About Suffolk Folk

ABOUT SUFFOLK FOLK

Suffolk Folk was initially a branch member of the English Folk and Song Society (EFDSS) which was founded by Cecil Sharp in 1911. The earliest reference found to the Suffolk District Branch, as it was known at the time, appears in the EFDSS handbook dated February 1941 although there can be no doubt that folk dance in Suffolk was thriving for many years before that. There is mention of the Norfolk and Norwich District in an earlier edition – March 1937 – but it could well be that Suffolk was an active member at that time and the Secretary had simply failed to send in a report. Further research is needed if anybody wants to dive deeper than the level required for this simple homage to Suffolk Folk.

The 1941 edition of the handbook records seven centres in Suffolk ranging from Exning to Woodbridge and it is clear that there was a lot happening at club level. The actual name ‘Suffolk Folk’  came about in 1995 when ‘districts’ were abolished by EFDSS and so Suffolk Folk became an independent organisation with its own constitution and the stated aims of publishing the magazine entitled Mardles and of organising an annual folk dance – the Playford Ball.

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Pastime with the Pastons

'A celebration of the Paston dynasty in dance'

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For those interested in music, dance and history Norwich Historical Dance, in association with Swaffham Arts are performing a celebration in dance of the famous Norfolk dynasty, the Pastons, known for their intriguing and informative letters. In part the performance is based around the unusual 17th century painting, now in Norwich Castle Museum, which is known as the 'Paston Treasure'.

Weybourne Folk Weekend 2020

Weybourne Annual Folk Weekend 7th, 8th & 9th August 2020 at the Village Hall ,Weybourne NR25 7AH

 Friday Night 7th August 7.30pm until 11pm
Kieran Halpin
Anto Morra
 
Saturday afternoon 8th August ,2.00pm until 6.30pm
John Conolly
Bill Whaley and Dave Fletcher
 
Saturday evening 8th August,
8pm until 11pm Ceilidh/Barndance (Village Hall)  £7.00
8pm until 11pm Singaround at the Ship Inn
 
Sunday afternoon 9th August, 1.30pm until 7.00pm
Paul Downes
Tony Hall
Jamie McCoan
Blakeney Old Wild Rovers
 
All events at the Village Hall apart from the Saturday Night Ceilidh ( £7.00) are free.We have a bar (Beer only) but you may bring your own drinks/food if you wish.We run a raffle every day.
 
Full programme by e-mail is available from Tony Baylis 01263 588781 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Blues at the Barns 2020

 Top US Blues star announced as Blues at the Barns 2020 headliner

 

CANCELLED

CHARISMATIC American blues star ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART has been announced as the headline act for May's Blues at the Barns 2020 festival. Promoters of Essex's acclaimed festival of acoustic blues, folk-roots and Americana,scheduled for Sunday, May 3, at Creeksea Place Barns, Creeksea, near Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, have confirmed singer and guitarist Hart to head an exciting international  lineup for the fourth annual event.

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Pakefield Acoustic Music Day 2020

“Early Bird” Tickets on sale now!

The second Pakefield Acoustic Music Day will be held on Saturday 18th April 2020 and “Early Bird” Tickets are now on sale.As for the first event, the day will be divided into 2 sessions in the afternoon and evening. Brief details of the artistes appearing are:-

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Evening session: - The Askew Sisters , Emily and Hazel, rework and reinterpret songs, creating breath-taking arrangements, which allow words that are hundreds of years old to resonate profoundly with contemporary audiences. Expert multi-instrumentalists, they use fiddles, melodeons, concertina and cello to bring their music to life.

Read more: Pakefield Acoustic Music Day 2020