BFC is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to bringing the best of traditional-style music to Bournemouth.

Thursdays:
Our Thursday night gigs began in 2008. The folk club had already been at Centre Stage for three years and we wanted to promote gigs which, we believe, fit in with the kind of atmosphere of a folk club. This includes song-makers of various backgrounds including: acoustic blues, bluegrass and Americana. Among the greatest of those we have booked are: Bob Brozman, Stephan Grossman, Peter Rowan (solo and with bluegrass band), Diana Jones, Southern Tenant Folk Union, Madison Violet and Chris Difford (of Squeeze).

Sundays:
Since moving to Centre Stage in 2005, our Sunday night gigs have included concerts by top British and Irish folk acts and award-winners such as: Flook, Dervish, Steve Knightley, Phil Beer, John Renbourn & Robin Williamson, Spiers & Boden, Vin Garbutt and The Old Dance School. Bournemouth Folk Club also encourages local song-makers. Headline events include concerts of 40-50 minutes by the best of local folk acts. However, the emphasis on the quality and integrity of the music rather whether it is “folk-enough”.

THE EVENING
Music starts at 8pm. Doors are open from 7.15pm. We plan to end the evening at 10.30pm but quite often run a few minutes over. We usually arrange an interval some time during the evening.

CONCERT SETTING and RESPECT
Bournemouth Folk Club promotes listening events in a relaxed concert setting. Our gigs should not be confused with pub gigs or with venues/events where music is background. We respect the audience by ensuring the quality of the music (as far as we can) and we ask audience to listen quietly to the music. We also ask musicians to listen to all the other acts on the line-up. Occasionally we offer gigs which are danceable or noisy.

PHOTOGRAPHY
Flash or obtrusive photography is not acceptable.
Professional photography must be authorised by Folk Club management. Galleries of good professional photography are accessible from our website.

TICKETS
At present tickets can be reserved by phone 01202-707498 (Val Munro) or email: vmmunro@tiscali.co.uk. Our ticket-selling arrangements are under review at the moment (April 2011).

MAILING LIST
Bournemouth Folk Club has a mailing list. Emails are sent out weekly to inform about the week’s gigs. Occasionally we send an additional note re ticket sales for major gigs. There is also a major gigs only mailing list which goes out now and again.

To join the mailing list, please contact: paul@fawm.net