Folk Clubs, Songs & Sessions, Performance, Poetry and Storytelling
(Folk) Clubs in the region vary significantly from quite formal performance clubs, who have a diary of pre-booked professional guest performers, to very informal sessions where local musicians can turn up with their instruments thrown on their back and join in with whatever is going on. These represent two extremes but just about every conceivable combination in-between these extremes exists. The more formal clubs will normally charge an entrance fee to cover their costs and to be able to pay the artists who perform there. Some clubs charge an annual membership fee to cover their costs, which may give their members a discount on the normal entrance fee. Some clubs are completely free to attend, and it is up to the attendee whether they join in with their own contribution to the session or just come along to listen.
Sunday Clubs
The Dog Inn Session, Hedingham Road, Halstead, CO9 2DB
1st Sunday of month, from 3.30 pm onwards
Moose Rosser: moose.rosser@googlemail.com
English Music Session (Borough)
Martin Nail
Duton Hill Acoustic Music Session
Three Horseshoes PH, Duton Hill, Near Dunmow, CM6 2DX
Chris Brimley: 01245 360082, chrisbrimleymusic@gmail.com
FaBClub
Liz Montgomery: 01375 387071, fabclubgrays@btinternet.com
Hitchin Folk Club
Hitchin Folk Club is a performance concert club running twice a month, booking the very best in folk music. The club has a capacity of 140 with an entrance charge of £16-£20. Non-members are very welcome.
The new venue is at The Cricket Pavilion, Lucas Lane, Hitchin, SG5 2JA
http://www.hitchinfolkclub.idnet.net/
Contact: Keiron & Maureen Jones 01462 812391
e-mail: goodmusic@hitchinfolkclub.co.uk
King William IV PH Session London Road, Black Notley, CM77 7PU, 8.30pm
3rd Sunday of month Edric Field: 07968 314069/01621 862608 edricg8bmr@gmail.com
Sail Loft Folk Club
Malcolm Gillham: 07930 417586 malcolm.gillham47@gmail.com
Walthamstow Folk Club
Liz Philipson: 07949 251321, walthamstowfolk@gmail.com
The Woolpack Session (Mildmay Rd.,Chelmsford,CM2 0DN)
This session is currently suspended.
2nd Sunday of month
Sundown (Poetry & multi-media)
Jo Overfield: 07759 626708, info@sundownarts.org
Monday Clubs
Colchester Folk Club
Colchester Folk Club is a performance club that showcases some of the best professional acts with support from excellent local musicians. It meets in the Colchester Arts Centre, Church Street, Colchester each Monday evening. To keep updated on who is appearing visit www.colchesterartscentre.com
The club also runs an e mailing list. To join this list which keeps you up-to-date weekly on forthcoming artists e mail colchester.folk.club@gmail.com with SUBSCRIBE in the subject line.
Contact: Elaine Barker Tel: 01206 500900 (Box Office)
Compasses Inn Session (Littley Green)
Bring an instrument, sing a song or just come and listen.
Littley Green, Chelmsford CM3 1BU
Myles Barrett: 07831 815134, myles.barrett@btinternet.com
Jingling Gate Folk Club
Pete Hamlyn: 01268 755523, petergthamlyn@googlemail.com
Salt Water and Beer (Shanty Singers) “Mike Free Zone”
8.00 pm, 2nd Monday of month at The Blue Boar Hotel, Silver St., Maldon, CM9 4QE
*Weekly (Mon) Practice Sessions
Contact: Tom Whelan 07801 143949 email: tom.whelanbass@btinternet.com
Waltham Abbey Folk Club (8.00-10:30pm – doors open 7:30pm)
a small and friendly singaround club with occasional guests. All welcome.
Note that the bar is cash only.
https://www.facebook.com/folkclubwalthamabbey
http://www.walthamabbeyfolkclub.com
Contact: Dave Part 07444 177257
email partsofmarlow@outlook.com
The Sun Inn, 21 Sun Street, Waltham Abbey, EN9 1NR
The Yardarm Folk Orchestra Sessions
https://yardarmfolkorchestra.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/YardarmFolkOrchestra/
Enquiries: Malcolm Reid 07586 083669 yardarmfolkorchestra@outlook.com
Springfield Session (Benfleet) 1st Monday each month
The Yardarm Session (Old Leigh) 2nd Monday each month
The Yardarm Folk Orchestra (Benfleet) 3rd & 4th Mondays each month
Tuesday Clubs
Dartford Folk Club
meets on Tuesday from 8.30 to 11.00 p.m. at Dartford Working Men’s Club Ltd., 40 Essex Road, Dartford DA1 2AU. http://www.dartfordFolk.org.uk
or email: dartfordfolkclub@gmail.com
The Hoy at Anchor Folk Club
The Hoy is a long-established (over 50 years) traditional folk club that meets every Tuesday night at:
The Royal British Legion in Westcliff-on-Sea SS0 0NG .
Admission prices vary according to the artiste’s fee and normally range from £6 to £10, with a nominal £2 for Open Night non performers.
Contact: Mick Denny mick@bighandcreative.co.uk
The Hoy has a well-earned reputation for chorus singing, has an in house shanty crew and set a Guinness World Record for a Marathon Singaround.
Guests range from local semi-professionals through to national and international acclaimed artistes but there is always room for visiting performers, usually at the start of the evening.
At least once a month there is an Open Mic Evening, which is always well supported and is sometimes supplemented with a full set by an accomplished artiste or band.
The Orange Tree PH – Reduced tempo session for beginners , 7 – 8.30 pm
Lower Anchor Street, Chelmsford, CM2 0AS
Peter Kemp peter.kemp@dsl.pipex.com
The Queens Head PH Folk Sessions (Chelmsford, CM2 0AS) Main Session: 8.30pm Edric Field: 07968 314069/01621 862608 edricg8bmr@gmail.com
Wednesday Clubs
Duchy Folk Club (Suffolk)
8.00 pm, 3rd Wednesday of month *Check with club contact re venue.
Dick Spanner: 01206 241936
Romford HaverFolk
Every Wednesday evening 19:30-22:30
at The Golden Lion PH, 2 High St., Romford, RM1 1HR
Contact: Ali Rose: 07980 370536, romfordhaverfolk@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/groups/432589951920573/
Hoy Tunes Session (Ye Olde Smack, 7 High St., Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 2EN)
8 pm, 3rd Wednesday of month
Yael Bebb: whitediabolo@hotmail.com
Rowhedge Sing, Say, Play
4th Wednesday of each month
A very informal acoustic session of music, song and poetry.
Contact: Ron Digby: 01206 729029
Epping Folk Club (St. John’s Church, High St., Epping, CM16 5DN)
7.00 pm, monthly on specified Wednesdays
Trevor Krueger: 07977 026533 www.eppingfolkclub.com
Hoy Singers Session (Ye Olde Smack, 7 High St., Leigh-on-Sea, SS9 2EN)
8 pm, 1st Wednesday of month
This session is currently suspended due to Covid and has not yet restarted.
Tony Prior: 07805 641797 anthony.t.prior@gmail.com
Magic Mummers
Simon Mouncey: 01245 256895,
Witham Sing and Play Arounds
(The Little Elms pub, Dorothy Sayers Drive, Witham 3rd Wednesday of month) starting at 7.30pm
A very informal free acoustic session of music and song.
Joan & Ian Smith: 07967 125514, ian.f.smith@hotmail.co.uk
Thursday Clubs
Acoustic Club
Jessica Brett: 01992 677992, jessbrett@googlemail.com
Chelmsford Acoustic Club ( formerly Blackmore Folk Club)
1st Thursday of month
8.00 pm Upstairs at The Rose & Crown’, Writtle Green, CM1 3DT
Roy Martin randmdanbury@gmail.com
The Huntsman & Hounds Session (Green Lane, Althorne, CM3 6BJ)
2nd Thursday of month
Loughton Folk Club
Carol Woodward: 07892 745665, loughtonfolkclub@gmail.com
The Station Arms Session (Southminster, CM0 7EW))
4th Thursday of month 8.30pm, Edric Field: 07968 314069/01621 862608 edricg8bmr@gmail.com
Walnut Tree 2nd Thursday Sessions(2nd Thursday of month)
8.30 pm
The Walnut Tree P.H., Broads Green, Chelmsford, CM3 1DT
Paul McCann: 07947 217840 pauldmccann@hotmail.com
The Bell PH Session, Woodham Ferrers, CM3 8RG (1st Thursday of month), 8.00 pm
Meg Crawford meg-c@sky.com
Dengie English Session,
Meg Crawford meg-c@sky.com
Great Bardfield Folk Club
Ray Taylor: 07881 074412, greatbardfieldfolkclub@surfanytime.net
Islington Folk Club
Bernard Puckett: 0208 360 8610, info@islingtonfolkclub.co.uk
The Crown, 43 Clerkenwell Green, London, EC1R 0EG
Mersea Acoustic Music Session
Juliet Doyle: 01206 386736, juliet@doyleandco.net
Wivenhoe Folk Club
Wivenhoe Folk Club is a performance club that showcases some of the best local professional acts with support from excellent local floor singers and musicians. It meets in the British Legion Hall, The Quay, Wivenhoe, CO7 9BX on the first Thursday of each month. Every so often there is an Open Stage singers night where there is no pre-booked act. There is a small charge for entry to cover costs.
https://www.facebook.com/wivenhoefolkclub
Denise Van Loen: 01206 827759, wivenhoefolkclub@tiscali.co.uk
Friday Clubs
The Chequers P.H. Session (Roxwell) 3rd Friday of month, 8.30pm
Edric Field: 07968 314069/01621 862608 edricg8bmr@gmail.com
Colchester Waits (Shawm Club)
Lizzie Gutterage: 07762 015645, elizabeth.gutteridge@btinternet.com
The Clubhouse Session (Bradwell) 5th Friday of month, 8.30pm.
Eastland Meadows Caravan Park, Bradwell, CM0 7PP
Edric Field: 07968 314069/01621 862608 edricg8bmr@gmail.com
The Downham Troubadours from 8:00pm
A very friendly Singaround Club, meeting 8.00 p.m. the last Friday of every month except August and December. New members and casual visitors are always welcome.
Contact: Carl Vaughan by e-mail: carlvaughan@btinternet.com
We use the Downham Village Hall for indoor meetings.
Downham Village Hall,
School Road
Downham
CM11 1QN
There is a £3.50 admission to the Hall (Rent to pay!) Tea & Coffee are available. (No bar, but you may bring own drinks.)
Hadleigh Folk & Acoustic Music Nights
Simon Haines: 07818 417780, aqwc71@dsl.pipex.com
Live at the Institute
Tony Winn: 01376 571775, tony.winn@btinternet.com
Preview Live Music Club
Meets in the Preview Function Bar at the Plough,
426-428 London Road,
Westcliffe-on-sea,
SS0 9LA
David Anton: 01702 341263, david_anton41@yahoo.com www.previewclub.co.uk
Southend Irish Association
Dave O’Neill: 01268 727025, oneilldave@aol.com
The Leather Bottle P.H. (Pleshey) 1st Friday of month 8.30pm,
Martyn White: 07885 265925
Rowhedge Sing, Say Play
very informal session Music, song and poetry
Contact Ron Digby: 01206 729029 for details
The Viper P.H. Session (Ingatestone) 2nd Friday of month 8.30pm
Edric Field: 07968 314069/01621 862608 edricg8bmr@gmail.com
Saturday Clubs
SlackFolk
Richard Brazear: 07850 773291, info.slackfolk@gmail.com
Hoy Tunes Session (Leigh-On-Sea)
takes place on the first Saturday of each month 6:00-9:00pm in Anke’s Tea and Coffee Lounge
Yael Bebb: whitediablo@hotmail.com
Essex Folk Association 
You must be logged in to post a comment.