Last carol singing session of the year, this time outside our village church among its community-decorated trees. Then it was time to pop inside the church to drink mulled wine. #CarolSinging

One of my musician friends, who lives up the road from me in our village, is originally from Sheffield. He's realised that I sing Sheffield Carols so asked me to partner him to sing some in the pub last night. So we rehearsed them yesterday and did just that. An absolute privilege to perform them ❤️

Another fab time last night singing Christmas carols and songs, this time as part of a group of performers leading the singing in our village. We displayed the lyrics on a screen for everyone (controlled by our splendid new sound guy who did both sound desk and screen).

How super hearing the truly wonderful @angelcakepie2.bsky.social on Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone on BBC 6 Music just now. A gorgeous voice and a lovely person ❤️

Turned on the radio to Guy Garvey's Finest Hour on #BBC6Music a few minutes ago and A Whiter Shade of Pale was playing. The words, "Do you want a cup of tea?" were out my mouth even before my brain was aware of it! #IYKYK

Another carol singing session completed. This one in my own village of Barrowby in Lincolnshire. Outside. And yes, it was cold. Very cold. Even with my big coat on! #Lincolnshire

A stunning night last night at Lincoln Castle Christmas illuminations. A really beautiful display at the castle (and Lincoln Cathedral looked fabulous too). #Lincolnshire

A fab night at our bi-monthly Singers' Night in my local pub. A couple of people snuck in some Sheffield Carols, and I intoduced the group to the song 'Boxing Day' by Robb Johnson. I've been asked to take my Sheffield Carols book next time (by those who grew up there!) so I'll expect much singing!

Had a magnificent afternoon singing Sheffield Carols for over 2 hours in Dungworth near Sheffield. These sessions really are special; singing together is a huge passion of mine and this village along with some of the people who come to sing here have played a huge part in my journey as a musician

A glorious night of songs & friendship at Royal Trads. @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social were super (lovely to meet @audinarymusic.bsky.social in person after years of online chat!) Then hearty singing of Sheffield Carols, expertly(!) accompanied by @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social & @jonboden.bsky.social.

It's #BandcampFriday, the day when the lovely @bandcamp.com waives its commission! If you pop by my Bandcamp store there are my unaccompanied folk songs and some merch too. And if you join my mailing list you'll be first to hear about new releases too. helenlindley.bandcamp.com

Let me guess, the inns are all full but someone's got a spare stable at Horse Guards?

For those that use f site, I now have a music page there too. It's a new account so if a few of you fancied following, that would be really rather splendid and I'd be overflowing with gratitude (okay, I'll stop with the overly flowery language 😊😉) www.facebook.com/share/16Ts4V...

No sooner is one folk song re-setting completed than it's time to start the next. And it comes with the exciting news that the current batch of rare/previously unrecorded #folksongs (some of which I've discussed on the @intheroud.bsky.social podcast) will be finding their way onto my next EP!

Ooh, this sounds mysteriously exciting........

My very lovely friend @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social has a new episode of @intheroud.bsky.social podcast out. In S5/Ep6 I'm back chatting with him about another rare folk ballad, Lord Ingram & Chiel Wyet (Roud 46). I created a new version especially; get it from your usual podcast provider. #FolkMusic

Have a listen. It's one of the more challenging re-settings I've done but I really enjoyed working on this unsung song, a recording of which is on the podcast.

‘I never wanted to sing into a vacuum’: Scottish folk pioneer Dick Gaughan’s fight for his lost music – top work by @juderogers.bsky.social here www.theguardian.com/music/2025/n...

Another @intheroud.bsky.social recording with @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social completed (this might be linked with my previous post!). Out soon for you all to listen to! #InTheRoud #folksong #Podcast

I finished writing/re-setting a folk ballad last night and recorded it today. This one was a request and one of the harder ones to complete. There were 5 historical text versions to consult and no known tune. After several lyric rewrites and similar number of melody revisions, it's done! #folkmusic

This might amuse you @elizacarthy.bsky.social, overheard when leaving the venue last night. Man to partner/friend, "As you know it ain't my kind of music, but I enjoyed it. She's folk royalty ain't she? She's good. Never 'eard of 'im though. But 'e were quite good too." I'm still chuckling 😂🤣

That was a wonderful night at Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre for The Wassail tour of @elizacarthy.bsky.social and @jonboden.bsky.social. Eliza reciting a Marriott Edgar monologue made me cry a little. But it was all brilliant and I recommend you see the tour if you can! More info at thewassail.com

Sat 29th Nov, 7pm start (doors 6.30pm): Drive The Cold Winter Away - album launch concert and ceilidh. Singing songs from our new album, and more, then a ceilidh with music by The Horace Mouse Band. Venue: St Paul's West Hackney, N16. Tickets £12/£8/£7: www.tickettailor.com/events/morri...

There are still tickets available for The Wassail with @elizacarthy.bsky.social and @jonboden.bsky.social tomorrow (Saturday 15th November) 7.30pm at #Stamford Corn Exchange here in Lincolnshire. It'll be a brilliant night so come if you can! 🌲🎅🦛 www.stamfordcornexchange.co.uk/the-wassail-...

I finished the first draft of the latest folk song re-setting last week. Time for the second draft. And then there's the melody to compose, although thankfully I have some voice recordings saved on my phone of some suggestions. #folksong

“It's five thousand miles to Rome. We've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.” “Hit it.”

I am really loving this new album from @leveretband.bsky.social (@samsweeney.bsky.social @andycutting.bsky.social Rob Harbron). I recommend you buy it. Or add it to your Christmas list so someone buys it for you. leveretband.bandcamp.com/album/lost-m... #folkmusic

This is such a heart-warming thing. Grassroots venues are the lifeblood of the music industry.

Not a bad little folk-related book haul from the charity shop! #books

I see there are still tickets available for @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social at Royal Traditions Folk Club near #Sheffield on 6th December. It's going to be a fabulously festive night as we'll no doubt all do some singing afterwards too. Get tickets at wegottickets.com/event/645679 #festive

It's that time of year again! Time to rehearse #ChristmasCarols. But even better is that this year I'll be able to sing them in my own village, here in Lincolnshire. It seems my years of travelling to the #Sheffield Carols will indeed serve me well! #CarolSinging 🎶

Great news! The lovely Emily has shared this with me. To those of you who, like me, used the Bodleian Broadside Ballads Archive previously, it's gradually making its way back! @jenniferballads.bsky.social, I remember you were wanting to know about the return too. Thank you @bodleian.ox.ac.uk 😊

Now on sale: the fourth Indoor Festival of Folk. Featuring the country's finest folk artists: Maddy Prior and Peter Knight, Chris Wood, Lisa Knapp & Gerry Diver, Ellie Gowers, The Magpie Arc PLUS a unique interview with Matthew Bannister and a special guest. Sat 7 Feb bit.ly/4qC4y0c

I've been in France working on final edits of the next book of short stories -- should have signed, numbered, first ed. copies to sell online by late Nov. Im signing copies at The Portico Library, Manchester on the evening of December 18th. Early doors.

& re Facebook, I'll sometimes post one thing that hits the algorithm & someone will pop in & say something like "I remember you. Why don't you write books any more?" I've written eight books since 2017. What kind of chance do we stand when robots are spreading lies about who we are and what we do?

Get tickets too see this daft pair* on their Wassail tour! (*they're both very lovely 🤗)

Time to get back into the folk songwriting/resetting again as there's a deadline to meet! #FolkMusic

Book tickets at www.stamfordcornexchange.co.uk/the-wassail-...

Looking forward to @jonboden.bsky.social & @elizacarthy.bsky.social doing Wassail stuff on 15th Nov at Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre. I spent many happy hours as a child there as Mum was a regular performer. I never performed there and haven't even been back since I was 12, so it'll be emotional!

It was so good to see the wonderful @jackieoates.bsky.social at Royal Trads last night; a beautiful voice and one of life's truly lovely people. Thanks to @jonboden.bsky.social and volunteers for hosting. I love playing & singing with this crowd and shall miss everyone when the club takes a break.

Last weekend was great fun. My birthday present (from back in June) from my sister was for the two of us to watch Les Misérables at Sondheim Theatre in London. I've wanted to see it for years and it did not disappoint. Stunning and moving and everything I hoped it would be! #LesMisérables

I absolutely love being involved in this and it's a privilege to be among such a wonderful bunch of people. If you love folk songs, it's well worth listening to. Thanks to @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social for his dedication in creating the @intheroud.bsky.social podcasts 🤗

When you're sitting outside a #Dorset pub with a pint and discover the river next to it is called the River Jordan you can't help but hear Bellowhead's Jordan in your head. On repeat! 😊

It's #BandcampFriday, the day when the lovely @bandcamp.com waives its commission! If you pop by my Bandcamp store there are my unaccompanied folk songs. And if you join my mailing list you'll be first to hear about new releases too, including one coming soon in September helenlindley.bandcamp.com

Another gorgeous night, this time with a full moon. Apparently the July #FullMoon is called the #BuckMoon. (You can tell my age as I tend to think of it as the Buck Rogers moon! 🤭😁)

That's a beautiful night sky out there tonight! Almost a full moon but not quite. #NightSky

A brilliant chat with @benratkinson.bsky.social on Zoom today which could lead to some future possible projects. Do check him and his music out! #FolkMusic

It looked lovely in our rural Lincolnshire garden but far too hot to sit - at 5.30pm it was still a massive 35°C (95°F). It had cooled around 9pm to a less unbearable 25°C so I sat out until 10pm when it got too dark to read without a light and the bitey bugs came out! #Summer

The view from the kitchen window this morning! #sparrows