EFDSS

The EFDSS Ceilidh Workshop Band fiddled (strummed and squeezed and fluted) up a storm at the Chippenham Folk Festival

Check out more changes to dance or sing along with our choirs, bands and ensembles over this Festival season: https://www.efdss.org/about-us/what-we-do/news/15949-efdss-out-and-about-this-summer-2026

And keep your eyes peeled for next term's classes and courses being announced soon, so you too can join the band!

Photo by Christopher Friedland

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 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

A recipient of one of our Dance Mini Grants, The Sheffield Youth Folk Festival is the first of its kind, and is a day-long celebration of folk and traditional cultures from across Sheffield, on 20 June.

Celebrating 10 years of Folk Factory, Soundpost’s youth groups have joined forces with Welcoming Cultures, to present a diverse day of song, dance, music, fashion and culture, showcasing the importance of folk and traditional heritage to Sheffield's young people today.

https://www.soundpost.org.uk/sheffieldyouthfolkfestival.html

Our census of dance callers is now live!

We'd love you to take part if you're over 18 and call for social folk dancing of any kind.

The 20 minute survey will ask about topics like: what brought you into calling, what sorts of events you call for, and what helped you on your journey to becoming a caller.

Compete the survey here: https://bit.ly/4tW6zV8

Image: Lisa Heywood calling, photographer Rosie Reed Gold

The Archivist, a film about David “Doc” Rowe is to be shown at - there are still tickets available for the screening on Sunday 14th June at 🎥 Rowe has devoted his life to documenting customs, songs and celebrations that few others thought worthy of attention, building an extraordinary archive along the way. As personal challenges mount and the collection’s future grows uncertain, the urgency of his mission sharpens. With remarkable access, we get close to Rowe as he pushes forward, idiosyncratic and unflappable, navigating the fragile line between preserving memory and letting go. The Archivist is a story about one person’s determination to celebrate the living traditions that connect us to where we come from and who we are, whatever the cost.