'Fool, Fool, April Fool You learn naught by going to school!' Although you'll learn lots by going to the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library, where we have a huge archive of folk songs, music and rhymes. Text is from Halliwell's Nursery Rhymes and Tales, c1870. Image of a Fool is from Cecil Sharp House entrance door relief, a set of dancers as depicted in an old stained glass window from Staffordshire, now in the V&A. @thevwml #AprilFoolsDay #FolkCustom #FolkSong #CalendarCustom #NurseryRhyme

We’re delighted to be launching our new Local Folk Heroes award! Local Folk Heroes will recognise the contributions made by individuals who champion the folk arts in their communities. If you have a local folk hero working tirelessly behind the scenes making remarkable contributions in your local community, then find out how you can nominate them at efdss.org/local-heroes The deadline for 2025/26 nominations is 31 March 2026. click on the 'Latest News' link in the bio to find out more Image: Amy Goodwin

A look back to our wonderful professional development day; Creating Accessible and Inclusive Folk Dance. L-R back row: Jen Cox, Dance Development Manager, EFDSS; Roary Neat, tutor, EFDSS’ Inclusive Folk programme; Penny Lury,Co-Leader, Milkmaid Molly and former SEN/D school teacher; Emmie Ward, tutor, EFDSS’ Inclusive Folk programme; Louise Katerega, Head of Professional Development, People Dancing and freelance dance artist; Sara Marshall-Rose, Co Director and dance artist, FOLK3D, and Dance Movement Psychotherapist; Mrs Gill Bosely, Founder Milkmaid Molly; Kerry Fletcher, Folk Education Network Co-ordinator, EFDSS. L-R front row: Laura Dajao, aka LauraDDances, Freelance Inclusive Dance Artist; Janet Bell, wheelchair dancer; Poppy Price-Dowhan, ceilidh caller and folk dancer. Thanks to all our Speakers and to everyone who attended the day. @people_dancing_uk @louisekaterega @saramarshall.rose @lauraddancesuk @poppy.whistles #FolkDance #InclusiveDance #DisabilityInclusion

Finding Billy Waters: Regency London's Famous Black Busker Dr Mary L. Shannon drmarylshannon talks about she used 19th Century images of Billy Waters to help ‘fill in’ the gaps in her research as, like so many marginalised people from the past, he left no papers, writings, or diaries, meaning many basic facts about his life are missing. Join us online for this Library Lecture Tue 8 April 7.30pm - 9pm Online £5 Book your place - link in bio #folkmusic #musichistory #londonhistory #blackhistory #disabilityhistory #maritimehistory

In celebration of @makemusicdayuk on Sat 21 June, Cecil Sharp House Choir are joining forces with Bellow Fellows to present a joyful afternoon of folk song. Taking place at the House, audiences can listen to some glorious harmonies and get involved singing some songs. Check out the ‘Latest News’ or ‘Spring Summer Gigs 2025’ links in the bio for more details and how to book your free place. #makemusic #makemusicday #musicforthesoul #choir #folksinging

Spring, Spring, Gentle Spring "Come and fill the fields with flowers, Come and fill the groves with song." To mark the Spring Equinox and the first day of astronomical spring, here is a Broadside from the Frank Kidson Broadside Collection Vol. 9. Check out the Vaughn Williams Memorial Library for more springtime songs. @thevwml #SpringEquinox #FirstDayOfSpring #Broadside #FolkSong

EFDSS is presenting at this year’s @people_dancing_uk Summer Intensive! Kerry Fletcher, our Folk Education Network Coordinator, will be leading the workshop Sociable Dancing: Teaching and Creating with Folk on Wednesday 23 July at De Montfort University, Leicester. Kerry, together with musician Oli Matthews, will inspire participants to expand their knowledge of folk dances to enhance their toolbox of dance stimuli, build a shared sense of place, and discover the joys of moving together in sociable dancing! For more info and to book your place, see the 'Latest News' link in our bio. Photo: Roswitha Chester #folkeducation #folkdance #folkeducationnetwork #professionaldevelopment #socialdance #teachdance #dancetutor

Our National Youth Folk Ensemble played a knock-out gig at the Fire Station in Sunderland recently. You can still catch them as they will be playing at Cecil Sharp House, London on 10 April Oxford Folk Festival on 11 April Book your tickets - link in bio Photos by Amelia Read

Tonight! Up from the Sea, Up from Town: singing in Southwold, Suffolk Katie Howson looks at some of the songs collected in Southwold in 1910 by Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Butterworth, and reflects on the meaning that such songs held for fishermen and their communities. Join us online for this Library Lecture Tonight - Tue 11 Mar 7.30pm - 9pm Online £5 Book your place - link in bio Image: Fisherman and Boat by Joseph Edward Southall RWS NEAC RBSA. 1920. Tempera on linen #FishingHistory #FolkSong #Southwold #SuffolkHistory

Creating Accessible and Inclusive Folk Dance. This Saturday 15 March, join us for this lively practitioner development day presented by our Folk Education Network and Dance Development programmes. Our focus will be on disability inclusion. We are delighted to be able to put the lived experience of disabled people at the forefront of this day’s workshops and talks. Book your ticket - link in bio #DisabilityInclusion #InclusiveDance #DisabilityAwareness #FolkDance

Up from the Sea, Up from Town: singing in Southwold, Suffolk Katie Howson looks at some of the songs collected in Southwold in 1910 by Ralph Vaughan Williams and George Butterworth, and reflects on the meaning that such songs held for fishermen and their communities. Join us online for this Library Lecture Tue 11 Mar 7.30pm - 9pm Online £5 Book your place via 'Library Lectures' in the link in bio. Image: JW Georges, Harbour Inn 1911, (1930)

SAVE THE DATE: People Dancing Summer Intensive 22 - 24 July @demontfortunivi Leicester EFDSS' own Folk Education Network Coordinator, Kerry Fletcher will be a contributor at @people_dancing_uk’s popular Summer Intensive for community dance practitioners and teachers. Booking will open soon. #FolkEducation #FolkDance #FolkEucationNetwork #ProfessionalDevelopment

We're really proud to be part of Attitude is Everything’s pioneering Live Events Access Charter – as a pilot member of the new version. The Live Events Access Charter is a framework to support and encourage live event organisations to progress their inclusive practices for diverse disabled people across all areas of their business.  The Charter is not just for venues, but is also suitable for Festival organisers. Find out more under 'Latest News' via the link in bio. #InclusiveEvents #DisabilityAwareness #DisabilityInclusion @attitudeiseverythinghq

Our professional development days, are practical and fun as well as informative. You'll be able to experience first-hand 'Dancing Days: Using Folk Arts in Inclusive Settings' - our learning resource for introducing learning disabled young people to folk music and dance, created by Emmie Ward and Roary Neat. We're thrilled that Seth Bye @sethbye composer, fiddle player and educator, will be providing music and support. Book your place for the professional development day on 15 March: Creating Accessible and Inclusive Folk Dance - link in bio #InclusiveFolk #InclustiveDance #DisabilityInclusion #DisabilityAwareness

📣Calling for Gold Badge nominations! 🏆 The Gold Badge is the English Folk Dance and Song Society’s highest award, and recognises important contributions to cultural life in England. Awards categories are: Those who have made unique or outstanding contributions to the broad range of folk dance, music, song and storytelling. Those who have rendered distinguished service to the aims of the English Folk Dance and Song Society through their exceptional contribution, as educators, collectors, researchers, music promoters/managers, media entities, etc. Those who have a particular profile within the wider national cultural sector – crossing over from what has historically been considered ‘English folk’ into mainstream culture. Make your nomination by 1 April. Link in bio

End of half term treat – bring your family to tomorrow’s Family Barn Dance. Tickets still available! Link in bio Photo by Brian Slater

Let’s Dance: give folk dance a try! From Tue 25 Feb to Thu 6 March we’re getting involved in Let’s Dance, the national campaign – spearheaded by Angela Rippon CBE – to get the nation dancing. We’re offering a limited number of free places for new participants to take part in our fun and friendly folk dance classes at Cecil Sharp House. Everyone is welcome at our events. Morris Dancing Tue 25 Feb, Tue 4 March: 6.30pm - 8pm Have fun with sticks and hankies! A relaxed and energetic way to discover one of England’s most iconic dances. English Country Dancing Thu 27 Feb, Thu 6 March: 7.30pm - 9.30pm Learn English country, ceilidh and barn dancing, with live music. Both classes are for all levels of experience, including absolute beginners. Go to the Latest News link in our bio for more details and how to apply for your free dance class. #LetsDance @theangelarippon @sportandrecalliance #MorrisDancing #EnglishCountryDancing #FolkDance

Announcing a brand new series of online library courses, Folk Uncovered! We're delighted to launch the series with Steve Roud, creator of the Roud Folk Song Index, presenting 'Folk Song in England': a six-week online evening course on the social history of traditional song and singing in England up to about 1950 (when the post-war Folk Revival changed things dramatically). Online: Thursdays, 1 May - 5 June, 7.30pm. Book your place now - 'Latest News' link in bio. #FolkSong #SteveRoud #RoudIndex #SocialHistory #LearnOnline #FolkUncovered Image: Cecil Sharp collecting songs

This Thursday! 20 February, 7pm. The Fire Station, Sunderland. The National Youth Folk Ensemble brings together talented young folk musicians from across England. Join them at The Fire Station, Sunderland for an evening of music on the theme of Music, Heritage, Place, created and performed by these rising stars. With guests Folkestra and the Melrose Quartet @nationalyouthfolk @firestationsun #FolkMusic #YouthFolkMusic

If you’re interested in Street Literature and Cheap Print, there’s still plenty of time to book for next Saturday’s Broadside Day. The conference covers everything from chapbooks to catchpennies, last dying speeches to news (real and fake). Broadside Day Sat 22 Feb, 9.30am - 5pm @cecilsharphouse Discover more and book your tickets via the link in our bio. #folkhistory #broadside #StreetLiterature #ephemera

📣We are recruiting📣 Are you enthusiastic about folk music and dance? Are you a qualified archivist with practical experience of cataloguing, archival software, and caring for a multi-format collection? We are looking for a new Archivist to join our team at the English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS). The role, responsible for the cataloguing, organisation and preservation of the archives, sits within EFDSS’ Vaughan Williams Memorial Library, England’s national collection for folk music and dance, incorporating song, instrumental music, and social and display dance, alongside folk customs, traditional drama, social history and folklore. Visit the Vacancies link in our bio for more information and how to apply. The deadline for applications is 10am on Monday 17 March. #archivist #folkhistory #folktradition #folkmusic #folkdance

Join the National Youth Folk Ensemble! Are you aged between 12 and 18? Do you already play an instrument? Come to an Open Day this May to find out more about the National Youth Folk Ensemble Each Open Day will be: CREATIVE – music workshops with highly skilled professional folk musicians INFORMATIVE – Q&A about the National Youth Folk Ensemble FUN – opportunity to meet and play music with other young musicians FREE to attend Open Days are in London, Exeter and Leeds. Book your free place now. Link in bio. #FolkMusic #FolkOrchestra #YouthMusic #MusicEducation

Fiddling in Dumfries and Galloway For our next Library Lecture, Jo Miller and Stuart Eydmann introduce their current research on the lively local culture of fiddle music and dance in Dumfries and Galloway – its performers, composers, teachers and collectors – during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tues 11 Feb 7.30pm - 9pm Online £5 Book your place via 'Library Lectures and Broadside Day' in the link in bio. #FiddleMusic #FolkMusic #ScottishFolkMusic Image: The Kirkcowan Orchestra c1900

The National Youth Folk Ensemble brings together talented young folk musicians from across England. Join them at The Fire Station, Sunderland for an evening of music on the theme of Music, Heritage, Place, created and performed by these rising stars. The Fire Station, Sunderland Thursday 20 February, 7pm With guests Folkestra and the Melrose Quartet @nationalyouthfolk @firestationsun #FolkMusic #YouthFolkMusic

We're taking a fond look back at the National Youth Folk Ensemble Cohort 9’s first residency last October, pictured here with guest tutor Suntou Susso. Watch this space for details of our upcoming National Youth Folk Ensemble Open Days across the country, where you can take part in the band for a day and see if joining the next cohort is for you. @suntousussomusic @nationalyouthfolk #YouthFolk #EnglishFolk #YouthMusic #FolkMusic #FolkBand #MusicEducation