23 - 26 May 2025
23 - 26
May
2025
Moongazing Hare (Bar)
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(From the Bridge if it does not know your location)

PROGRAMME OF EVENTS

Click on the event name or time to get more detail.

All events here areDonation.

Jump to: Friday Saturday Sunday Monday

Events on Friday 23rd May 2025
TimeWhatWith
12:00 - 15:00Music session hosted by Sarah Matthews & Doug Eunson
Sarah & Doug will be kicking off a fabulous weekend of tunes in the Moongazing Hare Bar. Both brilliant musicians, they have a huge repertoire of tunes and play with groove and with grace
Doug Eunson & Sarah Matthews
15:00 - 18:00Music Session hosted by Sussex Junction Morris musicians
This year, as well as having sessions hosted by festival artists we also have a few led by some of our amazing Morris musicians. The first of these is Sussex Junction. You will recognise Chris & Bryony from countrywide sessions but you might be surprised that some other dancers are musos too. This is NOT specifically a Morris tune session, though I'm sure there will be some fabulous Morris tunes played at this and other sessions over the weekend
Sussex Junction Morris (Cotswold)
18:00 - 21:00Music Session hosted by Will Allen
Will Allen needs no introduction to folkies . He is a sought after melodeon & fiddle player and a familiar beard in sessions all over the country! According to his biography he can transform the simplest of tunes into roaring beasts so beware
Will Allen (musician)
21:00 - 23:00Singing Session hosted by Shady Tann-Watson & Prue Reilly
Shady has been part of the English folk scene since before she was born, and first sang in public aged five. Prue also started singing at 5 years old but laughs that at that point Shady wouldn't have been born yet! Nowadays Prue is gigging as a ceilidh caller around the country. They can both be found leading rousing, late night chorus songs with tankard in hand.. Prue and Shady met many years ago at Sidmouth Folk Festival and have been revelling in the joys of singing together ever since. They've been known to roam the streets of Sidmouth singing shanties for charity, but are more commonly found leading rousing, bawdy sessions in beer tents across the country
Shady Tann-Watson and Prue Reilly

Events on Saturday 24th May 2025
TimeWhatWith
11:00 - 13:00Music session hosted by Jon Loomes
Jon Loomes is a musician, singer, producer, instrument maker and all round good guy. We are very pleased he agreed to lead a session for us
Jon Loomes (solo)
13:00 - 15:00Music Session hosted by Culverake
Culverake are not only amazing singers, they play some awesome tunes too. Join Seb Stone, Matt Quinn & Lizzy Hardingham for a session including some of their best loved tunes from the British Isles. Hopefully they will sing some songs too if it isn't too loud in the beer tent
Culverake (Harmony Trio)
15:00 - 18:00Music Session hosted by Sheaf
Sheaf are a vibrant new band; Penny Kempson, Will Sartin and Lewis Jones. Penny & Will will also be with their band Out of Hand over the weekend and will become familiar faces in our lovely Moongazing sessions. They will be hotfooting it from their gig at The Cause to host this session for us.
Sheaf
18:00 - 21:00Music Session hosted by Definitely Contraband
Definitely Contraband are Martin Clarke, Nicky McConkey, Ben Filmer-Sankey & Tom Evans. We are delighted that some of them will be leading this session. They are in various bands over the festival weekend so we can't guarantee everyone's attendance but even one of them would be enough to keep the tunes buzzing
Definitely Contraband
21:00 - 23:00Singing Session hosted by Nigel Smith & Friends
Nigel & his Moongazing Hare Bar will be hosting many fine tunes & songs over the weekend but tonight he's actually hosting the session too. Our singing sessions are NOT singarounds, If you want to start a song but find it hard to jump in, ask Nigel & he'll make sure you can be heard
Nigel Smith 

Events on Sunday 25th May 2025
TimeWhatWith
11:00 - 13:00Music Session hosted by Lisa Bradley
Lisa organises these Moongazing Hare Bar sessions and last year she organised herself out of a job and didn't run one. By popular request she is back this year leading a session with her lovely folkie friends around her.
Lisa Bradley (Session Lead: Musician and Singer)
13:00 - 15:00Music Session hosted by Manny Grimsley
Manny Grimsley needs no introduction to those familiar with folk festival sessions, morris & rapper. This year he won the "Character" competition with Sheffield Steel Rapper at DERT. He is at the festival with his lovely fiance Vikki Lewis, one of our finest clog dancers. Maybe Vikki will bring her board to the session and give us a dance if we're lucky
Manny Grimsley (Musician ) Vikki Lewis  (Clog)
15:00 - 18:00Music Session hosted by Aeryn
Aeryn is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, North West & Cotswold Morris dancer, ceilidh caller and more. They will be leading the session with their whistle, fiddle, melodeon and anything else mastered since last being at Chippenham!
AERYN
18:00 - 21:00Music Session hosted by ex-members of NYFTE
We are delighted to welcome back to Chippenham some of the amazing musicians who have passed through the ranks of NYFTE (National Youth Folk Troupe of England). Returning to Chippenham for the first time in years; Russ Hitchcock and Pete Ashmore will lead some of their favourite session tunes. To be honest, we don’t know exactly who else will turn up but you can be sure it will be a fabulous gathering and something very special
Russell Hitchcock Pete Ashmore
21:00 - 23:00Singing Session hosted by The Luscombe Sisters
Becky and Polly Luscombe are a harmonising duo. They have grown up in the folk world surrounded by shanty singers, so always enjoy a good pub session. They are the daughters of Pete Luscombe of Portsmouth Shantymen, Ramskyte, and Wholehearted. So, clearly the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. The girls also make up two thirds of Alternative Quay, in which they enjoy singing sea songs with Kevin Frost
The Luscombe Sisters (Session Leads: Singers)

Events on Monday 26th May 2025
TimeWhatWith
11:00 - 13:00Music Session hosted by Lewis Wood
Lewis Wood is a multi-instrumentalist, part of Granny's Attic, a duo with Helen Gentile and plays for the super-energetic Costwold Morris side Clausentum. Lewis is respectful to traditions but also keen to push their boundaries through his interpretations of traditional music. His tune repertoire is vast so expect some bangers !
Lewis Wood
13:00 - 16:00Music Session hosted by Pecsaetan Morris Musicians
Pecsaetan are not only one of the finest Morris sides in the country but they also have some of the best folk musicians in their midst. We are so pleased they have agreed to round off our weekend in style.
Pecsaetan (Cotswold)