23 - 26 May 2025
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Timetable: Sessions
Whether you're thing is tunes or singing, English, Irish, Bal or Scandi prefer it fast or steady, your a regular to sessions or just starting out we are confident you will find something for you.
On this page, you will find the scheduled sessions we are aware of. Don't forget there's many more impromptu sessions around town, late into the night, or should we say into the early hours!
The key venues to find a session are :
- The Moongazing Hare (The bar on Island Park)
- The Old Road Tavern
- The Black Horse
- The Rose and Crown
Currently publicised Sessions for 2025, there will be more
Jump to: Friday Saturday Sunday Monday
Click on the event name for more information.
| Sessions on Friday 23rd May 2025 (More to come) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| When | What | Where | Description | Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 12:00 to 15:00 | Music session hosted by Sarah Matthews & Doug Eunson | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Sarah & Doug will be kicking off a fabulous weekend of tunes in the Moongazing Hare Bar. Both brilliant musicians, they have a huge repertoire of tunes and play with groove and with grace | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:00 to 18:00 | Music Session hosted by Sussex Junction Morris musicians | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | This year, as well as having sessions hosted by festival artists we also have a few led by some of our amazing Morris musicians. The first of these is Sussex Junction. You will recognise Chris & Bryony from countrywide sessions but you might be surprised that some other dancers are musos too. This is NOT specifically a Morris tune session, though I'm sure there will be some fabulous Morris tunes played at this and other sessions over the weekend | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18:00 to 21:00 | Music Session hosted by Will Allen | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Will Allen needs no introduction to folkies . Even at his tender young age he is a sought after melodeon & fiddle player and a familiar beard in sessions all over the country! According to his biography he can transform the simplest of tunes into roaring beasts so beware With: Will Allen | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 19:00 to 24:00 | Irish Session | Old Road Tavern | Join the pub in Chippenham where you will find music sessions year-round, for the first of its festival Irish sessions. All welcome. With: Details to follow | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20:00 to 23:00 | Friday Folk Club | The Cause: The Cause Cafe | Bring your voices and join our fabulous hosts Mike Gibson and George Dale for a night of folk songs from far and wide. The bar will be open | Weekend or Event tickets Only | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21:00 to 23:00 | Singing Session hosted by Shady Tann-Watson & Prue Reilly | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Shady has been part of the English folk scene since before she was born, and first sang in public aged five. Prue also started singing at 5 years old but laughs that at that point Shady wouldn't have been born yet! Nowadays Prue is gigging as a ceilidh caller around the country. They can both be found leading rousing, late night chorus songs with tankard in hand.. Prue and Shady met many years ago at Sidmouth Folk Festival and have been revelling in the joys of singing together ever since. They've been known to roam the streets of Sidmouth singing shanties for charity, but are more commonly found leading rousing, bawdy sessions in beer tents across the country | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sessions on Saturday 24th May 2025 (More to come) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| When | What | Where | Description | Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:00 to 11:30 | Practice Tune Session | Neald Cafe | Practice sessions for popular English dance tunes, any instrument. Ear players and readers are welcome. Dots provided, also downloadable on request. With: Spare Parts | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:00 to 24:00 | Irish Session | Old Road Tavern | Join the pub in Chippenham where you will find music sessions year-round, for the first of its festival Irish sessions. All welcome. With: Details to follow | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:00 to 13:00 | Music session hosted by Jon Loomes | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Jon Loomes is a musician, singer, producer, instrument maker and all round good guy. We are very pleased he agreed to lead a session for us With: Jon Loomes | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13:00 to 15:00 | Music Session hosted by Culverake | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Culverake are not only amazing singers, they play some awesome tunes too. Join Seb Stone, Matt Quinn & Lizzy Hardingham for a session including some of their best loved tunes from the British Isles. Hopefully they will sing some songs too if it isn't too loud in the beer tent With: Culverake | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:00 to 18:00 | Music Session hosted by Sheaf | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Sheaf are a vibrant new band; Penny Kempson, Will Sartin and Lewis Jones. Penny & Will will also be with their band Out of Hand over the weekend and will become familiar faces in our lovely Moongazing sessions. They will be hotfooting it from their gig at The Cause to host this session for us. With: Sheaf | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16:00 to 17:30 | Ballad Session | The Cause: The Cause Cafe | Join host Rosie Upton with special guest Moira Craig in a lovely ballad session . This is your chance to share songs so please join in! With: Rosie Upton, Discovery | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18:00 to 21:00 | Music Session hosted by Definitely Contraband | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Definitely Contraband are Martin Clarke, Nicky McConkey, Ben Filmer-Sankey & Tom Evans. We are delighted that some of them will be leading this session. They are in various bands over the festival weekend so we can't guarantee everyone's attendance but even one of them would be enough to keep the tunes buzzing With: Definitely Contraband | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20:00 to 23:00 | Saturday Folk Club | The Cause: The Cause Cafe | Bring your voices and join our fabulous hosts Mike Gibson and George Dale for a night of folk songs from far and wide. The bar will be open | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21:00 to 23:00 | Singing Session hosted by Nigel Smith & Friends | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Nigel & his Moongazing Hare Bar will be hosting many fine tunes & songs over the weekend but tonight he's actually hosting the session too. Our singing sessions are NOT singarounds, If you want to start a song but find it hard to jump in, ask Nigel & he'll make sure you can be heard With: Nigel Smith | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sessions on Sunday 25th May 2025 (More to come) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| When | What | Where | Description | Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:00 to 11:30 | Practice Tune Session | Neald Cafe | Practice sessions for popular English dance tunes, any instrument. Ear players and readers are welcome. Dots provided, also downloadable on request. With: Spare Parts | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:00 to 24:00 | Irish Session | Old Road Tavern | Join the pub in Chippenham where you will find music sessions year-round, for the first of its festival Irish sessions. All welcome. With: Details to follow | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:00 to 13:00 | Music Session hosted by Lisa Bradley | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Lisa organises these Moongazing Hare Bar sessions and last year she organised herself out of a job and didn't run one. By popular request she is back this year leading a session with her lovely folkie friends around her. With: Lisa Bradley | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13:00 to 15:00 | Music Session hosted by Manny Grimsley | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Manny Grimsley needs no introduction to those familiar with folk festival sessions, morris & rapper. This year he won the "Character" competition with Sheffield Steel Rapper at DERT. He is at the festival with his lovely fiance Vikki Lewis, one of our finest clog dancers. Maybe Vikki will bring her board to the session and give us a dance if we're lucky With: Manny Grimsley, Vikki Lewis | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:00 to 18:00 | Music Session hosted by Aeryn | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Aeryn is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, North West & Cotswold Morris dancer, ceilidh caller and more. They will be leading the session with their whistle, fiddle, melodeon and anything else mastered since last being at Chippenham! With: AERYN | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 16:00 to 17:30 | Ballad Session | The Cause: The Cause Cafe | Join host Rosie Upton with special guest Moira Craig in a lovely ballad session . This is your chance to share songs so please join in! With: Rosie Upton, Jon Loomes | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 18:00 to 21:00 | Music Session hosted by ex-members of NYFTE | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | We are delighted to welcome back to Chippenham some of the amazing musicians who have passed through the ranks of NYFTE (National Youth Folk Troupe of England). Returning to Chippenham for the first time in years; Russ Hitchcock and Pete Ashmore will lead some of their favourite session tunes. To be honest, we don’t know exactly who else will turn up but you can be sure it will be a fabulous gathering and something very special With: Details to follow | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 20:00 to 23:00 | French Music and Dance | Old Road Tavern Barn | French session - Come along and join in playing French folk dance music. There's a chance to dance as well. With: Details to follow | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 21:00 to 23:00 | Singing Session hosted by The Luscombe Sisters | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Becky and Polly Luscombe are a harmonising duo. They have grown up in the folk world surrounded by shanty singers, so always enjoy a good pub session.
They are the daughters of Pete Luscombe of Portsmouth Shantymen, Ramskyte, and Wholehearted. So, clearly the apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
The girls also make up two thirds of Alternative Quay, in which they enjoy singing sea songs with Kevin Frost With: The Luscombe Sisters | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sessions on Monday 26th May 2025 (More to come) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| When | What | Where | Description | Price | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:00 to 11:30 | Practice Tune Session | Neald Cafe | Practice sessions for popular English dance tunes, any instrument. Ear players and readers are welcome. Dots provided, also downloadable on request. With: Spare Parts | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 10:30 to 11:30 | Developing Confidence in Session Playing | The Cause: The Cause Cafe | Want to feel more confident joining a session? Join Tony Hodkin (fiddle player for KJ Ceilidhs) for a fun, light-hearted workshop helping musicians improvise and play by ear. Bring your instrument along. With: Tony Hodkin | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:00 to 24:00 | Irish Session | Old Road Tavern | Join the pub in Chippenham where you will find music sessions year-round, for the first of its festival Irish sessions. All welcome. With: Details to follow | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11:00 to 13:00 | Music Session hosted by Lewis Wood | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Lewis Wood is a multi-instrumentalist, part of Granny's Attic, a duo with Helen Gentile and plays for the super-energetic Costwold Morris side Clausentum. Lewis is respectful to traditions but also keen to push their boundaries through his interpretations of traditional music. His tune repertoire is vast so expect some bangers ! With: Lewis Wood | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 13:00 to 16:00 | Music Session hosted by Pecsaetan Morris Musicians | Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar) | Pecsaetan are not only one of the finest Morris sides in the country but they also have some of the best folk musicians in their midst. We are so pleased they have agreed to round off our weekend in style. With: Pecsaetan (Cotswold) | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 15:30 to 17:00 | Ballad Session | The Cause: The Cause Cafe | Join host Rosie Upton with special guest Moira Craig in a lovely ballad session . This is your chance to share songs so please join in! With: Rosie Upton, Moira Craig | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 17:15 to 19:15 | Monday Folk Club | The Cause: The Cause Cafe | Bring your voices and join our fabulous hosts Mike Gibson and George Dale for a night of folk songs from far and wide. The bar will be open | Donation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||