Special Events
Alongside our regular programme of sessions across the weekend, we also run a number of special events. For more information on these, please see below!
Family Fringe
When: Saturday @ 10:00 - 16:00; Sunday @ 10:00 - 16:00 - Where: St Catherine's Scout Hut, 38 Holtwood Road, Sheffield, S4 7BA [Click for Map]
We’re really glad to announce that Chloe and Jake Middleton-Metcalfe have organised the Family Fringe (Baby & Child friendly session) for us again this year for instrumentalists, singers and dancers. Come prepared! Please BYOB and food. Some toys provided but more welcome. Tolerant adult musicians without children also welcome. For more information & to let us know if you’re coming, please check out the Facebook event [Here]
Thursday
Sheffield scratch contra
When: Thursday @ 7.30 - 10.30 - Where: Memorial Hall, Forbes Road, Hillsborough, S6 2NW (next to Hillsborough tram stop)
Sheffield Scratch Contra's monthly dance aligns with SeshFest this year, so they're starting the weekend off with an open band for an evening of American dance. Musicians, come and join in with classic contra tunes (American reels and jigs). Some sheet music will be available. Dancers, come and give contra a go, no experience or partner needed.
Saturday
TUNES AND RIFFS Workshop With roger Watson
When: Saturday @ 11:00 - 12:00 - Where: The Perch
Join Roger Watson for the first of two workshops! He’ll help you with musical infrastructure by running through how to build dance tune arrangements from a rhythmic and harmonic structure, using well know tunes and some less predictable chord sequences. Suitable for all instruments!
GUITAR Workshop WItH LUKE SHAW
When: Saturday @ 11:00 - 12:00 - Where: Shakespeare’s Upstairs
Join the fantastic Luke Shaw for an hour's workshop focussing on accompanying Sessions on guitar - perfectly timed on Saturday morning which gives you plenty of time to test out what you learn at the rest of the festival!
Mandolin Workshop with MATT NELSON
When: Saturday @ 11:00 - 12:00 - Where: The Forest
Join the fantastic Matt Nelson for a Mandolin workshop at the Forest; followed by a dedicated Mandolin session to put your learning into action! Stick around at the Forest after the workshop for a Mandolin session from 12:00 to 14:45!
Fingerstyle Tenor Guitar with Gina Le Faux
When: Sunday @ 12:00 - 13:30 - Where: Gardeners Rest (Upstairs)
Join acclaimed musician, songwriter, performer, entertainer and Luthier, Gina Le Faux focusing for their workshop focussed on all things Fingerstyle Tenor Guitar!
Euro Bal
When: Saturday @ 12:00 - 14:45 - Where: Shakespeare’s Bards Bar (Upstairs)
A mixed dance & tune session. Come along with an instrument and/or your best dancing shoes for an afternoon bal at Shakespeares.
Playford
When: Saturday @ 15:00 - 17:45 - Where: Shakespeare’s Bards Bar (Upstairs)
A special Sheffield Sessions Festival edition of ‘Playford in the Pub’. Tunes and dances from 1651 onwards. An opportunity to play and dance to tunes with musicians visiting us from all around the UK, the scratch Playford orchestra is always epic. Playford is the eccentric great grandma of modern ceilidh and contra, and has some of the best tunes in the history of English folk music. Musicians, dancers, callers and beginners at all of these things are welcome. All the dances are taught, and some sheet music is provided for those who like to read it (playing by ear is also fine). Dance positions are not gendered in our calling, and you can dance in any position you like.
Zydeco/Cajun Workshop & Session with Phil Underwood
When: Saturday @ 18:00 - 20:00 - Where: The Perch - Upstairs
Join Phil who will be demonstrating and teaching elements of Cajun, Zydeco and Louisiana Creole Music with a session to round off the event.
Electric/electronica tunes session
When: Saturday @ 18:00 - 20:00 - Where: The Forest
Hosted by Lee O’D. Come and play a wide range of trad and non-trad tunes with an electronic twist. Traditional instruments are very welcome too! A small PA will be available, but if you’d like plugging in, please bring appropriate cables to a full sized jack that are reasonably long.
Sunday
18th Century English Fiddle Style with Gina Le Faux
When: Sunday @ 11:00 - 12:00 - Where: The Perch
Join acclaimed musician, songwriter, performer, entertainer and Luthier, Gina Le Faux focusing for their workshop focussed on all things 18th Century Fiddle Style!
VOICE WORKSHOP WITH MARILLA HOMES
When: Sunday @ 11:00 - 12:00 - Where: The Perch
A perfect way to start your SeshFest Sunday! Warm up the voice, dust off the croakiness of the day before and get prepped for the fabulous day to come! Join Marilla for an hour of fun, singing, movement, Feldenkrais and vocal health.
TUNES & RIFFS Workshop With roger Watson
When: Sunday @ 11:00 - 12:00 - Where: The Perch - Upstairs
Join Roger Watson for the second of two workshops! He’ll help you with musical infrastructure by running through how to build dance tune arrangements from a rhythmic and harmonic structure, using well know tunes and some less predictable chord sequences. Suitable for all instruments!
Suprise concert
When: Sunday @ 15:00 - 17:45 - Where: The Harlequin - Upstairs
Join us for a staple event of Sessions Festival, hosted this year by Sean Cooney. Artists at this event are chosen by our Committee during the festival, so take a break and come see a selection of some of the best performers of the festival!
Old fashioned ceilidh
When: Sunday @ 18:00 - 20:00 - Where: Shakespeare’s Bards Bar (Upstairs)
Come and join in with the Old Fashioned Ceilidh, with Patrick and Annie. Bring a tune, a song, a story, a poem, a dance you'd like to call, or just bring yourselves and join in with it all!