Local folk musician Alastair Braidwood is leading several folk events in Dorchester this coming weekend, with something for everyone; all ages, all abilities, all welcome.
Join Dorchester-based folk singer and musician Alastair Braidwood as he leads several different events celebrating folk music and traditional customs around the county town this weekend. There’s something for everyone, whatever their age or interest, from a special dance for young families to songs and poems in a micropub.
The evening of Friday 9th will be the first meeting of 2026 for EuroBal Wessex, a group of like-minded musicians and dancers who share the love of European styles of dance and music, at the Brownsword Hall, Poundbury. Accompanied by a live scratch band, which welcomes musicians on any instrument, the basic steps for the dances are taught in a special workshop from 7pm before the main Bal gets underway at 8pm. The group is very diverse and welcomes everyone. There may even be a hurdy-gurdy is residence! Cash honesty bowl on entry: adults £7, teenagers £5, kids free.
Saturday will a busy day, with not one but two ceilidhs! The Big Dorset Midwinter Ceilidhs have become something of a tradition over the last few years, with the band of the New Hardy Players, Tatterdemalion, playing traditional tunes for dancing to drive away winter blues. This year, they are trying a new venue with a bigger capacity: the Thomas Hardye School Theatre.
In the early evening there will be the usual Kiddies’ Keilidh, an hour-long session with fun dances especially chosen for those with little legs to keep up with. £5 per person, and each child must bring an adult!
Then, later, the main ceilidh will begin. From 7.30pm, all are welcome to enjoy dancing and companionship in the dark winter evenings. There’s no need to bring a partner, and all the dances will be taught by expert caller Angela Laycock. £13 for adults, and £5 for concessions; pre-booking is recommended via Dorchester Arts.
On Sunday afternoon the ancient tradition of wassailing comes to Poundbury, with the orchard of the community farm being stirred into life and encouraged to produce a good crop this year. With appearances from Frome Valley Morris and the new Bard of Dorchester Rebecca Danicic, the afternoon will be rounded off with apple-based refreshments. Meet at 2.30pm in the orchard, parking by Sunny Days Nursery. Donations to the farm welcome.
To round off the weekend, there is, as always, the Convivial Rabbit weekly folk session on Sunday evening, which Alastair will be chairing. Anything goes, with local performers bringing songs, tunes, poems and stories to share and enjoy, while all enjoy the excellent refreshments served from behind the bar. Folky folk gather from 7.30pm.
There are lots of opportunities to get involved over the weekend; musicians should steer towards the Bal or the session, while families who would like to introduce children to the world of folk music and traditional customs should aim for the Kiddies’ Keilidh and the Wassail. While the Wassail is particular to this time of year, other events will continue through the next twelve months. EuroBal Wessex meets in Dorchester every other month on second Fridays (alternating with another branch of the group in the New Forest), and Tatterdemalion’s seasonal ceilidhs will reappear, trisecting the year at May Day and Michaelmas. To keep up with all these events and more, you can follow Alastair Braidwood on Facebook and Instagram.
