Bill and Rosie’s successful Halsway song weekends returns in 2025. Bill Crawford and Rosie Upton, assisted by Penny Rigby, will lead a weekend of traditional song for experienced singers (non-singing partners welcome).
Join them, and friends old and new, for a weekend of singing and presentations. Bill and Rosie’s guests in 2025 are Irene Shettle talking about the life of Lucy Broadwood, and Will Noble on songs from Yorkshire hill farmers (the Two Frank Hinchcliffes).
Bring your voices, instruments and walking boots for an optional circuit of the ‘Halsway Loop’ to blow away the cobwebs!
Who is it for?
The weekend is aimed at experienced traditional singers who do not need to read the words, and their partners.
This is a partnership event so to register an interest you will need to contact the team directly. Please email [email protected] / call 07875 174401 (Penny). It is anticipated that application forms will be sent out in September.
The Team
Bill Crawford, an Exeter Folk Club stalwart from the early sixties, has run clubs and sessions in the Home Counties and across the South West, and is a regular MC and performer at Chippenham Folk Festival, Sidmouth Folk Week and Dartmoor festival. A fine solo singer with a broad repertoire, Bill was also a member of accapella group The Claque until they disbanded in 2017.
Rosie Upton, who has been based in the west country for more than 45 years, began singing in Derbyshire whilst still at school and has developed an individual style based on English, Scots and Irish traditional songs and ballads with an entertaining presentation. Her rich voice is particularly well suited to the occasional blues.
Penny Rigby, from Bristol, began visiting folk clubs in London during the 1970s but it wasn’t until around 1990 that she became actively involved in folk festivals. She has broad interests in the folk tradition, particularly enjoying singing sessions and contra dancing. She has considerable administrative experience, and was treasurer of the Pennymoor Singaround.