English Folk Dance and Song Society
@efdss.bsky.social
The national organisation for folk music, song and dance in England. Based at Cecil Sharp House
Deadline approaching....
Last call for papers for our Broadside Day 2026.
Deadline is 1 December.
The Broadside Day is the annual one-day conference for people interested in street literature in all its fascinating aspects.
Find out more: bit.ly/3J47SQI
Last call for papers for our Broadside Day 2026.
Deadline is 1 December.
The Broadside Day is the annual one-day conference for people interested in street literature in all its fascinating aspects.
Find out more: bit.ly/3J47SQI
November 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Deadline approaching....
Last call for papers for our Broadside Day 2026.
Deadline is 1 December.
The Broadside Day is the annual one-day conference for people interested in street literature in all its fascinating aspects.
Find out more: bit.ly/3J47SQI
Last call for papers for our Broadside Day 2026.
Deadline is 1 December.
The Broadside Day is the annual one-day conference for people interested in street literature in all its fascinating aspects.
Find out more: bit.ly/3J47SQI
This week in the English Country Dance class I'm keen to explore great dances from more modern times with the class with a couple of old ones too. I hope lots of you can come. You don't need a partner, just your dancing shoes. See you on Thursday! - Mary Panton
www.efdss.org/whats-on/28-...
www.efdss.org/whats-on/28-...
English Country Dancing
Learn English country, ceilidh and barn dancing, and related social folk dance styles from further afield, led by experienced tutor/callers and accompanied by live music.
www.efdss.org
November 26, 2025 at 2:53 PM
This week in the English Country Dance class I'm keen to explore great dances from more modern times with the class with a couple of old ones too. I hope lots of you can come. You don't need a partner, just your dancing shoes. See you on Thursday! - Mary Panton
www.efdss.org/whats-on/28-...
www.efdss.org/whats-on/28-...
Our Library and Archives Director, Tiffany will be singing carols with the Holst Singers just up the road from @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social at St Mark's Church, London NW1 on 11 December.
We're sure they'll be great!
www.holstsingers.com/events/carol...
We're sure they'll be great!
www.holstsingers.com/events/carol...
Carols by Candlelight | Holst Singers
Choral festive favourites and audience carols in a magical candlelit St Mark’s, conducted by Michael Waldron
www.holstsingers.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Our Library and Archives Director, Tiffany will be singing carols with the Holst Singers just up the road from @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social at St Mark's Church, London NW1 on 11 December.
We're sure they'll be great!
www.holstsingers.com/events/carol...
We're sure they'll be great!
www.holstsingers.com/events/carol...
This week's episode of Classic Folk includes tracks from:
John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris
@audinarymusic.bsky.social
@billybragg.bsky.social
@thehaarband.bsky.social
Moira Craig & Carolyn Robson
Lindisfarne
and many more!
www.efdss.org/listen
John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris
@audinarymusic.bsky.social
@billybragg.bsky.social
@thehaarband.bsky.social
Moira Craig & Carolyn Robson
Lindisfarne
and many more!
www.efdss.org/listen
Listen: Classic Folk
Classic Folk with Mike Norris
Classic Folk is unique.
It mines a rich seam of wonderful folk and roots music and song from around 75 years of recordings.
From the great source singers to the legends o...
www.efdss.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:07 PM
This week's episode of Classic Folk includes tracks from:
John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris
@audinarymusic.bsky.social
@billybragg.bsky.social
@thehaarband.bsky.social
Moira Craig & Carolyn Robson
Lindisfarne
and many more!
www.efdss.org/listen
John Kirkpatrick & Sue Harris
@audinarymusic.bsky.social
@billybragg.bsky.social
@thehaarband.bsky.social
Moira Craig & Carolyn Robson
Lindisfarne
and many more!
www.efdss.org/listen
Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's breaktime chat will be "Lords of Misrule and Morris".
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: Cambridge Morris Molly Plough Monday 2024
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: Cambridge Morris Molly Plough Monday 2024
November 25, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's breaktime chat will be "Lords of Misrule and Morris".
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: Cambridge Morris Molly Plough Monday 2024
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: Cambridge Morris Molly Plough Monday 2024
Lovely article speaking to our Vaughan Williams Memorial Library team about the ups and downs of maintaining our important national collection of folk music, dance and song material in the latest @folklondon.co.uk
November 24, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Lovely article speaking to our Vaughan Williams Memorial Library team about the ups and downs of maintaining our important national collection of folk music, dance and song material in the latest @folklondon.co.uk
Reposted by English Folk Dance and Song Society
On this day 22nd November 1859 Cecil Sharp, founder of the English folk-song revival was born. (Here he’s pictured overhearing a gardener singing)
Artist: Martin Aitchison
Artist: Martin Aitchison
November 22, 2025 at 8:05 AM
On this day 22nd November 1859 Cecil Sharp, founder of the English folk-song revival was born. (Here he’s pictured overhearing a gardener singing)
Artist: Martin Aitchison
Artist: Martin Aitchison
Dance groups up and down the country have been busily adding their events to our Folk Dance Calendar, so take a look to find somewhere to dance this festive season, or a weekly group to drop in to and join in the fun.
Add you own dances for free.
Browse the Folk Dance Calendar now: bit.ly/4odwrt0
Add you own dances for free.
Browse the Folk Dance Calendar now: bit.ly/4odwrt0
November 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Dance groups up and down the country have been busily adding their events to our Folk Dance Calendar, so take a look to find somewhere to dance this festive season, or a weekly group to drop in to and join in the fun.
Add you own dances for free.
Browse the Folk Dance Calendar now: bit.ly/4odwrt0
Add you own dances for free.
Browse the Folk Dance Calendar now: bit.ly/4odwrt0
You shall have a fishy on a little dishy, when you listen to this week's episode of Classic Folk.
Featuring:
Robin Dransfield
@jonboden.bsky.social
Hans Theesink
Harry Chapin
The Wilderness Yet
Dougie MacLean
@duncanchisholm.bsky.social
Emily Portman & Rob Harbron
www.efdss.org/listen
Featuring:
Robin Dransfield
@jonboden.bsky.social
Hans Theesink
Harry Chapin
The Wilderness Yet
Dougie MacLean
@duncanchisholm.bsky.social
Emily Portman & Rob Harbron
www.efdss.org/listen
Listen: Classic Folk
Classic Folk with Mike Norris
Classic Folk is unique.
It mines a rich seam of wonderful folk and roots music and song from around 75 years of recordings.
From the great source singers to the legends o...
www.efdss.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:29 AM
You shall have a fishy on a little dishy, when you listen to this week's episode of Classic Folk.
Featuring:
Robin Dransfield
@jonboden.bsky.social
Hans Theesink
Harry Chapin
The Wilderness Yet
Dougie MacLean
@duncanchisholm.bsky.social
Emily Portman & Rob Harbron
www.efdss.org/listen
Featuring:
Robin Dransfield
@jonboden.bsky.social
Hans Theesink
Harry Chapin
The Wilderness Yet
Dougie MacLean
@duncanchisholm.bsky.social
Emily Portman & Rob Harbron
www.efdss.org/listen
Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's breaktime chat will be "Morris and Church Ales".
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: The Belles of London City and Betley at St John the Divine, Merton Church Ale
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: The Belles of London City and Betley at St John the Divine, Merton Church Ale
November 18, 2025 at 9:38 AM
Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's breaktime chat will be "Morris and Church Ales".
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: The Belles of London City and Betley at St John the Divine, Merton Church Ale
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: The Belles of London City and Betley at St John the Divine, Merton Church Ale
The former Beatle, arguably Britain’s greatest living songwriter, is releasing a track of an almost completely silent recording studio as part of a music industry protest against copyright theft by artificial intelligence companies.
bit.ly/4pk8TUm
bit.ly/4pk8TUm
Paul McCartney joins music industry protest against AI with silent track
Former Beatle and artists including Sam Fender, Kate Bush and Hans Zimmer record silent LP Is This What We Want
bit.ly
November 17, 2025 at 3:38 PM
The former Beatle, arguably Britain’s greatest living songwriter, is releasing a track of an almost completely silent recording studio as part of a music industry protest against copyright theft by artificial intelligence companies.
bit.ly/4pk8TUm
bit.ly/4pk8TUm
Our friends over at @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social have announced the first batch of artists on their line up - with more to come!
shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up/line...
shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up/line...
November 14, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Our friends over at @shrewsburyfolk.bsky.social have announced the first batch of artists on their line up - with more to come!
shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up/line...
shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk/line-up/line...
"People are often surprised that some of the famous folk song collectors of the Edwardian period visited Cumbria in search of songs, including such luminaries as Cecil Sharp, Ralph Vaughan Williams & Percy Grainger" bit.ly/47ONug9
The hidden history of Cumbria folk song
Folk music is notoriously difficult to define, and is not simply oral tradition, as recent research has shown. It is essentially music with a…
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
"People are often surprised that some of the famous folk song collectors of the Edwardian period visited Cumbria in search of songs, including such luminaries as Cecil Sharp, Ralph Vaughan Williams & Percy Grainger" bit.ly/47ONug9
On the eve of last year’s General Election, an RPO survey found that 76% of adults want to ‘see the new Government do more to support arts and culture in Britain’. This has now risen to 85%. Survey says that public wants to see decisive action on music access, provision and funding.
bit.ly/3WWIaRt
bit.ly/3WWIaRt
Eight in 10 adults call for more government support for the arts
A new RPO survey reveals a rise in the number of people who want to see more Government support for arts and culture in Britain
bit.ly
November 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM
On the eve of last year’s General Election, an RPO survey found that 76% of adults want to ‘see the new Government do more to support arts and culture in Britain’. This has now risen to 85%. Survey says that public wants to see decisive action on music access, provision and funding.
bit.ly/3WWIaRt
bit.ly/3WWIaRt
Coming up next week!
Folk Education Development Day: Working with Rural Communities
If you can't make it along in person to Cambridgeshire Music in Cambridge, thanks to @livetoyourlr.bsky.social you can join in online.
Wed 19 Nov
10am - 4pm
Book you free place now: bit.ly/3InwKCN
Folk Education Development Day: Working with Rural Communities
If you can't make it along in person to Cambridgeshire Music in Cambridge, thanks to @livetoyourlr.bsky.social you can join in online.
Wed 19 Nov
10am - 4pm
Book you free place now: bit.ly/3InwKCN
Folk Education Development Day: Working with Rural Communities
Join us for this valuable practitioner development day, presented on location in Cambridge and online, by our Folk Education Network, in partnership with Cambridgeshire Music, and hosted online by Liv...
bit.ly
November 12, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Coming up next week!
Folk Education Development Day: Working with Rural Communities
If you can't make it along in person to Cambridgeshire Music in Cambridge, thanks to @livetoyourlr.bsky.social you can join in online.
Wed 19 Nov
10am - 4pm
Book you free place now: bit.ly/3InwKCN
Folk Education Development Day: Working with Rural Communities
If you can't make it along in person to Cambridgeshire Music in Cambridge, thanks to @livetoyourlr.bsky.social you can join in online.
Wed 19 Nov
10am - 4pm
Book you free place now: bit.ly/3InwKCN
Learn to call for ceilidhs or barn dances with our friend and colleague Lisa Heywood.
Online Introduction to Ceilidh Calling courses FREE taster session on Wednesday 26th November, 7-8pm
www.tickettailor.com/events/lisah...
Online Introduction to Ceilidh Calling courses FREE taster session on Wednesday 26th November, 7-8pm
www.tickettailor.com/events/lisah...
November 12, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Learn to call for ceilidhs or barn dances with our friend and colleague Lisa Heywood.
Online Introduction to Ceilidh Calling courses FREE taster session on Wednesday 26th November, 7-8pm
www.tickettailor.com/events/lisah...
Online Introduction to Ceilidh Calling courses FREE taster session on Wednesday 26th November, 7-8pm
www.tickettailor.com/events/lisah...
This week's Classic Folk marks Remembrance Day,
with tracks from:
Mishra
June Tabor
The Gilchrist Collective
Mike Wilson
Belshazzar's Feast
New Deal String Band
The Meadows
Richard & Linda Thompson
Paul Simon
Ian Campbell Folk Group
@maggieholland.bsky.social
and more!
www.efdss.org/listen
with tracks from:
Mishra
June Tabor
The Gilchrist Collective
Mike Wilson
Belshazzar's Feast
New Deal String Band
The Meadows
Richard & Linda Thompson
Paul Simon
Ian Campbell Folk Group
@maggieholland.bsky.social
and more!
www.efdss.org/listen
Listen: Classic Folk
Classic Folk with Mike Norris
Classic Folk is unique.
It mines a rich seam of wonderful folk and roots music and song from around 75 years of recordings.
From the great source singers to the legends o...
www.efdss.org
November 11, 2025 at 11:12 AM
This week's Classic Folk marks Remembrance Day,
with tracks from:
Mishra
June Tabor
The Gilchrist Collective
Mike Wilson
Belshazzar's Feast
New Deal String Band
The Meadows
Richard & Linda Thompson
Paul Simon
Ian Campbell Folk Group
@maggieholland.bsky.social
and more!
www.efdss.org/listen
with tracks from:
Mishra
June Tabor
The Gilchrist Collective
Mike Wilson
Belshazzar's Feast
New Deal String Band
The Meadows
Richard & Linda Thompson
Paul Simon
Ian Campbell Folk Group
@maggieholland.bsky.social
and more!
www.efdss.org/listen
Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's breaktime chat will be "Morris Kit".
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: London Pride Morris and Friends at Spread Eagle, Camden Town, Autumn 2025
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: London Pride Morris and Friends at Spread Eagle, Camden Town, Autumn 2025
November 11, 2025 at 9:41 AM
Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's breaktime chat will be "Morris Kit".
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: London Pride Morris and Friends at Spread Eagle, Camden Town, Autumn 2025
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Image: London Pride Morris and Friends at Spread Eagle, Camden Town, Autumn 2025
Our Sunday Family Barn Dances make the perfect weekend family bonding activity - and a fun way to dance off your Sunday roast!
Sun 23 Nov
3pm - 4.30pm
Book now: bit.ly/4qMI5xf
Image: Brian Slater
Sun 23 Nov
3pm - 4.30pm
Book now: bit.ly/4qMI5xf
Image: Brian Slater
Family Barn Dance
Bring all the family and take part in lively dances from Britain and beyond in a supportive and fun environment.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Our Sunday Family Barn Dances make the perfect weekend family bonding activity - and a fun way to dance off your Sunday roast!
Sun 23 Nov
3pm - 4.30pm
Book now: bit.ly/4qMI5xf
Image: Brian Slater
Sun 23 Nov
3pm - 4.30pm
Book now: bit.ly/4qMI5xf
Image: Brian Slater
The Department for Education (DfE) said it wanted to broaden the appeal of music education “to give every child a strong start in the subject” and boost the creative subjects taken at GCSE as part of its wider changes to England’s national curriculum
bit.ly/47u2eRn
bit.ly/47u2eRn
Ed Sheeran takes partial credit for move to overhaul music teaching in England
Singer-songwriter says curriculum changes reflect points raised in open letter to PM organised by his foundation
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:44 PM
The Department for Education (DfE) said it wanted to broaden the appeal of music education “to give every child a strong start in the subject” and boost the creative subjects taken at GCSE as part of its wider changes to England’s national curriculum
bit.ly/47u2eRn
bit.ly/47u2eRn
Huge congratulations to Steve Roud on being awarded a honorary degree by The Open University in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the study of folk song and culture!
November 6, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Huge congratulations to Steve Roud on being awarded a honorary degree by The Open University in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the study of folk song and culture!
Good news! The government has announced that it is scrapping the English Baccalaureate meaning pupils will no longer be restricted in their choice of GCSE subjects.
However, the campaigning must continue.
Join us in supporting the Arts and Minds campaign: theartsandmindscampaign.org.uk/join-us/
However, the campaigning must continue.
Join us in supporting the Arts and Minds campaign: theartsandmindscampaign.org.uk/join-us/
Join us - Arts & Minds Campaign
Arts & Minds | Putting Creativity At The Heart of The Curriculum
theartsandmindscampaign.org.uk
November 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM
Good news! The government has announced that it is scrapping the English Baccalaureate meaning pupils will no longer be restricted in their choice of GCSE subjects.
However, the campaigning must continue.
Join us in supporting the Arts and Minds campaign: theartsandmindscampaign.org.uk/join-us/
However, the campaigning must continue.
Join us in supporting the Arts and Minds campaign: theartsandmindscampaign.org.uk/join-us/
This week in the English Country Dance class, I'm keen to explore great dances from more modern times with the class. I hope lots of you can come. You don't need a partner, just your dancing shoes. See you on Thursday! - Mary
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
English Country Dancing
Learn English social folk dancing (country, ceilidh, and barn dancing) and related styles from further afield
Autumn Term 2025: 25 Sept | 2, 9, 16, 23 Oct | 6, 20, 27 Nov | 4 Dec
Book now for Autumn 2...
www.efdss.org
November 6, 2025 at 10:25 AM
This week in the English Country Dance class, I'm keen to explore great dances from more modern times with the class. I hope lots of you can come. You don't need a partner, just your dancing shoes. See you on Thursday! - Mary
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
www.efdss.org/learning/adu...
Remember, Remember the 5th of November, with these photographs by Brian Shuel of 1980s bonfire activities.
Squibbing, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, Bridgwater, November 1984, by Brian Shuel.
Tar Barrel Rolling, Ottery St Mary, 5th November 1986, by Brian Shuel.
Squibbing, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, Bridgwater, November 1984, by Brian Shuel.
Tar Barrel Rolling, Ottery St Mary, 5th November 1986, by Brian Shuel.
November 5, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Remember, Remember the 5th of November, with these photographs by Brian Shuel of 1980s bonfire activities.
Squibbing, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, Bridgwater, November 1984, by Brian Shuel.
Tar Barrel Rolling, Ottery St Mary, 5th November 1986, by Brian Shuel.
Squibbing, Bridgwater Guy Fawkes Carnival, Bridgwater, November 1984, by Brian Shuel.
Tar Barrel Rolling, Ottery St Mary, 5th November 1986, by Brian Shuel.