Dragon Folk Club

01/09/2026

It was another great turn-out at the Dragon Folk Club Session last week. We were very pleased to welcome Dragon first-timer Raf complete with his accordion. It was also great to welcome back Paula and Denny's non-performing friend Chris for her second annual visit.

The main pre-session business this week was to announce some special themes, so here is a calendar going up to Christmas. Remember that Fridays not mentioned are almost certainly sessions too, but without a theme:

- 18 Sept - Harvest (associated with the 4th European Folk Day - )
- 25 Sept - No theme (associated with the 4th European Folk Day - )
- 30 Oct - Halloween / Samhain / etc.
- 6 Nov - Bonfire Night / Guy Fawkes / fireworks / campfire songs
- 13 Nov - Remembrance / war / anti-war
- 27 Nov - St Andrew's Day / St Andrew / Scotland
- 18 Dec - Christmas / Yule / Hanukkah / etc.
- 25 Dec - No session
- 1 Jan - No session
- 8 Jan - New Year / Twelfth Night / etc.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Publicity shot of American singer Dolly Parton, 1977 It was another great turn-out at the Dragon Folk Club Session last week. We were very p...

27/08/2026

23rd September 2026 will be the 4th European Folk Day.

I am pleased to announce that for the second year, our Dragon Folk Club sessions on 18th and 25th September will be affiliated to the European Folk Network's .

Please support our sessions on those dates and any Friday that you can make it to The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol, UK, BS16 9NG.

We look forward to meeting you whether you are already friends or just about to become so.

26/08/2026

We're a friendly lot at the Dragon Folk Club and you are always very welcome to join us whether you perform or not.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

18/08/2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was a little thinner on the ground than recently, but it gave us an opportunity not only for some less-sung songs, but also for a some chat on various topics. I'm sure the normal, quick-fire, song-dense session will be back on Friday.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Blue Hills Tin Mine, Trevallas, Cornwall (Photo: Simon Meeds) Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was a little thinner on the ground than r...

10/08/2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was the usual eclectic mix of songs, providing an entertaining evening. There were eight songs new to the Dragon database including some surprising previous omissions at least two of which had been sung here before, but before the days of the database.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

02/08/2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session saw two visitors: Mark from Derbyshire returned a year after his first appearance, and Chris S, now from the Isle of Man, came along after an absence of six years. Chris, who usually sings with a shanty group, gave us a couple of songs but otherwise read the words of songs as poems, showing that pretty much anything goes as long as it's acoustic. In fact as if to drive the point home, regular non-performer Hazel was persuaded to tell us some of her jokes.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Three men walked into a bar... [they are not the folk club] (Photo: Simon Meeds) Last week's Dragon Folk Club session saw two visitors: Mark...

28/07/2026

At last week's Dragon Folk Club session we were delighted to welcome back Mel who last visited us over six years ago, and Habib who accompanied him on this visit. It was Habib's first experience of the club and we hope they will return.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Plantation remains in Saint Lucia (Photo: Simon Meeds) At last week's Dragon Folk Club session we were delighted to welcome back Mel who las...

20/07/2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was quite a contrast to the one that came before with what we would consider a decent crowd, and the singing wasn't too bad either. It was great to see Helen for the first time since March, but otherwise it was all regulars except for... well' I'll come to that in a minute.

This Friday though we are likely to be a bit thinner on the ground with regulars, so you are strongly urged to come along and see what what we do. While we'd love you to perform it's fine if you don't feel like doing so this time, we'd just appreciate your company, your chat, and maybe you can join in with a chorus or five!

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Paul and Denny making up (Photo: Simon Meeds) Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was quite a contrast to the one that came before with wha...