Kath Tait & Terence Blacker 18th September

Kath Tait and Terence Blacker are two of my favourite folk-ish performers. Both are great songwriters and musicians. They'll have you in stitches and maybe tears with their observations on life. We have featured both of them at our club in Hadleigh several times over the years, though not together as yet.  However, we have them as a duo in Hadleigh in June 2026, but if you can't wait until then make a date to see them at the Fisher Theatre, Bungay on Septenber 18th.

Find out more about these stars from my articles in Living Tradition magazine - written before they even thought of performing together.
Kath Tait
Terence Blacker

Kath Tait Terence Blacker at the Fisher Theatre

 

Rosemarie Barnard Shield 2025

 
The Rosemarie Barnard Shield is a new venture for Bungay Folk Festival. This is supported by Rosemarie Barnard who is a regular singer at local events and a sufferer of Parkinson’s Disease. 
Rosemarie is passionate about encouraging people to sing for their health and mental health benefits. She is providing the winner's shield . This will take place in The Three Tuns on Saturday 6th Sept from 2 - 4.30pm. Advance registering for your team is essential. All rules and details are included below. 
 
Rosemary Barnard
 
Rosemarie Barnard Chorus Shield : Rules & Such
 
Group size: 3- 6 persons
 
No accompanying instrumentation.
 
Any song, traditional or contemporary, in a folk style with a dominant chorus element.
 
Entrants are politely requested to keep the duration of their songs below the 5-minute mark.
 
The use of written prompts by performers is strongly discouraged and may influence the judge’s decisions where observed.
 
This is an amateur competition. Please no professional, or semi- pro, groups. Entries will not be accepted by groups of singers who have collectively been engaged by Bungay Folk Festival, past or present.
 
Entrants are strongly encouraged to attend for the duration of Chorus Cup event to encourage and appreciate other participants. Awards will not be made in absentia.

 
Entry applications to be sent by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by midnight 23/08/2025 Song title and Team name.
 

EATMT STOWMARKET TRADITIONAL MUSIC DAY - SEPTEMBER 27

 
EAST ANGLIAN TRADITIONAL MUSIC TRUST (EATMT)
 
Just in case you haven’t come across us before, here is a quick summary of what we do. EATMT has its office in Red Gables in Stowmarket. The Trust was established in the year 2000 and has been collecting and archiving East Anglian history told through music ever since. We run community projects, provide regular music workshops, publish a newsletter, commission and publish research and resources, provide concerts, lectures, workshops and other events for a variety of other organisations. We also have a stock of books both for sale and on the shelves to peruse together with some instruments for sale or hire.
TMD poster 2025 A4 1
 
Our biggest presentation of the year is the Stowmarket Traditional Music Day, now in its third year. This is being held on 27th September in and around the town centre.
 
If you are in the town on Friday evening you can find the festivities warming up at The Royal William with a music session hosted by The Scan Tester Fan Club. From 12 noon onwards on Saturday there will be back to back music sessions hosted by a variety of well known guests. Everyone welcome.
 
Our inside venues are the Library and Fox Yard, 11 Market Place, the British Legion and the John Peel Centre. Nearer the time we will post a programme on the website but be assured these venues will be where you can find storytellers, jigdoll and step dance workshops, and performances by both well known and lesser known musicians and singers, and some very interesting talks. Community events such as groups of local singers and possibly some dancers both adults and children will be taking place in the very welcoming venue of the United Reform Church. Do take a wander round all our venues most of which are free entry to get an insight into the many aspects of our East Anglian treasures and heritage.
 
If you get the opportunity to take a wander to the Stowmarket Scout Centre we have a day packed with interesting and varied talks, 'My Fifty Years with Harry Cox', "They were the days…" oral testimony about Norfolk's traditional music heritage, 250 years of the dulcimer in East Anglia and many more. These events incur a small charge.
 
The John Peel Centre and the British Legion are providing non stop entertainment all through the day, unfortunately far too many exciting performances and talks to mention here, so please take a look at our programme nearer the time.
 
The evening concerts are not free. 
 
The John Peel Centre features Nancy Kerr. Macdara Yeates, Georgia Shackleton, Aaren Bennett, James Delarre & Saul Rose, The Scan Tester Fan Club, MC. Mike Norris. The evening starts with a short Stepdance Showcase.
 
The British Legion will be welcoming singers and musicians to our evening Folk Club with guests Mossy Christian & Megan Wisdom, Matt Quinn and Belinda Kempster & Fran Foote. MC. Shirley Harry.
 
 
Ticketed day events are £5.00 each or £15 to access all events. Evening tickets are £12.50 for the British Legion and £25 for the John Peel Centre.
 
We are still looking for volunteer stewards please get in touch if you would like to assist on the day. EmailThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or look on our website for an application form www.eatmt.org.uk.
 
Jan Robinson, EATMT

Bungay Folk Festival 2025

 

Bungay Folk festival prepares for its second year

MishraMishraBuilding on the success of its inaugural year, Bungay Folk Festival 2025 is in the traps and ready for the starter's gun. The festival, which takes over the town of Bungay for the weekend of 5-7 Sept is following the same pattern as last year. A wealth of free music and dancing during the daytime and a plethora of exciting workshops to tempt the musically minded.

Clark and ZuppardiClark and ZuppardiEliza Carthy tops the bill this year with a supporting cast of notable folk acts including Mishra, Orchestra of Samples,Tamsin Elliott and Tarek Elazhary, and Sound Tradition. Local acts always feature prominently and we are delighted to welcome back The Castle Singers with a newly composed work by William Drew-Batty.

BofBof!More singing delights form the Waveney SHE choir and Heartbeat. We have over 50 different acts on offer so there is much to choose from.  There will be French bal / fest-noz with BOF! on the Saturday evening.

We are supported this year by Suffolk County Council, East Suffolk Council, BEBA and Bungay Town Council. As a result we are able to offer a number of free workshops such as yoga,  African drumming, Balkan dance, singing the season, have a go melodeon or concertina and a family ceilidh. 


The folk picnic on Sunday 7th Sept with a free music stage on the castle bailey hosts The King Driscolls, The Wilswood Buoys, Klezmerized and Rattlebox

Tamsin Elliot Tarek Elazhary Kate GriffinTamsin Elliot Tarek Elazhary

The Fisher Theatre is the place to start and to pick up a festival programme. The rest is up to you! Festival parking this year at Outney Common.

 

Website:  www.bungayfolkfestival.co.uk