This year the East Anglian Traditional Music Trust had a big presence at Folk East, where we were running lots of free drop-in workshops and activities.

Across the weekend we had Jig Doll and Have-a-Go Dulcimer workshops with George Monger, a Traditional Song and Craft Workshops with Bec Jenning and Lynn Whitehead, Stepdance workshops with Ethan Beal and Lindsey Want, a Field Recording workshop with Jake Lee-Savage, and C-Melodeons workshop with Conor Smith.

We also ran the Sam Larner Hour – a song session at the Hop Inn, with Eammon Andrews as MC, and our annual Stepdance Competition led by Fiona Davies, Ethan Beal and Lindsey Want.

As always, Folk East was a fantastic weekend, with music by Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, Penguin Cafe, The Longest Johns, Sheelanagig, The Rheingans Sisters and so much more!

Huge thanks to our team of amazing volunteers for manning the stall and running workshops over the weekend: Bec and Genevieve Jennings, George Monger, Ethan Beal, Lindsey Want, Jake Lee-Savage, Conor Smith, Eammon Andrews, Fiona Davies and of course Herbert, Bean and Jig!

Thanks to Folk East and the team for having us and we are looking forward to being back at next years festival on the 21, 22, 23rd August 2026 at the Sotterley Estate!

We were delighted to be back at Bungay Folk Festival this year. On Friday and Saturday, Jannine was based at the Fisher Theatre, with information about the EATMT, our upcoming events and selling jig dolls, books and Traditional Music Day 2025 tickets. You might have also spotted her dancing in the town with Rumbrugh Morris!

This year, we also ran some Melodeon workshops with the fantastic Jill Parsons on Saturday and Sunday – both of which were fully booked! Huge thanks to Jill for these.

On Sunday, we had a stall at the Folk Picnic, with a a good view of the stage. While we were promoting the Trust and our upcoming events, we enjoyed music and dancing from the King Driscolls, Kemps Men, Rattlebox and Bungay Primary School! Huge thanks to Jan Robinson, Ivan Cutting and Jake Lee-Savage for helping run the stall.

Traditional Music Day took place again in Stowmarket and was happily blessed with a bright, sunny day. The Official Opening by the chair of EATMT Ivan Cutting and the Mayor of Stowmarket, Councillor David Child, took place in the John Peel Centre followed by a Welcome Session led by George Monger. As in previous years there had been a music and song session the night before in the Royal William. It was hosted by the Scan Tester Fan Club and welcomed singers and musicians from across the region and from further the field. It was also the first chance for many to hear the unique voice of Macdara Yeates.

Saturday morning progressed with a Jig Doll workshop, a song workshop with The Medlars, informative Talks on Harry Cox and Norfolk’s Traditional Music Heritage by Chris Heppa and Chris Holderness respectively. Lunchtime saw singer Dick Miles look back “Down Memory Lane” to his days in Suffolk whilst the Harbour Inn Crowd from Southwold led a lively music and song session in the Queens Head and the Royal William hosted an Irish Music Session with Michael Sheehy and Alan Block.

More than a dozen Morris teams from across East Anglia and dancers from Kerala Community Supplementary School entertained towns people and visitors at five dance spots around the town and a Stepdancing Showcase, led by Fiona Davies and Kerry Fletcher held a sizeable crowd in the Market Place. Local performers, programmed by Peter Booth, sang and played through the day in the Old Fox Yard.

The afternoon progressed with fine performances by the Scan Tester Fan Club and Georgia Shackleton and the first live podcast of “in The Roud” hosted by Matt Quinn with folklore expert Steve Roud and Essex singers Belinda Kempster and Fran Foote. There were plenty of chances to take part, with community sessions including Bollywood Dancing, a Big Sing, and Country Dancing. and Have a Go opportunities on Concertina, Melodeon and Dulcimer. James Delarre and Saul Rose led a vibrant session in 11 Market Place and The Old Timers String Band from Norwich played “Traditional Music from Both Sides of the Atlantic” to an enthusiastic local audience in the Royal William. John Row wandered around the town with his unique brand of storytelling and Hazel Marsh hosted an engaging exhibition about Romani and Traveler Singers. The highlight for many was Macdara Yeates entertaining the biggest audience of the day in the British Legion with his riveting traditional songs from Dublin.

Late afternoon events included Katie Howson’s Talk on East Anglian Dulcimer playing, archive films, “A Chance to Sing” with Eammon Andrews and a lively music session led by Otis Luxton.

The evening concert in the John Peel Centre featured The Medlars, James Delarre & Saul Rose, Georgia Shackleton, Macdara Yeates and a rare solo concert performance by Nancy Kerr. Across in the British Legion, Shirley Harry compered a Folk Club style evening featuring guest performers Mossy Christian & Megan Wisdom, Matt Quinn and Belinda Kempster & Fran Foote together with spots from Maggie Moore & Stan Bloor, Peter & Barbara Snape, Paul Gill and others.

So, a great day, marred only by the smoke from a fierce fire in the town. Thanks to all the performers, MCs, ticket buyers and particularly our valiant volunteers, within whom the day would be impossible. Make a note in your 2026 diary. Saturday September 19th, when Stowmarket will again be full of traditional music, song and dance.

Written by Alan Bearman

Photos by Ian Trouse

Photos below by Eammon Andrews

Macdara Yeates, Royal William, Friday evening, with Richard Spencer  

Kerela dance group 

Ouse Washes Molly dancers 

Musicians Otis Luxton and Tim Brooks 

Stepdancing, lunchtime session

The trust had a great time on 27th July at The Compasses in Littley Green for Stepdance day. George Monger ran a Jig Doll workshop with music from Chris Holderness and Fiona Davies ran the Stepdancing Workshop with music from Otis Luxton. We enjoyed seeing lots of new faces and old ones at these workshops.

Once everyone had had a go we got started on the Competitions. First up was the Jig Doll Compettition. The Judges were George Monger and returning champion, Peter Crabb . Music was provided by Chris Holderness. The prize this year went to the amazing Sue Beecroft. 

This years Steve Monk Competition saw many youngster, new and old faces. The judges were Gloria Buckley, Chris Holderness and Eammon Andrews.

Three prizes where awarded:

Best Newcomer – Robyn Luxton

Best Under 16 –  Lucy Brown

Steve Monk Trophy – Eammon Andrews

Next up was the Font Whatling Competition. The judges were Gloria Buckley, Chris Holderness and Debbie Sanger and music provided by Otis Luxton, with Angela Peacock winning this year.

Eammon Andrews was also presented with the Percy West Plate for his work promoting stepdancing. 

We had a great day with lots of old faces and some new ones too.

*Please note this article has been amended in December 2025, since it’s first publication in the November 2025 newsletter, due to a couple of errors. Apologies!