Events

Shanty night

A night of solid shanties and no doubt a lot of fun with the wonderful voices of High and Dry and the irrepressible Port of Bristol Shanty Crew.  In aid of Memories at the Barn supporting local people with dementia and their carers. 

£10 plus 7.5% admin fee

pobshantycrew.co.uk/

www.facebook.com/HighandDryshanty/

Tues 17 Mar St Patricks night. 7.30 The Barnstormers.

Fiery jigs and reels and beautiful airs and rousing songs … pub session style.  Nailsea. Free. Collection in aid of Memories at the Barn.

Moorend Spout

Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman

Duos come and duos go, and some nurture and fine tune their art and watch it grow into something totally original and captivating. For three decades Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman’s partnership has proved personal, permanent and pivotal.

From their roots in 90’s folk supergroup ‘Equation‘ through to becoming a revered duo in the folk music scene this multi award-winning folk music couple continue to exude timeless class with their exquisite brand of traditional and contemporary acoustic music.

2025 sees them celebrate 30 years of their musical partnership with the release of their first live concert album. Titled ‘Another Day At The Circus’ it perfectly encapsulates the intimate poignancy of an evening with a couple at the top of their game.

Kathryn and Sean have twice been voted BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Duo as well as winning Best Duo honours from both Spiral Earth and Fatea Magazine.

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Duo - 2016 & 2013

BBC Radio 2

"Folk music for the modern age"

The Telegraph

"Rightly regarded as one of the most engaging folk / acoustic duos on the circuit"

Rock n’ Reel

Fri 17 April  The Jolly Grogsters. 

The Jolly Grogsters are a new Bristol based folk rock band known for their energetic, modern take on traditional maritime music and drinking songs. They have gained recognition for their energetic performances and will release their debut album in 2026 after a successful crowd fundraiser. The group have just had their first single from the upcoming album played on the BBC and 6 Music and have played festivals such as Bie Daip in the Netherlands, How The Light Gets In, Oban, Harwich and, Mevagissey Shanty Fest, and Bearded Theory and Maui Waui Festival

Five Groats and a Ferret are our own ad hoc assembly of up to seven blokes (and a ferret) from a range of diverse musical backgrounds and choirs. They sing with power, heart and energy. Known to spread good tidings and joy wherever they perform.

£12 plus 7.5% booking fee

Fri 15 May  Reg Meuross

“A remarkable singer songwriter” – Sean Rafferty, BBC Radio 3 ‘In Tune’ `

“His songwriting comes straight from the heart, the melodies fall under his fingers. This is folk music at its best.” – Pete Townshend `

‘Intelligent and thought-provoking songs, beautifully made and skilfully delivered’ The Times

Reg Meuross, Fatea Best Male Vocalist 2013, FolkWords Best Album 2014, Song of 2017 (Faraway People), Soloist of the Year 2019 Folking.com

Reg Meuross

Award-winning songwriter Reg Meuross, introduced at the Royal Albert Hall by Mike Harding as “one of this country’s finest”, is a true modern troubadour and one of the most respected voices in contemporary English folk. With a beautiful tenor voice and a catalogue of songs that span compassion, social justice, history and humanity, he has captivated audiences for decades across the UK, Europe, North America and the Antipodes.

A Reg Meuross concert is a masterclass in musical storytelling. Accompanying himself on his vintage 1944 Martin six-string guitar, harmonica, tenor guitar, banjo and dulcimer, he draws listeners into the heart and soul of his songs: stories that need telling, lives that need honouring, truths that need unearthing. Across 17 critically acclaimed albums, Reg continues to prove how highly relevant his songs are, whilst reaching new audiences with consistently spellbinding performances.

Tickets £14 plus 7.5% admin fee

John McCusker Trio  with Sam Kelly and Toby Shaer   

John McCusker Trio brings together Scotland's foremost fiddle player with singer-songwriter Sam Kelly, and multi-instrumentalist Toby Shaer to launch a new album of folk music.

Celebrating 35 years as a professional musician, John McCusker's new album will be released in 2026, launching with a live performance at Edinburgh's The Queen's Hall. 

John has long been renowned for his skill at transcending musical boundaries: striving to keep his music fresh and exciting, never leaving the past behind but always embracing new sonic adventures. As a live and studio guest he has shared stages with David Gilmour, Eric Clapton, Paul Weller, Paolo Nutini, Teenage Fanclub, The Proclaimers, Graham Coxon, Ocean Colour Scene, Idlewild, Eddi Reader, Julie Fowlis, Vicente Amigo, Jerry Douglas… Since 2008, he has been a member of Mark Knopfler’s band, playing arenas around the world including a double bill with Bob Dylan at The Hollywood Bowl & 20 nights at the Royal Albert Hall. 

John was awarded the coveted BBC Radio 2 Musician of the Year in 2003 and also The Spirit of Scotland Award for music in 1999 and again in 2009. 2016 saw John receive the Good Tradition Award and perform with his band at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards at The Royal Albert Hall. In 2019 John received the Outstanding Music Performance at The Scottish Culture Awards. 

Presented by The Queen's Hall

“One of the UK’s most gifted and versatile musicians in any genre, John McCusker is equally in demand as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer”.

The Guardian

“One of the UK’s most gifted and versatile musicians in any genre, John McCusker is

equally in demand as a multi-instrumentalist, producer and composer”. The Guardian

The John McCusker Trio is led by John McCusker, one of the most revered and decorated

traditional musicians of his generation. 

Tickets to be released soon

Twenty years on from winning the Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections, Breabach remain securely ranked amongst Scotland’s most skilled & imaginative contemporary-folk acts and at the forefront of the burgeoning traditional music scene. The band unite deep roots in Highland and Island Gaelic tradition alongside progressive musical influences and have cultivated a unique sound, anchoring double bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, step-dance and song with energetic double bass and guitar accompaniment.

Versatility, love of experimentation and a willingness to push the boundaries of Scottish roots music have endured as the core values of the band over the past two decades. They have embraced and pioneered many cross-genre collaborations, linking up with artists including Quebec’s Le Vent du Nord, BAFTA award-winning animator Cat Bruce, indigenous Australasian artist Moana & the Tribe, video game composer Big Giant Circles, Cape Breton powerhouse Beòlach and most recently the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.

With 8 critically acclaimed studio releases to date, an extensive global touring schedule and having received recognition with 6 BBC ALBA Traditional Music Awards, a 2023 German Record Critic’s Award and as European Folk Group of the year finalists in the prestigious Songlines Awards, Breabach’s journey shows no sign of slowing. They continue their adventures throughout this special anniversary year with performances and festivals across the UK, USA and Europe.

A brand-new trio formed by three seasoned session musicians, this collaboration between

Archie Moss, Toby Shaer, and Jack Warnock was born out of a shared love for traditional

music from the UK, Ireland, and mainland Europe. Since meeting in 2019, the trio have

established themselves not only as dynamic performers but also as sensitive re-

interpreters of the tradition.

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Each artist is well respected in their own right: Archie Moss (accordion) is a BBC award-

winning musician, a celebrated composer, and one of the most in-demand button

accordion players in the UK, has performed alongside Seth Lakeman, Sam Sweeney, and

Eliza Carthy.

​

Toby Shaer (fiddle, flute, whistles, cittern) is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, and

producer from the southeast of England. Over the past ten years, he has toured

extensively across Europe, Australia, and China with revered artists such as Cara Dillon,

McCusker, McGoldrick, Doyle, and, alongside Archie Moss, with Sam Kelly & the Lost

Boys.

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Jack Warnock (guitar, vocals) hails from Co. Derry in Ireland. An award-winning guitarist

and singer, he is also an avid Gaeilgeoir (Irish speaker), performing songs in both Irish and

English. His compositions and repertoire are steeped in storytelling as he embraces the

lineage of folk music in its truest form.

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This trio approach their craft and arrangements with delicacy and thought, drawing

influence from a plethora of traditions. A collaboration of three like-minded musicians

presenting folk music through a contemporary lens.

£16