​Folklife Societies

Folklife Traditions Journal (FTJ) - articles & news about Folklife Studies & Institutions FTJ published & printed in Folklife West and also separately.
The FT header artwork (our logo) © Chris Beaumont. Morris dancers © Annie Jones; from The Roots Of Welsh Border Morris (Dave Jones)
​

www.folklife.uk/opt-in: for Journal, Directory, and Folk News Updates
NOTE: listings below need checking as some entries are quite old, volunteer list-checkers welcome,
also volunteers to research possible new entries, please contact sam@folklife.uk
We'll add date after new entries, & checked old entries, eg (new listing, Dec 2022) or (checked, Dec 2022).

We are moving website due to difficulties in editing. On 29 June 2025, we checked nearly all below for websites given, changing where necessary, and removing those no longer existing. Where website is in red, this usually means website was a Yahoo group, these have have stopped, but there may be a Groups.io replacement which we'll look into. Other editing/checking entries may have to wait till we moved due to difficulties on editing .

​​Subscriptions and Donations - please see home page
​

FOLKLIFE SOCIETIES: Associations, Trusts, Organisations • A1-A2, general • A3-A13, specific
A.1 General: National Societies
A.2 General: Regional and Local Societies

• Groups.io discussion groups are
​ under appropriate [A.] category
A.3 Cerdd Dant Societies
A.4 Folk Song Societies
A.5 Folk Music Societies
A.6 Folk Dance Societies
A.7 Folk Drama Societies
A.8 Folklore Societies
A.9 Storytelling Societies
A.10 Oral History Societies
A.11 Language & Dialect Societies
A.12 Folk Life Generally - Societies
A.13 Folk Life Specific Groups

FOLKLIFE SOCIETIES, associations, trusts, organisations
To be listed, simply email your details as below, to sam@folklife.uk

We require: Category, ORGANISATION'S NAME, one website ---- all other details are optional
Website links are in blue and underlined. For emails, to avoid spam, we'll replace @ by <at>.

Category § ORGANISATION'S NAME in CAPITALS 1 website 1 contact name (or eg "Office") 1 contact phone

Contact details, websites, social media (other than already listed above)

More details, up to 40 words

§ for Category: choose 1 from list above. -- our categories are also listed above. You are welcome to email us to suggest new categories

​*** We will insert before name
🄵 or FL Folklife members. Ø Folklife Associate members. 🄹 Journal subscriber or contributor.​ Thanks for your support
‡‡ UK, ØØ International: "Updates" sign-ups other than above, incl. non-member advertisers. To join us is only £18 a year)

Bilingual entries are welcome (as below: in green, Fs.3), as are your logos etc (as on left below, Fs.1)

GENERAL: A1-A2 • Societies that include both folk music and song, or combine folk music, song, and dance

A.1 GENERAL FOLK-ARTS SOCIETIES. 1, NATIONAL
Canada
∅ La SOCIETE CANADIENNE POUR LES TRADITIONS MUSICALES / The CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR TRADITIONAL MUSIC www.yorku.ca/cstm
⊕ Dedicated to the study and promotion of musical traditions of all communities and cultures, in all their aspects.

Cymru / Wales (see also "England & Wales", below)
FL trac TRADDODIADAU CERDD CYMRU https://trac.cymru/ Blanche Rowen, Rheolydd 01446 748 556
⌂ trac, trac<ar>trac-cymru.org
⊕ Sefydliad Ddatblygu Gwerin Cymru yw trac; ei swyddogaeth yw hyrwyddo a datblygu traddodiadau cerdd a dawns Cymru - o fewn Cymru a'r tu hwnt. Mae trac yn darparu gwasanaeth gwybodaeth, a gwefan yn rhestru perfformwyr, digwyddiadau a chysylltiadau.
FL trac MUSIC TRADITIONS WALES https://trac.wales Blanche Rowen, Manager 01446 748 556
⌂ trac, trac<at>trac-cymru.org​
⊕ Wales’ Folk Development organisation; its rôle to promote and develop the music and dance traditions of Wales - both within Wales and beyond. trac provides an information service, and the website lists performers, events and contacts. 19/3/2020, updated with new website, new contact details]
Ellan Vannin / Isle Of Man

Ellan Vannin / Isle Of Man

∅ MANX HERITAGE FOUNDATION Music Development Team www.manxmusic.com
⌂ The Stable Building, The University Centre, Old Castletown Road, Douglas, Isle of Man IM2 1QB
⊕ The MHF Manx Music Development Team works to support and promote the use of Manx music and dance in a variety of contexts.
England (see also "England & Wales", below)
FL ENGLISH FOLK SONG & DANCE SOCIETY (EFDSS) www.efdss.org Office 020 7485 2206
⌂ Cecil Sharp House, 2 Regent’s Park Road, LONDON, NW1 7AY.
⊕ National organisation: folk song, music, dance, tradition. Membership: two magazine subscriptions, use of VWM Library, free performers’ insurance, and more. [EFDSS; previously listed; now a FL member, August 2017]
England & Wales
∅ FOLK CAMPS ................................. www.folkcamps.co.uk Office 0208 1232136
⌂ Folk Camps Society Limited, 43 Mill Street, Tonyrefail, PORTH CF39 8AB. Mobile: 07919 048183. info<at>folkcamps.co.uk
⊕ Folk Camps runs holidays with an emphasis on the enjoyment and participation in folk dance, music and song. For people who like folk festivals, dancing, camping in the great outdoors, making their own music and meeting other fascinating people!
Ø WORKERS’ MUSIC ASSOCIATION https://workersmusic.co.uk Chair: Anne Schuman 020 8699 1933
⌂ 240 Perry Rise, Forest Hill, London, SE23 2QT. Email anne.schuman<at>btinternet.com
⊕ Encourages the social, as opposed to the individualistic approach to the arts; has direct contacts with National and Local Trade Union organisations, has affiliates from choirs and bands across the country, and runs a successful Summer School every August.
FL FOLKLIFE / BYWYD GWERIN www.folklife.uk plus www.bywyd-gwerin.cymru Sam & Eleanor Simmons 01684 561378
⌂ 16 Barrett Rise, Worcester, WR14 2UJ.
⊕ Membership-based non-profit publishers of FW, Folklife West (print-based, & copied online), includes FT, Folklife Traditions.
www.folklife.org.uk is a gateway to e-magazines; current FW; also this online Directory; our FT Archive (folklife articles etc).
Also our other website, www.bywyd-gwerin.cymru , a bilingual Folklife Directory, free online listings and articles to promote the knowledge of Welsh-language folk traditions.

GENERAL: A1-A2 • Societies that include both folk music and song, or combine folk music, song, and dance


A.2 GENERAL FOLK-ARTS SOCIETIES. 2, REGIONAL & LOCAL
WALES entries arranged alphabetically by name
Powys FL TASC, Traditional Arts Support in the Community www.tradartsupport.org.uk Peter Damsell
⌂ admin<at>tradartsupport.org.uk
⊕ TASC was formed in 1994 as part of the Mid Wales May Festival (1989-1998). It aims to promote and encourage traditional and tradition-based work through imaginative projects in Powys and beyond. TASC is a registered charity based in Llandinam.
​ENGLAND entries arranged alphabetically by (1) region, (2) by name within each region

England: MIDLANDS (E. Mids & W. Mids)
Midlands FL TRADITIONAL ARTS TEAM www.tradartsteam.co.uk Pam Bishop 0121 247 3856
⌂ 19 Springfield Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7 DU. pam<at>tradartsteam.co.uk
⊕ Promoting traditional performance arts for the 21st century, the Traditional Arts Team encourages participation through community events, training and performances in the Midlands.
​England: SOUTH (South-East, South-West)
Devon FL DEVON FOLK www.devonfolk.org Anne Gill 01803 290427
⊕ Voluntary county-wide organisation promoting folk activities of all types (song, social dance, ritual dance, mumming, etc) and, through 4-monthly publication "What's Afoot", and through a website, providing contact details for clubs throughout the county.
Glos FL GLOS FOLK www.glosfolk.org.uk Peter Cripps, Chairman 01452 780401
⌂ 22 Severn Way, Apperley, GLOUCESTER, GL19 4DA.
⊕ Promotes traditional music, song, dance and drama within the county, by maintaining a website, a directory of performers, a comprehensive folk diary, and publicity.
Glos FL GLOUCESTERSHIRE TRADITIONS http://gloucestershiretraditions.co.uk
​⌂ ​contact via website form
⊕ Supporting and promoting Gloucestershire folk traditions. Glos Christmas: a resource for Christmas folk traditions. www.glostrad.com, folk songs and tunes collected in Gloucestershire; abc and pdf files, midi or audio/video, background notes on the material and performers.
Devon FL WREN MUSIC www.wrenmusic.co.uk Main office 01837 53754
⌂ Ebenezer Hall, North Street, Okehampton, EX20 1AR. info<at>wrenmusic.co.uk
⊕ Artist-led, Devon-based folk and community arts development charity, with a mission to inspire creativity and celebrate cultural identities. Over 30,000 people of all ages participate in Wren Music projects each year in many social, educational and health settings. [New address, same phone: July 2017]

​SPECIFIC: A3-A6 • Societies that cover solely folk music OR song OR dance

Bilingual entries are welcome (as below: in green), as are your logos (as on left below)

​A.3 CERDD DANT SOCIETIES
∅ ​ CYMDEITHAS CERDD DANT CYMRU www.cerdd-dant.org Delyth Vaughan (Swyddog Gweinyddol) 01341 423 072 www.cerdd-dant.org
⌂ Delyth Vaughan (Swyddog Gweinyddol), Bod Alaw, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2TA. cerdd.dant.cymru<at>gmail.com
⊕ Mae’r grefft o ddatgan barddoniaeth i gyfeiliant telyn, ar ryw ffurf neu’i gilydd, yn mynd yn ôl yn bell iawn yn hanes y diwylliant Cymraeg.
∅ CYMDEITHAS CERDD DANT CYMRU www.cerdd-dant.org Delyth Vaughan (Administrator) 01341 423 072 www.cerdd-dant.org
⌂ Delyth Vaughan (Administrator), Bod Alaw, Llanelltyd, Dolgellau, Gwynedd, LL40 2TA. cerdd.dant.cymru<at>gmail.com
⊕ The art of presenting or performing poetry to harp accompaniment.

​A.4 FOLK SONG SOCIETIES
∅ ​CYMDEITHAS ALAWON GWERIN CYMRU www.canugwerin.com Dr Rhiannon Ifans (Ysgrifennydd) 01970 828719
⌂ Dr Rhiannon Ifans (Ysgrifennydd), Rhandir, Penrhyn-coch, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3EQ.
E-bost: rhiannon.ifans<at>gmail.com
⊕ Sefydlwyd er mwyn casglu, diogelu, dehongli a chyflwyno caneuon gwerin Cymru, cyhoeddi enghreifftiau ohonynt a hybu ymchwil i’w cefndir llenyddol a cherddorol, yn ogystal â meithrin diddordeb mewn canu gwerin a llên gwerin yn gyffredinol.
∅ ​CYMDEITHAS ALAWON GWERIN CYMRU (The Welsh Folk-Song Society) www.canugwerin.com Dr Rhiannon Ifans (Hon.Sec) 01970 828719
⌂ Dr Rhiannon Ifans (Honorary Secretary), Rhandir, Penrhyn-coch, Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3EQ.
E-mail: rhiannon.ifans<at>gmail.com
⊕ Established to collect, preserve, interpret and make known the folk-songs of Wales, to publish examples and to promote research on the literary and musical background of the songs, and to foster interest in folk song and folk literature in general. The language of the Society is Welsh, but information available in English on the above bilingual website. Canu Gwerin, the Society’s journal, appears every August. To join the Welsh Folk-Song Society, please see our Membership page: www.canugwerin.com/en/membership.php
FL ​PEDLARS PACK http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Pedlars_Pack Moderator: Steve Roud
⊕ Discussion group for people interested in Street Literature, broadsides, chapbooks, songsters, prints, and other cheap ephemeral printed products sold in the streets and at fairs, carried by chapmen, hawkers, ballad-sellers, and so on, from 16th to the early 20th century.
∅ ​TRADSONG http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/Tradsong Moderator: Johnny Adams
⊕ The Traditional Song Forum’s online discussion group,


FL TRADITIONAL SONG FORUM www.tradsong.org Secretary: Martin Graebe 01285 651104
⌂ 59 Roberts Close, Cirencester, Glos GL7 2RP.
⊕ A loose association of people interested in traditional song and music, including academic researchers,collectors, and those interested in performance.
∅ ​YORKSHIRE GARLAND GROUP www.yorkshirefolksong.net
⊕ We are a not-for-profit group of Yorkshire folk song enthusiasts who take Yorkshire folk song into schools and the wider community. Our main project has been to set up a website containing 88 original recordings with texts, scores, provenances.

A.5 FOLK MUSIC SOCIETIES
∅ CLERA, Cymdeithas Offerynnau Traddodiadol Cymru www.clera.org Meurig Williams (Ysgrifennydd Aelodaeth)
⌂ Meurig Williams (Ysgrifennydd Aelodaeth), meurig<at>meucymru.co.uk
⊕ Mae Clera yn hyrwyddo alawon traddodiadol Cymru dros y wlad trwy drefnu gweithdai i’w dysgu a chefnogi chlybiau alawon a sesiynau i’w chwarae a hefyd drwy berfformiadau ei cherddorfa, Y Glerorfa.
∅ CLERA, The Society for the Traditional Instruments of Wales www.clera.org Meurig Williams (Membership Secretary)
⌂ Meurig Williams (Membership Secretary), meurig<at>meucymru.co.uk
⊕ Clera promotes the playing of Welsh traditional music by running workshops and supporting tune clubs and sessions across Wales and through performances by its folk orchestra, Y Glerorfa.
FL NONSUCH DULCIMER CLUB http://dulcimer.org.uk Sally Whytehead 01527 64229
⌂ sally.whytehead<at>gmail.com, https://www.facebook.com/groups/nonsuch.dulcimer
⊕ The Nonsuch Dulcimer Club is a UK based organisation for anyone interested in hammered, or mountain dulcimers. It runs workshop weekends, regional get togethers and outreach events at festivals and visitor attractions.
∅ ​TRADTUNES http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/tradtunes Moderator: Johnny Adams
⊕ Online discussion group for those interested in traditional folk tunes.

∅ ​The VILLAGE MUSIC PROJECT www.village-music-project.org.uk Project Director: John Adams
⊕ A study of English Social Musicians from the 17th century onwards from their manuscripts. Includes transcriptions in abc format.

A.6 FOLK DANCE SOCIETIES For local dance groups, morris sides, etc., please see our “Member Performers”
​​FL The CORNISH DANCE SOCIETY www.cornishdance.com Merv Davey (Chairman) 01208 831642
⌂ Meneghyjy, Withiel, Bodmin, Kernow, PL30 5NN.
⊕ The Cornish Dance society is a focal point of contact for any one interested in traditional Cornish Dance. It aims to promote Cornish Dance to a wider audience throughout Cornwall and beyond - and have plenty of fun doing it!
∅ ​CYMDEITHAS GENEDLAETHOL DAWNS WERIN CYMRU http://dawnsio.com
​ ⊕ Gwybodaeth am ddawnsio gwerin Cymraeg gan gynnwys cysylltiadau ar gyfer grwpiau dawnsio. Hefyd yn rhoi mynediad i lyfrau, fideos a CDs dawns a cherddoriaeth.
∅ CYMDEITHAS GENEDLAETHOL DAWNS WERIN CYMRU / WELSH NATIONAL FOLK DANCE SOCIETY http://dawnsio.com
⊕ Information about Welsh folk dance, including contacts for dance groups. Also provides access to dance and music books, videos and CDs.

SPECIFIC: A7-A15 • Societies covering Folklife activities other than the above
​A.7 FOLK DRAMA SOCIETIES

∅ ​ TRADITIONAL DRAMA RESEARCH GROUP www.folkplay.info
⊕ Formed in 1980, the TDRG encourages research into all aspects of traditional drama, short traditional verse sketches known also as Folk Drama, Mummers Plays, Guisers, Soul-Caking, Pace Egging, Tipteerers, etc. Our website is the most comprehensive website on the subject.

A.8 FOLKLORE SOCIETIES
∅ ​ AMERICAN FOLKLORE SOCIETY www.afsnet.org 614 / 292-4715
⌂ American Folklore Society, Mershon Center, The Ohio State University, 1501 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH 43201-2602 USA. Fax 614/292-2407.. AmericanFolkloreSociety<at>gmail.com
⊕ An association of people who study and communicate knowledge about folklore throughout the world.
FL The FOLKLORE SOCIETY www.folklore-society.com 020 7862 8564
⌂ The Folklore Society, The Warburg Institute, Woburn Square, LONDON WC1H 0AB
⊕ The Folklore Society: collecting and publishing folklore since 1878. Visit www.folklore-society.com for information about our journal Folklore and other publications, our annual book prize, forthcoming events, and access to our library at UCL.
∅ ​ NORTHERN EARTH www.northernearth.co.uk John Billingsley, Editor
⌂ editor<at>northernearth.co.uk
⊕ Folklore, tradition, antiquarian and archaeology. Research, books and magazine, ‘Northern Earth’.
FL TALKING FOLKLORE http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TalkingFolklore Moderator: Steve Roud
⊕ A group for those interested in researching / discussing folklore, past and present, primarily, but not exclusively, UK and Ireland.

A.9 STORYTELLING SOCIETIES, A.10 ORAL HISTORY SOCIETIES, no confirmed entries

A.11 LANGUAGE & DIALECT SOCIETIES Arranged alphabetically: 1. by Country or Region, 2. within Country or Region, by name.

Bilingual entries are welcome (as above: in green), as are your logos (as on left above)

• Ellan Vannin / Isle Of Man
∅ ​YN ÇHESHAGHT GHAILCKAGH / The Manx Gaelic Society https://ycg.im
⊕ Dedicated to the preservation and promotion of Manx Gaelic, the native language of the Isle of Man.

​

• England
∅ ​LAKELAND DIALECT SOCIETY https://lakelanddialectsociety.co.uk

∅ ​YORKSHIRE DIALECT SOCIETY www.yorkshiredialectsociety.org.uk
⊕ Our main aim is to encourage the study and recording of dialect.

• Kernow / Cornwall
∅ ​ CORNISH LANGUAGE PARTNERSHIP www.magakernow.org.uk General Enquiries 01872 323497
⌂ MAGA, Cornish Language Partnership, Cornwall Council, Dalvenie House, County Hall, Truro, Cornwall TR1 3AY.
cornishlanguage<at>cornwall.gov.uk
⊕ The Partnership includes language organisations, local authorities and a number of other organisations who have come together with theaim of promoting Cornish and developing it further in Cornish life.

​no confirmed entries for • Airlann / Éire / Ireland, • Alba / Scotland • Cymru / Wales

A.12 FOLK LIFE SOCIETIES (general and specific)

∅ ​ PEARLY SOCIETY https://pearlysociety.org.uk
Carole Jolly 0208 778 8670
⊕ Pearly Kings & Queens are a London Tradition ongoing from 1875. Starting in the London Borough Markets. The London Pearly Kings & Queens Society have a charity number 1091098. They raise money throughout the year for their chosen charities.

∅ ​ The SOCIETY for FOLK LIFE STUDIES (SFLS) https://folklifestudies.org​
⊕ The interdisciplinary study of regional cultures and traditions. Bringing together curators, historians, geographers, musicologists, linguists and many others to explore the regional identity of the British Isles and beyond.