Pitchfolk is back!

The first Pitchfolk in 2022 was a truly beautiful weekend, with a great line up of workshop leaders. After two years of lockdowns and isolation it was a joy to be singing again in the company of old friends, and building new friendships and community through song.

What is Pitchfolk?
Pitchfolk is a weekend of song, feasting and friendship on the beautiful Somerset levels, featuring workshops of polyphonic music from around the world, led by renowned choir leaders and educators who are expert in those traditions.

At Pitchfolk you will have the chance to learn from some truly excellent teachers, to sing with many very fine singers, and to experience a wide range of very beautiful traditions. But Pitchfolk is most definitely not an ethno-musicology conference! Fascinating and worthwhile though an academic study of world music may be, that's not our aim.

In fact, although Pitchfolk is a weekend built around workshops of harmony singing from around the world, at root the music is not what it's about at all. Singing is a tool to achieve other, deeper things. We believe that singing is a universal birthright, as natural to humans beings as speaking. Harmony singing has a particular power to move us, and to connect us – both with ourselves, and with each other, and with those who came before. The weekend attracts many very experienced and passionate singers, and with the expert tutelage of our workshop leaders we aim to sing the songs well and authentically. But we believe the most important aspect of this is understanding and embodying the true spirit of the music.

We love the diversity of these folk traditions. But, varied though they are, each of them grew out of the desire of people in every culture to express and share the same universal emotions, and to gather together in community with others to mark the events of their lives, in both sorrow and joy.

Pitchfolk is not about the songs. It's about the singers.

Who is Pitchfolk for?
The weekend is open to adults of all genders. You don't need to be able to read music, or to be an experienced singer. You'll find that there will be many very experienced singers in the group, but there will also be a welcoming and supportive ethos. Combined with the skilled guidance of our music leaders, the workshops are intended to provide everyone with a challenge and an opportunity to grow as singers, but also to have fun.

 Music leaders 2023 

This year we're pleased to welcome back two of last year's leaders:

Lucky Moyo
Engaging and energetic, Lucky is a UK based Zimbabwean singer and music leader, who will bring us joyous and uplifting harmonies and rhythms from Southern Africa.

Dessislava Stefanova
Charismatic and world renowned leader of the London Bulgarian Choir, Dessi will teach exciting and challenging songs, but also help us master the distinctive Bulgarian 'twang' that gives such power to the female voice.

Bethan Lloyd
Unfortunately Michael Deason-Barrow has had to drop out from teaching at this year's Pitchfolk. We wish him well, and hope to be able to host him on another occasion. But we are pleased to say that native Welsh singer, Bethan Lloyd, has stepped into the breach to teach a workshop of Welsh songs, followed by improvisations based on those songs.

Bethan works as a vocal composer and performer. An avid collaborator, she is currently a member of Pre-Human, Global Collective & NYX, has performed across the globe, and currently has four solo releases along with many collaborative releases.

Since her childhood in Wales, Bethan has explored a wide range of musical interests, including training as a classical singer, studying Theology and Religious Studies at Cambridge, living with indigenous tribes in Brazil, learning with shamans, and performing and living within the experimental scene in Berlin. She regularly teaches five day immersive retreats exploring the sublime nature of the human voice, guiding people to vocal liberation and deep connection with the divine nature of sound.

 Additional sessions 

And as well as our three core workshop leaders, we'll once again have additional sessions (booked directly with the session leaders on the day) including:

Lena Leszczyc
Eastern European songs and sound bath

Sharon Jacksties
As well as offering a storytelling walk exploring the rich history of the area, this year Sharon will also tell stories related to the music traditions we'll be learning. Complementing her storytelling, Sharon will also be bringing a newly commissioned, three metre tall puppet, 'Sovereign Nature' to Pitchfolk 2023.

 Ticket prices 

£130 weekend (workshops, lunch and evening meals, a feast on Saturday evening, plus on site camping)
£85 Saturday (workshops, lunch and evening feast)
£60 Saturday daytime (workshops and lunch only)
£15 individual workshop

Friday 
The main program will begin on Friday evening with a one hour workshop of Southern African songs in the village hall.

2–3.30pm Storytelling SJ
4–5.45pm Sound bath/Eastern European song LL
6-7pm Evening meal
7.15-7.30pm Greetings and orientation
7.30–8.30pm Introductory workshop LM

Saturday 
During Saturday, four one and a half hour workshops will be held. At the feast on Saturday evening, guests are invited to share songs, poems or stories from any tradition of their choosing.

09.30–11.00am Bulgarian singing workshop DS
11.20–12.50pm Welsh singing workshop BL
12.50–3pm Lunch and storytelling SJ
3–4.30pm Workshops DS, BL
4.50–6.20pm Southern African singing workshop LM
7.30–9.30pm Feast

Sunday
On Sunday morning we will go back over a number of the main songs learned over the weekend, and then hold a short performance, to which friends, family, and local residents are invited.

10–10.15am Announcements, Hall NM
10.15–12.45pm Run throughs, Hall LM, DS, LL, BL
1–2pm Final sing through, Hall
2pm Lunch served, begin pack up

Accommodation
Camping is available for weekend pass holders, at no extra charge. Hot showers, changing rooms and toilets will be accessible in the village hall at all times for campers, and we'd encourage you to camp on site for the best experience of the weekend. But we realise that camping isn't for everyone. For those who prefer a little more luxury, other accommodation options are available nearby, including Windmill Retreat, the George Inn, and glamping at Thornhills Farm.

Catering
The weekend pass includes a Friday evening meal, lunches on Saturday and Sunday, and the Saturday evening feast.
The Saturday pass includes lunch and, if booked, Saturday evening feast.

Vegetarian options are available as standard.

Children
Unfortunately we are unable to accommodate children at this event, but we would be open to arranging similar events for families in the near future. If this would be of interest to you, please email us. We'd love to hear your thoughts on this.

In the words of those who attended:
"Superb workshop leaders, variety of workshop content, effortless community building through singing together, potential for developing into a jewel of a festival, embodying the best of small and local."

"I enjoyed learning about different singing techniques. Great teachers. Great ambience."

"A joyous and uplifting weekend... I absolutely loved it!"

"Lucky's workshops. The joyousness of singing that music and dancing was wonderful."

"Singing, camping, fellowship."

"The small numbers made it intimate... I liked the eastern European songs especially."

"Totally superb weekend of singing, fabulous food, supremely flat ground for camping and excellent village pub where we carried on singing...can't wait for next year."

Facebook Event Page