Curious about our Chilled Queer Ceilidh? It's a relaxed afternoon of ceilidh dancing in our spacious hall with gentle music from an excellent queer ceilidh band. Lisa (pictured) is the expert instructor who will guide you through the moves with simple, gender neutral instructions. bit.ly/4abC5GX

Huge congratulations to Suntou Susso on winning not one, but two Global Music Awards! Gold Medal Winner for composer / composition and for originality / creativity. Congrats Suntou! www.globalmusicawards.com

Congratulation to Zakia Sewell (part of our Black British Folk Takeover event last autumn) for her nomination for Women's Prize for Nonfiction. Her book, Finding Albion: Myth, Folklore and the Quest for a Hidden Britain, will be published in March: bit.ly/4rh3puP

"A great day in an iconic location and London needs a festival like this". Wonderful review of our Indoor Folk Festival from @fateamagazine.bsky.social www.fatea-records.co.uk/magazine/liv...

Award-winning singer and songwriter Emily Portman heads to the House, joined by a stellar cast of guests including guitarist Louis Campbell and cellist Lucy Revis. Expect dreamy piano alongside rippling banjo, a perfect backdrop to Emily’s crystalline, disquieting vocals. Thu 12 Mar bit.ly/3O5khWP

Selling fast: Kathryn Tickell and the Darkening ⛈️ Named after the old Northumbrian word for twilight, The Darkening's dazzling musicians create musical magic; dynamic and unique “Ancient Northumbrian Futurism”. Sat 7 Mar bit.ly/4aIONhL

We had a chat with Satnam Galsian ahead of tomorrow's Feminist Folk Club... 'Feminism is a big part of my performance, many traditional songs have patriarchal themes so I like to reimagine or respond to them through a feminist lens so that the words are more empowering for women.' 🎟️ bit.ly/474y3ih

Great article about the Black British Folk Collective, founded in our very own basement! @thequietus.com @angelcakepie2.bsky.social thequietus.com/quietus-revi...

We’ve received some incredible audience feedback on Feminist Folk Club over the years… if this sounds like your kind of vibe, don’t miss our next event with Rowan Rheingans, Satnam Galsian and Jacken Elswyth ✨ Wed 11 Feb bit.ly/474y3ih

Have you heard about our Chilled Queer Ceilidh? Why not come along if you're not sure whether the usual high-energy Queer Ceilidh is the right fit for you 💃 The event will be slightly adapted to make the experience more inclusive and comfortable for everyone. Sat 28 Feb 4pm - 7pm bit.ly/4abC5GX

February at CSH: 🎪 Indoor Festival of Folk ✊ Feminist Folk Club with Rowan Rheingans, Satnam Galsian and Jacken Elswyth 🎻 The English Fiddle Ensemble 🤝 Chilled Queer Ceilidh 🕺 Queer Ceilidh Dance Party 🗞 Broadside Day And more! Get booking now at efdss.org

Rowan Rheingans has frequented the Cecil Sharp House stage with her acclaimed band Lady Maisery and duo The Rheingans Sisters, as well as spending time rehearsing here as part of her Creative Bursary. This time, she returns as part of our Feminist Folk Club series. Wed 11 Feb bit.ly/474y3ih

We can't wait to welcome Satnam back for Feminist Folk Club, after her previous visit here as a Creative Bursary recipient. A singer-songwriter and progressive folk artist, Satnam's music blends the rich tradition of Punjabi folk with contemporary, feminist storytelling. Wed 11 Feb bit.ly/474y3ih

We sat down with experimental/trad banjo player, label owner, Shovel Dance Collective member and denizen of London's new folk clubs Jacken Elswyth last year. She returns on Wed 11 Feb as part of Feminist Folk Club. Read the interview: bit.ly/4qKb0BE Book Feminist Folk Club: bit.ly/474y3ih

Take a look at what makes our Feminist Folk Club series so magical... Next edition in two weeks, featuring: ✨ Jacken Elswyth 🌞 Satnam 🌙 Rowan Rheingans Wed 11 Feb bit.ly/474y3ih

Four of England’s finest traditional fiddlers - Bryony Griffith, Jim Boyle, Ross Grant and Rosie Butler-Hall - are The English Fiddle Ensemble. They're bringing joyous harmonies and striking rhythms to traditional English tunes, and you can catch them here at the House 🎻 Wed 18 Feb bit.ly/3NFdoLG

Jim Causley's wassail and album launch is coming up next week - if you fancy singing to the apple trees then why not come down 🍏 Wed 28 Jan bit.ly/4aOBhtI

The Queer Folk Festival line-up is here - just 10 more days to grab Early Bird tickets! Pianist Belinda O'Hooley, dance music duo Bailey & Keely and ‘folk-soul’ multi-instrumentalist Amit Chadda take to the stage. Plus a show from drag king dance team Molly No-Mates. Sat 30 May bit.ly/49NX2Yn

With over 80% of tickets sold for the Indoor Festival of Folk, book now to avoid missing out! If you’re missing sunny summer folk festivals, this is the perfect tonic for the winter blues; a stellar line-up of the country's finest folk artists all in our cosy London venue. Sat 7 Feb bit.ly/4qC4y0c

A reminder that our new gigs season is about to kick off! Here's a look at just a few of the incredible artists visiting Cecil Sharp House over the next seven months. Check out the full line-up on our website bit.ly/4qP3fdq Music: Milholo - Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango

A month to go until our next Feminist Folk Club, hosted by Lucy and Pinky Ward. This edition’s line-up features the wonderful:

Tomorrow evening! Dorothy Marshall and the Women of West Sussex - talk by Dr Elizabeth Bennett The talk will explore the folk song collector Dorothy Marshall, and the vital contribution she made to the first folk song revival in West Sussex. Book now: bit.ly/4qaaaOw

Have fun dancing at the morris class Tuesdays 6:30pm at Cecil Sharp House. This week's break time chat will be "Molly Dancing". www.efdss.org/learning/adu... Image: Cambridge Morris Molly Lord and Lady Plough Monday 2025

Don't miss this weekend's Family Barn Dance, a chance to fulfil new year resolutions to be more active and to spend more time with the family, that is actually fun! Sun 11 Jan, 3pm-4:30pm Book now: bit.ly/4j3t1rE

People who regularly go to the theatre, live music events, museums, galleries and the cinema have nearly half the risk of developing depression.

We've got plenty to keep you entertained this January: 🪗 Trad Night: Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham 🍏 WASSAIL! album launch with Jim Causley 👩‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family Barn Dance 🐚 Online Library Lecture 📚 Library Old Twelfth Night drop-in day 💃 Classes and courses And much more! efdss.org

Jim Causley's annual wassail returns to the House - this time tied in with the launch of his brand new album 'The Georgic'. Wed 28 Jan bit.ly/4aOBhtI

Coming up soon is our first Trad Night of 2026: Keith Kendrick and Sylvia Needham. The uncannily compatible duo produce a striking a cappella harmony sound in their interpretations of traditional English songs. Wed 21 Jan bit.ly/49HFMoI

First Family Barn Dance of the year! Live music inspires the dancing and friendly callers guide the moves with simple instructions and gender-free calling. No experience necessary! Sun 11 Jan 3pm-4:30pm Cecil Sharp House, London Book now - bit.ly/4j3t1rE

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 ⬇️