Description
Hello from Bristol University Folk Society!
Great music! Great dancing! Free festivals! Getting to know all the best Bristolian pubs, making friendships for life, and weird and wonderful people! This society’s here for all your uni experience needs.
There are several exciting parts of our society! All are friendly, all are free (and if you join one, you’re under no obligation to go to any of the others). Scroll down for all the details on...
- Ceilidhs!
- Bristol Rag Morris
- Broken Biscuits Ceilidh Band
- Folk Club Sessions
Sign up to our mailing lists!
For emails about ceilidhs and other dances:
For emails about Rag Morris:
Ceilidhs!
We love ‘em! We’re committed to organising at least two ceilidhs a year for your delectation and delight, and probably – hopefully! - more. Everyone is welcome! All our ceilidhs are ‘called gender-free’ (the instructions won’t include any women/men binaries or specific roles for any genders) and you don’t even need to be a member of the society! Although of course, if you sign up (for free, no less) you’re much more likely to hear about them ;).
If you’ve not been to one before, this is your chance! Ceilidhs are great evenings dancing with other people in a really relaxed setting. There’s someone up to top telling you how the dance goes, so you never need to worry about experience, and the aim of the game is always just having fun. At the Scratch Ceilidhs we run, you can come along just to dance, or you can join the band, or try your hand at calling from the front! Whatever takes your fancy, the more the merrier. We’d love you to come.
Bristol Rag Morris
Bristol Rag Morris is the university’s very own Morris dancing side, complete with cacophonous bells, ragged costumes, and rubber chickens. Dedicated to keeping tradition alive and almost in fashion (we can certainly turn a few heads), if you’ve ever fancied throwing dignity to the winds and just jumping, dancing, or hitting things with a stick then we may be the group for you. Love of folk music, physical co-ordination and experience are all largely unnecessary – we teach our repertoire of dances from scratch every year, beginners are welcome at any point, and supportiveness and fun are at the top of our priorities. We perform to live music all across Bristol, across Somerset and Gloucestershire, across the country and frankly, across Europe. Exotic locales and free entry to ceilidhs (and even the occasional festival) are definite perks! Spare costumes, hankies, sticks, bells, and a mildly alarming hobby horse are all provided; good sports shoes are strongly advised.
Practice is on Thursday evenings at 8-10pm, in the Stephenson Room (in the Student Union building on Queen's Road).
Photos (Left-Right): Jenny Norris, Anna Smith, Rob M. Speed, K. Scholan
Folk Club Sessions
Bristol University Folk Club meets every week, at a pub location to be confirmed. If you want somewhere to play your instrument without the pressure to perform, our sessions are great. With a relaxed and friendly setting, everybody’s welcome of any instrument or level of experience. You’re more than welcome to bring along your own folky pieces to play or sing, and you can find our regular tunes at https://bristolfolksoc.github.io/tunes if you want to have a look beforehand.
We also this year may reopen our dedicated singing sessions. It’s a friendly and supportive space, anyone who wants to sing will be wholeheartedly welcome!
Copyright (left): Richard Vigars; other photos: K. Scholan.
Broken Biscuits Ceilidh Band
And yes, there is a Folk Soc Ceilidh Band and yes, you can join! Our regular practices are a great place to go over and really learn some of our favourite tunes, and the band performs at a whole range of society and external events. Its great experience, and a great time! Bring your favourite instrument and join us in the Gromit Room in the Richmond Building at 9-11pm on Tuesdays.
If you’re from another society and you want to throw a ceilidh together, or you want the band to perform for your event, we’re so up for that. Get in touch with folkclub@bristolfolksoc.com to have a chat!
Copyright (all): Bryan Wong - www.facebook.com/BryanWongPhotography
Workshop afternoons!
The folk club and the folk soc band work together to put on workshop afternoons in the autumn term. We gather expert folkie people from across the country to come and teach us awesome stuff, like how to play better for dancing, calling, and contra dancing! Also less awesome but important stuff like how the PA works. Join any of the mailing lists for exciting updates and information about these!
If you’ve never thought to try Morris dancing, folk music or ceilidhs before, don’t be put off! However you get involved, we’re one of Bristol’s most colourful societies and we make friends for life. You won’t regret meeting us!
If for some reason you'd like even more information than this however, we have a nice shiny website as well: https://bristolfolksoc.com/
Terms and conditions
Click here to view terms and conditions
Membership Fee Inclusions
Prior to signing up to a Club or Society speak to the Committee to find out what your membership includes and if there are any further expenses throughout the year.
Service Standards
All Club or Society members can expect to receive:
- The opportunity to attend regular meetings, events, activities, trips and socials as arranged.
- The opportunity to stand for a committee position or vote in their elections (Bristol students only).
- For Sports Club – to attend regular training sessions and have the opportunity to be selected for the teams.
Code of Conduct
When joining a club or society you are agreeing to abide by the constitution, general rules, regulations and policies of University of Bristol Students’ Union and also the Club or Society Code of Conduct which sets out the level of behaviour & discipline expected of all Club & Society members.
Refund Policy
Any customer who pays for a membership subscription to a Bristol SU Society, Sports Club, Student Media and initiatives has a 14 day cooling off period from the time and date of purchase during which they have the right to cancel the subscription and receive a full refund. If you do decide to cancel within the 14 days, Bristol SU will refund your payment within a further 30 days of the cancellation. To request a refund please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk
Data sharing (Sports Club members only)
Please be aware that Bristol SU may share data relating to the members of its sports clubs with the Centre for Sport, Exercise and Health (a department of the University). This information may be used for the purposes of communicating direct with these members and/or to cross-reference against SEH's Sports Pass membership records.
As part of Bristol SU's membership of British Universities & Colleges Sports (BUCS) Bristol SU may have to share data on to its sports clubs members so BUCS can, from time to time, communicate with these members.
Data sharing (Societies members only)
If you're joining one of the societies listed below please be aware that your name and email address will be shared with Bristol Hub for the purpose of keeping you up to date with their activities through their email “The Week”:
AIESEC Bristol, AMICUS Bristol, Anti-Slavery Society, Bristol Feminists, Bristol Friends of MSF, Bristol Marrow, Bristol Social Enterprise Society, Bristol Student Action for Refugees, Bristol University Amnesty International, Conservation Group, Bristol University Oxfam Group, Bristol University Sustainability Team, Bristol Volunteers for Development Abroad, Engineers Without Borders, Howard League for Penal Reform Student Society, International Affairs Society, Medsin Bristol, Model United Nations, and Vegetarian and Vegan Society.
For more information on Bristol Hub visit: http://www.bristolhub.org.
If you do not want your details shared with the Hub please email: bristolsu@bristol.ac.uk.
These terms shall be governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts. Nothing in these terms shall exclude liability for fraudulent misrepresentation.
