Cecil Sharp House, home of the English Folk Dance & Song Society’, was recently voted one of the coolest places to visit in Camden Town. It’s not the only surprising aspect to the 90-year-old arts and crafts gem tucked away behind a wall in the heart of this lively London borough and nestled in its own award-winning garden.
Having reopened its doors to the public earlier in the summer, England’s premier folk arts centre, complete with bar and cafe, is now thriving again and looks forward to providing a customary warm welcome to audiences to the house for a diverse and brilliant Winter and Christmas season. As well as a host of gigs there are also a myriad of courses, talks and workshops, choirs and a wide range of folk dances to explore, whether Morris, or Country, Morena Slovak or Salsa.
(Buy full-price tickets for three or more EFDSS-promoted gigs in the same transaction and get 20% of all of them! – Quote ‘Sharper’)
Belshazzar’s Feast (9th Dec) 7.30pm (£15 / £10 under 26)
Belshazzar’s Feast return to the House with their celebrated and unique Christmas show which mixes music, seasonal material, mixed with classical, pop and music hall, topped off with a bit of audience participation and a compliment of wry humour. Paul Sartin and Paul Hutchinson, both consummate musicians, always send audiences home feeling better about the world.
Festive Gathering (12th) 7pm (£15 / £10 under 26)
A Christmas concert, with a folk twist. Cecil Sharp House Choir and guests invite you to their annual yuletide celebration crammed with song, dance, music and great good cheer!
Celtic Christmas with Calan (15th Dec) 7.30pm (£16.50 / £10 under 26)
‘A storming juggernaut of Cymru-with-attitude folk and a jaw-dropping repertoire’, Calan are an award-winning band of five virtuoso Welsh musicians (formed in Sweden) who have been going from strength to strength, winning new fans in Wales but far beyond it now too.
A Winter Union (16th Dec) 7.30pm (£16 / £10 under 26)
A Winter Union features five distinctive figures in the current folk and roots scene who present glorious wassails, fresh arrangements of traditional carols and original songs. Hannah Sanders & Ben Savage, Katriona Gilmore and Jamie Roberts and Jade Rhiannon create beautiful vocal harmonies with instrumental accompaniment.
Freedom to Roam (18th Dec) 7.30pm (£25 / £80 (VIP) / £10 (under 26)
Featuring a formidable melting-pot of talent ‘Freedom to Roam’ will be a concert (with album launch) of a very special global musical journey including compelling, original music and inspirational visuals, all in aid of the Born Free Foundation. Catrin Finch, Kuljit Bhamra, Jackie Shave, Lydia Lowndes-Northcott, Robert Irvine, Eliza Marshall, Donal Rogers and Joby Burgess. This event will open with the world premiere screening of a documentary by award-winning director, Nicholas Jones.
Read our recent interview with members of Freedom to Roam: Eliza Marshall, Catrin Finch, Dónal Rogers and Jackie Shave.
The Young ‘Uns (22nd Dec) 7.30pm (£18 / £10 under 26)
Teeside trio and three times winners of BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, The Young Uns are trail-blazing, big-hearted, funny, brass-lunged lads from the North of England who sing hard-hitting trad and self-penned harmony folk songs with a very modern edge.
New Year’s Eve Ceilidh (31st Dec) 8pm – 12.30am (£45 / £35 under 26)
Dance away the old year and welcome in 2022 to the irresistible, distinctive sounds and lively dances of an English Ceilidh. With music from the Silver Street Ceilidh Band, popular caller Martin Clarke will show you the moves in this friendly and Covid secure environment. Suitable for beginners and experienced dancers alike, come with friends or arrive on your own and have a great time, either way. Recommended for everyone (over 10 years old).
Find out more here: https://www.efdss.org/