Upcoming events.
The Agile Rabbi’s Klezmer Keilidh Experience
Hackney Folk Club Presents:
The Agile Rabbi’s Klezmer Keilidh Experience
ft. special international guests
Dance leader Avia Moore (Canada) with an international all-star lineup of some of the world's most treasured Klezmorim
Band members:
Avia Moore - dance caller (Canada)
Frank London - trumpet (USA)
Anna Lowenstein - fiddle (UK)
Merlin Shepherd - clarinet (UK)
Josh Middleton - accordion
Francesca Ter-Berg - cello (UK)
We are grateful for the support of KlezMargate and PRSF in producing this dance.
Some of you may have heard the Agile Rabbi’s first featured performance headlining the Courtyard Stage on Sunday night at Fire In The Mountain 2025. Well, they are back; this time led by internationally renowned Yiddish dance caller Avia Moore (Canada) and accompanied by an all-star band comprising of some of the world's most treasured and celebrated Klezmer musicians. Come and be whisked up into a circle dance frenzy by a killer band of international musicians including Grammy Award winning trumpeter Frank London (US), Accordionist Sanne Möricke (NL/DE) plus Anna Lowenstein, Merlin Shepherd and Francesca Ter-Berg (UK). This will be Yiddish music and dance at its best. Not to be missed!
Timings
There are slightly different timings as this is a dance - and we need 2 x 45min sets for a proper dance
7pm: Doors Open and Session in the Bar
8pm: Floorspots
8:30pm: Dance! (with a 15 min break in the middle)
10:30pm: Closing Klezmer Session in the Bar
11pm: Curfew
Mikey Kenney
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 23rd April 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
Mikey Kenney
Mikey Kenney is primarily a respected fiddle player, singer, songwriter and composer from Liverpool, but he is also a multi-instrumentalist, often performing many of the parts on his recordings (on banjo, mandolin, guitar, melodeon etc).
Embracing duality, Kenney is very much the musical outsider artist; he is hailed by many as an important conduit of learning, conserving and handing down both English and Irish traditional fiddle music in England's Northwest (previously the musical director for the Lancashire Youth Folk Ensemble and currently the Vice-Chair at Comhaltas Liverpool) and yet he is constantly composing alternative and progressive music of his own with his last two releases Counsel of Owls and The Reverie Road receiving widespread acclaim (both 5/5 fRoots magazine).
For Kenney both of these releases serve as stepping stones in his artistic disciplines, as he seeks a way to use his knowledge of traditional fiddle music in his own compositions without compromising the integrity of either. Through direct experience, Kenney allows other musical forms such as psychedelia, bluegrass, jazz and Italian tarantella to seep into his music but never so far as to allow any one influence to dominate his deep love for traditional fiddle playing. The result of crossing these stones is his forthcoming work Tiny Little Light, set to be released in September 2025.
Tiny Little Light is, with the exception of two instrumentals, a collection of songs written around original fiddle tunes in keeping with traditional forms but progressive in their arrangement and instrumentation. Kenney considers it his finest work yet and the truest expression of a life devoted to his craft. He will spend 2025 celebrating this new material by performing it live accompanied by various ensembles including Michael Paul Metcalfe (drums), Awen Blandford (cello) and Andy Raven (guitar).
Aside from his reputation for his original work, Kenney is also very much in demand as a collaborator and session musician for his fiddle-playing and string arranging and has worked with the likes of: Vinicio Capossela, Alabaster dePlume, Katherine Priddy, Josephine Foster, Bex Burch, Band of Burns, Adam Beattie, Emily Portman, Dominie Hooper, Victor Herrero, Alessandro 'Asso' Stefana, Dan Haywood's New Hawks, Liverpool Céilí Band, Jon Wilks, Johnny Campbell and more.
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Session in the Bar: 7pm
Floorspots: 8:15
Mikey Kenney: 9pm
Session in the Bar: 10-11pm
Adam Beattie - Home Fires Burning Album Launch
Adam Beattie - Home Fires Burning Album Launch
Acclaimed Scottish singer-songwriter Adam Beattie ‘Uplifting Reveries’ (Mojo Magazine) will be launching his new album 'Home Fires Burning'; a homespun epic which explores family, legacy and belonging. Adam writes melodies inspired by the traditional fiddle tunes of his childhood, played on finger-picked acoustic guitar.
His band will feature some of the finest traditional musicians who will put on night following the Hackney Folk Club's format:
7pm - traditional session
8pm - Floor spots
9pm - Adam and his band
10pm - traditional session
Please note, this is at a different venue from most club nights
*** Venue: Stoke Newington Old Church ***
Thomas McCarthy
Hackney Folk Club - Thomas McCarthy
Chats Palace
Wednesday 6th May 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
Thomas McCarthy - Irish Traveller, Singer and Storyteller
I sing wherever I’m invited, at clubs, festivals, people’s houses, weddings, funerals, christenings, at home, down the road and over the sea. I have sung all over the UK and Europe. I have sung at festivals including Whitby Folk Week, Sidmouth FolkWeek, the Fife Traditional Singing Festival, Brosella Folk & Jazz Festival (Belgium), the South Roscommon Singers festival (Knockcroghery) and the Frank Harte Festival (Dublin) – where I shared a stage with Christy Moore.
I have been invited to folk clubs including the Cellar Upstairs, Walthamstow Folk Club, the Musical Traditions club and the An Goilin club in Dublin. I have toured with Ron Kavana and Sam Lee, all around England, Scotland, Wales and Europe.
Album Review here
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Thomas McCarthy: 9pm
Singaround: 10-11pm
Joseph Decosimo (NC, USA)
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 21st May 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
Joseph Decosimo (NC, USA)
Joseph Decosimo is a multi-instrumentalist (fiddle, banjo, droney things), singer, and leading interpreter of traditional music from Southern Appalachia, where he grew up and learned from the region’s last master musicians. Based in Durham, NC, Decosimo is a powerful champion of traditional music—a responsive artist who makes his genre accessible and a magnet who draws musicians from his city’s rich traditional, experimental, and indie scenes into his orbit to make music that NPR All Song Considered praises for “pushing the sonic boundaries of old-time music ... gorgeous.” Dear Life Records and Free Dirt Records have released his records. He performs with Cleek Schrey and Luke Richardson in Beehive Cathedral. He has played on recordings by Hiss Golden Messenger, Wye Oak, and Jake Xerxes Fussell. A PhD, National Old-time Banjo Champion, and blue ribbon winning fiddler, Decosimo has toured the US, Canada, and UK with the prize-winning Old-time band the Bucking Mules
“pushing the sonic boundaries of old-time music ... gorgeous” NPR Music All Songs Considered
“an exceptional album” NPR Music
“...warm, fuzzy, fabulous” ★★★★ MOJO
“Decosimo wraps the plain-spoken melodies of pre-industrial America in layers of drone, giving them a spiritual resonance and mystery.” Aquarium Drunkard
“There's no irony, no gloss – just an intuitive feel for time, tone and tune.” ★★★★ Songlines (Top of the World)
“Come for the pastoral vibes and timeless hooks, and stick around for the Americana masterclass.” Bandcamp Daily (Essential Releases, Best of Country)
“an energetic, enchanting, and often joyful set that feels both timeless and otherworldly” KLOF (Best Albums of 2025)
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Old Time Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Joseph Decosimo: 9pm
Session in the Bar: 10-11pm
CONCERT: Nora Brown with Stephanie Coleman + Brighde Chaimbeul
Fire in the Mountain Festival and The Hackney Folk Club Present*
Nora Brown with Stephanie Coleman + Brighde Chaimbeul - Double Headline Collaboration
Brighde Chaimbeul and Nora Brown are both young leading lights in the traditional music scene. They here join forces for a special one off show at EartH in Hackney, presenting their interpretation and take on both Scottish and Southern Appalachian Folk Music. This special concert will bring together two much- maligned instruments – The Scottish Small Pipes and The Banjo – to prove how versatile and beautiful these instruments can be.
In the words of Nora Brown:
Brìghde Chaimbeul and Nora Brown met and shared the stage for the first time at Pioneer Works in NYC this past fall. Living in opposite corners of the globe, this was a a rare and exciting collision- both had admired each other’s music beforehand. At this second rare encounter, Nora and Stephanie Coleman will share the stage with Brìghde again, this time with some collaboration.
In the words of Brighde Chaimbeul
“ Nora and I met initially when I first played in Brooklyn last year on my first tour in North America and first show in New York, think we have mutual admiration for one another’s music, I was a big fan of her EP with Stephanie Coleman when it first came out and still am, so I’m hoping we will collaborate on a tune from that EP twin sisters , it’s such a sweet tune”
About the Artists
Nora Brown is the “brightest young star in old-time music” (Songlines), playing traditional music focused on southern Appalachian banjo and guitar, with her singing revealing her “thirst for storytelling.”( NPR) . She digs deep: “a reverent nod to deeply-rooted ole-time traditions, and an exhibit of sonic heirlooms carefully amended to meet a modern moment with vintage elegance.
Scottish smallpipes player Brìghde Chaimbeul (pronounched Breetch-er Hime-bowl) is a leading purveyor of experimental Celtic music. Her piping has earned her a BBC Young Folk Award and a BBC Horizon Award, and seen her perform for heads of state at the Cop26 climate conference. She’s brought her instrument to a global stage, and has worked with a range of other artists
* EartH Theatre, Dalston.
*This is an Evening Concert and not a Folk Club Meet - there will be no session or floorspots.
Emily Portman
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 18th June 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
Emily Portman
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 band leader, with The Furrow Collective, in a duo with Leveret’s Rob Harbron and with the UK Folk chart-topping album project ‘Sea Song Sessions’, featuring Jon Boden and Seth Lakeman. Emily was previously awarded a BBC Folk award for ‘Best Original Song’ and has released three critically acclaimed albums of original songs that recast old ballads and fairytales into new shapes.
Now, with Dominion of Spells, her first solo album in a decade set for release, 2026 promises to be an exciting year for the Glastonbury-raised and Sheffield-based singer. Central to the album are themes of midlife metamorphosis and magic. Emily, who was raised in Glastonbury, has a lifelong fascination with folk stories and has been writing otherworldly songs since she was a child.
Her new album tells tales of women encountering challenges and transformations in midlife and embarking on quests to find wonder in a jaded age. Shape-shifting selkies and owl goddesses intertwine with relatable stories of female experience. The songs chronicle Emily’s own midlife experiences, with reflections on motherhood, burnout, the redemptive power of music…and shapeshifting into a werewolf!
The album debuts Emily’s dreamy piano accompaniments alongside rippling banjo-led songs, a perfect backdrop to Emily’s crystalline, disquieting vocals. A stellar cast of guests provides beautiful three-part harmonies, lush strings, and guitar accompaniment.
Praise for Emily’s Latest Album
‘Entrancing and unsettling. A marvellous, original work’ Observer
‘A tribute to her powerful imagination’ Living Tradition
‘Spooky and surreal’ Guardian
‘Together with her previous two albums The Glamoury and Hatchlings, Emily has created an immaculate triptych of darkly brilliant songs. Make sure to be a completist and get this in your life.’ English Dance and Song Magazine
"An intensely luminous collection of songs whose articulate lyrics, virtuoso performances and intricate arrangements never overshadow the very real humanity which is at the heart of it all." Folk Radio UK
"Intense and alluring" Fatea
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Session in the Bar: 7pm
Floorspots: 8:15
Emily Portman: 9pm
Singaround in the Bar: 10-11pm
Newberry & Verch
Hackney Folk Club - Newberry and Verch
Chats Palace
Thursday 3rd September
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 + Booking Fees
(we normally pay the booking fees ourselves, but not on this show sorry!)
Newberry and Verch - USA, CAN
Growing up, Joe Newberry and April Verch absorbed traditions of home and hearth – in his Missouri Ozarks and her Ottawa Valley of Canada. Although they are on the road much of the year, the two musicians are fond of saying that they are rarely homesick, because their music means they always have a bit of home with them wherever they go.
Joe Newberry comes from a family of singers and dancers. He took up the guitar and banjo as a boy and learned fiddle tunes from great Missouri fiddlers. April Verch grew up listening to her Dad’s country band play for dances in the Ottawa Valley. She started step dancing at age three and fiddling at age six. In a Newberry & Verch show, delighted audiences see first-hand the roots of their music, their love of performing, and their strong musical connection. Original songs join timeless classics. Stories warm the heart, and give audiences a chance to understand where the music comes from. Lively fiddle and banjo numbers combine with traditional dance steps to illustrate happy times when people made their own fun.
Known around the world for his clawhammer banjo playing, Newberry is also a powerful guitarist, singer and songwriter. The Gibson Brothers’ version of his song “Singing As We Rise,” featuring guest vocalist Ricky Skaggs, won the 2012 IBMA “Gospel Recorded Performance” Award. With Eric Gibson, he shared the 2013 IBMA “Song of the Year” Award for “They Called It Music.” A longtime guest on A Prairie Home Companion, he was a featured singer on the Transatlantic Sessions 2016 tour of the U.K., and at the Transatlantic Session’s debut at Merlefest in 2017. In addition to his work with April Verch, he plays in a duo with mandolin icon Mike Compton. He also plays and teaches at festivals and workshops in North America and abroad.
Before launching her professional career, Verch was the first woman to win both the Canadian Grand Masters and Canadian Open Fiddling Championships. In 2000, she formed “The April Verch Band,” and together they have toured the world, performing in 18 different countries. She has released 14 solo recordings to date, receiving JUNO, Canadian Folk Music and Independent Music nominations and awards for several of those releases. She has also released an instructional stepdance DVD, a book of original fiddle tunes, and a Canadian Fiddle tune teaching method for Mel Bay. Verch was one of 6 fiddlers whorepresented the Canadian fiddle tradition to the world at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver, as part of a segment called “Fiddle Nation” featured in the Opening Ceremonies.
Ever since Newberry & Verch met, and discovered a musical spark that few can match, they have toured across North America, Europe, and the U.K., including Nova Scotia’s signature festival Celtic Colours International Festival, the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival in New York state, and Celtic Connections in Glasgow, Scotland. Their 2018 CD, “Going Home,” was released to wide acclaim. In 2021 they released “On This Christmas Day,” an album to accompany their annual Holiday Cheer Tour. Whether it is the power of two voices lifted in harmony, or the sound of traditional tunes calling people to get up and move, these two masters of tradition put on an unforgettable show. And, when their feet kick up the dust in perfect rhythm and those two voices become one, Joe Newberry and April Verch make folks remember why this music existed in the first place.
Mishra
Hackney Folk Club - Mishra
Chats Palace
Thursday 17th September 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 + Booking Fees
Mishra are a global folk band from the UK gathering international recognition, who draw together roots in UK traditional music with continent-spanning musical textures into a breathtaking 5 piece performance. Performing finely crafted songs with stunning vocals and exhilarating instrumentals, Mishra span eclectic moods; from meditative raag inspired improvisations to high-energy celtic dance tunes underpinned by unstoppable percussive grooves. They draw on training in Indian classical, UK folk, contemporary classical, and a distinctive instrumental palette including santoor, banjo, clarinet, low whistle, double bass, and a vast array of percussion.
Formed by acclaimed folk musicians Kate Griffin and Ford Collier, all members of Mishra met in Sheffield over a shared passion for the creative possibilities of Indian classical music. Their genre defying approach to composition has taken them to festivals around the UK including Celtic Connections and Cambridge Folk Festival, won them a prestigious Danny Kyle award, and brought critical acclaim for their two albums ‘Reclaim’ and ‘The Loft Tapes’ including national radio play. 2023 saw them tour the UK in collaboration with Indian classical/sufi singer Deepa Shakthi with support from Arts Council England.
"Fascinating stuff... I'm really enjoying Mishra's blend" - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2
“An airborne amalgam of cross-continental pollinations … More servings please” - Tim Cummings, Songlines Magazine
“It’s impossible to question the compelling tune-making at the heart of Mishra” - Mojo Magazine
https://www.facebook.com/mishraband
https://www.instagram.com/mishra.music/
Bruce Molsky & Darol Anger
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 15th October 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£24/£17 Concessions and Members
Bruce Molsky & Darol Anger
Darol and Bruce have been musical explorers together for years, sharing a creative universe that’s resulted in some epic collaborations, crashing each other’s concerts and recordings, and just finding big joy in playing together.
Described as “an absolute master” (No Depression), Bruce's take on tradition has landed him in collaborations with some of the world's most highly respected players from roots to rock. His long association with Aly Bain and Jerry Douglas in the Transatlantic Sessions, his trio with Aly and Swedish maestro Ale Möller, and years of solo touring have landed him in the UK dozens of times. He is also a special guest on legend rocker Mark Knopfler’s CD, “Tracker.” Along with Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny, Bruce is a founding member of the supergroup Mozaik. The Grammy nominated Fiddlers 4, Darol, Bruce with Michael Doucet and Rushad Eggleston were at Fiddles On Fire in Gateshead.
Back home, Bruce and Darol tour extensively. Bruce also holds the title of “Visiting Scholar in the American Roots Music Program” at Berklee College of Music, where he is the go-to guy for the next generation of roots musicians.
Freestyle fiddler, composer, producer and educator, Darol Anger is at home in a number of musical genres, some of which he helped to invent. Exceptional among modern fiddlers for his versatility and depth, Anger has helped drive the evolution of the contemporary string band through his involvement with numerous pathbreaking ensembles such as his Republic Of Strings, the Turtle Island String Quartet, the David Grisman Quintet, The Montreux Band, his Duo with Mike Marshall, his current touring group Mr Sun, and others. He has performed and taught all over the world with musicians such as Dr. Billy Taylor, Bela Fleck, Bill Evans, Edgar Meyer, Bill Frisell, Tony Rice, Tim O’Brien, The Anonymous 4, Marin Alsop and the Cabrillo Orchestra, the Detroit Symphony, Bruce Molsky, Mark O’Connor, and Stephane Grappelli.
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Irish Trad Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Bruce Molsky & Darol Anger: 9pm
Session in the Bar: 10-11pm
Martha Tilston
Hackney Folk Club - Martha Tilston
Chats Palace
Thursday 22nd October 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 + Booking Fees
(we normally pay the booking fees ourselves, but not on this show sorry!)
Martha Tilston
“She has the power to draw an audience into her world, leaving all those present with a smile, and a few issues to ponder, too”-Time Out
With a pure silken voice and lyrics that inspire and captivate, Martha Tilstonhas developed a successful musical career with a large and loyal following.She has performed on some of the world’s most prestigious stages and festivals, recorded and released several critically acclaimed albums, gained a nomination for BBC best newcomer, appeared as a guest vocalist for Zero 7, toured internationally and worked with the some of the world’s most inspiring performers including Damien Rice, Nick Harper, KaeTempest, Roddy Frame (Aztec Camera) and Zero 7.
The past few years have seen Martha venture into the world of film making, gaining nominations for best arts film for The Clifftop Sessions and recently releasing her first feature film (with an accompanying Soundtrack Album) -The Tape -which is garnering much praise and excitement.With her long-time collaborators and musicians Matt Tweed and Matt Kelly, among others they entwine raw vocals, sparkling melodies and thought-provoking lyrics with filmic movements and earthy baselines. To see them live is to connect with longed-for parts of ourselves...
“Sharp, original songs that dissect the modern world. She captures both the harshness and enchantment of life”~The Guardian
Chris Wood
Chris Wood is an uncompromising writer whose music reveals his love for the un-official history of the English speaking people. With gentle intelligence he weaves the tradition with his own contemporary parables.
A self-taught musician, composer and song writer, Chris is a lifelong autodidact whose independent streak shines through everything he does. Always direct and unafraid to speak his mind, his song writing has been praised for its surgical clarity. He cites his major influence as “Anon”.
His most recent album ‘So Much to Defend’ has received wide critical acclaim and includes reflections on minor league football, empty nest syndrome, learning to swim, Cook-in Sauce and, not least, the Gecko as a metaphor for contemporary society.
Hollow Point; his chilling ballad of the shooting of Jean Charles Menezez, won a BBC Folk Award (he's won six.) and emphatically secured Wood’s place as a serious speech-master for the unofficial history of England.
Collaborators include Martin Carthy, Dizraeli, Billy Bragg, Andy Cutting, Andy Irvine, Karine Polwart, Jean Francois Vrod, The Imagined Village, Hugh Lupton, Martin Butler and many others.
On stage Chris has the air of a craftsman who no longer needs to be precious about his art. Without any apparent effort he reaches deep into an enviable repertoire of songs before revealing another gem.
Timings
Doors 7pm
Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Chris Wood: 9pm
Session: 10pm
Sarah Jane Scouten
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 2nd April
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
Sarah Jane Scouten
Sarah Jane Scouten is a BC-born folk and Americana songwriter, paying respects to 60s and 70s country songwriters Willie Nelson, John Prine, Bobby Gentry. She weaves in British folk revival elements with a continuous thread leading back to her roots in bluegrass and old time music. After a transformative four years, training as a herbalist in southwest Scotland, Sarah Jane released her fifth album Turned to Gold. Sarah Jane offers a new depth and solidity as a songwriter. This is destined to be your next favourite road trip album.
Discography:
The Sweetest Homewrecker EP (Light Organ Records) 2025
Turned to Gold (Light Organ Records) 2023
Confessions (Light Organ Records) 2019
When the Bloom Falls From the Rose (Light Organ Records) 2017
Railtown Sessions EP (Light Organ Records) 2016
Watch! Sarah Jane Scouten "Wanderlust" (Documentary)
Watch More! Youtube Channel
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Old Timey Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Sarah Jane Scouten: 9pm
Bluegrass Session: 10-11pm
CONCERT - Charlie Wheatley Album Launch - Stone Nest
Doors 7.30pm, Music 8pm
London-based multi-instrumentalist Charlie Wheatley will release his debut solo album Ratcliffe Cross. His work presents a contemplative and richly textured set of instrumental pieces rooted in traditional dance tunes from England and Wales, reimagined through Wheatley's distinctive compositional voice. Drawing inspiration from centuries-old manuscripts - some dating back over 200 years - Wheatley breathes new life into forgotten melodies, weaving them together with his own original compositions. The result is an album that feels both ancient and immediate: a dialogue between the archival and the contemporary. Performed live by Charlie Wheatley - guitar, Tom Wheatley - double bass, Nina Harries - double bass, and Tom Moore - viola.
Charlie Wheatley is a London-based multi-instrumentalist and composer. Growing up immersed in traditional music, he has become a well-established figure on the London folk scene. His playing spans a range of instruments - including guitar, banjo, viola, and cello da spalla - and his musical language draws from a broad palette of influences: traditional dance tunes, religious and choral music, and strands of abstract minimalism. Wheatley has performed widely across the UK in both solo and collaborative settings and is known for his thoughtful, understated approach to arrangement and interpretation. Ratcliffe Cross is his debut solo album.
“Wonderfully talented, doing lovely, unostentatious, traditional things.”
Tradfolk
“Beautiful and enchanting. Hypnotic weaving that makes my heart sing… I love Charlie’s music”
Johnny Flynn
Running Time: 1 hour
Stone Nest is an arts organisation and performance venue in the heart of London's West End, bringing exceptional and experimental art to a wide audience. A hidden gem nestled amidst the bright lights of theatreland, it offers a platform for bold, visionary artists and a space where audiences can encounter an eclectic programme of contemporary performance.
*Stone Nest is an old building and, unfortunately, cannot currently accommodate electric wheelchairs. We can accommodate manually operated wheelchairs at the ground floor level via a temporary ramp; please let us know that you are a wheelchair user when booking by emailing info@stonenest.org
Spring Equinox Day Festival
Hackney Folk Club & Mini Folk present
‘Spring Equinox Day Festival’
Sunday 22nd March 1.30pm-5.30pm
Live music from Dunajska Kapelye
All ages welcome!
Trad Session / Floorspots / Singalongs / Dancing / Craft Table
Alkanna Graeca
Hackney Folk Club - An International Woman’s Day Special Event
Chats Palace
Thursday 5th March 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
5th March celebrating international woman’s day
Join us on Thursday 5th March at Hackney Folk Club as we gather for a vibrant, magical night celebrating the lead up to International Women’s Day. This evening is dedicated to honouring women in music — and it’s open to everyone, women, men, trans, non binary alike. Expect powerful performances, community spirit, and space for voices of all kinds.
The night kicks off with a female led session, followed by our usual floor spots. We especially invite anyone who identifies as a woman to take to the floor this night — sing a song, play a tune, recite a poem, or share a dance.
Our headline act is the powerful trio Aklanna Greaca, joined by special guest Lucine Musaelian on viola da gamba and vocals, promising a performance rich with tradition, depth, and musical magic.
The night will finish with a sing around in the bar hosted by Lilith Chinn. All voices welcome, all songs cherished
The Guest Band:
Alkanna Graeca
Alkanna Graeca is a vocal trio blending raw folk traditions from the Balkans, East Mediterranean, and Black Sea with improvisation and expansive soundscapes. Formed by Dunja Botic, Alexandra Achillea, and Irini Arabatzi, the trio’s music intertwines the rich cultural heritage of their homelands with a bold, boundary-pushing edge. Hailed as “rising stars of polyphonic singing”, they have been selling out venues and drawing audiences in across festival stages in the UK and Greece.
Band Instagram
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Alkanna Graeca: 9pm
Singaround: 10-11pm
The Weaving
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 19th February 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
THE WEAVING
Debut album release – 11th February, St Gobnait’s Day
Listen here: https://on.soundcloud.com/DX4FLPRUsPohlCYrlN
The Weaving is Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich (accordion, vocals) and Owen Spafford (fiddle) and Cáit Ní Riain (piano, vocals). This trio brings together the rich musical traditions of three counties Kerry, Tipperary and Yorkshire, their three regions of origin. Their music is imbued with the driving rhythms of the Gaeltacht of West Kerry where they first met; fierce dance music and raw harmonies inspired by a deep understanding of their musical inheritance. The trio have performed across Ireland, France and the UK in venues such as The National Concert Hall, Paris Centre Culturel Irlandais and Sidmouth Folk Festival.
After a sold out performance at Feakle Festival alongside Martin Hayes and extensive UK and Ireland tours 'The Weaving' look forward to releasing their debut album drawn from the rich musical wellspring of the West Kerry Gaeltacht.
"This album is about embracing our musical connections, finding the dances, tunes and songs that we hold in common and celebrating the different musical accents with which we play them. The aim was not to homogenise our approaches but to explore ideas of local identity and place through our own respective backgrounds. We feel this is particularly important in reference to the historic cultural oppression that the Irish language and music has faced under English rule. There is an honouring and healing of colonial history that can be found in sharing the traditional music of England and Ireland and while this is not a political project there is something inherently political about celebrating the music of two connected but historically divided communities. The fact that we can now share a stage sharing music and song is testament to the power of art to cross social boundaries and international borders. Music for us is about celebrating people and the natural world - and woven into traditional music is the love we hold for our family, friends and communities and the land we call home.”
Méabh Ní Bheaglaoich is a singer, songwriter and musician whose musical expression and stylings are deeply rooted within the Irish music, language and song tradition of her homeplace of Corca Dhuibhne, the Gaeltacht of West Kerry, Ireland. A native Irish speaker, Méabh was born into the renowned musical family of the Begleys whose undeniable influence has helped in shaping her energetic instrumental playing, emotive and sensitive singing style as well as inspired her development of, and transition into her passion for composing and songwriting. Méabh has enjoyed a full time career in traditional Irish music thus far and has performed both nationally and internationally in countries such as Japan, Taiwan, America, Canada, Russia and across Europe with groups such as acclaimed Irish band Téada, The Pure Irish Drops (The Women of Ireland- The Next Generation), Cuas, Catherine Young Dance, Irish Christmas in America and “Aisling? – An Ród Romhainn” directed by Darach Mac an Iomaire.
Owen Spafford is a fiddle player and composer from Leeds whose creative life orbits the worlds of traditional, experimental, and improvised music. Equally at home in a traditional music session as he is in a free improvisation workshop, Spafford’s understanding of the oral tradition and love for vernacular music from around the world enables an inventive and thoughtful musical voice. As well as playing with The Weaving Owen has released with post-folk duo Spafford Campbell and also works with artists such as Billie Marten, Johnny Flynn, Clara Mann and Chris Brain.
Cáit Ní Riain is a traditional singer, multi instrumentalist, and folklorist from Upperchurch in Co. Tipperary. She grew up in the world renowned music pub, Jim of the Mills, where she was deeply influenced by the constant stream of musicians and singers that came from near and far, gaining a deep appreciation for her own culture and its place and relevance in the world. She studied music and Irish in University College Cork where she was awarded the Quercus scholarship for receiving the highest results in the arts department. She also received the Donal Doc Gleeson award for excellence in musical performance. Cáit continued her studies in the National Folklore Collection in University College Dublin, where she completed her MA thesis on the songs and associating folklore in North Tipperary, being awarded the Máire Mac Néill scholarship for excellence in research. Cáit has received medals in the All-Ireland Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann for both traditional singing in English and in Irish. She has performed and collaborated alongside various artists, musicians, singers, and ensembles for many years in Ireland and further afield in the United States and Europe. Cáit is currently working on her first album of traditional songs.
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Irish Trad Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8:15
The Weaving: 9pm
Session in the Bar: 10-11pm
Whiskey Moon Face
Wow - this show has sold out of tickets! Please join the waitlist on DICE.
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Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 5th February 2026
7pm - 11pm,
£15/£13/£12 members
Whiskey Moon Face
To describe Whiskey Moon Face as an alternative folk group doesn´t even begin to do justice to the breadth of inspiration and style in their music. Based around double bass, accordian, and clarinet, they´re led by the superb vocals and hallucinatory lyrics of singer Louisa Jones. Capable of being both ear-to-ear-grinningly entertaining and profoundly moving, they combine elements of Eastern European traditional & klezmer music, old-time New Orleans jazz and the baroque/ chamber folk styles of Sufjan Stevens and Beirut with their own unique take on contemporary folk music to make for a superbly realised, truly beautiful, and utterly original sound. There is simply no-one in the UK making music like Whiskey Moon Face.
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Whiskey Moon Face: 9pm
Singaround: 10-11pm
Hackney Folk Club ~ Mna (Irish Trad)
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 29th January
7pm - 11pm, £15/£13
Featuring
Mná
MNÁ comprises Jess Collins (fiddle, dancing, voice), Phoebe Harty (cello, voice), Tara McCarthy (fiddle, viola, voice), Kathleen Sarsfield-O’ Shea (flute, guitar, voice) and Tara Viscardi (harp, voice). All members are passionate about bringing their musical traditions to wider audiences and strive to merge traditional Irish, English folk and contemporary music in an innovative way while remaining true to their roots. Their performances feature traditional and folk music from Ireland, England, Brittany and further afield as well as their own original compositions. Active musicians on the traditional, folk and classical scenes across the UK and Ireland, band members have had their music featured on BBC and RTÉ radio.
Watch Here on Youtube
TIMINGS
Doors 7pm
Irish Trad Session: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Mna: 9pm
Singaround: 10-11pm
Club Débris
Hackney Folk Club ~ The Winter Carnival of Quebec!
Chats Palace
Thursday 15th January
7pm - 11pm, £15/£13
Timings
Doors: 7pm
Free Workshop lead by Maisie greenwood - Learn a Quebecoise tune and how to podorythmie foot stamp (all instruments and abilities welcome): 7-8pm the back room - register here
Session in the Bar: 7-8pm
Floorspots: 8-9
Club Debris: 9-10
Quebecoise Session in the Bar: 10-11
Join hackney folk club on 15th Jan 2026 for the warmth and energy of our ‘Winter Carnival of Quebec, a night celebrating the vibrant musical traditions of Québec,’ with tunes, dance, and community spirit.
At the same time as our regular session in the bar, there will be a Québécois workshop lead by the mighty Maisie Greenwood in the back room. This workshop is aimed at all levels and all instruments. Expect to come away with a new tune from Quebec and the ability to podorythmie foot stamp. This workshop is included in the price of our club ticket.
As always, we’ll have floorspots between 8 and 9pm, your chance to share a tune, song, or dance. We’re delighted to feature an invited spot by the Tower Ravens Rapper dancers this time, bringing their sharp swords, fast footwork, and infectious energy to the floor!
Club Débris
Club Débris are a Quebec-inspired folk band based in London, playing high-energy French-Canadian trad music in brazenly major keys: no-nonsense tunes with a pro-nonsense attitude.
The band formed as a celebration of the close ties between the trad music that the band members grew up with and the joyous Québécois tunes that they’d gravitated towards over the years, especially through playing together in the vibrant London session scene. Their sound, rooted in centuries of mixed influences between French, English, Scottish and Irish dance music, brings together fiddles, accordion, banjo and piano, accompanied by driving, galloping foot percussion rhythms, featuring a percussive dancer who genuinely lights up the stage.
Over the past couple of years, Club Débris have performed at festivals including Shrewsbury, Broadstairs and Fire in the Mountain, as well as releasing their debut album Ricochet.
The band is formed of Will Allen (accordion/fiddle), Maisie Greenwood (fiddle), Duncan Menzies (fiddle/banjo), Will Chamberlain (piano) and Jessie Collins (percussive dance).
Instrument Workshop (Québécois tunes) with Maisie Greenwood
Instrument Workshop (Québécois tunes) with Maisie Greenwood - Free Entry
January 15th, 7-8pm, in the back room
Free Entry to all ticket holders to Hackney Folk Club.
Bring a melody instrument for a 1-hour workshop with Maisie Greenwood from Club Débris, who'll be teaching a Québécois tune and an introduction to podorythmie (seated rhythmic foot tapping), which is traditionally used to accompany tunes in Quebec. At the end of the evening, you’ll be able to put your new skills straight into practice at the post-gig session in the bar!
Maisie is a versatile and well-travelled fiddle player, firmly rooted in the London session scene with a vast repertoire of tunes from Ireland, Scotland, England, Scandinavia and North America, including many learned from playing at sessions in Montreal and Quebec City.
Timings of the evening:
Session in the Bar 7pm
Workshop in Back Room 7-8pm
Floorspots 8pm
Club Debris 9pm
Session in the Bar 10-11pm
Yuletide Party
Hackney Folk Club ~ Yuletide Party
Thursday 18th December
Doors 7pm
Tickets: £15 General Admission / £20 Club Supporter / £13 Concession / £12 Members
Featuring
Goblin Band do the Mummers
In celebration of the festive yuletide season, Goblin Band (and friends) take to the stage with a conventionally unconventional mummers play. Drawing on the folk tradition of donning eccentric costumes, summoning songs and reciting obscure prose, this is a night to welcome the colder months and warm the spirits in the company of good friends, mulled wine and minced pies. Goblin band will perform a set of their music and christmas specials in the intimate Chats Palace, along with some special guests and surprises. In classic mummers spirit, a hat will be passed around on the night for donations to a chosen charity - make sure to bring some change! Ending the night with a tunes session and singaround this is an evening not to be missed….
Timings
Doors: 7pm
Floorspots: 8pm
Mummers: 8:30pm
Goblin Band: 9:30
Singaround - 10pm till late
Nick Hart
Hackney Folk Club
Chats Palace
Thursday 4th December, 7pm - 11pm
tickets here
Timings
Doors 7pm
Floor Spots 7:30 – 8:30
Nick Hart: 9 – 10pm
Singaround: 10 - Late
Launch Night!
The Hackney Folk Club ~ Launch Night
Thursday 27th November
Chats Palace, 7-11pm
Running Order
7:30pm Singaround
8:30pm Floorspots (email in to book a spot!)
9:30pm Ed Hicks and his Hot Cow Licks
10:15pm Session in the bar
Special thanks to Ed and the gang to support our opening Night! The Band will lead a session in the Bar after their concert.
About The Band:
Ed Hicks and the Hot Cow Licks are bringing back the golden age of Western Swing—think honky-tonk dance halls and fiddles that can make you weep and two-step in the same breath. This is hillbilly jazz at its finest: sweet country crooning collides with hot jazz solos and those signature twin fiddles that defined Texas dance floors in the 1930s and 40s.
The band features Ed Hicks (The Nightcaps, The Savoy Cabbages), Sam Draper (The Woodlanders, Holloman), and Emily Smith (Ragged Out String Band, Firecrackers)—three seasoned players who know exactly how to make a room swing.
