Directory (Arts and Entertainment Category)
Minchinhampton Folk Club
Minchinhampton Folk ClubBiographical Info
Minchinhampton Folk Club meets every Thursday night, in Minchinhampton Cotswold Club, 11 High Street, Minchinhampton, GL6 9BN. We welcome all kinds of folk and roots-related music from the UK, North America and around the world.
At MFC we believe in encouraging new performers and fostering fresh talent, so we do our best to help everyone feel at ease. We have welcomed singers and musicians from everywhere from Denmark to the Ivory Coast, as well as the USA, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and the four corners of the British Isles. There’ll be an equally warm welcome whether you’re a terrified beginner (we were all there once) or a fully-fledged pro.
We believe folk music should be fun and it should be shared, so we particularly welcome musicians who set out to entertain and involve the audience. In the second half particularly, we encourage people to do chorus songs and tunes and familiar material which gives others the chance to join in and help us to have a lively evening. We encourage playing and singing along where appropriate – some wonderful musical partnerships have developed through acquaintances made at the club.
From time to time we book paid performers in the club, or hold concerts featuring professional artists. These are advertised – otherwise every night is a singers’ night.
We aim to start promptly at 8.15, particularly on busy nights. There is a short break at about 9.30 and then we finish at 11-11.15, sometimes later, depending on how much fun we’re having. A donation of £2 is requested on the door (audience and performers alike) to cover the cost of club expenses – we think that’s pretty good value.
Please get your drinks at the bar before coming in. If you can’t see anywhere to sit, don’t go away – wait inside the door and we’ll help you to find a seat when the music stops.
It can get quite crowded, with anything up to 20 performers on busy nights, so please be here early if you plan to play or sing and don’t be disappointed if you only get the chance to do one song or tune (it’s usually one in each half per performer). If we don’t already know you, please introduce yourself to the MC on arrival so you are not overlooked.
If choices have to be made on busy nights, we try to make sure those who have put a lot of work into their ‘act’ get a fair hearing, as well as people who have come a long way and those who arrive first. In the second half we give preference to chorus songs and up-tempo numbers.
We like to hear constructive comments and suggestions, so if you have something to say please let us know on the email or phone number below.
We email regulars with news about club events, the professional musicians we book occasionally, the festivals and gigs we put on or take part in and what our regular performers are up to. To be kept informed, please send us your email address. You won’t receive anything other than club news.
Enjoy the music!