The Session Bar is the renowned hub for instrumental get-togethers, where anyone can join in to play and learn tunes. Festival artists lead programmed sessions, while everyone is welcome to start or join a spontaneous jam at any hour of the day or night. Some of our planned sessions for 2026 include:

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• Bangers The Kids Play These Days is a series of sessions hosted by some of the younger trad players on the folk scene and are sure to be filled with great energy and great tunes!

 

• Double Dole Stringband shares old-time tunes, teaming up with Phil Jamison for a flatfooting dance session.

 

• Look out for a slow session run by the Nyckelharpa Society, alongside their regular Scandinavian tune sessions.

 

• Comhaltas Sydney Céilí Band hosts a slow Irish session to get you started and an open one to keep the tunes cranking across the weekend.

 

• West End Bluegrass Jam offers a welcoming slow bluegrass session as well as their full-paced jam which will be a pickers paradise.  

 

• In the evening, the Terrace is the place for singing sessions, hosted by Windborne, Shanty Club and more, with open singing sessions going late into the night. 

 

• Younger players can also join youth sessions in the Family Marquee, including youth song circles, Irish tunes, and bluegrass sessions. 

 

• Festivalgoers can bring an instrument (or buy one at the Instrument Makers pavilion), sing along, or simply listen and soak up the atmosphere of joyous informal music making.