Read more about our latest commission, Rooted & Rising, a new musical show by Adriano Adewale, which will be touring Folk Festivals this summer. bit.ly/3QskzrK

National Youth Folk Ensemble’s Open Days. Take part in these free days: play folk music as part of a band and find out more about the Ensemble. Cecil Sharp House London - 27 May 2026 Exeter Phoenix - 28 May 2026 Leeds Conservatoire - 30 May 2026 www.efdss.org/.../national...

This week's episode of Classic Folk features tracks by: Harry Chapin @therealjoeely.bsky.social @stevetilston.bsky.social @joancbaezofficial.bsky.social Niamh Parsons Paddy Grant Kate Burke & @ruthhazleton.bsky.social Vin Garbutt Christy Moore The Copper Family And more! www.efdss.org/listen

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's water break chat will be "Favourite County". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Taylor's Morris Belle Isle's March Longborough at Oxford Folk Festival

Tomorrow! ‘The Catterwauling Scrapes of Thrashing Fidlers’: Explorations in the history of English Vernacular Fiddle Players, 1600-1900 Talk by Vic Gammon, with Sheila Gammon (Reader) and Bridget Enever (Fiddler) Book now: bit.ly/4d7I5no Image: Fiddle Etching by David Deuchar, Wellcome Collection

Calling all music students 📣 Make Music Work 2026 is this Friday and you should be there! Come along for a jam-packed day of discovery, networking and live music - AND get free ISM membership with your ticket. Join us this Friday ⬇️ www.ism.org/event/make-m...

Arts and Minds: what's next for arts in schools? We are delighted that alumni from the National Youth Folk Ensemble will be performing. Cecil Sharp House, London 27 April, 10am-3pm Free, tickets limited www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/arts-and-m...

The Merrie Merrie Month of May The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Saturday, 16 May, 1-4pm (Drop in) FREE From bringing in the May to Jack in the Green, Rogationtide, Whitsun and everything in between. Find out more: bit.ly/40XSY3M Garland Day, Castleton, 29 May 1900

Resource of the Month: Working by Ear A booklet of ideas and resources for learning and teaching music by ear, produced for us by Rob Harbron and Miranda Rutter, based on their experiences while working with secondary school students at Hanham Woods Academy. Explore the resource: bit.ly/3NYoonB

Maypole is very fun for all ages and very kid-friendly, so if you or someone you know is likely to be in (or able to get to) the neighbourhood! The EFDSS run great events.

Maypole Special! Bring all the family to our May Family Barn Dance, and take part in lively ceilidh and maypole dancing to welcome in the spring! For this dance, our caller is Martin Clarke, who will be joined by The Belles of London City Sun 10 May, 1:30pm-4:30pm Cecil Sharp House bit.ly/4bTOVKU

This week's Episode of Classic Folk includes tracks by: @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social @elizacarthy.bsky.social Kris Drever Francy Devine Olivia Chaney Reg Meuross Laura Smyth & Ted Kemp @steeleye-span.bsky.social @billybragg.bsky.social and many more! www.efdss.org/listen

This month at the House: 🎶 Gigs from National Youth Folk Ensemble, Holly Clarke, Tarren, Basset the Band and Oysterband's John Jones Trio 📚 Library Lecture from Vic Gammon on English Vernacular Fiddle Players 1600-1900 💃 Morris and English Country Dancing classes return for summer term efdss.org

EFDSS Out and About this Summer! Where to catch our latest folk projects, musical groups and youth ensembles this festival season. Find out more: bit.ly/483ElQi

Here's this week's episode of Classic Folk featuring tracks by: Kirsty Merryn @lindsaystraw.com Lankum Gemma Khawaja Ewan McLennan The Musical Priest Rattle on the Stovepipe The Expatriate Game Last Orders Ewan MacColl Waterson:Carthy Fotheringay & many more! www.efdss.org/listen

‘The Catterwauling Scrapes of Thrashing Fidlers’: Explorations in the history of English Vernacular Fiddle Players, 1600-1900 Online talk by Vic Gammon, with Sheila Gammon (Reader) and Bridget Enever (Fiddler) Tue 14 Apr, 7:30pm OnZoom Book now: bit.ly/4d7I5no

Last week's Folk Education Development Day: Adapting Folk Dance with Older People was great fun as well as highly informative. Look out for a report on the event on our website in due course, and see what aspects you can introduce to your own dancing projects.

We've spotted a copy of Zakia Sewell's new release in the library, and it looks like a fascinating read. Zakia was part of our inaugural Black British Folk Takeover last autumn, and we can't wait to welcome her back to @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social soon. More on Finding Albion: bit.ly/4dT31yy

how it started* / how it's going * ok it's actually the eighth edition but it's the oldest one in the @efdss.bsky.social library

@klofmag.com Really pleased to see this release from EFDSS Creative Bursary awardee, the British-Asian singer-songwriter & progressive folk artist Satnam Galsian. Her songs are deeply rooted in her personal experiences, drawing on her own journey of identity, belonging, & empowerment. bit.ly/4bN8nc1

'Britain is in a “folk frenzy”, according to Sewell, gesturing to a post-pandemic resurgence in folk culture evidenced by a new slate of pagan festivals as well as the growing popularity of folk music, dancing, films – and magazines like Weird Walk' bit.ly/3PuW50F

Elye Cuthbertson, one of our National Youth Folk Ensemble alum, is invited back to the Royal Albert Hall to lead another of his Folk for Kids sessions. Enjoy singing a folk song, different folk rhythms through body percussion, dancing a traditional dance! www.royalalberthall.com/tickets/even...

Join us for a special night of music created and performed by these rising stars and help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Youth Folk Ensemble! Cecil Sharp House Thur 2 Apr, 7:30pm bit.ly/40kHLtX Image shows members of the Ensemble going up in the folk music scene and up in a lift.

This week's episode of Classic Folk includes tracks by: Danny Pedler & Greg Russell Bruce Cockburn Sean Cooney, @elizacarthy.bsky.social Sam Carter, @jenniferballads.bsky.social Afro Celt Sound System The Queensland Tiger Fairport Convention @debracowan.com and many more! www.efdss.org/listen

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's water break chat will be "Morris and Soundscapes". 24 March is the last class of term, starting again on 14 April. www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Pilgrim Morris with Taborer George Guildford Summerpole

Out with @eynshammorris.bsky.social yesterday at the Pallant House Gallery when they were reunited with a painting by William Nicholson of "Feather" Russell currently on loan from the @efdss.bsky.social...

Thank you so much to everyone in #chichester including #pallantgallery and @efdss.bsky.social for your hospitality and enthusiasm, it was amazing. A big thanks also to Barry @pixelsonapage @themorrisfed.bsky.social for the photos. #art #morrisdancing #folktradition #folkdance #artgallery

In 2024, the UK joined other countries in supporting the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. Communities across the UK are being invited to submit their traditions, customs & cultural practices as part of the Living Heritage Inventory: bit.ly/4cRMhrc

Lesser played traditional songs and unaccompanied favourites: this week's Classic Folk is here! efdss.org/listen

Get all the family together this Mother's Day for our Family Barn Dance Accompanied by live music and a 'dance caller' teaching you the simple and fun moves, these regular events inspire budding dancers to take their first steps. Sunday 15 March - 3pm Book tickets now: bit.ly/4rj9ki3

Join us for a special night of music created and performed by these rising stars and help us celebrate the 10th anniversary of the National Youth Folk Ensemble! Jo Freya will be awarded her prestigious EFDSS Gold Badge by Michael Morpurgo. Thursday 2 April, 7:30pm Book now: bit.ly/40kHLtX

Our friends at Music for Youth are recruiting for a new Programme Manager for Frequencies, their national programme supporting young music creators. Applications close: 30 March 2026 Job description & application: mfy.org.uk/about/vacanc...

This week's episode of Classic Folk includes songs by: Davy Graham Blozabella @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social Patakus Burd Ellen @pefkin.bsky.social The Fraser Sisters - Playing a Trad Night at Cecil Sharp House on Wed 1 April 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 "Beasts and Morris". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Belles and Betley at St John the Divine Merton Church Ale

EFDSS-funded Equinox Ball on Dartmoor! Crank Dance Folk - Devon were awarded one of our Dance Mini Grants at the end of last year. They are using the funds to throw a Spring Equinox Ball at Badger's Holt on 21 March. Find out more: dandelion.events/e/m0nlk #SpringEquinox

National Youth Folk Ensemble Open Days These free days are a brilliant way to play folk music as part of a band, meet the tutor team, and find out more about the Ensemble. Cecil Sharp House - 27 May Exeter Phoenix - 28 May Leeds Conservatoire - 30 May Find out more and Book now: bit.ly/3Pl1TcN

Do you teach Dance? Whether you teach people to dance formally or informally @artscouncilengland.bsky.social want to hear from you for their survey 'Understanding Dance Provision, Progression and Pathways in England' Complete the survey now (15-20 mins) www.beds.ac.uk/culture-and-...

Our friends at GlosFolk have launched a fundraising appeal to support their GlosTrad project, the one-stop website for songs and tunes collected in #Gloucestershire. Donate here if you can: glostrad.com

Resource of the Month Swords and Stars: Rapper Sword Dance for Primary Schools Introduction to Rapper sword dancing, including diagrams, and tune recordings, created for us by Bryony Griffith and Lucy Huzzard. bit.ly/4l4SjqE Image: St Godrics and St Marys Betty and rapper lock - Roswitha Chesher

We've signed Arts and Minds' letter to Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education and Lisa Nandy, Secretary of State for Culture to ask them to ensure all children can enjoy access to arts subjects throughout their school life. Will you do the same? actionnetwork.org/forms/puttin...

Photography Exhibition: Celebrating 10 Years of the National Youth Folk Ensemble Exhibition runs until Thursday 27 August Cecil Sharp House, London Free Find out more and view online: bit.ly/4rbnXEk During the exhibition on 2 April, The Ensemble will be playing a gig: bit.ly/40kHLtX

Our next online Library Lecture: Lucy Wright - Folk is a Feminist Issue! Artist and researcher, Lucy Wright has long been intrigued by—and kinda angry about—the underrepresentation of women in the British folk arts. Tue 10 Mar 7:30pm-9:00pm Online Book now: bit.ly/4rPW7yn

Announcing Hannah James as the next National Youth Folk Ensemble Artistic Director "As a folk musician who has had many fantastic mentors over the years it feels important to be able to carry on that tradition of passing on skills and ideas to the next generation." Read more: bit.ly/4siWHV7

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's break time chat will be "Country Gardens". www.efdss.org/learning/adu...

Hannah James and Sonia Sabri recently spent a week at @cecilsharphouse.bsky.social working on a a new project which focuses on women in percussive dance and examines what it is to be a folk artist whose art form has a connection to a particular place and culture, thanks to receiving an EFDSS Bursary

This week's Classic Folk features tracks by: @petecoevo.bsky.social Claire Vine @hollyclarkemusic.bsky.social Pete Seeger Damien O'Kane @damienandron.bsky.social Peggy Seeger @finncollinson.bsky.social @naomibedford.bsky.social & Paul Simmonds and many more www.efdss.org/listen

We're thrilled that our Dance Mini Grant award to Havering Changing is supporting this free Community Ceilidh on Saturday 28 Feb. Featuring live music from the Romford Ceilidh Band. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/community-...

We've recently added more new and second hand stock to our Folk Shop - books and CDs relating to Folk music, dance and song. bit.ly/4rK6p3f

We're pleased to see the launch of this: Young Creatives Commission – a year‑long national inquiry into how to widen children and young people’s access to arts, culture and the creative industries: bit.ly/4aYidsr

Our new online course starts this Thursday - book now Exploring English Folk Dance with Mike Heaney and Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe Thursday evenings, 7.30pm 19 Feb - 9 Apr Online Book now: bit.ly/4oEyEhw Image: Maltby Phoenix Sword, U.Dance 2012, photo Brian Slater, courtesy Youth Dance England.