FOCSLE Music What’s On

In‑person FOCSLE Music Guest nights
usually on second Tuesdays, at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, Southampton SO14 6SF but
note replacement venue for
Upcoming Guest: TOM LEWIS
on Tues. 29th October

8pm at Craft 101 @ The Hub
107 – 109 Shirley Rd Southampton SO15 3FF
facebook.com/people/Craft-101-ale-house/ NOT at The Guide Dog, as formerly trailed
Several other changes flow from this enforced move: see here

Renowned shanty-singer & ‑composer, and torch-bearer for Cyril Tawney. Many of Tom’s songs have become standards in the repertoire. Decades spent in the Navy imbue his material with an unmatched authenticity. Expect a rip-roaring night, laden with choruses!

The week before, on Tues. 22nd, we meet as usual at The Dog for a Singaround

More events, and details of all the above, further down. Add your comments on our Facebook page.

We rely on your, and others’, good sense in taking some respiratory-illness precautions, and on your not attending if you have symptoms. COVID ain’t beat, so please continue following the simple counter-procedures.

FOCSLE Music ‘LIVE’ Singarounds and Guest nights. Entry by donation. Raffle in break, with alcohol, confectionery and – new for 2024 – CD prizes

Future Events:

Tues. 22nd October 8pm Singaround
Venue: The Guide Dog 38 Earls Road Bevois Valley Southampton SO14 6SF
Rec. £2pp in the pot

TOM LEWIS is our Guest on Tues. 29th October

at Craft 101 @ The Hub, 107 – 109 Shirley Rd Southampton SO15 3FF As at The Welly, plentiful street-parking in side-roads, plus some ON Shirley Rd itself, all time-unlimited after 6pm
The same Blue Star buses that served The Welly until midnight also serve The Hub. More services available, other than the one linked to

Note these changes from what was previously advertised:

larger premises, so less pressure on seating [some are deeply upholstered, sofa‑style, first come, first chosen] but the previous “very tiny” venue USP no longer applies

while Tues. is not a busy night for the venue, there may be other pub regulars in the space: the pub is keen to co-promote the event, so their punters will be encouraged to respect the music, and ‘sit in’, if they wish

because of the open space, we can’t set a fixed entry fee so, as is our usual m.o., we invite your donation [£15pp this time]

two raffles, one with a high-value prize and higher ticket-price

Allow PLENTY of extra time. We’ve had to move house due to a Saints home cup-tie: the eastern approach, via Northam Bridge, I believe gets closed briefly, shortly before kick‑off [7:45], thus you’ll have to use the Itchen [toll] Bridge, or Cobden Bridge, which may still have [delaying] lights on the junction beyond it, and definitely will at the junction beyond that. Or just wait!
The Hub is a craft alehouse so, if you beat the queues, there’s ample to sample; also, there are numerous nearby takeaways on Shirley Road [link doesn’t show everything], meeting your needs if you’ve not had time to eat before setting off.
If you try bypassing all that via the M27 / M271, remember that the western approaches are equally likely to be heavy with traffic, caused by the same football match [although I think there’s a Park‑&‑Ride that side, which may ease things]. Will post any more definite info here, if I find it.
It would help us to know you’re planning to come: please e‑mail, without commitment. Thanks

at quasi-‘sister’ club Lymington Acoustic
Tues. 5th November 7:30pm for 8 Guest night, with Singaround first, Open Mic / Come-All-Ye style
Guests are BEN WALKER & DAVID BRIAN “late of this parish”*, vocal‑&‑guitar duo
* premiered at FOCSLE Music in August
Venue: The Angel & Blue Pig   107 High Street Lymington SO41 9AP
     e‑mail about lifts from N. W. Southampton, entry fee, etc.

Tues. 12th November 8pm Guests
LYNNE HERAUD & PAT TURNER
Venue: The Guide Dog   38 Earls Road Bevois Valley Southampton SO14 6SF
     Rec. £13.50pp, please

Virtual FOCSLE Music e‑mail for access-codes
Join us and our international music friends (incl. some professionals)
Last WEDNESDAYs 8pm (UK) = 3pm Eastern / NY = 12noon Pacific / LA
Click/tap for other details, incl. our start-time wherever YOU are in the world

Answers to some FAQs: we run Singaround-style = whoever shows up performs a turn, while the rest listen in, muted
Musically, any genre welcome, ideally unplugged; we’re definitely not a platform for watching videos (even if you’re IN them) rather than you performing directly for those of us in the ‘room’
Audience as welcome as performers
Themes may arise on the fly, esp. among the more verbally playful of our number, but nothing formal mooted
Despite the maritime-sounding name* [Southampton is a port city, geddit??], it’s not just a “Shanty Sing”: they’re a serendipitous part of the mix
Turn up, and leave – and/or come back, even – as suits your schedule

Nice things put on the record:

I love these …most enjoyable. The Focsle crew is a delightful bunch, including some breathtakingly good performers (Austin, Texas)

…love the atmosphere of FOCSLE [Music] as well as the range of styles…
…enhanced further… …by having a theme — it really brought out the best in people
…a very enjoyable evening… …especially when quite a few other [online] sessions are getting a bit tired.
Well done for playing such a big part in keeping so many people sane through these strange times (Staffs., UK)

Thanks for all the warmth you put into your hosting. Felt welcomed and included… …muchly enjoyed this (St Paul, Minnesota)

Congratulations on a very successful event (Lincs., UK)

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to meet, hear, and sing to/with a very talented group of singers. (S. London, UK)

   You have an amazing geographical spread on your Focsle Zoom meetings… …the four corners of the North American continent from…
   …California and Arizona in the south to Oregon and Alaska in the north west and Toronto in the east, plus an attendee from Sydney, Australia… impressive!
   The art of compering is much underrated… …You do it very well. It helps that you know so many of the performers.
   Zoom folk clubs have been the silver lining to the pandemic. However, what you have at the Focsle is exceptional and truly international.      (Hythe, Kent, UK)

Thanks for the much-needed musical fix today. And… …for the creative theme ideas. (Eugene, Oregon)

…truly enjoyable, meeting so many different people with so many different songs. (Derby, UK)

Fantastic — great session …amazing! Lovely… …entertaining… …a range of talented performers …fine folks
It’s been great Excellent… …again …wonderful sessions every week …thank you for doing this (from around US & UK)

I rate your 2 sessions as the tops! [= FOCSLE Music and a US-based virtual ‘cousin’] (Coventry, UK)

* When The Fo’c’sle Folk Club launched, it was typical for port-based ventures to point up their maritime city connections, hence the pun. It’s pronounced “folks’ll” [not “fox’ll”]; also, “forecastle” – from which the term fo’c’s’le derives – is the upper deck in the bow of a sailing ship where the crew were quartered, and would relax to play tunes and sing

Contact Paul for all queries about VIRTUAL events

FOCSLE Music founded 1963 real live music in Southampton, UK for the past 60 years In‑person events at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, second Tuesdays

FOCSLE Music founded 1963
real live music in Southampton, UK for the past 60 years
In‑person events at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, second Tuesdays