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Autumn Programme 2026

28th Emily Portman and Friends £20 (£15)

Emily Portman & Friends

Emily Portman is an award-winning singer and songwriter with a passion for traditional songs, hailed as “one of the new British folk scene’s most beguiling presences” (Uncut). She has toured widely for over 15 years as a bandleader, with The Furrow Collective, the folk chart-topping Sea Song Sessions, and in a duo with Leveret’s Rob Harbron. Emily was awarded a BBC Folk Award for Best Original Song and has released three critically acclaimed albums of original material that recast old ballads and fairytales into new shapes.

In 2026, Emily returns to the road with an inspired new live show playing songs from her new critically acclaimed solo album, Dominion of Spells, released in May 2026, alongside selected material from across her acclaimed catalogue.

Dominion of Spells marks a bold new chapter in Emily’s songwriting. Drawing on ballads and folktales, the album weaves lived experience with rich mythic imagery, charting a journey through dark woods at midlife in search of transformation and wonder. Shape-shifting selkies, fairy queens, foxes, and owl goddesses thread through contemporary story-songs exploring parenthood, home, burnout, grief, and the transformative power of creativity.

The new songs are brought vividly to life with a fresh live line-up featuring sought-after guitarist Louis Campbell and acclaimed cellist Lucy Revis (Before Breakfast). Together they create a richly layered yet understated sound world, with Emily’s luminous vocals, banjo, and piano at the centre, woven through crystalline harmonies, lush strings, and interweaving electric and acoustic guitars.

Audiences can expect an intimate, spellbinding performance where traditional influences meet contemporary storytelling.

“A really great listen… sonically full of interesting little details.” — Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2 Folk Show

“Of all the singers and songwriters in British folk music, few have the ability to encapsulate what it means to be human in the way that Emily Portman does. Dominion of Spells is a real and vital piece of work, something to be cherished.”  —Klof Mag

“Dominion of Spells showcases Emily Portman’s beautiful take on traditional stories brought into the present day, giving them a powerful modern relevance.” — At The Barrier

“Deeply emotional and absolutely authentic” — Liverpool Sound & Vision.

“Portman has a gift for melding modern times with traditional folk ideals…Portman has given food for thought as well as a terrific set of songs” — Americana UK

“The spell it casts is magical indeed” — Fatea

“Emily’s vocals are clear, beautifully controlled and emotionally precise. This is a complex, layered collection in which each listen reveals new depths – magical yet grounded, a work of feminine exploration, resistance and growth. Though it draws on many traditions, the voice at its centre is unmistakably her, supported by musicianship that is atmospheric, apposite and quietly superb.” — FOLK LONDON 

“Portman’s sure command of ancient folklore, spellcraft and balladry turns them into living forces and entities.” — SONGLINES

October

5th Open Mic Unplugged night £4

12th Singers and Musicians Night £4

19th John Kirkpatrick and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne £20 (£15)

A unique intergenerational duo – both virtuoso players – John Kirkpatrick and Cohen Braithwaite-Kilcoyne are an exciting new musical combo exploring the possibilities of concertina music in an entertaining and joyous celebration of their art. Both energetic and charismatic performers, this duo highlights their kindred passion for English traditional music and song, whilst both also finding inspiration from a range of other musical genres as part of their sets.

John is a mighty oak of the English tradition, an acclaimed and MBE-decorated English folk musician and one of the most prolific figures on the scene, having performed in every format from solo shows to folk rock bands like Steeleye Span and numerous ceilidh bands He has established an enviable reputation as an instrumental virtuoso on melodeon, Anglo concertina and button accordion as well as being a powerhouse singer.

26th Open Mic Unplugged £4

November

2nd Tog Faire £12 (£10)

Simon is a flautist (specialising in folk but with a classical and jazz background) and a whistle player. He also sings in both English and Scottish Gaelic.
Jake is a contemporary guitarist and arranger from Brighton with a varied musical background. Having known each other for many years and worked together in various genres and larger ensembles, Jake and Simon began swapping their favourite folk tunes and exploring sets as a duo at the start of 2023.

They’ve now found their stride, with Simon’s love of the Scottish and Irish traditions and years of research as a Musical Director meeting with Jake’s contemporary background and fresher, funkier take. Simon is in Scotland as often as he can get away with, singing, playing and learning from whoever he can at festivals such as the Mòd and Fèis Rois. Both Simon and Jake can be found at sessions in Lewes, Brighton and London whenever they can find the time.

9th Singers and Musicians Night £4

16th Open Mic Unplugged £4

23rd Hilary Spencer £10 (£8)

Hilary Spencer is a renowned singer known for her powerful and assured voice, which has been a significant part of the award winning British acapella trio Artisan. She has also been a member of the Mrs Ackroyd Band and the quicksilver band with Grant Bayham. Spencers talent extends beyond her solo work, as she continues to perform with various groups and festivals, showcasing her versatility and musical prowess. Her performances are characterised by her ability to convey emotion and energy, making her beloved figure in the folk music scene.

30th Clive Gregson and the Hayes Sisters £18 (£12)

A consummate guitarist, mandolin player and songwriter in his own right, Clive Gregson toured as part of the Nanci Griffith’s Blue Moon Orchestra from 1996-2007. Nanci’s version of Clive’s “I Love This Town” was released as a single in 2006 and became a radio hit in both America and the UK. Clive’s musical bio is too long to mention here, but includes the cult band Any Trouble, a spell with Richard Thompson’s band and as half of the acclaimed duo Gregson and Collister.

The Stockport based sisters Angela and Cathryn Hayes have their own distinct style with sounds suggestive of The Roches and the McGarrigles. They have been long-time Nanci Griffith fans and their vocal interpretations of her songs are spot-on.

Clive got to know the Hayes Sisters whilst producing their debut album “Another Man’s Shoes”. A mutual admiration for Nanci’s great catalogue of songs sparked the idea of this collaboration, with the trio now touring their personal take on these classics through 2026.

December

7th Open Mic Unplugged £4

14th Back Of A Length £8 (£6)

John and Mark formed Back of a Length in 2021, after meeting as members of a short-lived Celtic folk-rock band. Enjoying its brief but wide range of musical experimentation, they committed to continuing to work together to make music that is:

· Traditional – arrangements of traditional folk songs and tunes mainly from the British Isles but also elsewhere in Europe;

 · Contemporary – interpretations of songs from the last 60 years using folk instrumentation but applied to material from sometimes very different backgrounds;

 · Original – songs written by Mark, both new ones written specifically for Back of a Length and older ones re-arranged for folk instrumentation.

In choosing the duo’s perhaps mystifying name, John and Mark drew on their mutual love of cricket. “Back of a length” is the description applied to a bouncier-than-usual delivery that fizzes up unexpectedly around the batter’s ears – in a way that mirrors our ambition to provide our audience with (hopefully pleasant!) musical surprises.

Based in Surrey, Back of a Length has played extensively in folk clubs and pubs in Surrey and South London. A first album – a set of 10 songs titled “Green & Pleasant Land” – was recorded in 2024 and is now available on CD. All ten fuses traditional tunes with newly written original songs to create a novel blend that also showcases the three solo instruments John and Mark play – flute, guitar and harmonica.

21st Christmas Party Singers and Musicians night free

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