FOCSLE Music What’s On

In‑person FOCSLE Music meets
on SECOND TUESDAYS (and occasionally others)
at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, Southampton SO14 6SF

Next event: 14th May, a Singaround

Next Guests: 28th May OPLAND-FREEMAN
After far too long off the road, they’re back!! TANIA and MIKE bring their multi-instrument, acoustic World Music magic to FOCSLE Music’s shores once again

TANIA OPLAND & MIKE FREEMAN
dazzling array of musical textures, via vocals, hammer dulcimer, harp, recorders, ocarina, djembe, guitar, drums and more. Plenty of mischievous humour, too!

Add your comments on our Facebook page.
See a date-order calendar of all events, live and virtual, here.

ANDY WALL click/tap for sound clip (from Terry Helyar’s magnificent series of recordings made in his ‘studio’ caravan, a treasure-trove of musical material by a spectrum of musicians both famous and obscure. Worth delving into, in its own right).

50+ years on the scene, across the UK and around the world. Andy currently lives in Ely, runs the city’s folk club, and is on the board of their Festival. Beautifully ‘marinated’ vocals, with guitar and Appalachian dulcimer; wide range of songs, from Trad. to contemporary, incl. some from the story-telling band he’s in, The Phenland Phezants.
Tues. 11th June The Guide Dog 8pm

Other music events on Tuesdays at The Dog mean FOCSLE Music can’t run weekly there, and all Weds. are now their Curry Nights [recommended, but too busy for us to have use of The Doghouse].
We rely on your, and others’, good sense in taking some respiratory-illness precautions, and on your not attending if you have symptoms. COVID ain’t beat, so please continue following the simple counter-procedures.

FOCSLE Music ‘LIVE’ Entry by donation. Raffle in break, with alcohol, confectionery and – new for 2024 – CD prizes

Next Event:
SINGAROUND
Tues. 30th April 8pm
Venue: The Guide Dog   38 Earls Road Bevois Valley Southampton SO14 6SF
     Rec. £2pp in the pot

…and after that:
SINGAROUNDS
Weds. 1st May 8pm   N.B. reverted to first Weds., despite the 2 consec. nights, due to a management event at the pub on the 8th.
Venue: The Wellington Arms   56 Park Road Freemantle  Southampton SO15 3DE
     Rec. £2pp in the pot

Tues. 14th May 8pm
Venue: The Guide Dog   38 Earls Road Bevois Valley Southampton SO14 6SF
     Rec. £2pp in the pot

Tues. 21st May 7:15pm
Venue: Steve’s boat Tyro   Kemp’s Quay Quayside Rd Bitterne Manor Southampton SO18 1BZ
This will be berthed, not sailing; replaces Paul B’s in West End (originally advertised on some earlier flyers)

Live on the Lawn / Live in the Lounge Singarounds were conceived during COVID, facilitated by the accuracy of online weather-forecasting. In the e-alert, we’ll hint whether we’re likely to be meeting indoors or out [and you can check, too].
Differences from the pub version include:

BYOB
changing venue, each month [usually alternating between western, eastern and central postcodes]
earlier start [to catch best light / temperatures]
earlier finish [ad hoc, but likely c.10pm], at the say-so of the Host

Familiar elements:

(usually) just turn up without notice
DIY music
friendly atmosphere
raffle

Aspects applying to this LotL date, in bold underlined CAPS
Be prepared to:

wrap up warm [according to season / forecast]
CLIMB / DESCEND A “LONGISH” RAMP, WITH HANDRAILS, [steeper on arrival, as we’ll be on a rising tide]. Note that, to access the boat, you’ll need to be able to step over “KNEE-HIGH GUARD-RAILS, WITH HANDHOLDS AVAILABLE”
allow longer to find a parking-space in an unfamiliar area
BRING YOUR OWN CHAIR [needed, if numbers exceed those who can fit in the cockpit]
interact with pets
BE ON A MAILING-LIST, if venue needs to limit numbers, which it will [to c.6] if the weather’s poor

Hosts may, but are not required to, provide tea, coffee, juices, nibbles and BATHROOM FACILITIES, WHICH ARE “GROTTY, ASHORE, UP TWO SHALLOW STEPS WITH HANDRAILS”; and, if they wish, be M.C. Feel free to bring home-made nibbles to share.

Rec. £2pp in the pot

Virtual FOCSLE Music e‑mail for access-codes
Join us and our international music friends (incl. some professionals)
WEDNESDAYs 8pm (UK) = 3pm Eastern / NY = 12noon Pacific / LA
Click/tap for other details, incl. our start-time wherever YOU are in the world

Answers to some FAQs: we run Singaround-style = whoever shows up performs a turn, while the rest listen in, muted
Musically, any genre welcome, ideally unplugged Audience as welcome as performers
Themes mostly arise on the fly, esp. among the more verbally playful of our number
Pre‑arranged Themed Sings on the fourth Weds. each month: your compliance entirely optional
See upcoming themes here
Despite the maritime-sounding name* [Southampton is a port city, geddit??], it’s not just a “Shanty Sing”: they’re a serendipitous part of the mix
Turn up, and leave – and/or come back, even – as suits your schedule

Nice things put on the record:

I love these …most enjoyable. The Focsle crew is a delightful bunch, including some breathtakingly good performers (Austin, Texas)

…love the atmosphere of FOCSLE [Music] as well as the range of styles…
…enhanced further… …by having a theme — it really brought out the best in people
…a very enjoyable evening… …especially when quite a few other [online] sessions are getting a bit tired.
Well done for playing such a big part in keeping so many people sane through these strange times (Staffs., UK)

Thanks for all the warmth you put into your hosting. Felt welcomed and included… …muchly enjoyed this (St Paul, Minnesota)

Congratulations on a very successful event (Lincs., UK)

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to meet, hear, and sing to/with a very talented group of singers. (S. London, UK)

   You have an amazing geographical spread on your Focsle Zoom meetings… …the four corners of the North American continent from…
   …California and Arizona in the south to Oregon and Alaska in the north west and Toronto in the east, plus an attendee from Sydney, Australia… impressive!
   The art of compering is much underrated… …You do it very well. It helps that you know so many of the performers.
   Zoom folk clubs have been the silver lining to the pandemic. However, what you have at the Focsle is exceptional and truly international.      (Hythe, Kent, UK)

Thanks for the much-needed musical fix today. And… …for the creative theme ideas. (Eugene, Oregon)

…truly enjoyable, meeting so many different people with so many different songs. (Derby, UK)

Fantastic — great session …amazing! Lovely… …entertaining… …a range of talented performers …fine folks
It’s been great Excellent… …again …wonderful sessions every week …thank you for doing this (from around US & UK)

I rate your 2 sessions as the tops! [= FOCSLE Music and a US-based virtual ‘cousin’] (Coventry, UK)

* When The Fo’c’sle Folk Club launched, it was typical for port-based ventures to point up their maritime city connections, hence the pun. It’s pronounced “folks’ll” [not “fox’ll”]; also, “forecastle” – from which the term fo’c’s’le derives – is the upper deck in the bow of a sailing ship where the crew were quartered, and would relax to play tunes and sing

Contact Paul for all queries about VIRTUAL events

FOCSLE Music 1963 – 2023 real live music in Southampton, UK for the past 60 years In‑person events at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, second Tuesdays

FOCSLE Music 1963 – 2023
real live music in Southampton, UK for the past 60 years
In‑person events at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, second Tuesdays