We offer a range of workshops as part of the Priddy Folk Festival. These last roughly an hour, and are all free.
Here’s our workshop programme from 2024, to give you a taste of what’s on offer:
2024 Workshop programme
Filkin’s Ensemble Workshop
Filkin’s Ensemble share their joy of playing together and invite you to join in. With so many young enthusiastic players it is guaranteed to be uplifting.
Circle Dance Workshop
Dancing in a circle, to the exciting rhythms and sounds of the folk music of Eastern Europe and other parts of the world. It is open to all – no experience is necessary as all the dances are taught first. You don’t need a partner, and some dances are fun and lively, others are gentler. The music is played live on accordion, fiddle, guitar and percussion – led by Bob Minney and friends who perform regularly at circle dance festivals.
Sing in a Choir with Issy Emeney –
This successful workshop was so popular that we decided to run it yet again. Issy is a multitalented musician, artist and author and a highly acclaimed melodeon player. She is a great teacher and leads and arranges music for the acclaimed Mendip Folk Choir.
Border Morris Workshop with Catseye
Come and learn a Border Morris dance called “Just As the Tide was a-flowing” which is based on a folk song about a romantic encounter between a woman and a sailor, and the celebration of their union. Originally written by the Witchmen who are from Leicestershire and who are some of the pioneers of Border Morris, this dance represents the history of song and dance working together, the oral traditions of folk storytelling, and a celebration of being in love.
Black Umfolosi Workshop
Black Umfolosi workshops are legendary! Expect to learn dance steps and harmony singing from the Zimbabwean tradition and to have fascinating insights into the lives and backgrounds of the members of the group.
Maypole Dancing with Alison Rowley
Alison Rowley lives and breathes folk music and dance, respected both for her teaching and playing. She teaches Maypole dancing across the south west and we thought it would be brilliant to bring her and her Maypole dancing to Priddy. Children and adults … anyone can join in! The aim is to have fun and hopefully weave some pretty patterns on the pole. Steph Burke will be playing violin to get the feet in time (three sessions across the day: 11.00, 13.00 & 14.45)
Bodhran with Rob Wheatley
Rob Wheatley is well respected as a Bodhran instructor and has been running bodhran workshops for a number of years at Towersey Festival. He takes care to ensure people build skills gradually and pitches his workshops at a level people find rewarding.
Mendip Dance Party
SomerStep were formed to keep the tradition of step dancing alive on Mendip. Join SomerStep for some social dances, and at the same time learn some Mendip step dancing to add to these dances. The group will also teach a Handkerchief step dance related to a broom dance.
Play in a Band with the Somerset Russets
In the spirit of the village bands of old, The Somerset Russets play arrangements of both dance and sacred music from Britain and further afield on strings, winds and squeezy things. Regular visitors to Priddy since 2013, they accompany the singing at the festival church service in true Thomas Hardy style. Drawing on manuscript sources and early published collections, their workshop offers musicians the experience of playing in harmony with a full band.
Find out more about the Priddy Folk Festival in 2025:
