Music
Music is led and organised by one or more camp musicians. Our camp musicians are very experienced both at playing and running workshops and are often members of well-known ceilidh and folk bands.
Each day starts with a music workshop which is designed to accommodate all levels of ability and all types of instruments.
There will be new tunes and arrangements to try out, as well as old session favourites. The music will generally be in the folk tradition, both from the UK and further afield.
There may be music sessions organised at the local pub, and there will certainly be outbreaks of spontaneous music making throughout the camp.
The chances are there will be quite a few musicians around ranging from the first-time comb and paper enthusiast to the very competent squeeze box player, with the occasional professional thrown in for good measure. Whatever your standard, you will always be able to find someone else to play with.
Quite a few people will help play tunes for dancing in the evening and for other workshops such as morris dancing.
For the real enthusiast we run specialist musicians' and session playing camps.
1206 Miserden session musicians weekend1207 Beckford musicians weekend
Full programme of Folk Camps
Of course musicians' camps also include the normal Folk Camp activities of dance and song.
Alumni
Many well-known musicians have attended folk camps, including:
John Kirkpatrick
One of the most prominent figures on the English Folk Scene for many years attended several folk camps from the outset into the early 1970's
Paul Sartin
Member of Bellowhead and Belshazzar's Feast
Climax Ceilidh Band
All five members are folk campers and most are staff musicians and leaders
3 Sticks
Long serving and popular staff musicians
Jay Parrack
Jay often leads on our singers' weekends
Karen Dietz
Karen often leads on our singers' weekends and is a great dance caller
