The Traditional Exchange

15/03/2026

Join The Traditional Exchange at Manchester Folk Festival for our "Singing at Work" workshop! 5pm, Saturday 21st in the workshop space at Band on the Wall, Northern Quater.

Alastair, Ella, James, and Lydia will take your on a tour of work song from across the British and Irish Isles; from the naval to the pastoral, from mines to mills, from backbreaking labour to household work. This 60 minute workshop isn't just meant to teach you a few new songs, but get you thinking about your own relation to work song; a tradition as old as work itself! All abilities and knowledge level welcome.

Tickets ca be found here: https://www.eventim-light.com/uk/a/64cbc1894c68975d31f8bc69/e/69750b498dc04301648ffaf2?lang=en

16/01/2026

Platt Fields Market Garden Wassail tomorrow! Wassail proper starts at 1pm. Bring your acoustic instruments for a session after!

07/01/2026

WASSAIL WITH US! 🌱

Our first event of the year, our annual Wassail will take place on the 17th of January at Platt Fields Market Garden!

We’ll be blessing the Platt Fields orchard, having a sing-song and enjoying some cider!

If you’d like to head down earlier, we’re hosting an Orchard Pruning Workshop for those of you who want to learn to care for fruit trees.

Head over to our website for more info! See you in the trees 🌳

07/01/2026

01/01/2026

By popular demand our Wassail Guide is Back!

Medlock Valley, Ancoats Tuesday 6th 7pm
Ryebank fields Saturday 10th 3:30pm
Levenshulme Quadrants, Sunday 11th 3pm
Platt Fields Market Garden, Saturday 17th 12pm
Marbury Road Edible Garden Saturday 24th 4pm
Chorlton Park, Saturday 31st 2pm

What we have here are our known wassails in Manchester, if you have any others around GM put details in the comments and we will do our best to share them. Wassail!

30/11/2025

Join us for Folk Carolling in Manchester this Christmas!
Sunday 7th 11-1pm @ Platt Fields Market Garden. This is the folk fusion session so bring instruments if you can!

Sunday 14th, 2-5pm @ The Britons Protection. This is a singaround for just voices, and will be upstairs.

Sunday 21st 7-10pm @ The Gaslamp on Bridge Street. Again this is a singaround.

We apologies that The Britons Protection and The Gaslamp are not accessible. Platt Fields Market Garden is an outdoor location.

The Traditional Exchange x Sunday Singaround

23/09/2025

Folk Session at the mud_cic Harvest Festival at Platt Fields Market Garden this Sunday 28th. 10:30-12:30. Bring your [acoustic] instruments. To be followed by the "Magpies Away" procession. Free entry no ticket required, however registration appreciated; https://www.wearemud.org/store/p/harvest-festival-sunday-family-day

19/07/2025

FREE Brown Wimpenny gig at Hulme Garden Centre THIS SUNDAY. They are on stage at 1pm. Bring your instruments for a session after.