Our opening hours over the festive period: Sun 21 Dec open for evening event Sun 21 Dec to Tue 30 Dec closed Wed 31 Dec open for NYE ceilidh Thu 1 Jan closed Fri 2 Jan closed Sat 3 Jan closed Sun 4 Jan closed Mon 5 Jan open as usual

It's time for the big reveal... The special guest joining Martin Carthy in February is none other than Eliza Carthy! Tickets have been flying even before this news so head to our website to secure yours while you still can. Wed 25 Feb bit.ly/4qrgwcX

Meet Cohort 10 of the National Youth Folk Ensemble! You can find all of the Ensemble’s current favourite bits of music of the Meet the Ensemble page on the EFDSS website. All of the photos are by Roswitha Chesher bit.ly/4s0P3zw

New gig announced! 🪕🪘 Cross-cultural collaborators Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango (UK and Mozambique) bring their unique blend of their respective traditions to Cecil Sharp House, offering a vibrant new sound full of world rhythms, contemporary song-writing and joy. Wed 3 Jun bit.ly/4aA4dph

🚨GIG ANNOUNCEMENT🚨 We are delighted to announce a new event, Songs for the Workers: a night of music to mark International Workers' Day, featuring iconic folk musicians Peggy Seeger, Jackie Oates, Nick Hart, Jennifer Reid and Francis Devine. Thu 7 May bit.ly/3KqkkLq

A Big Thank You to everyone who donated to our @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge! We reached our target a few hours before the deadline, raising slightly over £14,000, including Gift Aid. This will help to fund bursaries and other essential funding for youth folk activities across England.

Welcome to our four new trustees working together voluntarily with the team at the English Folk Dance and Song Society to promote the folk arts and support our position as the national development organisation for the genre. Marcie Hopkins, Jeremy Iles, Angharad Cooper and Drew Hill, bit.ly/3MmgRhz

There’s still time to donate as part of @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge help us to raise vital funds to support our youth folk activities. Young folk musicians will get what could be a life-changing opportunity. Donate by midday today, for the future of folk. bit.ly/4pT7C6V

We’re nearly at the end of our @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge. Thanks to your incredible support, we’re 77% of the way to our target. Please help us to raise a final £2,710, with all donations going directly towards supporting our youth folk activities. Donate now: bit.ly/4pT7C6V

The reviews are in on John Kirkpatrick's festive show and it's set to be a magical evening of carols, wassailing, wren-hunting, stirring the fire, and incessant feasting – all dressed up in a glittering finery of toe-tapping tunes and cracking choruses. Thu 11 Dec bit.ly/3GWMXOf

Tomorrow's Queer Ceilidh Dance Party is sold out, but a few tickets remain for our first ever Chilled Ceilidh. Why not bring along a friend who has always wanted to go to a ceilidh but wasn't sure if the usual high energy event is the right fit for them? Sat 6 Dec | 4pm | More info: bit.ly/3Wh816o

Donate to the Big Give #ChristmasChallenge and help us make our Youth Folk activities accessible for all. From now till Tue at noon, every £1 you donate will be DOUBLED! Watch Carl sharing what being in the Ensemble meant to him. Donate now: bit.ly/4pT7C6V www.youtube.com/shorts/W5cm9...

Squeezebox virtuoso John Kirkpatrick is throwing a festive party with toe-tapping tunes and a sprinkling of carols. Expect an evening of wassailing, wren-hunting, stirring the fire, and incessant feasting. Thu 11 Dec bit.ly/3GWMXOf

Day 3 of our @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge Until Tue 9 December every donation will be doubled. We’re hoping to raise £12,000 to ensure that our folk music activities are available to all young people donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05... www.youtube.com/shorts/VHbhW...

Congratulations to Owen Spafford and Louis Campbell, from the first cohort of the National Youth Folk Ensemble, whose album Tomorrow Held has been nominated for @soundrootsuk.bsky.social's Folk Album of the Year Award 2025. The winner will be unveiled at a ceremony on Tue 17 March: bit.ly/44Isk11

Here’s Leandro on Day 2 of the @biggive.bsky.social #ChristmasChallenge. Until Tue 9 December every donation will be doubled. We’re hoping to raise £12,000 to ensure that our folk music activities are available to all young people donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05... www.instagram.com/reel/DRzwwWe...

From our friends at World Heart Beat: Inspired by the modern-day large timba orchestras of Havana, Eliane Correa’s Cuban Sextet brings a high-octane mix of Cuban classics, modern Cuban repertoire & adaptations of Eliane’s original pieces for her supergroup La Evolución. This Fri: bit.ly/44KbD5c

Today is #GivingTuesday, and our #ChristmasChallenge opening day. Support our Youth Folk activities via @biggive.bsky.social and your donation will be DOUBLED! donate.biggive.org/campaign/a05...

December at Cecil Sharp House! efdss.org/whats-on

We’re delighted to announce this year’s Dance Mini Grant winners! Crank Dance The National Youth Folk Troupe of England (NYFTE) Magnetic Northeast Poppy Bastin’s Maypole Dancers Folk Factory Dance – Sheffield Find out more: bit.ly/3Mqf9eJ

Our next Queer Ceilidh Dance Party is now sold out! Why not try our first ever Chilled Ceilidh and bring along a friend who has always wanted to go to a ceilidh but wasn't sure if the usual high energy event is the right fit for them? More details ⬇️

Check out this live review of Granny's Attic ahead of their gig here tomorrow! Book for the gig now: bit.ly/3TQEdw8

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

In case you missed it: our spring/summer 2026 gigs season is now on sale! Check out the full programme and secure your tickets now: bit.ly/3LC7V73 Pictured: Good Habits, Wakefire (Lady Maisery and Jimmy Aldridge and Sid Goldsmith), Kathryn Tickell, Martin Carthy

Check out this article in @thequietus.com about the rise and rise of Martin Carthy. Martin will be performing with us on 25 Feb, make sure you book your tickets soon! thequietus.com/quietus-revi...

In case you missed it: our spring/summer 2026 gigs season is now on sale! Check out the full programme and secure your tickets now: bit.ly/3LC7V73 Pictured: Chloe Matharu, Hannah James and Toby Kuhn, Holly Clarke and Feminist Folk Club acts (Rowan Rheingans, Satnam Galsian and Jacken Elswyth)

A reminder that tomorrow’s Peter Knight and John Spiers gig has been postponed, so please don’t turn up at the House! This was an operational decision made by EFDSS, and we are planning to rebook the giants of English folk in 2026 or 2027 – so please watch this space.

Just announced: our Spring/Summer gigs season! Check out the full programme and secure your tickets now: bit.ly/3LC7V73

There's big news coming on Monday morning, so watch this space... 👀 Our full spring/summer gigs season will go live at 11am, with 30 incredible gigs and dances for you to choose from! Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to see the line-up and secure your tickets 🔔 efdss.org/newsletter

Come and join us for a night of European music that is inventive, evocative, and endlessly exciting presented by the new mighty group, Firelight Trio. "A veritable roots music supergroup" - RnR Magazine. You won't want to miss it! Wed 26 Nov bit.ly/4lXuh0p

Joining us for our next Trad Night are Carolyn Robson and Moira Craig, known for their stunning harmonies and wide repertoire of traditional folk songs with a touch of contemporary flair. Don't miss these spectacular singers unamplified, in our most intimate setting. Wed 3 Dec bit.ly/44VKMT9

November at the House 🍂🎆 efdss.org/whats-on

Ahead of their double bill show with Archie Churchill-Moss on Wednesday, Grace Smith Music Trio take to our Instagram stories to show an insight into the life of a musician - follow along throughout the day! instagram.com/cecilsharphouse Gig details: Wed 5 Nov bit.ly/45e9Ype

Exploring English Folk Dance with Mike Heaney and Chloe Middleton-Metcalfe. Our new Online Library Course as part of The Vaughan Williams Memorial Library Folk Uncovered strand, starts on 19 February. Thursday evenings, 7.30pm 19 Feb - 2 Apr Online Book now: bit.ly/4oEyEhw

Coming up next Wednesday is a night of contemporary, expressive instrumental music in the form of a special Archie Churchill-Moss and Grace Smith Trio double bill. 'If you're looking for the exciting future of folk music, you need to search no further' Folk Radio UK Wed 5 Nov bit.ly/45e9Ype

"Across the U.K., young people are finding joy in the revival of traditional cultural practices like ceilidh, Morris and barn dancing, and taking an increasing interest in Pagan customs—from celebrating the solstice to wassailing." i-d.co/article/meet-the-kids-bringing-back-pagan-britain/

Collaborators since their teens, Granny's Attic return to the House next month fresher than ever. The trio have been heralded for their lively performances and skilled delivery of traditional material, playing with verve, boundless energy and their own inimitable style. Wed 19 Nov bit.ly/3TQEdw8

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

The National Youth Folk Ensemble have released an EP! Some tunes are traditional, others were created by tutors or ensemble members; all have been developed by the members of the National Youth Folk Ensemble under Artistic Director Jo Freya @jofreya.bsky.social soundcloud.com/efdss-1/sets...

Come celebrate Nancy Kerr and @jamesfagan.bsky.social's 30th anniversary at this special gig looking back at their life together in music. The duo combine stunning vocals and stellar instrumentation on fiddle, guitar and bouzouki with Nancy's poetic lyrics. Sat 15 Nov bit.ly/3TQEmji

Don't miss this special double header show for a night of groove-filled folk tunes; this music will stay with you long after you finish listening. Grace Smith Music Trio and Archie Churchill-Moss Wed 5 Nov bit.ly/45e9Ype

Announcing our first ever Chilled Ceilidh, led by Queer Folk! Below are some adjustments being made for this event: 💃 Slower pace of dances 🕺 Reduced capacity 💃 Pauses between dances 🕺 Brightly lit space 💃 Lower volume of amplified music 🕺 Quiet area Sat 6 Dec Tickets and info: bit.ly/3Wh816o

Following its hit first outing in 2024, our glittering social dance fusion event, Bhangra Ceilidh, is back by popular demand! Sat 29 Nov 7pm-10pm Book now: bit.ly/47iRN1E Wishing you all a happy and prosperous Diwali

📢 GIG ANNOUNCEMENT 📢 Legendary ballad singer and guitarist Martin Carthy, joined by a very special guest, returns to our iconic stage in February. 25 February 2026 Tickets now on sale: bit.ly/4qrgwcX

Don't miss the chance to see O'Hooley & Tidow live as the beloved duo say farewell for now... ‘They sing together in the way families do. Normally, you only get that closeness in the voices with family bands like The Coppers or The Watersons.’ - Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music Thu 30 Oct bit.ly/45a7x7b

Good luck to the legendary Martin Carthy at tonight's Mercury Prize Awards! www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

It's nearly time for our next Trad Night, with singer Arthur Knevett showing off his eclectic repertoire of English, Irish and Scottish traditional songs and ballads. Wed 29 Oct bit.ly/4lYYxr6

Read all about last weekend's Black British Takeover in the Morning Star's ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review of the event. 'A day truly celebrating the commonality of folk music and its links with the struggles of working people the world over.'

Announcing the line-up for our next Feminist Folk Club event in February... ✨💘 You can catch the incredible Rowan Rheingans, Satnam Galsian and Jacken Elswyth at what has become one of our most beloved gig series. Wed 11 Feb bit.ly/474y3ih