Successful Balfour pub session, 26 Woolbrook Road Sidmouth Folk Week 2012 with the Loose Knit Band
The friendly Loose Knit Band sessions during Sidmouth Folk Week have always been popular, especially for relatively beginner musicians and the popularity of these sessions was confirmed when the Loose Knit Band took the difficult decision to move this traditional mailnly folk music instrumental session from the Sidmouth Sailing and Sea Angling Club in Sidmouth to The Balfour pub at 26 Woolbrook Road, Sidmouth.
The Balfour pub is set back from Sidmouth sea front but is readily accessible from the official festival camp site and the Alpha buses that service the other main Sidmouth Folk Week camp sites agreed to pick up and drop off visitors to the Balfour pub.
Given that this free (just buy a drink at the bar) session was estimated to have between 40 and 70 musicians attending each night, it seems that this welcoming session, hosted by the Loose Knit Band, will continue to provide an excellent opportunity for instrumental folk musicians, experienced and otherwise, to enjoy playing traditional English and other folk music tunes from around the world in a warm and welcoming atmosphere during many more Sidmouth Folk Weeks in the future :-)
Best beginners festival pub folk music sessions Sidmouth Folk Week 2012 at The Balfour pub Sidmouth
Pub folk music sessions are a great way for musicians to get experience playing their musical instruments in public and, for less experienced musicians, perhaps the best traditional pub folk music pub sessions during Sidmouth folk festival week 2012 were the mainly instrumental sessions at The Balfour, 26 Woolbrook Road, Sidmouth.
Hosted by the ever amiable Loose Knit Band and a very friendly and welcoming new pub landlord, this mainly instrumental session has recently, after many years at the Sailing Club in Sidmouth, moved to it's new current location at The Balfour, 26 Woolbrook Road, Sidmouth. The move has certainly proved successful with regulars of this session enjoying the huge amount of space and excellent acoustics that enabled the traditional folk music sessions to go with a real swing.
Of course, Sidmouth Folk Week only takes place once a year (although the Loose Knit Band does organise a Winter Reunion too) but beginner traditional folk musicians can often find pub folk music sessions close to them that are great for practising their tunes in public. Indeed, Martin Hughes, a key member of the Loose Knit Band, currently hosts a fortnightly traditional folk music session near Martock in Somerset, UK (see further information on his web site). If you are passing or live near there, I'm sure he will give you a good welcome. It's free so just buy a drink at the bar and join in :-)
MVI 4378
COTTON performed by SID CALDERBANK at The Volunteer Inn, Sidmouth, on Friday 10 August 2018, during Folk Week.
2016-Chucklefoot playing at the Swan Sidmouth.
Folk music tune sessions for beginner or less inexperienced musicians at The Balfour pub, Sidmouth
If you are a musician and enjoy live music playing traditional folk music tunes, a really good session to visit during Sidmouth Folk Week was held at The Balfour, Sidmouth this year (2012). Hosted by the Loose Knit Band, this popular session, especially favoured by beginner or less experienced musicians, recently moved from the Sailing Club in Sidmouth. With lots of space and excellent acoustics at this new venue, and judging from its popularity during Sidmouth Week 2012, this session, hosted by friendly and experienced musicians of the Loose Knit Band, now looks set to enjoy its new home at the Balfour well into the future.
Playing traditional folk music tunes at a session is a great way for beginner or less inexperienced musicians to practise playing and to get a taste for playing in front of an audience. The pub session at The Balfour, Sidmouth is particularly good because of the number of musicians playing which means a novice musician feels less exposed to others hearing any mistakes.
If you are visiting Sidmouth Folk Week and are looking for a welcoming traditional folk music instrumental session to play a few tunes, where inexperienced or beginner musicians are welcomed, why not check out the Loose Knit Band session at the Balfour, 26 Woolbrook Road, Sidmouth. Perhaps I'll see you there :-)
The Perfect Strangers at The Radway Inn Sidmouth. Oct 2012
The Perfect Strangers at The Radway Inn Hat Party,Perform Fleetwood Mac's - Oh well Sidmouth. October 2012
Windsor Morris, Beaux of London City, Badby - Sidmouth Folk Festival
*The side performing in the video might not be the originators of the dance. If teaching the dance please research who the originators of the dance are and credit them where credit is due.
Jenny Lind played at regular monthly Halsway Manor, Crowcombe, Somerset, UK folk music session
Halsway Manor, set in the heart of rural Somerset, UK seeks to be a national centre for the folk arts and, recently, under the new leadership of Paul James (CEO), is hoping to expand its activities significantly. Ideas from the public and folkies about directions to take to further support the folk arts are currently particularly welcomed.
Here we see the traditional folk tune Jenny Lind played at the regular monthly Halsway Manor, Crowcombe, Somerset, UK folk music session in June 2012.
Public and acoustic instrument musicians are welcome to listen or join in with this monthly traditional folk music tune session. Just buy a drink at the bar.
To find out about the next session, just phone Halsway Manor near Crowcombe in Somerset, UK! Perhaps I'll see you there :-)
Sidmouth, Seafront - Grafschaft Devon - UK - 05.12.2010
Am Strand von Sidmouth UK.
Hier waren wir mit unserer Tochter am 05. Dezember 2010
Wir fuhren mit dem Bus von Exeter in Südengland, Grafschaft = Devon, nach Sidmouth.
Sidmouth Marine and Carinas New Year Party
Sidmouth Marine and Carinas New Year Party
The Mountain Devils teaser: LIVE at The William Wallace : Sydney Australia : May 2019 : Pub Rock
Mountain Devils: Americana Blues, Roots, Rock and Original music. This live teaser was taken on two iPhones from the crowd. So thanx to Wendy and Paul for the vids and pics.
Folk in a Pub Folktober
Folk Music. Is it just in pubs and what's it's influence? We're setting out to answer these questions. You'd be forgiven to find out that it's more popular and in more venues than you think.
In this production, we're at Fagan's in Sheffield, where Folk Music still resides, but not restricted to pubs on the run up to Folktober.
For more info contact Andrew E: lubyjediknight@aol.com
Just Like A Movie
Just Like A Movie - performed by Dory and Drew at The Balfour Arms OM Open Mic Night in Sidmouth, England
Traditional English pub music at Sidmouth folk festival
Inside the Bedford Hotel at Sidmouth folk festival where musicians are welcome to join in. Captured by TRANCEHI.
Folk music session - Stags Head London 2009/12
Folk music session lunchtime at Stag's Head pub, Hoxton, London. Sunday 13 December 2009.
Sidmouth Folk Festival procession
An opening ceremony to rival the Olympics.
Ditchling Session 2
Another great evening at Ditchling
Irvine UK the ship amazing folk session 15.04.2014
The ship pub, amazing live folk session
Real English Pub Music Jam Session In A Proper Old Pub in South Devon UK
Boxing Day 2011 afternoon at the Old Church House Inn at Torbryan UK, Local patrons having an informal session playing instruments in the Pub. Was a great afternoon!