side from Blockley.
      (1) English County Songs, Words and Music,Collected and edited by Lucy E. Broadwood and J.A.Fuller Maitland, London, J B Cramer

The Traditional Song Forum Spring Conference, in association with the Contemporary Folklore Research Centre, will take place on Saturday 26th April  (9.30 am – 5.00 pm) in the Council Room, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN. We have ten speakers, presenting papers on Song and a Sense of Place, and it should be a very interesting day. We are hoping to organise a singing session locally in the evening.
Steve Gardham : Local Songs in East and North Yorkshire
Sue Allan : D’Ye Ken John Peel? The man, the song and Cumbrian Identity
John Baxter : A sense of place in songs from the British Music Hall 1850-1914
Elizabeth Bennett : Women in the Margins: A Place-Based Study
Abbi Flint : Songs for Ramblers: open-air singing, place, and citizenship in the early twentieth century.
Stephe Harrop : Northering: Song and Place in Storytelling Performance
Fionnuala Maxwell : The Shores of Lough Bran and Traditional Songs from County Leitrim
Kara O’Brien : Songs of Home: Place and Women in Irish song
Colleen Savage : In search of ‘The Boys of Mullaghbawn’
Hilary Warner-Evans : “Phippsburg Town’s in Sagadahoc”: Local Song and Levels of Place Attachment
          Further details are available on our website https://tradsong.org/tsf-spring-conference. It would be great to see some of you there; please feel free to share with other people who may be interested. Admission is free, but prior booking is essential. To book your place(s) please follow link on that webpage.    Richard Spencer

→ Various venues and times.
⇒ All our activities are posted on The Grand River Folk Community website, above.

🄵 Shropshire CUCKCURIOSITY Ceilidh Band www.raybevlangton.co.uk 

→ Shropshire & surrounding area

⇒ Contact: bev.langton<at>talk21.com
⊕ Cuckcuriosity are a dynamic ceilidh band duo featuring Ray Langton on his digital melodeon and Bev Langton calling. A full band in a box. Extremely versatile and ideal for weddings, corporate events and venues without a stage.
Cuckcuriosity is a classy act which can work flexibly and sets up in double quick time.  (2025 April, new listing)

Shropshire-based

🄵 Shropshire KETTLEHAWK www.kettlehawk.co.uk
→ Midlands

⇒ Contact: bev.langton<at>talk21.com
⊕ Kettlehawk are a 4 piece band whose members have a wealth experience of playing with well known bands across the country. They provide ceilidh dance music that lifts the spirits and energises tired dancing feet. Ideal for festivals and larger venues and events. (2025 April, new listing)

🄵 Shropshire: SHREWSBURY MORRIS  www.shrewsburymorris.co.uk
→ Practice: Thursday evenings at Prestfelde School, London Road, Shrewsbury SY2 6NZ 7.30-10.00pm
⇒ Contact: bev.langton<at>talk21.com
⊕ Shrewsbury Morris are The Shrewsbury Bull & Pump Morris Men, The Shrewsbury Lasses, Shrewsbury Clog and the mixed team of Shrewsbury Morris! Some traditional dances and many self penned. A lively team who enjoy dancing, performing and good friendship. 2026 sees them celebrating 50 years of dancing. New members always welcome. (2025 April, new listing)

→ ​ The Old King's Head, Days Lane, Belper DE56 1NP, 8pm.  Venue parking limited but large free car park nearby, details see website.

⇒  Contact phone: 01246 865170, email: geoff.deighton<at>btinternet.com , or contact via Belper Folk Club Facebook

Leicestershire
🅄 Tuesday, 2nd Leicestershire LONG WHATTON TIGERFOLK TRADITIONAL FOLK CLUB
www.facebook.com/people/Tigerfolk-Formerly-Traditions-at-the-Tiger/100057181640833/
→ ​ The Falcon Inn, Main Street, Long Whatton LE12 5DG (near East Midlands Airport), 7.30 pm start.
⇒ John & Sheila Bentham, phone 07982 254298, email: johnandsheilabentham<at>virginmedia.com
⊕ Tigerfolk, formerly Traditions at the Tiger, was founded in 1991 by Roy Harris as a venue to present and promote traditional folk song, music, storytelling. Mostly guest nights but floor singers welcome.    (2025 March, new listing)

Local Media (at foot of web page)
Online 🅄 NORTHUMBRIA FOLK MUSIC DIARY  http://northumbriafolk.org.uk
⇒ For submissions, corrections or comments, contact Peter Burnham, peter.burnham<at>gmail.com
⊕ Diary of folk song and music events for Northumberland, North East England. (2025 March, new listing)

ØØ Mon, usually 1st,  Ontario. BRAMPTON FOLK CLUB  www.bramptonfolk.ca
→ Snelgrove Community Centre, 11692 Hurontario St, Brampton, just S. of Mayfield Road on the west side.  7:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m
⇒  647-BFF-FOLK (647-233-3655), info<at>bramptonfolk.ca, find us on Facebook
⊕ The atmosphere is informal and relaxed. We promote and encourage folk music, provide a forum for musicians to develop their skills in performing folk music, and provide as a resource a talent pool for entertaining at community and charitable functions.  (2025 March, new listing)

ØØ Fri, monthly Ontario. BRAMPTON FOLK CLUB FRIDAY FOLK NIGHT CONCERTS www.bramptonfolk.ca
→ Sanderson Hall at St. Paul's United Church, 30 Main St. South, Brampton (across from City Hall). Sept-May, 7:30 p.m
⇒ 647-BFF-FOLK (647-233-3655), info<at>bramptonfolk.ca, find us on Facebook
⊕ Ticketed coffee-house style events, featuring high profile folk artists with BFC artists as the opening act. The Club meets monthly on a Monday (entry above), and organises other concerts and other activities, see website.  (2025 March, new listing)

16 A4 print pages, all mono. Print cover (pp1,2,15,16) cream paper; rest white paper.
6 Researched Articles

• ​​The Tradition of Cornish Hurling, by Lamorna Spry, including Silver Ball song & tune, pp2-4
• Hymey Hancock - anatomy of a song, by Keith Gregson, p5
• Hussars, by Charles Menteith, pp6-7
• We Shepherds are the Best of Men, sung by Richard Chidlaw; by Veronica Lowe, pp7-8
• New songs for old, or how the tradition informs songs today, by Rosie Upton, including song The Desert Rat, by Pete MacGregor and Traditional, p9
• Baring-Gould’s People. 1 – James Parsons, by Martin Graebe including song & music The Forsaken Maiden, p10-11

Folklife news: societies & organisations, researchers, publications

• The Cornish National Music Archive; Saydisc; p4.
• The City of Sunderland awarded Music City Status - Folk Music involvement, p5.
• Trac Cymru; Vaughan Williams Memorial Library; Folklore Society; Access Folk, p12.
• Pedlars Pack; Traditional Song Forum; The Ballad partners; p13.
• Exhibition: Un/Common People Exhibition: Folk Culture in Wessex (in Devizes Wiltshire, Poole & Salisbury Museums, p13
• Ceredigion Folk Song Map; our free Updates emails; p14.
• From Online FTJ Directory, detailed listings: Seasonal Local Celebrations, Nov-Mar list & photos, mostly by Doc Rowe, p15-16

See online [this site] for Folklife Societies: Assoc'ns, Trusts, Organisations and Folklife Studies & Institutions

• PDF free downloads. UK/EU: A4 size as printed  US: letter size 

⇒ Contact: info<at>burtonfolkclub.org.uk  Social media: https://facebook.com/BurtonFolkClub/?locale=en_GB https://bsky.app/profile/burtonfolkclub.bsky.social

Yorkhire and the Humber
🅄 Thursday, weekly West Yorkshire SHIPLEY THE TOPIC FOLK CLUB  http://www.topic-folk-club.org.uk/
→ Hullabaloo, 41 Westgate, Shipley, Bradford BD18 3QX. Doors open 7pm; start 7.30pm start; finish approx. 10pm
⇒ Publicity and Club Newsletter, Tony Charnock, email tocharn<at>gmail.com www.facebook.com/groups/647289061950797/
⊕ Bradford-based weekly live music club. Roughly alternating Guest nights and Singers' and Musicians' night - about 25 of each over the year. S/M sessions are held on the first and third Thursday of each month, and through most of August.   [2025 Feb, new listing]

🅄  Somerset THE JAMESTOWN BROTHERS  www.thejamestownbrothers.co.uk
⇒ thejamestownbrothers<at>gmail.com, bookings<at>thejamestownbrothers.co.uk.  www.facebook.com/thejamestownbrothers, https://www.instagram.com/the_jamestown_brothers/, https://open.spotify.com/artist/5G8alXNo9hdQ4aJxew0LFh

⊕  An Indie-Folk Band with Attitude!   Original songs that don't just 'tell the story' of our nation, they bring it shockingly alive. Strong lyrics and ear-worm tunes, inspiring you to join the fight for liberty and justice.

🅄 Staffs STAFFORD MORRIS    https://www.staffordmorris.co.uk

→ Practice. Mondays, 8-10pm, North End Community Centre, Holmcroft Rd, Stafford, ST16 1JG.

⇒ Contacts: Squire, Max Haynes - maxhaynesmorris<at>outlook.com; Bagperson (Events Management), Andy Chell - andychellmorris<at>gmail.com; or contact form on website.
⊕ Stafford Morris – keeping tradition alive since 1957. A mixed Cotswold Morris side performing in and around Staffordshire. Enjoy vibrant displays of traditional dance and music from May to August at local events, pubs, and festivals.  [2025 Feb, new listing]

🄵 ​ CD: Shimli, by Cynefin  [see Journal news above]
    Shimli is the follow up to 2020’s Dilyn Afon by Welsh folk singer, researcher, grain grower and cultural historian Owen Shiers, aka ‘Cynefin’. Continuing in the vein of rooting his music firmly in the customs and cultural vernacular of Ceredigion, the album takes its title from the now obsolete West Walian practice of all night musical and poetic vigils which used to take place in mills and workshops. Drawing inspiration from folk song, the beirdd gwlad (folk poet) tradition – as well as living oral history and story, the album explores the intersection between music, poetry, food and the natural world. A personal dispatch from the struggle to maintain a language, culture and way of life, the album is a musical petition – a stake in the ground for the diverse and the disappearing in our age of homogenisation and mass amnesia.  

    CD from https://cynefinmusic.wales website, or all the usual outlets. You can also pre-order a digital download from Bandcamp. Both physical and digital versions come with a full 35-page booklet detailing the history and background of all the songs on the album.

    Shimli yw’r albwm newydd sbon gan y canwr gwerin, ymchwilydd, tyfwr grawn a hanesydd diwylliannol Owen Shiers, sef, Cynefin. Wrth barhau i wreiddio ei gerddoriaeth yn gadarn yn arferion a llen gwerin Ceredigion, mae’r albwm yn cymryd ei theitl o arferiad sydd bellach wedi darfod yng Ngorllewin Cymru o gynnal nosweithiau llawen mewn melinau a gweithdai. Gan dynnu ysbrydoliaeth o ganu gwerin, traddodiad y beirdd gwlad – yn ogystal â straeon a hanes cof byw, mae’r albwm yn archwilio’r groesffordd rhwng cerddoriaeth, barddoniaeth, bwyd a byd natur. Mae’r gwaith yn fryslythyr personol o’r ymdrech i gynnal iaith, diwylliant a ffordd o fyw – deiseb gerddorol sydd yn mynegi llais y i’r amrywiol a’r diflanedig yn ein hoes o homogeneiddio ac lled-amnesia.

🄵 ​ Cynefin: Taith Band Tour 2025 [see above]
   28/2 Caerdydd / Cardiff: The Gate Arts & Community Centre, 7pm. 1/3 Abertawe / Swansea: Gwyl Croeso Abertawe in St David’s Place, 3pm. 5/3 Llandysul: Neuadd Tysul Hall, 7pm. 6/3 Ystradgynlais: The Welfare, 7pm. 7/3 Pwllheli: Neuadd Dwyfor, 7pm. 8/3 Aberteifi: Theatr Byd Bychain / Small World Theatre, 7pm. 9/3 Machynlleth: Tabernacle Moma, 7pm

Revised: later deadline 18 February for Journal, March 2025.
Folklife Traditions Journal 77, March 2025. To be published mid-March, delayed due to having to urgently move Directory website ....

We seek to raise awareness of relevant Societies, Institutions, Researchers, Publications.
​We welcome your learned articles for interested readers, but note we’re not a peer-reviewed journal. 

See Index: ARTICLES, www.folklife-traditions.uk/index-articles.html for past articles.

CONTRIBUTIONS WELCOME for appropriate articles; contact us first, please.
• Articles up to 2500 words.
• News up to 200 words, we can usually fit in if received by deadline.
We welcome:
• Songs, tunes, dances, & stories collected
• Information about relevant Societies & Institutions & Researchers
• Relevant books announced (exceptionally CDs eg traditional singers) - up to 200 words, more words if advertising:  1/8 up to 220; 1/4 up to 240; 1/2 up to 280; A4 up to 360. Or at editor’s discretion
• Songs & tunes collected
• Seasonal Local Celebrations, mostly based on Doc Rowe’s listings, additions welcome
• Conferences & Talks