EFDSS

EFDSS The English Folk Dance and Song Society – the national folk arts development organisation. EFDSS is the national folk arts development organisation for England.

We are here to champion the English traditional arts – music, song, dance, storytelling, customs and traditions – as part of the rich and diverse cultural landscape of the UK. We’re about preserving them, and we do that in our award winning library, the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (VWML) named after our former president, the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. But we’re also about promoting – s

houting about the richness and huge variety of art forms and wonderful people that work under this all-encompassing, very elastic term called FOLK, and providing endless opportunities for people to get involved. And we’re about developing. Folk is living, breathing and constantly being re-invented; we encourage artists to be inspired by the songs and dances that have been handed down through the generations and support them in various ways to create new songs, tunes and dances. From big bands to solo singers, morris dancers to contemporary choreographers, schools to mass participation, intimate folk clubs to major concert halls – our work reaches far and wide. And we’d love you to be a part of it.

18/06/2026

We had a very inspiring and informative time yesterday at our Folk Education Development Day, one of many highlights was getting to join Sorrel Wilde Community Singing and the Gloucester Folk Choir in singing as we walked in to the garden at The Folk of Gloucester.

Keep an eye on our YouTube channel as videos of the talks and workshops from the day will be uploaded in the next week or so.

Cuckoo!

17/06/2026

Meet the Rooted and Rising band!

Join us at the House for the first ever public sharing of this tree-inspired collaboration of acclaimed folk and world musicians, commissioned by EFDSS.

This tree-inspired collection of music was developed in collaboration with performers Adriano Adewale, Kuljit Bhamra, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Jenn Butterworth, Phoebe Harty, Nancy Kerr and Camilo Menjura - Music.

Tickets start at just £5.50, or if you would like to help support the creation of projects like these, there's the option to select a £10.50 'supporter' ticket.

Wed 8 Jul | 7.30pm
Book now: bit.ly/43Nwy6C

This week's episode of Classic Folk features tunes from:Kate & Anna McGarrigle Steeleye SpanBilly Mitchell and Jane Wade...
16/06/2026

This week's episode of Classic Folk features tunes from:
Kate & Anna McGarrigle
Steeleye Span
Billy Mitchell and Jane Wade
Sam Carter
Fairport Convention
Owen Spafford Music, Will Allen and Ben Filmer-Sankey
Clementine Lovell
Chris Brain
Joni Mitchell
Len Graham
Andrew Cadie
Blowzabella
Peta Webb
Cyril Tawney
Bonfire Radicals
Cockersdale
Chris & Steve Wilson
Chris Sarjeant
Christy Moore
Joan Mills
Will Allen & Becci Pamely
Walter Pardon
Brian Peters
Bellowhead
The Critics Group

Classic Folk with Mike Norris Classic Folk is unique. It mines a rich seam of wonderful folk and roots music and song from around 75 years of recordings. From the great source singers to the legends of folk rock, the travellers to the

Upcoming Screenings of 'A Basket Full of Eggs'This short film follows the personal journey of Romani filmmaker and advoc...
15/06/2026

Upcoming Screenings of 'A Basket Full of Eggs'

This short film follows the personal journey of Romani filmmaker and advocate Liza Mortimer into our archives, where she uncovers recordings and stories of Minty Smith, her great-grandmother, and other Romani folk singers who played an important role in helping preserve England’s traditional folk songs. The film has been produced by Patrin Films Ltd and funded by the University of East Anglia’s AHRC Impact Accelerator Award.

19-21 June, East Anglian Storytelling Festival, Stowmarket.
https://www.eastanglianstorytellingfestival.co.uk/

24 June, Royal College of Music, London.
https://www.rcm.ac.uk/events/details/?id=3682837

11-12 July, Strumpshaw Tree Fair, Norfolk
https://www.strumpshawtreefair.co.uk/

TBC 31 July-7 August, Sidmouth Folk Festival, Devon

26 August, Whitby Folk Week, North Yorkshire (time TBC)

TBC 5 September, Bungay Folk Festival, Suffolk

Now booking!Our Autumn Term of classes and courses are now available to book.You can learn Folk Dance, Folk Song or Folk...
12/06/2026

Now booking!
Our Autumn Term of classes and courses are now available to book.

You can learn Folk Dance, Folk Song or Folk Music with us.
Check out our adult Classes and Courses whether you want a drop in sessions of Morris or Country Dancing, to join our Choir or Ceilidh Band, or learn to play the Melodeon, Fiddle, Banjo or a whole host of other folk instruments, tunes, songs and dances.

You'll be learning from experienced experts and alongside enthusiastic participants.

Find out more: https://bit.ly/4xqMWYe

Our wonderful folk singers, The Cecil Sharp House Choir, will be celebrating the Summer Solstice with a gig at Museum of...
09/06/2026

Our wonderful folk singers, The Cecil Sharp House Choir, will be celebrating the Summer Solstice with a gig at Museum of the Home

Solstice Late
Sunday 21 June
5pm - 9pm
Free, but book your place

Museum of the Home
136 Kingsland Road
London E2 8EA

https://museumofthehome.org.uk/whats-on/solstice-late/

This week's Classic Folk features:The Green House BandRod ShearmanJudy CollinsBob DavenportRichard Grainger Richard Grai...
09/06/2026

This week's Classic Folk features:
The Green House Band
Rod Shearman
Judy Collins
Bob Davenport
Richard Grainger Richard Grainger - Tour and Album News
MANdolinMAN
Fred Jordan
The Gigspanner Big Band
Micky McConnell
Tommy Sands
Mat Green And Andy Turner
Vic Legg
Roy Harris
Olivia Chaney
Martyn Wyndham-Read
The John Richards Band
The Madeleine Stewart Trio
Lucky Bags
Dr. Faustus
Blackbeard's Tea Party
Harp and a monkey
Bird in the Belly
An Teallach Ceilidh Band

Classic Folk with Mike Norris Classic Folk is unique. It mines a rich seam of wonderful folk and roots music and song from around 75 years of recordings. From the great source singers to the legends of folk rock, the travellers to the

Just announced: the incredible Rooted and Rising show, premiering at festivals this summer, is coming to Cecil Sharp Hou...
03/06/2026

Just announced: the incredible Rooted and Rising show, premiering at festivals this summer, is coming to Cecil Sharp House for an exclusive preview.

Commissioned by EFDSS and guided by Adriano Adewale, this tree-inspired collection of music was developed in collaboration with performers Kuljit Bhamra, Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne, Jenn Butterworth, Phoebe Harty, Nancy Kerr and Camilo Menjura - Music.

Tickets start at just £5.50, or if you would like to help support the creation of projects like these, there's the option to select a £10.50 'supporter' ticket.

Wed 8 Jul | 7.30pm
Book now: bit.ly/43Nwy6C

Deadline: This Sunday!Apply now for a Creative Bursary for Folk Musicians:Full Bursary with Residency● a bursary of up t...
28/05/2026

Deadline: This Sunday!

Apply now for a Creative Bursary for Folk Musicians:
Full Bursary with Residency
● a bursary of up to £2,000
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
● up to five days of rehearsal space at Cecil Sharp House, London. Applicants that wish to work elsewhere will be considered but no additional funding for space hire will be available.
● additional funding for Access needs.
Research Bursary
● a bursary of £500
● research facilities at the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library (online and in person) and support from library and archive staff.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 31 May 2026.
Find out more and apply now: https://bit.ly/4cYCT4z

Address

2 Regents Park Road
London
NW17AY

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 11pm
Tuesday 9am - 11pm
Wednesday 9am - 11pm
Thursday 9am - 11pm
Friday 9am - 11pm
Saturday 9am - 11pm
Sunday 9am - 11pm

Telephone

+442074852206

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