Related Activities

Tap and Spile Music Sessions

Musicians sessions are held every Tuesday at the Tap and Spile at 8:30 p.m. This Cask Marque pub serves a good variety of real ales and is located in Tower Street just off West Park in Harrogate. The landlord reserves a couple of tables for the musicians. Some players are music readers and some players are ear players. Music can be provided for the readers for some of the "standard" session tunes used. All instruments are welcome - at a typical session you will see (and hear!) northumbrian pipes, fiddle, melodeon, mandolin, guitar, whistle, recorder, bodhran and concertina. Music includes English, Irish, Scottish and even some continental tunes.

How to find the Tap and Spile - Link to Multimap for the Tap and Spile, Tower Street, Harrogate, HG1 1HS

Playing for Dancing

Some the the club's musicians also play for one or two local folk dance clubs. Anyone can play along but there is no fee - it is done for "nowt"!

Ray Black also runs a folk dance band called "The Blackthorn Skit" - formerly Konfusalem.Contact Ray for more information.

Busking and Fund Raising

We occasionally hold busking sessions in the town centre to raise funds for the club. These can be great fun and again - anyone is welcome.

Every year folk club performers put on a folk evening out in the Dales to raise money for The Nidderdale Festival. We have also done the same sort of thing for a church in Starbeck. The session players went along to Henshaw's en-masse last year to play along with their musicians and generally entertain all the students. We are always happy to do charity playing for interested parties.

Workshops

A possible future project will be to start free workshops to encourage people to develop their skills and/or self confidence to sing or play at the club or in a session.