UPCOMING SHOWS
Folklore Sessions host live events & showcase performances at venues across the South of England.
We also host shows at our own venue - The Folklore Rooms
The third Tuesday, every month...
Folklore Monthly Showcase
The Folklore Rooms
Free Entry
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Once a month we bring three of our favourite artists to our home, The Folklore Rooms.
Having run since September 2014, Folklore has become a staple of the Brighton music scene having hosted over 300 different artists and bands including; Passenger, Bess Atwell, George Ogilvie, Phil Cook, Chloe Foy, Junior Brother, Jacko Hooper, Willy Tea Taylor, Katherine Priddy, The Xcerts and many, many more.
Free entry, doors are at 7.30PM and the first 60 people to arrive will have entry to the show - So arrive early!
Folklore Promoted Shows...
MEZANMI
+ Paul Thomas Saunders
22nd November
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The Folklore Rooms
£10
Having previously released music under the name AJIMAL, on 'Always Upwards', O’Hanlon enters a new era, with his ambient folk and contemporary classical sound taking on an increasingly electronic and experimental edge. His distinctive vocals now elevated by cinematic string arrangements, stirring rhythms and ethereal synths.
A continuation of his collaboration with double-Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer Guy Massey, the album features a number of collaborations with artists and musicians from across the worlds of electronic, folk, and contemporary classical music.
Sly5thAve
+ Steven Bamidele
24th November
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The Prince Albert
£12.50
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“SO good”
– Lauren Laverne (BBC 6Music)
“All y’all need the check this cat when you can”
- Huey Morgan (BBC 6Music)
“Sly5thAve keeps on delivering”
- The Fader
“Sly5thAve on point”
- Tony Minvielle (Jazz FM)
Brooklyn-based producer, composer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Sly5thAve presents his first ever Brighton live show, fresh from a North American tour with Alfa Mist, and arranging/conducting for Questlove and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Known for his sophisticated compositions, Sylvester Uzoma Onyejiaka II aka Sly5thAve’s sound is shaped by his faith in hip-hop, and deep understanding of soul, R&B and jazz.
Project Smok
+ Sistie Moose
24th November
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The Folklore Rooms
£17.00
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Project Smok is the neo-trad trio of Ali Levack, Ewan Baird and Pablo Lafuente, whose nonconformist and progressive Scottish traditional music has set them apart since their formation in 2017.
With tunes built around the distinctive piping of BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year 2020 Ali Levack, paired with Ewan Baird’s skilled bodhran playing and Pablo Lafuente’s nuanced guitar, electric guitar and production, the trio manage to naturally bring together an array of musical aspects. Throw in instrumental virtuosity, blistering drive, infectious rhythm and a delicate sensitivity and you have Project Smok’s thirst-quenching sound.
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It’s little wonder they have fast become a recognised and household name in the traditional music scene. They boast nominations for ‘Best Up and Coming Artist’ at the MG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2018 and the ‘Belhaven Bursary for Innovation’ at the same awards in 2019, not to mention an unforgettable collaboration with 2019 Scottish Album of the Year nominee Edwyn Collins on their 2020 debut album, ‘Bayview’.
Lydia Luce x Andrea von Kampen
+ Support TBC
30th November
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The Folklore Rooms
£13.50
Lydia Luce:
​On her new album Florida Girl, Lydia Luce offers up a body of work graced with all the transformative beauty of watercolor, at turns delicate, dreamlike, and instantly potent in its emotional realism. The second full-length from the Fort Lauderdale-born singer/songwriter, Florida Girl matches its luminous form of indie-folk with an in-depth examination of Luce’s inner life, exploring everything from mortality to body image to the ineffable intricacy of human connection. As she bares her soul and unburdens her heart, Luce slowly embraces her own infinite complexity—ultimately arriving at the self-possessed state of mind that inspired the album’s title.
Andrea von Kampen:
Sharing the stage with an impressive array of artists, including The Tallest Man on Earth, Trampled by Turtles, Watchhouse, Punch Brothers, The Wood Brothers, Bonny Light Horseman, Darlingside, Lief Vollebekk, Dead Horses, and many others, von Kampen has established herself on the road. She has played renowned music festivals such as The Newport Folk Festival and the Rocky Mountain Folks Festival.
Porchlight
+ Wonderbug
8th December
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The Folklore Rooms
£8.00
Structured chaos- perhaps the most fail-safe description of the ins and outs of being an artist. Between the peculiar highs and all too relatable lows, chaos follows art like houses in motion; all lofty ambitions, and fast-paced progress.
For Porchlight, chaos, and the art of being a band, in all its complex commodities, is nothing more than mere childsplay, in the grand scheme of lawless artistry.
Viv & Riley
+ Support TBC
24th January
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The Folklore Rooms
£13.00
Viv & Riley's sound is old-soul roots music to its core, elegantly combining a traditional backbone with the fresh iconic melodies of future-leaning indie-folk, and the tightly wound vocal harmonies of the old-time and classic country music they came from.
Although they grew up on opposite sides of the country, Riley in Seattle, Washington, and Vivian in Lexington, Virginia, the two had an instant musical connection upon meeting in 2018. The pair has been collaborating since then, honing their sound playing hundreds of shows across the US, UK, and Canada.
Since 2018, they’ve recorded and released multiple albums to critical acclaim from the likes of NPR Music, Rolling Stone, and No Depression, and have garnered nearly six million streams on Spotify.
Ríoghnach Connolly & Honeyfeet
+ Potter
13th February
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The Prince Albert
£18.00
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Ríoghnach Connolly, the BBC Radio 2 Folk Singer of the Year, leads Honeyfeet with her eclectic taste for musical adventure. Together, they drive a broad terrain of musical textures, from esoteric protest songs to foot-tapping and floor-thumping dance rhythms. Known for her deadpan wit and broad, smiling on-stage banter, Connolly delights in sharing her multicultural voyage of discovery, pushing aside life’s banality in favor of mischievous energy and creative joy.
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Honeyfeet’s album, *Orange Whip*, released in March 2018, was met with critical acclaim and was BBC 6 Music’s Album of the Day. The band’s energetic and captivating performances have made them a staple on the festival circuit, headlining stages at Shambala, Beautiful Days, Cambridge Folk Festival, Glastonbury, Boomtown, Wilderness, Secret Garden Party, and Kendal Calling – to name but a few!
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Jamie Lawson
7th February 2025
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The Folklore Rooms
£28.00
Ivor Novello award-winning singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson releases ‘Matter To Me’ on September 22nd, the third single from his forthcoming 6th album Little Weaknesses, released October 20 th . Following a four-year hiatus, Jamie has returned with his most poignant and heartfelt work to date. Chronicling the earliest years of fatherhood and a newfound creative energy, Little Weaknesses is a record that embraces brightness and brims with optimism for the future.
‘Matter To Me’ is a cheerful, sing-along anthem that Jamie describes as “a song about letting those who need to hear it know that you’re there for them”. Continuing the thread of togetherness and love that defined the previous two singles ‘When It Comes To Love’ and ‘Napoleon Dynamite’, it’s a track that unapologetically cuts through the bleakness of the past few years and whole-heartedly champions joy – a message embedded into each moment on the album.
The Breath
+ Support TBC
21st February
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The Folklore Rooms
£22.50
The Breath have released three albums on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. Their breakthrough album, ‘Carry Your Kin’ (2016) delved deeply into the spaces between rock, ambient and Irish folk, where layered vocals, mesmerising guitar riffs and expansive folk arrangements created a big sound. ‘Let the Cards Fall’ followed in 2018, and, like the first, was recorded with a full band granting a multi-textured kaleidoscope of sound with a cinematic sensibility.
eferences to Celtic history and cultural loss are woven into a bewitching collection of songs that span beguiling ballads and punch-the-air anthems. In support of the release, Stuart and Ríoghnach performed a series of shows – just the two of them. Stripped bare, they found a new depth and beauty in their songs allowing their extraordinary connection to shine through. The duo returned to the studio in 2019 to record ‘Only Stories (Let the Cards Fall Revisited)’ reimagining previous work (alongside two new songs) taking it back to its acoustic roots. This new direction would see Ríoghnach Connolly receive an RTÉ Folk Award nomination for Best Folk Singer and win Folk Singer Of The Year at the 2019 BBC R2 Folk Awards for which the duo were also nominated as Best Duo/Group.
Chris Brain
+ Support TBC
15th March
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The Folklore Rooms
£13.00
Yorkshire's Chris Brain has carved his place firmly into the contemporary folk scene following his highly-regarded first two albums, Bound to Rise (2022) and Steady Away (2023).
Garnering acclaim from the likes of Cerys Matthews (BBC 6 Music) and Mark Radcliffe (BBC Radio 2), he has since shared the stage with iconic acts like Robert Plant, Jacqui McShee and Martin Simpson
With the release of his third much-anticipated album, ‘New Light’, in Spring 2025, he will be embarking on a UK/Ireland solo tour. ‘New Light’ brings a refreshingly contemporary sound as Chris contemplates transformation, nostalgia and tenderness in times of vulnerability - all woven around his familiar gestures towards the natural world.
‘There are shades of the master Ralph Mctell here and I can think of no greater compliment than that…Love it!’
- Mark Radcliffe , BBC 2 Folk Show
Joseph Arthur
+ Support TBC
6th March ​
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The Folklore Rooms
£16.00
Joseph Arthur is an American singer, also recognized for his qualities as a painter. Spotted by Lou Reed and Peter Gabriel, in 1996, the artist now has around fifteen albums to his credit. He’s also at the origin of several bands: The Lonely Astronauts, Fistful Mercy which he founded with Ben Harper or even RNDM with Jeff Ament of Pearl Jam.
Joseph Arthur on stage could be described as a fallen or cursed angel, who with his guitar, pedals and mics, builds live real swirling and captivating melodies which gives stripped-down pieces, without artifice, inhabited solely by the singer's voice.
Joseph Arthur draws his inspiration from Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Jeff Buckley. The finesse of the compositions and the richness of the orchestrations make Joseph Arthur one of the best American songwriters of the XXI century.
His song "In the Sun" was covered by singer Michael Stipe of R.E.M and Chris Martin of Coldplay, as well as by Peter Gabriel.
- Sian Eleri, BBC Radio 1
The Ocelots
+ Support TBC
7th March​
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The Folklore Rooms
£13.00
The Ocelots are twin brothers Ashley and Brandon Watson from Wexford, Ireland. Building on the folk-rock essence of their debut, the duo are excited to announce the release of their second album, Everything, When Said Slowly, on February 7th 2025.
This album unveils a richer, more expansive sound, produced by long-time collaborators Cillian and Lorcan Byrne (Ailbhe Reddy, Susan O’Neill). The narrative woven throughout the album explores themes of Irish migration, the perception of time, love, and the simple joys of cycling.
To support the album, the band are delighted to take the the road in the UK for a string of dates around its release.
Neev
+ Ochre
29th March​
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The Folklore Rooms
£10.00
Since the release of her debut single in 2019, Glaswegian artist Neev has built a reputation for discovering beauty in the small details.
Her talent for storytelling and worldbuilding has earned her early support from the likes of BBC Radio 1’s Sian Eleri and BBC Radio 6 Music’s Tom Robinson, as well as a sync on BBC drama Waterloo Road. She also performed her songs live and televised for the BBC Introducing x Celtic Connections Showcase at Saint Luke's in Glasgow in 2022.
"Intricate instrumental arrangements, intimate lyrical observations, and potent emotional songwriting."
- Under the Radar
"Her talent is self-evident.”
- The Scotsman
"I just adore her voice."
- Sian Eleri, BBC Radio 1
George Boomsma
+ Support TBC
20th April​
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The Folklore Rooms
£10.00
George Boomsma is a singer songwriter from Northallerton, North Yorkshire. Having been honing his song-writing craft and live performances over the past decade, George has been gaining some well-earnt attention and acclaim. His pure voice and tumbling guitar make for a bewitching combination, with a maturity and poetic lyricism that have left audiences around the country entranced. His songs reflect on themes from navigating relationships, family, self-acceptance, grief and finding a path forward despite uncertainties.
He has been invited to support and perform alongside many established artists such as Richard Thompson, Scott Matthews, Katherine Priddy, Gaby Moreno, Kathryn Williams and The Travelling Band. On top of these live performances, his music been featured on BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, RTE Radio 1 and BBC Radio Ulster.
Jeffrey Martin
+ Support TBC
30th April​
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The Prince Albert
£22.50
“Songs that are stark in their simplicity, yet emotionally rich in a way that can catch your breath in your throat or leave your eyes suddenly damp.”
PASTE
“Martin’s most mesmerising album — a masterpiece in any time zone.”
UNCUT
“Tales of hardship, heartbreak, and hard-won hope that should resonate with anyone living a life in this particular world at this particular time.”
BANDCAMP
Ellie Gowers
+ Support TBC
8th May​
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The Folklore Rooms
£12.50
Emerging onto the UK folk scene with her debut album, ‘Dwelling by the Weir’ (2022), Ellie explored folklore and stories of her hometown, Warwick, through ecological, sociological, and personal themes (‘Full of delicacy, precision, and gentle delight’, The Guardian). It connected with wider audiences and secured her a place on the UK touring circuit. After the release of her celebrated album, Ellie has continued to firmly root herself in the songwriting scene. However this time, her new music amplifies her writing; referencing the more contemporary sounds of MIPSO and Jeff
Buckley. After a heavy year of touring away from home, themes of absence, push/pull, and longing emerge from this new and exciting direction.
Summer 2024 has seen the arrival of long-awaited new music. To date the EP has enjoyed airplay from BBC Radio 2 (Mark Radcliffe), 6 music (Lauren Laverne – Fantastic Beats feature) and RADMAC feature. KLOF Premiere for A Moment video and numerous high-profile playlists to boot. Ellie toured the UK Supporting Gemma Hayes in October 2024 and this included a first appearance at the prestigious Union Chapel.
Some previous shows by Folklore Sessions
