Flash Folk | Pop-Up Vocal Collective | Green Hop Cask Fest at Villages Taproom

SATURDAY AFTERNOON, 17 October. Sign-ups from £5, matched £1 for £1. One rehearsal, one performance, no audition or experience needed.

🎧 As soon as you book, we'll send you recordings and lyrics so you can listen in advance!

Flash Folk | Green Hop Cask Festival

Flash Folk is a pop-up vocal collective singing old songs of land, labour and resistance from the British Isles and beyond.

For our next singing session, we are joining the Green Hop Cask Fest at Villages Taproom on Saturday afternoon, 17 October.

WHERE AND WHEN

Meet at Buster Mantis, 3-4 Resolution Way, Deptford SE8 4NT (in the arches by Deptford station) at 2:30pm.

Rehearsal 2:30pm to 4pm at Buster Mantis. Then we walk one minute along Resolution Way to Villages Taproom (Units 21-22, Resolution Way, SE8 4NT).

Performance 4:30pm at Villages Taproom for Green Hop Cask Fest.

THE SONGS: LISTEN NOW

Lyrics, recordings and a little history for every song are all in one place, and we'll send them to you as soon as you sign up.

HOW THE DAY WORKS

Before Saturday 17 October: listen to the songs and learn as much as you can. You do not need to know every word, but there is only one rehearsal, so we need everyone to have heard them before we get in the room.

On Saturday 17 October: meet us at Buster Mantis in time to start at 2:30pm, and we sing everything through together, lyrics in hand (you keep them on stage too). At 4:30pm we perform the songs we learnt at Villages Taproom.

That Flash Folk exists for one day. Afterwards it disappears again, until the next one.

THE PERFORMANCE

This Flash Folk performs as part of Green Hop Cask Fest at Villages Taproom, Resolution Way, Deptford.

THIS IS NOT A CHOIR

No auditions. No permanent members. No compulsory solos.

You do not need to read music or have sung in a choir before.

The line-up changes every time, because whoever turns up are the singers.

WHO IS IT FOR?

People who love folk music. People who are suspicious of folk music.

People who sing all the time. People who have not sung properly since school.

Musicians. Non-musicians. Friends. Strangers. People coming alone.

People who just fancy doing something slightly strange on a Saturday afternoon.

All voices welcome.

SIGN-UPS

Sign up from £5 (plus a £1 booking fee on the £5 sign-up), or choose a £10 or £15 supporter sign-up if you can give a bit more.

EVERY SIGN-UP COUNTS TWICE

Flash Folk is run by Sounds Between CIC, a small community-led music organisation in Peckham. Right now every sign-up is matched £1 for £1 through our Match Trading programme with the School for Social Entrepreneurs, so a £5 sign-up becomes £10, a £10 sign-up becomes £20 and a £15 sign-up becomes £30 for grassroots music. See where the match funding goes.

AGENDA

Arrival, 2:30pm, Buster Mantis: arrive in time for a 2:30pm start, grab the lyrics and meet everyone.

Rehearsal, 2:30pm to 4pm, Buster Mantis: we sing through the songs together, work out harmonies and get the set into shape.

Break and walk over, 4pm to 4:30pm: a short break, then a one-minute walk to Villages Taproom.

Performance, 4:30pm, Villages Taproom: we perform the songs we learnt at Green Hop Cask Fest.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Where do I go?
Meet us at Buster Mantis, 3-4 Resolution Way, Deptford SE8 4NT, at 2:30pm. We rehearse there, then walk together to Villages Taproom to perform at 4:30pm.

Do I need to know the songs before I arrive?
You don't need to know them perfectly. As soon as you book, we'll send you recordings and lyrics so you can listen in advance, then we'll rehearse them together on the day. Sign up early so you have time to listen before Saturday 17 October.

Can I come alone?
Yes, please do! Flash Folk is designed so people can come alone and still feel part of something. You don't need to bring a friend or know anyone there.

Is this a formal choir?
No. There are no auditions, no ongoing commitment, no weekly rehearsals and no pressure to sound perfect. Flash Folk is a one-day pop-up vocal collective: whoever turns up is Flash Folk.

What kind of songs will we sing?
Old songs of land, labour and resistance from the British Isles and beyond, plus songs of love. Flash Folk treats folk music as something living and shared: songs carried by people, place, work, memory, protest and community. They are easy to pick up.

What should I bring?
Bring yourself, your sign-up confirmation and a willingness to sing with other people. You may also want to bring water.

What time should I arrive?
Rehearsal starts at 2:30pm at Buster Mantis and runs until 4pm, and we perform at 4:30pm at Villages Taproom. We only have one rehearsal, so please arrive a few minutes early so we can start promptly.

Why do I need to sign up?
Signing up lets us send you the songs beforehand, so you have time to listen, learn and feel comfortable. It also helps us plan numbers. Money will never be a barrier to taking part: if cost is an issue, message us on Instagram.

Is this suitable for beginners?
Yes. It is made for beginners. You don't need to read music or have sung in a choir before. The whole format is built around people learning together in a relaxed, supportive way.

Is the venue accessible?
Please get in touch if you have any access needs and we will do our best to support you. Flash Folk changes venue each time, so ask us and we will help find the answers.

Will I have the lyrics during the performance?
Yes. Lyrics will be available for the performance, printed or on your phone, so you don't need to memorise the songs. Please listen and practise in advance where you can, as we'll only have limited time to go over the songs together.

FOLLOW FLASH FOLK

Instagram: @flashfolklondon (brand new, come and say hello!)
Sounds Between on Instagram: @soundsbetween
Website: Sounds Between

Questions before the day? Message us on Instagram. Meet at Buster Mantis at 2:30pm, and we perform at 4:30pm at Villages Taproom. See you there!