Grassroots music venues are about more than music. They’re places where friendships begin, bands are formed, communities gather and people find belonging. WHERE EVERYONE BELONGS

For the seventh year in a row, we were delighted to be nominated for Best Music at #UKARIAS. And if we had to be beaten to the Gold by anyone, we’re so happy it was our friends at BBC Radio 2 who make '21st Century Folk'. 🏆🎶 @markradcliffe.bsky.social

The former Mayor of Abingdon is to attempt to break the world long distance Morris Dancing record - 200 miles along the Thames Path, from London to Abingdon and back, this May. Duncan Bhaskaran Brown is raising money for six charities along the way.

🫘🍚 It’s beans and rice, and rice and beans, and a hand when you fall. For there’s a friendly face, a better place, and a future for us all.

Roseberry Topping always sounds to me like something you'd sprinkle on top of a dessert. But in fact, it is a real place, and Matthew's been busy climbing it with @theyounguns.bsky.social. Give it a listen (maybe whilst having a dessert).

The Official Folk Albums Chart Show is out now! Lots of great music this month, plus an interview with @katherinepriddy.bsky.social, a sneak peek of @folkonfoot.com's upcoming episode with @theyounguns.bsky.social, and the latest folky news from me. Catch up here - youtu.be/JweXmIVPa1Y

If you heard the glorious voice of Olivia Chaney on the soundtrack of the new Wuthering Heights film, you’ll love coming for a walk with her across the Yorkshire moors in this classic episode of Folk on Foot. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/3ca026

Sydney Carter's classic anti-war song, performed by Lady Maisery, has powerful contemporary resonance. They sing it in Petworth Park in our new episode, out now. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/3b366e

A folly in the grounds of Petworth Park provides the perfect acoustics for the soaring harmonies of Lady Maisery. 🎧 Hear more in our new episode, out now - pod.fo/e/3b366e

🆕 New episode out now: hear the beautiful harmonies of Lady Maisery on a walk in the historic Petworth Park in West Sussex. 🎧 Listen here: pod.fo/e/3b366e

What an amazing night of music it’s been! And if you missed it, fear not - you can catch up now at the link below. Thanks so much to everyone who helped to make the Award Gala possible - and thanks to all of you, for listening. ▶️ Watch the show: www.youtube.com/live/wXwK_E6...

Irish folk smashing it yet again. Loving the new release from Madra Salach! 😍

If you enjoyed the clip we just played from Hannah James & Toby Kuhn, there are still a few hours left to support the kickstarter for their brand new album. Get in there quickly for some kickstarter-exclusive perks: www.kickstarter.com/projects/han...

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13 events sold out at Stage4Beverley this year! And 84% of tickets sold overall, not that I'm counting or anything. It's been great to see this festival going from strength to strength.

Stunning new episode out now!

We're pleased to say that all our poetry events have now sold out! If you're quick, there are a few tickets left for Friday's Late Night Club, which will include a spot from @chriswriting.bsky.social as well as music from Maddie Morris and the Nick Rooke Band. stage4beverley.com/whats-on/fri...

The Official Folk Albums Chart Show is out now! Lots of fab music this month, including an absolute banger from @lisaknappmusic.bsky.social & @gerrydiver.bsky.social 😍 Plus some updates on new music and upcoming gigs from yours truly.

This month’s Chart Show features music from @elizamarshall.bsky.social, @lisaknappmusic.bsky.social & @gerrydiver.bsky.social, @martynjosephwales.bsky.social, @jamesyorkston.bsky.social & Johanna Söderberg, Nathan Evans & SAINT PHNX and more. ▶️ Tune in tonight from 1900 GMT: youtu.be/UxtdKN4OOxk

Very proud and excited to share that @janandjon.bsky.social will be performing orchestral arrangements of their songs with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at Celtic Connections on 16th January. A real dream-come-true gig for us! ❤️ www.celticconnections.com/event/1/bbc-...

We'll be playing a livestream concert for all who can't get out to one of our Christmas gigs! www.tickettailor.com/events/janic...

Granny’s Attic gigs are all done for the year! They’ve done 40 gigs in 2025, and here’s a map of everywhere they’ve been. We’ll be filling in some of the gaps next year!

Our tour is imminent! We can't wait to sing these songs for you! We're going lots of places in England, Leith in Scotland, and 1 Livestream for people too far away to come in person. Get your tickets now! www.janandjon.com/live

The shortlist for the Folk Album of the Year 2025 is out now! You can hear tracks from all these amazing albums, plus the artists’ reactions to being nominated, in our nominations announcement show - available on the Folk on Foot YouTube channel and podcast. Watch here: youtu.be/UDrHNykW5cQ?...

Tour starts in a week! www.janandjon.com/live

Our huge, heartfelt thanks to Sam Fender, who’s donated his £25,000 Mercury Prize winnings to Music Venue Trust... after already making sure £1 from every ticket on his recent tour went to support grassroots music venues.

“The data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates 31.5% of women and 26.4% of men experienced some form of abuse as a child, a total of 13.6 million – almost three in 10 – people.” Horrendous statistics. I also wonder how this compares with other countries.

The Sam Kelly Trio went down a storm last time they joined us, and we're delighted to be welcoming them back in 2026! Don't miss their soaring songs and stunning instrumentals when they come to East Riding Theatre on 13th February, with support from Maddie Morris. stage4beverley.com/whats-on/sam...

"Parking is such sweet sorrow"

"But soft! What light through yonder window... BRAKES!"

What a moment, for Sam Fender and for Newcastle. We had a great time at the #MercuryPrize ceremony tonight!

The BBC are accidentally running the subtitles to Mrs Marple over the Mercury Prize, and it’s rather wonderful. A few of lines could plausibly have been written by Jarvis.

Very excited about the amazing line-up at the Indoor Festival of Folk (North) on 18th October: The Bookshop Band, Frankie Archer, Edgelarks, Sam Carter and The Magpie Arc, plus Matthew interviewing the great Ashley Hutchings. More info and tickets here: www.settlevictoriahall.org.uk/eventsandsho...

The reason the Right are so invested in the myth that the arts have no value isn’t because the arts don’t generate wealth (they do); it’s that studying the arts teaches people to imagine better ways of judging the value of an idea than by counting how much money it makes…

Our movement is living rent free in the heads of Telegraph journalists at the moment. Join me in being ‘a threat to the right that they never saw coming’. join.greenparty.org.uk

Thoughts and prayers to Dina on #UniversityChallenge.

Another great addition to the line-up at @stage4beverley.bsky.social!

Great to see our name in lights at the British Podcast Awards - well deserved recognition for the wonderful team that put their heart and soul into Folk on Foot - Matthew

Go Sheffield! ❤️

It's National Poetry Day, and if you're into all things literary then there's lots to look forward to at our next festival - including the UK's Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage, local favourite Chris Sewart, and one more special guest to be announced tomorrow - any guesses? stage4beverley.com/line-up/

This may be braggadocious, but I’m very pleased to say that I got an idea onto #TheSkewer on BBC Radio 4 last night, and my bit is also referenced in the episode title! If you haven’t come across The Skewer before, I highly recommend a listen. Find the episode here: www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

Great show from Grace Petrie at @standcomedyclub.bsky.social tonight! This was the first night of the tour, so there are still plenty of chances to catch her (including Hexham if you’re here in the North East). Tour dates: www.gracepetrie.com/gigs

Interesting and informative piece by @jonwilksmusic.bsky.social on why, and also, how, he took his music off Spotify www.jonwilks.online/blog/life-af...

In partnership with our friends at @soundrootsuk.bsky.social, we're pleased to announce the jury members for the Folk Album of the Year Award 2025! Find out more about the jury: www.soundroots.uk/news/new-fol... Submit your album: www.soundroots.uk/folk-album-o...

Fascinating that you can see the USB ports where the conductor is charged up before every performance #TheProms

TikTok should know better than this - I’d never waste tea.

Folk on Foot is once again nominated at the Independent Podcast Awards! Wish us luck 🍀