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


Page updated Oct. 10th '24.

In‑person FOCSLE Music Guest nights
usually on second* Tuesdays,
at The Guide Dog, Bevois Valley, Southampton  SO14 6SF
* occasionally others

Next Event:  Tues. 15th October
LitL Singaround  7:15pm
at Jonathan’s  8 Victory Way  Rownhams  Southampton  SO16 8JZ

N.B.  TOM LEWIS gig (29th Oct.) will NOT be at
The Guide Dog, as previously trailed, due to a clashing Saints match, recently fixed.  Watch this space for update on venue.
More events, and details of 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.  The Dog still provides free hand‑san. [on the central pillar, opp. the bar], so pls. use it, and help keep us all safe(r).
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Virtual FOCSLE Music
Last WEDNESDAY of each month, 8pm UK time (no longer weekly)
thus next date October 30th
Details further down
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. 15th October  7:15pm  ‘Live on the Lawn’ / in the Lounge’ Singaround
Venue:  Jonathan’s  8 Victory Way  Rownhams  Southampton  SO16 8JZ
Live on the Lawn [= LotL] Singarounds were conceived during COVID, facilitated by the accuracy of online weather-forecasting.  Post-Lockdowns, we tweaked the format, to allow higher attendance and venue-certainty [by being able to meet indoors, if conditions dictate].  In the e‑alert, we’ll indicate whether we’re likely to be meeting in or out [and you can check, too:  Chilworth weather outlook   Bassett weather outlook   Nursling weather outlook].  Being October, and – given the forecast 6 days out – we expect the event to happen indoors

Differences from the pub version include:
  • BYOB
  • changing venue, each month [usually alternating between western, eastern and central SO postcodes]
  • earlier start than at pub [to catch best light / temperatures]
  • (usually) earlier finish [ad hoc, but likely c.10pm], at the say-so of the Host
Familiar elements:
  • (usually) just turn up without notice
  • DIY music
  • friendly atmosphere
  • raffle

Aspects applying just to this LotL date are in bold underlined CAPS
Be prepared to:
  • wrap up warm [according to season / forecast]
  • allow longer to find parking in an unfamiliar area
  • climb steps, with no rail
  • bring your own chair, in case numbers high
  • INTERACT WITH PETS [well-controlled DOGS]
  • bring a head-torch  hand-held light, in the spring / autumn months, esp. if you need to read a cheat-sheet, as the darkness descends!]
  • be on a mailing-list, if venue needs to limit numbers
Access details:  one slight step up, into bungalow.  Note it’s on the end of a shared driveway (see enlarged map), with no extra room to park, but you CAN park on the main roadway of Victory Way itself, c.200 yds./m.

Hosts may, but are not required to, provide TEA, COFFEE, juices, NIBBLES, and BATHROOM FACILITIES (GROUND FLOOR)   plus, if they wish, M.C. proceedings.  Feel free to bring home-made light food to share.

     Rec. £2pp in the pot

Next Live in the Lounge* at Lin’s, Chandler’s Ford, on Nov. 19th
* more likely than …on the Lawn

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 29th October   £15, no concessions
Note that due to a Saints home cup-tie, we’ll be at a different venue:  keep checking back here for details
To register your interest, please e‑mail.  Once venue is assured, bank details will be posted here, so you can pay ahead

at quasi-‘sister’ club Lymington Acoustic
Tues. 5th November  7:30pm for 8  Guest night, with Singaround first, Open Mic / Come-All-Ye style
Guest(s) is / are BEN WALKER “late of this parish” *, with or without DAVID BRIAN ditto *, 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 Southampton, Guest confirmation, entry fee, etc.


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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
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Please sign up to FOCSLE Music’s now-monthly Zoomaround list, for info about virtual events,
or this one, for in-person Sings and periodic guests.