We also run a few choirs and bands! Get in touch if you’d like to join us:
Folk House Choir – led by Nonny Tabbush
A friendly choir based in the heart of Bristol. We learn songs by ear, so there’s no need to read music. We don’t hold auditions – come along and have a go. The choir will cover a wide variety of folk songs, as well as some world and contemporary music. This choir is happy and fun loving, our aim is to create a sense of community and a love of singing.
If you fancy giving it a go, meeting some friendly people and having a good sing then do come along. We meet at the Bristol Folk House in the Hall on Tuesday evenings (term time) from 7.45-9.45pm. You’re welcome to just turn up but please check rehearsal dates on the website first!
Brigstowe Village Band – led by Alison Rowley
We are modelled on the village bands of Thomas Hardy’s day when local musicians played for all the local gatherings and celebrations. We play lively upbeat traditional tunes of the British Isles and include songs, words and dances to reflect the origins of the music. We perform at events such as fairs, street parties, harvest festivals and concerts.
The band is run as cooperatively as possible with members taking on organisational roles. Alison Rowley arranges most of our music and leads monthly rehearsals.
Rehearsals take place once a month on Sunday afternoons at Long Ashton Community Centre. We are a friendly and inclusive group welcoming all acoustic instruments, there are no auditions and music is provided online – reading music is an advantage but some members play by ear.
Jamming For The Terrified – led by Sarah Moody
Jamming for the Terrified (JftT) consists of relaxed, fun, no-pressure group classes for adult musicians of all instruments and all abilities.
JftT Nuts & Bolts focuses on how music works; what chords are and how to improvise around them, becoming familiar with intervals and how to use them to improvise and build an internal musical map. How to learn tunes by ear, add accompaniments, make arrangements and music composition. Alternate Tuesdays, 10 – 11.30am.
JftT Fluency offers musicians who already have a grasp of the basics an opportunity to develop their fluidity and fluency through playing different styles of music together. It extends participants’ listening, arranging and improvisation skills. The styles of music we have so far explored are contemporary songs, English folk, blues, jazz standards, E. European, klezmer, tango and rock. Alternate Mondays, 7 – 8.30pm.
Classes take place in Easton, Bristol, in groups of 5 or 6.
New Ealing Sessions – led by Deb Chalmers
New Ealing Sessions is a weekly folk class that meets upstairs at the West London Trade Union’s Club in Acton, West London. We learn tunes by ear before exploring ideas around arrangement, variation and style. All instruments and abilities are welcome, and music and videos are (eventually!) provided to cater for music-readers and non music-readers alike. We mostly cover tunes from the UK and Ireland, with a few from further afield. The group has performed at Gunnersbury House, and plays regularly for the Ealing Country Dance Club.
We meet every Monday during term time, doors open at 7:15 for a 7:30 start. West London Trade Union Club, 33-35 High Street, Acton, London, W3 6ND.