Dragon Folk Club

10/08/2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was the usual eclectic mix of songs, providing an entertaining evening. There were eight songs new to the Dragon database including some surprising previous omissions at least two of which had been sung here before, but before the days of the database.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

02/08/2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session saw two visitors: Mark from Derbyshire returned a year after his first appearance, and Chris S, now from the Isle of Man, came along after an absence of six years. Chris, who usually sings with a shanty group, gave us a couple of songs but otherwise read the words of songs as poems, showing that pretty much anything goes as long as it's acoustic. In fact as if to drive the point home, regular non-performer Hazel was persuaded to tell us some of her jokes.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Three men walked into a bar... [they are not the folk club] (Photo: Simon Meeds) Last week's Dragon Folk Club session saw two visitors: Mark...

28/07/2026

At last week's Dragon Folk Club session we were delighted to welcome back Mel who last visited us over six years ago, and Habib who accompanied him on this visit. It was Habib's first experience of the club and we hope they will return.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Plantation remains in Saint Lucia (Photo: Simon Meeds) At last week's Dragon Folk Club session we were delighted to welcome back Mel who las...

20/07/2026

Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was quite a contrast to the one that came before with what we would consider a decent crowd, and the singing wasn't too bad either. It was great to see Helen for the first time since March, but otherwise it was all regulars except for... well' I'll come to that in a minute.

This Friday though we are likely to be a bit thinner on the ground with regulars, so you are strongly urged to come along and see what what we do. While we'd love you to perform it's fine if you don't feel like doing so this time, we'd just appreciate your company, your chat, and maybe you can join in with a chorus or five!

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Paul and Denny making up (Photo: Simon Meeds) Last week's Dragon Folk Club session was quite a contrast to the one that came before with wha...

17/07/2026

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Thank you

13/07/2026

It had to happen sooner or later: a perfect storm of several of our Dragon Folk Club regulars being unavailable and there being no visitors, so two singers held the fort all evening. A good time was had and maybe the mix of songs was slightly more eclectic than is usual even for us!

Colin had raided the depths of his song drawer, and Simon, challenged by his wife, sought out mostly songs suitable for a hot day and warm evening - our stone barn venue may be a tad chilly in the winter, but it's certainly a refuge at the height of summer.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Caversham Charity Folk Festival 2004 (Photo: Simon Meeds) It had to happen sooner or later: a perfect storm of several of our Dragon Folk Cl...

06/07/2026

There weren't hordes at the Dragon Folk Club session last week, but we all had a good time and it was great to see Gabriel join us for the second time. We hadn't frightened him away, which is always a good sign!

We're carrying on the run of themeless sessions, so there is no pressure this Friday, not that there ever is since our themes when they do crop up are always optional.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Florence iron ore mine , Egremont, Cumbria There weren't hordes at the Dragon Folk Club session last week, but we all had a good time and it...

30/06/2026

After remarking the previous week that the presence of singer/songwriter/guitarist Gabriel had significantly reduced the average age of our Dragon Folk Club session, it was as if someone was trying for some sort of record when 13 year-old singer Grace, accompanied by her father, Greg on banjo, turned up last week to our lair. Your scribe wasn't present, which also accounts for the order of songs in the YouTube playlist probably being awry, but I am told that Grace's voice "really suited the songs she had chosen to sing". I hope I get to hear her in the future.

As far as I'm aware there will be no theme at this Friday's session, and let's hope we continue the streak of being able to welcome fantastic new singers and musicians into our lair... maybe some of them, as several have already, will return for more. We really are a friendly, non-judgemental bunch, and the Dragon Folk Club is a great place whether you are sharing your old party piece or trying something new.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!

Brinegar Cabin , Milepost 238.5, Blue Ridge Parkway, NC (Photo: Simon Meeds) After remarking the previous week that the presence of singer/s...

20/06/2026

Of course I almost always say we had a great evening at the Dragon Folk Club session, but yesterday really was exceptional I think. We were joined by first-time dragon, Gabriel, who not only showed us his skill at singing, guitar playing and song writing, but brought the average age of the sing-around down by a significant margin. We definitely hope to see him again, which of course also applies to second-timers Paul O and Rich. It was great to see Stuart and Carrie again, as it was Rob, and the regulars who were there also seemed in fine voice.

The next session on Friday 26th June will again be without a theme and as usual everyone is welcome to come and sing, play, recite or perform in any way within reason as long as it's acoustic.

You will find us this and almost every Friday from 8:15pm in the barn (just past the toilets) at The Bridge Inn, Bridge Road, Shortwood, Bristol (UK), BS16 9NG

There will always be FREE ENTRY, a warm welcome, excellent acoustics, and a reasonably priced bar. Anything goes as long as it’s acoustic: a song, a story, a tune, a poem, a joke, a monologue, whatever you can come up with, and if you don’t feel up to performing even in front of a small, friendly, crowd, then you are welcome to just listen, and maybe join in the odd chorus and some friendly banter.

See you there soon for a fun evening!