FOCSLE Music  founded 1963
real live music in Southampton, UK for the past 60 years

In‑person events at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, second Tuesdays


Zoom section of page updated Apr. 11th '25

In‑person FOCSLE Music Guest nights
on second & fourth Tuesdays*, at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, Southampton  SO14 6SF
* or, occasionally, others

Next Event:  Tues. 22nd April
Singaround  8pm at The Guide Dog
38 Earls Road  Bevois Valley  Southampton  SO14 6SF

More events, and details of the above, further down.  Add your comments on our Facebook page.
See a date-order calendar of all events, live and virtual, here.
Note that, tho’ each event listed looks like a hyperlink [they ARE], he who used to update these pages screwed up, and they don’t work.  So just use it as a quick-overview listing:  sorry!  Also – and sorry again – these are currently [early 2025] being updated only patchily, until someone has a handle on doing that.
We rely on your, and others’, good sense in taking some respiratory-illness precautions, and on your not attending if you have symptoms.  COVID can still kick ass, so please continue following the simple counter-procedures.  Even now, The Dog provides free hand‑san. [on the central pillar, opp. the bar], so pls. use it, and help keep us all safe(r).
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Virtual FOCSLE Music
second & fourth WEDNESDAYs of each month, 8pm UK time
thus next date April 23rd.  MCs:  Maggi Huyton & Mark Dowding, Room / Zoom at the Top F C, Newburgh, Lancs.
Details further down
FOCSLE Music ‘LIVE’   Singarounds and Guest nights.  Entry by donation.   Raffle in break, with alcohol, confectionery and CD prizes
Future Events [subject to amendment]:

Tues. 22nd April  8pm  Singaround
Sing, play, recite, improvize [dance, even] whatever you like for the rest of those there, who’ll in turn do the same while you’re their audience.  Minimal restrictions:  we prefer acoustic [in our bijou space, there’s not that much room for electric kit, etc.] and, if we’re tight for time, perhaps not a 42-verse ballad;  otherwise, within those modest guide-rails, your choice.
Venue:  The Guide Dog   38 Earls Road  Bevois Valley  Southampton  SO14 6SF
     Rec. £2pp in the pot


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Virtual FOCSLE Music      sign up for periodic alerts
Join us and our international music friends (incl. some professionals)
Second & fourth 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 does a turn, while the rest listen in, muted
Musically, any genre welcome, ideally unplugged;  we’re definitely not solely a platform for watching videos (even if you’re IN them) rather than you performing directly for those of us in the ‘room’
Audience as welcome as performers
Themes may arise on the fly, esp. among the more verbally playful of our number, but nothing formal mooted
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.  That said, we can’t always accommodate performers who show up only in the last hour;  don’t let that inhibit you from attending then, if that’s all you can manage.  Because of the implict fairness of lending an ear to fellow musicians [your audience, when it’s your turn to perform], we can’t book you a slot ahead, so you can scoot off and come back just for that.
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
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