24 - 27 May 2024
24 - 27
May
2024
Timetable: Sessions
Whether you're thing is tunes or singing, English, Irish, Bal or Scandi prefer it fast or steady, your a regular to sessions or just starting out we are confident you will find something for you.

On this page, you will find the scheduled sessions we are aware of. Don't forget there's many more impromptu sessions around town, late into the night, or should we say into the early hours!

The key venues to find a session are :

Please note The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions will be sessions, not playarounds or performances. Think of it as a chance to join in joyous tunes with friends and strangers. There will be no pressure on you to start tunes but if there is a particular tune you want to play but don’t want to start it, someone will help you out. There are stages within walking distance so we reserve the right to limit the number of drums etc if it gets too crazy! The sessions will be inside or outside the beer tent, depending on the weather!

Jump to: Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

Click on the event name for more information.

Sessions on Friday 24th May 2024
WhenWhatWhereDescriptionPrice
13:00 to 15:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions: Afternoon Tunes Island Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Ross and Hartwin will kick off the festival bar sessions on Friday afternoon. A great start for all you early birds

With: Hartwin Dhoore & Ross Grant

Donation
15:00 to 18:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions:Tea Time TunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Tom Evans (Missing Richard, Suntrap, Climax Ceilidh Band) Harri Barton (Missing Richard) and Joe Danks (Old Spot) will be leading tunes from England, Appalachia and beyond on Accordion, Fiddle, Banjo and probably some other instruments too. Three musicians who play traditional tunes with freedom and a focus on groove and playful harmony. Come and get stuck in

With: Joe Danks, Tom Evans and Harri Barton (Session Leads: Muscians), Tom Evans

Donation
17:00 to 20:00Shanty SingThe AngelJoin George Dale and Mike Gibson for a fantastic shanty singing session

With: George Dale and Mike Gibson (Session Leads: Singers )

Donation
18:00 to 20:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions:Evening TunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)A session with some of Melrose Quartet - what a treat for the first night of the Festival!

With: Melrose Quartet (Musical act)

Donation
19:00 to 24:00Irish Session at the Old Road Tavern Old Road TavernJoin the pub in Chippenham where you will find music sessions year-round, for the first of its festival Irish sessions. All welcome.

With: Steve Morris (Session Lead: Musician )

Free
19:00 to 21:00The Black Horse session The Black HorseThe Black Horse is having an open fun and friendly tune session so grab some friends and play into the evening in the back bar (through the garden)

Donation
20:30 to 23:00The Big SingIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Raise a glass and you're voices with Shady Tann-Watson and Dan Old - Shady & Dan have both been singing in sessions since they were very young. Look at the middle of a rousing festival sing and you will probably see one of them but we are lucky to have them together in the same place! With a mutual love of Shanties and rousing chorus songs they are sure to get everyone joining in

With: Dan Old (Session Lead : Singers), Shady Tann-Watson (Session Lead: Singer)

Donation

Sessions on Saturday 25th May 2024
WhenWhatWhereDescriptionPrice
11:00 to 13:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions:Morning tunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Seb Stone & Will Sartin are familiar faces in the many fabulous sessions around Sheffield and it’s great to have them leading a session together!

With: Will Sartin (Session Leads: Musicians), Seb Stone (solo)

Donation
12:00 to 24:00Irish Session at the Old Road Tavern Old Road TavernJoin the pub in Chippenham, where you will find music sessions year-round, for its festival Irish session. All welcome.

With: Steve Morris (Session Lead: Musician )

Free
13:00 to 14:00Morris Lunchtime SingIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)The dance schedule shuts down for lunch join Shady Tann Watson for some great Chorus songs

With: Shady Tann-Watson (Session Lead: Singer)

Donation
14:00 to 17:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions: AfternoonTime TunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Join Manny Grimsley for some rip-roaring tunes

With: Manny Grimsley (Musician )

Donation
15:00 to 17:00Saturday afternoon singaround The Black HorseJoin George Dale and Mike Gibson as they host a lovely singaround

With: George Dale and Mike Gibson (Session Leads: Singers )

Donation
16:00 to 17:30Ballad and Poem Session Yelde HallJoin our host Rosie Upton with festival regular Andy Fawthrop in our Ballad session , Come and participate or sit back listen and enjoy!

With: Rosie Upton (solo), Andy Fawthrop (MC and Poetry )

Donation
18:30 to 21:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions: Evening TunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Join Will Allen for some evening tunes

With: Will Allen (musician)

Donation
19:00 to 21:00The Black Horse session The Black HorseThe Black Horse is having an open fun and friendly tune session so grab some friends and play into the evening in the back bar (through the garden)

Donation
21:00 to 23:00The Big SingIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Join Becky and Polly for some late night chorus songs and shanties

With: The Luscombe Sisters  (Session Leads: Singers)

Donation

Sessions on Sunday 26th May 2024
WhenWhatWhereDescriptionPrice
10:00 to 11:30Practice Tune SessionThe AngelPractice sessions for popular English dance tunes, any instrument. Ear players and readers are welcome. Dots provided, also downloadable on request.

With: Spare Parts (English trad on concertinas)

Donation
11:00 to 12:00Sunday SingAngel Hotel : Angel AtriumThe traditional Sunday morning sing in the atrium of the Angel hotel ( Great acoustics) Hosted by Andrea

Donation
11:00 to 13:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions: Morning tunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Join Jo Freya, Fi Fraser, Sarah Matthews and Doug Eunson of Narthen for a mix of songs and tunes from the traditional through to modern times, anything goes

With: Narthen (Vocal and Instrumental)

Donation
12:00 to 24:00Irish Session at the Old Road Tavern Old Road TavernJoin the pub in Chippenham, where you will find music sessions year-round, for its festival Irish session. All welcome.

With: Steve Morris (Session Lead: Musician )

Free
13:00 to 14:00Morris Lunchtime SingIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)The dance schedule shuts down for lunch join Shady Tann Watson for some great Chorus songs

With: Shady Tann-Watson (Session Lead: Singer)

Donation
15:00 to 18:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions: Afternoon TunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Join Folk Legend Simon Care and friends for an afternoon of great tunes

With: Simon Care (Musician)

Donation
15:00 to 17:00Sunday afternoon Singaround The Black HorseJoin George Dale and Mike Gibson for a Sunday afternoon sing

With: George Dale and Mike Gibson (Session Leads: Singers )

Donation
16:00 to 17:30Ballad SessionYelde HallJoin our host Rosie Upton with festival guest Bill Crawford in our Ballad session , Come and participate or sit back listen and enjoy!

With: Rosie Upton (solo), Bill Crawford (MC & Traditional Singer)

Weekend or Day tickets Only
18:00 to 21:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions: Evening TunesIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Join Ali and Philippe Barnes for a predominantly Irish session, but will also include tunes from across the British Isles.

With: Ali and Philippe Barnes (Session Leads)

Donation
19:00 to 21:00The Black Horse session The Black HorseJoin our hosts Irishish in a fun and friendly tune session

With: Irishish (Celtic music)

Donation
20:00 to 23:00French Music and Dance Old Road Tavern BarnFrench session - Come along and join in playing French folk dance music. There's a chance to dance as well.

Donation
21:00 to 23:00The Big SingIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Raise a glass and you're voices with Shady Tann-Watson and Dan Old - Shady & Dan have both been singing in sessions since they were very young. Look at the middle of a rousing festival sing and you will probably see one of them but we are lucky to have them together in the same place! With a mutual love of Shanties and rousing chorus songs they are sure to get everyone joining in

With: Dan Old (Session Lead : Singers), Shady Tann-Watson (Session Lead: Singer)

Donation

Sessions on Monday 27th May 2024
WhenWhatWhereDescriptionPrice
11:00 to 16:00The Moongazing Hare Bar Sessions: Bank Holiday Monday SessionIsland Park: Moon Gazing Hare (Bar)Our lovely Patron John Kirkpatrick has changed his plans to enable him to kick off the final Moongazing sessions from 11. This will complete over 35 hours of tunes & song at Nigel's bar over the weekend. The organised tunes & songs will end earlier today, with some people heading home. No doubt there will be impromptu stuff happening as the bar will be open until everyone's played out :)

With: The Malmesbury Folk Sessions , Lisa Bradley (Session Lead: Musician and Singer), Rosie Butler-Hall and Ray Cunningham (Session Leads ), John Kirkpatrick (Singer and musician)

Donation
12:00 to 24:00Irish Session at the Old Road Tavern Old Road TavernJoin the pub in Chippenham where you will find Irish sessions year-round for its festival Irish session. All welcome

With: Steve Morris (Session Lead: Musician )

Free
13:00 to 14:00Morris Lunchtime SingThe Black HorseThe dance schedule shuts down for lunch join Shady Tann Watson for some great Chorus songs

With: Shady Tann-Watson (Session Lead: Singer)

Donation
16:00 to 17:30Ballad SessionYelde HallJoin our host Rosie Upton in our Ballad session, Come and participate or sit back listen and enjoy!

With: Rosie Upton (solo), Discovery (Duo: Song )

Donation
19:00 to 21:00The Black Horse session The Black HorseThe Black Horse is having an open fun and friendly tune session so grab some friends and play into the evening in the back bar (through the garden)

Donation

If you would like to see what we had last time: Sessions in 2023