July 2011

Use the Colour code to find events that interest you:

SONG: folk clubs, singarounds & concerts IN RED, MUSIC: sessions IN GREEN, DANCING (social): ceilidhs, barn dances, scottish, irish set, french dancing & Playford IN BLUE, DANCING (team): morris, clog, longsword, rapper sword, molly & appalachian displays to watch, or learning sessions - IN PURPLE, FESTIVALS & other IN BLACK

Fri 1 July

First Friday Folk, The Wishing Well, Main St, Dyke, Bourne PE10 0AF - singaround - 8pm - 1st Fridays (different venue in Dec) - 01778 570115 Dean Hardy or email

Sat 2 July

Ruff 'n' Ready irish folk band - White Lion Inn, Leics, LE15 7ET - 8pm

Acoustic song & music session - Fox Inn, 34 Manor Road, Folkesworth, PE7 3SU - 8pm - 1st Saturday in the month - 07885 706502 or email - these evenings are usually acoustic, amplified occasionally.

Sun 3 July

Haconby Open Mic - PA provided, no drums please - Hare & Hounds, Haconby, Bourne PE10 0UZ - 1st Sundays - 8pm - 01778 571428 Nick Gomm

Irish (mainly) music session - Palmerston Arms, 82 Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 9PA - every Sunday - 4pm to 7pm - 01733 896340

Mon 4 July

Folk at the Oak, Oak Inn, 48 Stamford Rd (the A43), Easton-on-the-Hill, Stamford, PE9 3PA - singaround - 8.30pm - alternate Mondays - Bob Bakewell - 0116 2593395

Dance for Life barn dance/ceilidh - WI Hall, Park Lane, Holbeach, PE12 7EE - 7pm to 9.30pm - 1st Mondays - £3.50/£2.50 concessions, under 16's free with paying adult - pay on door or book in advance at 01775 723026 - tea, coffee, biscuits or bring your own drinks - hosted by local bands

Tue 5 July

Acoustic Session, Millstone Inn, Barnack near Peterborough PE9 3ET - 8pm - 1st Tuesdays - details: 01733 891860 - MySpace

Irish set dancing - every Tuesday in term time, but not 2nd Tuesdays of the month - 9 to 11pm - £1 - Ebeneezer's Club, Grove St, Woodston, Peterborough, PE2 9AG - 01733 757286 or 01733 893417

Peterborough Morris dancing at The Blue Bell, 39 High St, Maxey, Peterborough, PE6 9EE - from 8pm - dance out at a different pub most Tuesdays in May, June & July - sometimes a bit of music afterwards - 01733 206627 or 01733 705786

Wed 6 July

94.9 FM or click here to listen live online - Tom Lane's Folk programme on BBC Radio Lincolnshire includes a "What's On" rundown, music tracks and sometimes a live guest - 6.30 to 7pm every Wednesday click here for website This week includes local group Pennyless

Mike Harding's folk, roots & acoustic show on Radio 2 - 7 to 8pm every Wednesday or listen through BBC iplayer

Spalding Folk Club - guest this week: Pete Morton - South Holland Centre, Market Place, Spalding PE11 1SS click here for map & car parking - 1st Wednesdays - 8.15pm - usually £6 (£5 members) 01406 380100 or email

Learn Border (anglo/welsh) Dancing (women & Men) or join the band - Bourne Borderers - Edenham Village hall, Church Lane, Edenham, Lincs, PE10 0LS - every Wednesday - 8pm to 10pm - tel: 01778 424846

Peterborough Folk Dance Club, Marholm Village Hall, Peterborough, PE6 7JA - partner not needed - 7.30 to 9.30pm - Wednesdays - 01733 266873

Crosskey Clog - men's & women's Northwest Morris team - dance out at a different pub many Wednesdays in the summer - tonight: Hare and Hounds, Haconby village, 3 miles N of Bourne, PE10 0UZ - see website or ring 01778 393507 for details

Thu 7 July

600 Whiskies Unplugged Acoustic Music Night upstairs in the Stables Bar, 600 Whiskies (was George Hotel), 20 High St, Leadenham, LN5 0PN - usually 1st Thursday each month - 8.15pm - 07835 711709 or email here

Fri 8 July

Music session (all welcome, music players & audience) - as a precursor to the John Clare Festival - Exeter Arms, Church Lane, Helpston, PE6 7DT - 8pm - free admission - details 01778 571563 or email - SEE THE LINK ON THE LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN FOR FULL FESTIVAL DETAILS

Keith James in concert - 'The Songs of Leonard Cohen' - the most enigmatic, mysterious and sub textural songwriter the English speaking world has ever known. Revered and covered by the entire music community; Leonard Cohen's exact sense of prose, his wry humour and his courage to wrestle with the unspoken. With a lifetime reputation of performing in this exact way and an undying love of the pure song, Keith James gives you a concert of this amazing material in the most intimate and sensitive way imaginable. Also included are Poems by Federico Garcia Lorca and Leonard Cohen that Keith has set to music. Certainly the UK's most celebrated and evocative interpreter of golden music" - Stamford Arts Centre, 27 St Mary's Street, Stamford PE9 2DL - 8pm - £14 (£12) - 01780 763203

No Frills Ceilidh with The Beltonas (caller Sue Gray) - St Mary's Church Hall, Rose Lane, Pinchbeck, Spalding, PE11 3RN - doors open 7.30pm for 7.45 start, 10.30 finish - no bar so bring your own alcohol - tea & coffee included - homemade cakes on sale - tickets £2.50 from email

Govannen celtic band - Smiths pub beer festival, North Street, Bourne, PE10

Sat 9 July

The John Clare Festival, Helpston village near Peterborough - full details will appear here nearer the date. Appearing in the Helpston Village Hall whilst you eat your meal or snack, will be the Woodworm Band, fiddle, hammered dulcimer, melodeon & guitar, playing jigs, polkas, reels hornpipes & waltzes 12-2pm & 4-5.30pm. At lunchtime outside the Blue Bell pub will be Peterborough Morris, who also appear outside the Exeter Arms with the Peterborough Folk Dance Club. - SEE THE LINK ON THE LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN FOR FULL FESTIVAL DETAILS

Sun 10 July

Sarah Anne Savoy & the Francadians - The Cajun music tradition is one of the most protected in American roots music, a heritage handed down through generations and along the branches of the family tree. It was therefore something of a given that Sarah Savoy would follow the family trade - Pop is Marc Savoy, the eminent musician and the leading accordion maker in Louisiana. Not that young Sarah is merely the current caretaker of a trapped-in-amber tradition. Although her band is undeniably a Cajun outfit (plenty of mournful fiddle an wheezing accordion), she also occasionally injects her sound with the twang of Western Swing and the strut of rockabilly - Central Park, Peterborough, 1pm - tickets - 01733 207239 or e-mail

Irish (mainly) music session - Palmerston Arms, 82 Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 9PA - every Sunday - 4pm to 7pm - 01733 896340

Haconby Unplugged (song session, see 3rd Mons for tune session) - Hare & Hounds, Haconby, Bourne PE10 0UZ - 2nd Sundays - 8pm - 01778 425422 or email

John Clare Festival, Helpston - SEE THE LINK ON THE LEFT OF YOUR SCREEN FOR FULL FESTIVAL DETAILS

Mon 11 July

Irish & american tune session - Ship Inn, 20 West Street, Oundle, Peterborough, PE8 4EF - 9pm - 2nd Mon of the month - email

Boston Folk Club - guest this month: Singers & Musicians night - upstairs at Eagle pub, 144 West St, Boston (just across from the rail station), PE21 8RE - normally 2nd Monday of the month - 01205 358783 or email

Tue 12 July

Peterborough Morris dancing at The Bluebell, Cranesgate South, Whaplode St Catherines, Spalding, PE12 6SN - from 8pm - dance out at a different pub most Tuesdays in May, June & July - sometimes a bit of music afterwards - 01733 206627 or 01733 705786

Open Mic Night - every 2nd Tuesday in the month - The Bull, Guntons Road, Newborough, Peterborough, PE6 7QW - 8.30pm - free - email

Gretton Singaround, Hatton Arms, Gretton, near Corby NN17 3DN - singaround - 8.30pm - alternate Tuesdays - Andy Butterworth 01536 770302

Wed 13 July

Mike Harding's folk, roots & acoustic show on Radio 2 - 7 to 8pm every Wednesday or listen through BBC iplayer

Redmile Music singaround - Barnstone Country Club, Works Lane, Barnstone, Notts NG13 9JN - 8.30pm - free - fortnightly on Wednesdays - everyone is welcome to play, sing, or relax and listen, where musicians of all abilities can get together and enjoy each other's music - for details contact Sairz on 01159 332225 or 07841 333315 or email

Bluegrass & Old Time session - Six Bells, 11 Covent Garden, Cambridge, CB1 2HS - 8.30pm - usually the 2nd Wednesday of the month, but may change week occasionally to avoid a fortnightly Open Mic session which runs at the pub - email

Backroom Acoustic Music Club - songs & music - now at Railway Inn, 132 Great Whyte, Ramsey, PE26 1HS - 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month - email

Crosskey Clog - men's & women's Northwest Morris team - dance out at a different pub many Wednesdays in the summer - tonight: Exeter Arms, Church St, Helpston, Peterborough, PE6 7DT, 8pm ish - see website or ring 01778 393507 for details

Thu 14 July

Changed to Thursday 14 July to avoid clash with Oundle fringe festival Talbot session - Mainly music session, with the odd song - King's Arms, Kings Arms Lane, Polebrook, near Oundle, PE8 5LW - 3rd Tuesday of the month - 8pm - contact: 07903 649842 or email

Music session - Lincoln Arms, Bridge Street, Spalding, Lincs, PE11 1XA - a regularish session but not always the same Thursday in the month - ring to find out when the next one is - 8.30pm - 01775 723026

Fri 15 July

Ceilidh / barn dance to the Elusive Black Dog band - fundraiser for Hospital at Home Charity - Post Office Social Club, Bourges Boulevard, Peterborough, PE1 2AU - 8 to 11.30pm - 01733 204353

Niall Teague & Fast Company - all the way from Galway - in concert at Aslackby Church (7 miles north of Bourne), NG34 0HG - 7.30pm - bar - tickets £15 include a full meal, from Dave Smith 01778 440974 or 07740 832750 or email

Sat 16 July

Oundle Fringe festival - Oundle Food Festival, in Oundle Market Place: 9.30am to 2pm - Tap & Sync Appalachian dancers, Five String Thing, Drummers, Irish Dance, Keble Stradling - at Smiths at No 4: 2pm Matt Carter

Tim Palmer & an Open Mic evening - The Ship, 20 West St, Oundle - PE8 4AF - free

Ceilidh / barn dance to the Elusive Black Dog band - "Five Parishes" Community Ceilidh - in a barn in Boothby Pagnall, 6 miles south of Grantham - for details, email organiser here - 8pm start

Sun 17 July

Oundle Folk Festival - Festival Marquee, Oundle, Northants - 1.30pm: Sir Scallywag, 2.20pm: Tourdion, 3.05: Tap & Sync Appalchian Dance, 3.30: Frumenty, 4.35: Heathen Kings, 5.50: Moondance.

Irish (mainly) music session - Palmerston Arms, 82 Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 9PA - every Sunday - 4pm to 7pm - 01733 896340

Singaround - Marquis of Granby, 65 Westgate, Sleaford, NG34 7DA - some tunes - 4 to 8pm - 3rd Sun in the month - 01529 300277 or email

Grantham Folk Club, Blue Pig Inn, Vine Street, Grantham, NG316RQ - 3rd Sun in the month - email or 01572 789939

Mon 18 July

Folk at the Oak, Oak Inn, 48 Stamford Rd (the A43), Easton-on-the-Hill, Stamford, PE9 3PA - singaround - 8.30pm - alternate Mondays - Bob Bakewell - 0116 2593395

CANCELLED THIS MONTH Open Mic - The Crown Inn, Duck St, Elton, Northants, PE8 6RQ - 3rd Monday of the month - 8pm - 07736 434234 or email

Bluegrass tune session - Shuckburgh Arms, Main St, Southwick, Oundle, PE8 5BL - 3rd Mondays of the month - 8.30pm

Haconby Hare music session - musicians & listeners welcome - Hare & Hounds, 2 West Rd, Haconby, Bourne PE10 0UZ - 3rd Mondays - 8pm - 01778 571563 or email

Introduction to Plainchant - No single musical form comes close to emulating the enduring magic and mystique of plainchant. This living tradition, originating from over 1,400 years ago, retains its haunting power and a unique capacity to enchant both listeners and performers even today- the workshop, led by Angus Smith of the award-winning Orlando Consort, offers a chance to experience the captivating thrill of singing this extraordinary music in one of England's finest settings. All voice ranges are welcome; some basic sight-reading skills desirable - Peterborough Cathedral - 7 to 8pm - doors open 6.30pm - prebooking essential - book here or 01832 274734

English music session 9pm (possibly preceded by morris dancers) Oundle Fringe Festival - The Ship, 20 West St, Oundle - PE8 4AF - free

Frumenty folk group, Oundle Fringe Festival - 7.30 to 8.30pm - The Talbot, New St, Oundle, PE8 4EA - free

Tue 19 July

Oundle Fringe Festival - Lying Scotsman 9 to 10pm & also Nick Perry - The Ship, 20 West St, Oundle - PE8 4AF - free

Peterborough Morris dancing at The Prince of Wales Feathers, 38 Peterborough Rd, Castor, Peterborough, PE5 7AL - from 8pm - dance out at a different pub most Tuesdays in May, June & July - sometimes a bit of music afterwards - 01733 206627 or 01733 705786

Oundle Fringe Festival - American music session incl Tap & Sync Appalachian dancers - The Talbot, New St, Oundle, PE8 4EA - free

Wed 20 July

Mike Harding's folk, roots & acoustic show on Radio 2 - 7 to 8pm every Wednesday or listen through BBC iplayer

Oundle Fringe Festival Cajun music and song session - dancers also welcome - Angel Inn, St Osyths Lane, Oundle, PE8 4BG - 8pm - free

Oundle Fringe Festival Tourdion french band 9pm - The Ship, 20 West St, Oundle - PE8 4AF - free

Oundle Fringe Festival 1 to 2pm: Three Men in a Corner, 7.30 to 8.30pm: 5 String Thing - The Talbot, New St, Oundle, PE8 4EA - free

Thu 21 July

Spalding singaround, Welland Yacht Club, River Bank, Spalding PE11 3AA (follow Cradge Bank next to BP station) - 3rd Thursdays - 01205 723884

Oundle Fringe Festival Irish dancers 8pm - Irish music session from 8.30pm - The Talbot, New St, Oundle, PE8 4EA - free

Oundle Fringe Festival English Ceilidh music session - Angel Inn, St Osyths Lane, Oundle, PE8 4BG - 8pm to 11pm - free - lead by members of Hannibal's Heroes Ceilidh Band - unamplified musicians welcome - free - details 01778 571563 or email

Oundle Fringe Festival Crayfish Rockets, 8.30pm Rose & Crown, Market Place, Oundle

Fri 22 July

The Spooky Men's Chorale - Wave goodbye to choirs as you know them. The Spooky Men's Chorale is leaving its native New South Wales to embark on a fourth tour of Great Britain, to regale Spooky veterans and virgins with its zany approach to choral singing – sacred as a church choir, wickedly off-the-wall the next. Compellingly comic they may be but this is a class act. Pitch perfect harmonies, theatrical delivery, savvy lyrics, imaginations that run riot and men who really can multi-task - with a close harmony sound variously described as "sexy, powerful, impossibly gentle and sad but unmistakably male" their repertoire ranges from Georgian style chants to a capella ballads, spiky political jabs, Cole Porter's 'Every Time We Say Goodbye', hilarious spoofs of Queen's 'Flash' and Earth, Wind & Fire's 'Boogie Wonderland', and the funniest version of Abba's 'Dancing Queen' your ears are likely to hear - Festival Marquee, Milton Rd, Oundle - 8pm - tickets £17 front, £15 rear from 01832 274734 or here

Oundle Fringe Festival Pulling Strings 7 to 7.50 & 10pm, Oundle Festival Club, Milton Rd, Oundle

Oundle Fringe Festival Nick Penny - 1 to 2pm - Dolby Gallery, West St, Oundle

Sat 23 July

The Kathryn Tickell Band - Kathryn Tickell is one of the best-known and best-loved performers on the folk scene. Her personal evocation of her Northumbrian background is heard through the traditional tunes and songs that she brings to audiences all over the world - Kathryn has released fourteen of her own albums to date and has also recorded and performed with Sting, The Chieftains, The Penguin Café Orchestra, Evelyn Glennie and many others - if ever music was able to lift an audience out of their humdrum cares for an evening it is the music of The Kathryn Tickell Band. We expect this first foray into Folk by the Festival will be a hugely popular event, so book your tickets early - £18 front, £16 rear - book here or 01832 274734

Sun 24 July

Irish (mainly) music session - Palmerston Arms, 82 Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 9PA - every Sunday - 4pm to 7pm - 01733 896340

Oundle Fringe Festival 1 to 3pm: Pulling Strings, 4 to 6pm: The Bats, 7 to 9pm: Blue Orleans - Shuckborough Arms, SOUTHWICK, near Oundle

Traditional song & music session - Castle Inn, High Street, Castle Bytham, NG33 4RZ - free - 7.30 to 10.30 - the 4th Sunday of the month - 01780 410563

Mon 25 July

Tue 26 July

Peterborough Morris dancing at (venue being arranged - check website) - from 8pm - dance out at a different pub most Tuesdays in May, June & July - sometimes a bit of music afterwards - 01733 206627 or 01733 705786

Music session - Durham Ox, Church Street, Orston, Notts, NG13 9NS (just off A52) - last Tuesday of the month - 8 to 11pm - Mark Pargin 01949 850059

Gretton Singaround, Hatton Arms, Gretton, near Corby NN17 3DN - singaround - 8.30pm - alternate Tuesdays - Andy Butterworth 01536 770302

Wed 27 July

Mike Harding's folk, roots & acoustic show on Radio 2 - 7 to 8pm every Wednesday or listen through BBC iplayer

Learn Border (anglo/welsh) Dancing (women & Men) or join the band - Bourne Borderers - appearing at Smiths pub in Bourne with Crosskey Clog- 8pm to 10pm - tel: 01778 424846

Backroom Acoustic Music Club - songs & music - now at Railway Inn, 132 Great Whyte, Ramsey, PE26 1HS - 2nd & 4th Wednesday of the month - email

Crosskey Clog - men's & women's Northwest Morris team - dance out at a different pub many Wednesdays in the summer - tonight: Siths pub in Bourne with Bourne Borderers, PE10 - see website or ring 01778 393507 for details

Thu 28 July

Fri 29 July

Sat 30 July

Sun 31 July

Irish (mainly) music session - Palmerston Arms, 82 Oundle Road, Peterborough, PE2 9PA - every Sunday - 4pm to 7pm - 01733 896340

click here for August 2011