On September 19, 2026 Stowmarket came alive with traditional music, dance and song. Of course you can’t bottle the atmosphere, or capture it on the screen, but here’s a taste of the wonderful day we enjoyed.
Photos by Gayle Wade & Ian Trouse – thank you for these. It’s brilliant to have a lasting snapshot of the day!
East Anglian Traditional Music Trust’s Stepdance Day has moved around the Eastern counties since the Worlingworth Swan, its long time home in Suffolk, closed down a few years ago. This year’s event took place at The Three Horseshoes, an old brick and flint pub in the village of Warham, a mile or two inland from Wells-Next-the-Sea in North Norfolk.
The large open fronted wooden shelter alongside the lawned beer garden, offering a hard floor and shade from the summer sun, was perfect for dancers and musicians.
Participants, musicians and spectators travelled from across East Anglia, from London, and special mention to Debbie Sanger travelling up from Devon to compete again.
Stepping and jig doll workshops led by Angela Peacock, and Sue Beecroft and George Monger, were followed by the competitions. Sue had brought along two new additions to her growing collection of jig dolls, a Whittlesey straw bear and bear’s attendant. Winner of the hotly contested jig doll competition was Peter Cousins, a jig doll maker himself.
Eleven steppers entered for the Steve Monk Trophy, won this year by local lad Josh Dart. Julian Rowe, long term supporter of EATMT and relative of Steve Monk’s had travelled up from Suffolk, and presented the trophy.
Josh also won the Font Whatling traditional competition, where no taps or Blakeys are allowed. Best newcomer went to Ellie Dartsmith and best junior to Edward Leadbetter. The Percy West O’Connor Plate, awarded for dedication to keeping step dancing alive in the region, went to Michael Czarnobaj from Ely.
Musical accompaniment saw fiddles and dulcimers to the fore, in contrast with previous years where squeezeboxes have largely been dominant.
The afternoon was rounded off with an informal music, stepping and singing session, an unexpected highlight of which was Zina and Theodora (apologies for any misspellings), two ladies from Russia now living in England, with a traditional Russian wedding song.
Look out for next year’s date and venue !
Eammon Andrews
11th August 2026
Sunday 26th April
We were blessed with the weather again as the “Tune-Up” roadshow rolled
into Briston Three Horseshoes for another bout of local traditional music,
song and step dancing, a pub which has quite a lot of relevant history as it
was run by famed step dancer Dick Hewitt years ago. A lovely setting of the
open-sided pavilion in the garden was the backdrop for another few hours
music-making in time-honoured manner. Quite a throng filled the pavilion
area, and spilled out into the neighbouring tables, in the sunshine.
We had a selection of the local tunes of various types, with a fair amount of
people joining the Unthank Irregulars on a wide variety of instruments:
trombone and guitar-banjo as well as the more usual fiddles, whistles and
concertinas. Dancing dolls there were a-plenty, and honourable mention
must be made to Sheila Park, not just for her wonderful songs but also for
bringing and playing a doll made for her by Harry Cox. Also plenty of step
dancing, as the tunes inspired dancers to get up; lovely to see a few
spontaneous attempts from some teenagers in the wings too. Once again,
it was wonderful to have the couple-dancing of Monica Rackham and Barry
Mobbs, polkas and waltzes as well as the stepdances.
Full band sets were interspersed with the occasional dulcimer solo, or
dulcimer-led set, and we were fortunate enough to have two players, Tom
Knights, with tunes learned from his grandfather Reg Reader, as well as
our usual stalwart Richard Blake: quite a tour-de-force when playing
together. Some traditional songs, mostly of local provenance, rounded out
an enjoyable afternoon and, once again, it was gratifying to see so many
local people enjoying the spectacle and some curious enough to want to
find out more about this local heritage.
May will see us in Erpingham Spread Eagle – on Sunday 17th – for more of
the same. Also, if anyone is at a loose end on Sunday 24th, the Unthank
Irregulars are playing at Melton Park fete (1.30-4.00). Do come and join us
(to play if you wish) in the beautiful surroundings of the Norman estate
church.
Chris Holderness, April 2026
Welcome to Traditional Music Day 2026! Taking place all over Stowmarket on Saturday 19 September (with a free pre-festival session to get you started on Friday 18 September, hosted by Phil Lyons with Tom & Emma Hardy, plus early guest arrivals) – get in touch on tmd@eatmt.org.uk if you have any questions before booking.
Events as part of Traditional Music Day happen in multiple venues around Stowmarket – please check the programme to find out where individual events are taking place!
Individual event tickets will be available on the door throughout the day, with most priced at £7 – if you’re hoping to be at more than two events, a full day ticket will likely work out better value for you.
Full day tickets give you access to any and all daytime events, plus the evening folk club featuring Peta Webb & Ken Hall, Arthur Knevett, and Maggie Moore & Stan Bloor.
The evening concert at the John Peel Centre (Jimmy Aldridge & Sid Goldsmith, Nick Hart, Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones, and Peter & Barbara Snape) and the evening dance (Flowers & Frolics with caller Simon Diegan) are both ticketed separately – and if you have a full day ticket you’ll get a discount.
JIMMY ALDRIDGE & SID GOLDSMITH | NICK HART | FLOWERS & FROLICS
Bryony Griffith & Alice Jones | Peta Webb & Ken Hall
Peter & Barbara Snape | Arthur Knevett | Alvar Smith
Phil Lyons | John Row | Kerry Fletcher | Adrian May
Michael Sheehy & Alan Block | Maggie Moore & Stan Bloor
A Good Ol’ Norfolk Tune Up & Session
The Harbour Inn Crowd | Megan Wisdom
Otis Luxton | Simon Diegan | The Unthank Irregulars
Ethan Beal | Mossy Christian
Sarah Petts and other members of Stumpy Oak
Eammon Andrews | George Monger
Jill Parson | Mike Acott
Concerts | Country Dance | Music Sessions | Folk Club
Morris | Stepdancing | Song sessions | Talks | Storytelling
Friday evening music & song session
Irish Music Session
Social dance workshop | Jigdolls | Exhibitions
Beginners’ Workshops (melodeon, concertina, dulcimer)
This year the Trust held three Afternoons of Music, Song and Dance:
Garboldisham – Sunday 23rd March 2025
Wortwell – Sunday 15th June 2025
Coddenham – Sunday 12th October 2025
The afternoons were well attended and full of East Anglian tunes and dances and of course, lots of jig dolls! Huge thanks to all the brilliant volunteers who helped make these events a success!
Photos from the Coddenham event, by Eammon Andrews
