Acoustic Club: Bishop Stortford

Acoustic Club: Bishop Stortford Join us on fairly regular Thursday night's at South Mill Arts Centre, Bishop Stortford for an evening of music We also like to Showcase the very best.

Since Keef Jackman and Drew Bonnington founded Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club in 2002, there has been an enormous change in live music, not only in Bishops Stortford and the surrounding area but generally over the whole country. Places that would never have thought of having an acoustic evening are springing up all around. There has never been a better opportunity for anyone to find live music on most nights of the week. The only real constant in all of these welcome changes is the Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club. These changes are great for listeners to and players of music. It matters not if the music is an original song, a modern cover, a classic, a blues or country or whatever. Live music is why the players practice and perform in the hope that the listeners like it. Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club is in The Long Room at The Half Moon pub in North Street. It has few rivals, with it’s combination of accessible location, easy parking, stage/PA set up and ambience. Acoustic Club is there every other week on a Thursday. We have a tradition of promoting every genre of Acoustic Music with new and established players, seasoned veterans and youngsters making their first appearances. All are welcome and listened to and this will not change. In the past many players have appeared at our club and gone on to greater things….. Sam Smith, Matt Cardle, George Ezra, Charlie XCX, Eric Roache, Jon Gomm to name but a few!! So, what is the format? Acoustic Club is held in the Long Room at the Half Moon pub every other Thursday night. We generally have 8 x 10 minute slots with a 30 minute Showcase at the end. Occasionally we have a night with 6 acts performing 4 songs each, (no Showcase). Doors open at 8.30pm, music starts at 9pm and the Showcase begins at 10.30pm. It is £5 admission for listeners and £2 for players. If you wish to see what is on each week, please get on the Distribution List by sending your email address to >>> [email protected]
If you wish to book a 10 minute two song slot to play and/or sing, please contact Acoustic Club at >>> [email protected]
Please support Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club. We look forward to seeing you and welcoming you.

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club is back this THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER at SOUTH MILL ARTS.The club is extremely proud to pr...
31/08/2026

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club is back this THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER at SOUTH MILL ARTS.

The club is extremely proud to present a superbly talented line-up for a "6 Act x 4 Song" evening.

Our booked acts are:

• Lauren Parker

• Vince Taylor

• Rhys Wilson

• C***r at Yours

• Nigel Yates

• Pointy Finger

LAUREN PARKER

Lauren has been playing for many years as part of the local band the Mugabees.
She is a gifted singer/songwriter who performed at the club a few years ago before going to university.
Lauren is back now and recently delighted us with her appearance at Acoustic BASH.
Her voice is one of those marvels that is just a delight to listen to.

VINCE TAYLOR

Vince is a clever, witty songwriter who delivers his music in his own unique style.
A fine singer and musician. You will be well entertained.

RHYS WILSON

Rhys has a wonderful line in writing and produces songs that reflect his life (sometimes), his flights of fancy (occasionally) and the product of his imagination in looking at situations and producing an explanatory narrative around the known events (quite often).
He accompanies himself wonderfully on guitar in all sorts of styles and produces a marvellous sound.

C***R AT YOURS

Richard and Beckie are a well rounded duo who will almost certainly give us a Country and Western influenced set. The truth is they are very good at it and evoke the wide expanses of the western plains and the perpetual heartbreak that come from those lonesome places.
They are fantastic musicians who put their heart and soul into their performance and are always capable of tugging at the heartstrings – which is exactly what C&W is all about.

NIGEL YATES

Nigel has performed several two song support spots in the past year or so. He now steps up to give us 4 songs. He will give us his own songs, well sung and accompanied by his strong guitar style.

POINTY FINGER

A mob of multi-instrumental musicians from Cambridgeshire, London and Suffolk, all busy in other collaborations, come together in Pointy Finger. With a reputation of “quirky”, Pointy Finger offers up acoustic roots with flavours of Americana, Country & indie-folk. Never knowingly understood, their lively, intimate songs come from the heart and with humour. Songs made real through sheer force of will. Just a bit Pointy. https://soundcloud.com/user-478558052

We are at South Mill Arts Centre, 1 -3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3JG
(Map Attached)

There is plenty of parking + good access for the less able/disabled.

Car parking is free to our customers, BUT you will need to enter your car registration at reception. This is to prevent parking by people not using the venue, who will receive a fine.

Doors Open at 7.30pm.....Music starts at 8pm

Tickets are on sale online at £7 each via the following link >>>

https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873678200

Alternatively, listeners can pay £7 cash or card on the door on the night
Please come along to support your community music club....LETS KEEP IT LIVE!!!

Full information about what's happening in the future can be found on our Website >>>

www.acousticclub.co.uk

Thanks
Bill and Geoff

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club does NOT run tonight.The club is back next THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER at SOUTH MILL ARTS.We ...
27/08/2026

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club does NOT run tonight.

The club is back next THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER at SOUTH MILL ARTS.

We are delighted to present a superbly talented line-up for a "6 Act x 4 Song" evening.

Our booked acts are >>>

Lauren Parker
Vince Taylor
Rhys Wilson
C***r at Yours
Nigel Yates
Pointy Finger

LAUREN PARKER

Lauren is a gifted singer/songwriter who performed at the club a few years ago before going to university.
Lauren is back now and recently delighted us with her appearance at Acoustic BASH.
Her voice is one of those marvels that is just a delight to listen to.

VINCE TAYLOR

Vince is a clever, witty songwriter who delivers his music in his own unique style.
A fine singer and musician. You will be well entertained.

RHYS WILSON

Rhys has a wonderful line in writing and produces songs that reflect his life.
He accompanies himself wonderfully on guitar in all sorts of styles and produces a marvellous sound.

C***R AT YOURS

Richard and Beckie are a well rounded duo who will almost certainly give us a Country and Western influenced set.
They are fantastic musicians who put their heart and soul into their performance and are always capable of tugging at the heartstrings – which is exactly what C&W is all about.

NIGEL YATES

Nigel has performed several two song support spots in the past year or so. He now steps up to give us 4 songs. He will give us his own songs, well sung and accompanied by his strong guitar style.

POINTY FINGER

Pointy Finger offers up acoustic roots with flavours of Americana, Country & indie-folk. Never knowingly understood, their lively, intimate songs come from the heart and with humour. Songs made real through sheer force of will. Just a bit Pointy. https://soundcloud.com/user-478558052


We are at South Mill Arts Centre, 1 -3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3JG.

There is plenty of parking + good access for the less able/disabled.

Doors Open at 7.30pm.....Music starts at 8pm

Tickets are on sale online at £7 each via the following link >>>

https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873678200

Alternatively, listeners can pay £7 cash or card on the door on the night.

Please come along to support your community music club....LETS KEEP IT LIVE!!!

Full information about what's happening in the future can be found on our Website >>>

www.acousticclub.co.uk

Thanks
Bill and Geoff

21/08/2026

Our wonderful Acoustic BASH last weekend raised £2,000.
SO.... Save Water Lane Hall AND Bishops Stortford Food Bank have each been given £1,000.

Thank you once again for the generosity of those who came to listen and those who came to cater for us and donated.

Three very different headline acts entertained us hugely last night at Acoustic Club.Big, big thanks to those headliners...
21/08/2026

Three very different headline acts entertained us hugely last night at Acoustic Club.

Big, big thanks to those headliners, namely >>> Bruce Watson - John & Danny McCarthy - The Gillies

Also, thanks to Bill Tarran for opening the evening in support plus MC'ing

Thank to our listeners who enthusiastically supported the evening's fine music.

Thank you to Thomas for his first solo evening sound engineering.

Final thanks to all staff at South Mill Arts for helping the night run so smoothly.

Acoustic Club returns on THURSDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER with another cracking line-up for a "6 Act x 4 Song" night.

Our booked acts are:-

Lauren Parker
Vince Taylor
Rhys Wilson
C***r at Yours
Nigel Yates
Pointy Finger

We are at South Mill Arts Centre, 1 -3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3JG

There is plenty of parking + good access for the less able/disabled.

Doors Open at 7.30pm.....Music starts at 8pm

Tickets are on sale online at £7 each via the following link >>>

https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873678200

Alternatively, listeners can pay £7 cash or card on the door on the night.

Please come along to support your community music club....LETS KEEP IT LIVE!!!

Full information about what's happening in the future can be found on our Website >>>

www.acousticclub.co.uk

Thanks
Bill and Geoff

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club returns TONIGHT at SOUTH MILL ARTS.We are delighted to present a "Triple Headliner" nigh...
20/08/2026

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club returns TONIGHT at SOUTH MILL ARTS.

We are delighted to present a "Triple Headliner" night with half hour sets from each of.......THE GILLIES - JOHN & DANNY McCARTHY - BRUCE WATSON

THE GILLIES
The Gillies are an Indie Folk Americana singer-songwriter duo, originally from Norfolk but now living in SE London, influenced by Gillian Welch, John Moreland, Rachael Sermani and Lucinda Williams.
Music for your graveside is one way they like to describe their songs.Their fragile, dark musical bare bones style is the sound of steel-strung and tenor guitars weaving together and falls between the ethereal and gritty down-home reality. Understated melodies pull you into their haunting songs.
They won the GSMC award for best single and were chosen for the FATEA Spring Showcase Sessions. They have released 4 albums, played live on local BBC Radio and have performed at venues like The Green Note, Twickfolk, Runnymede, Cambridge Folk Club and festivals include Maverick, Willow, Deepdale, Folk East, Wick Street and How The Light Gets In.

JOHN & DANNY McCARTHY
We have seen Danny at many youngsters' nights in recent years.
He has developed into a fine young man and a very good musician.
His dad, John, has appeared solo a few times at the club and has a very good voice.
They have performed at Acoustic Club a couple of times as a duo and have given us great renditions of well known, loved songs.
On the strength of this, they are giving us a headline set and will entertain us very well.

BRUCE WATSON
Bruce Watson is an icon and longtime favourite of the Australian folk scene.
His performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation. He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative and heart wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.
Bruce has appeared at more than 200 folk festivals as well as innumerable folk clubs and other venues across Australia, New Zealand, and undertook his first successful tour of the UK in 2019 - just beating the pandemic!
He has received a stack of prestigious songwriting awards.
You will get powerful songs, funny songs, and a genuine and joyous relationship with his audience. CATCH BRUCE ON HIS CURRENT UK TOUR!

Support will come from Bill Tarran

We are at South Mill Arts Centre, 1 -3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3JG
(Map Attached)

There is plenty of parking + good access for the less able/disabled.

Car parking is free to our customers, BUT you will need to enter your car registration at reception. This is to prevent parking by people not using the venue, who will receive a fine.

Doors Open at 7.30pm.....Music starts at 8pm

Tickets are on sale online at £7 each via the following link >>>

https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/tic.../shows/873678199

Alternatively, listeners can pay £7 cash or card on the door tonight.

Please come along to support your community music club....LETS KEEP IT LIVE!!!

Full information about what's happening in the future can be found on our Website >>>

www.acousticclub.co.uk

Thanks
Bill and Geoff

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club returns this THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST at SOUTH MILL ARTS.We are delighted to present a "Trip...
17/08/2026

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club returns this THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST at SOUTH MILL ARTS.

We are delighted to present a "Triple Headliner" night with half hour sets from each of.......THE GILLIES - JOHN & DANNY McCARTHY - BRUCE WATSON

THE GILLIES

The Gillies are an Indie Folk Americana singer-songwriter duo, originally from Norfolk but now living in SE London, influenced by Gillian Welch, John Moreland, Rachael Sermani and Lucinda Williams.

Music for your graveside is one way they like to describe their songs.Their fragile, dark musical bare bones style is the sound of steel-strung and tenor guitars weaving together and falls between the ethereal and gritty down-home reality. Understated melodies pull you into their haunting songs.

They won the GSMC award for best single and were chosen for the FATEA Spring Showcase Sessions. They have released 4 albums, played live on local BBC Radio and have performed at venues like The Green Note, Twickfolk, Runnymede, Cambridge Folk Club and festivals include Maverick, Willow, Deepdale, Folk East, Wick Street and How The Light Gets In.

JOHN & DANNY McCARTHY

We have seen Danny at many youngsters' nights in recent years.
He has developed into a fine young man and a very good musician.
His dad, John, has appeared solo a few times at the club and has a very good voice.
They have performed at Acoustic Club a couple of times as a duo and have given us great renditions of well known, loved songs.
On the strength of this, they are giving us a headline set and will entertain us very well.

BRUCE WATSON

Bruce Watson is an icon and longtime favourite of the Australian folk scene.
His performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation. He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative and heart wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.
Bruce has appeared at more than 200 folk festivals as well as innumerable folk clubs and other venues across Australia, New Zealand, and undertook his first successful tour of the UK in 2019 - just beating the pandemic!
He has received a stack of prestigious songwriting awards.
You will get powerful songs, funny songs, and a genuine and joyous relationship with his audience. CATCH BRUCE ON HIS CURRENT UK TOUR!

Support will come from Bill Tarran

We are at South Mill Arts Centre, 1 -3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3JG
(Map Attached)

There is plenty of parking + good access for the less able/disabled.

Car parking is free to our customers, BUT you will need to enter your car registration at reception. This is to prevent parking by people not using the venue, who will receive a fine.

Doors Open at 7.30pm.....Music starts at 8pm

Tickets are on sale online at £7 each via the following link >>>

https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873678199

Alternatively, listeners can pay £7 cash or card on the door on the night.

Please come along to support your community music club....LETS KEEP IT LIVE!!!

Full information about what's happening in the future can be found on our Website >>>

www.acousticclub.co.uk

Thanks
Bill and Geoff

Thank you so much to all who came to Sworders Field over the weekend to enjoy all the wonderful, varied music on the Ban...
17/08/2026

Thank you so much to all who came to Sworders Field over the weekend to enjoy all the wonderful, varied music on the Bandstand.

Thank you so much to all the performers who graced the Bandstand to entertain us so well.

Thank you to ALL who put the work in to make it all run so smoothly......particular mention to Twig (chief organiser), Jim Felton (sound), Bill Tarran (set-up/MC'ing), Tony Morris (Bar) and Jim Tatchell (Sponsor/Collecting for Charities).....too many others to mention by name.....BUT thanks again.

Final thanks to all who gave so generously for our two charities.....Save Water Lane Hall AND Bishops Stortford Food Bank.

Once I have the final figure raised, I will post on Facebook.

Bishop's Stortford Acoustic Club is delighted to present a "Triple Headliner" night with half hour sets from each of.......THE GILLIES - JOHN & DANNY McCARTHY - BRUCE WATSON

THE GILLIES

The Gillies are an Indie Folk Americana singer-songwriter duo, originally from Norfolk but now living in SE London, influenced by Gillian Welch, John Moreland, Rachael Sermani and Lucinda Williams.

Music for your graveside is one way they like to describe their songs.Their fragile, dark musical bare bones style is the sound of steel-strung and tenor guitars weaving together and falls between the ethereal and gritty down-home reality. Understated melodies pull you into their haunting songs.

They won the GSMC award for best single and were chosen for the FATEA Spring Showcase Sessions. They have released 4 albums, played live on local BBC Radio and have performed at venues like The Green Note, Twickfolk, Runnymede, Cambridge Folk Club and festivals include Maverick, Willow, Deepdale, Folk East, Wick Street and How The Light Gets In.

JOHN & DANNY McCARTHY

We have seen Danny at many youngsters' nights in recent years.

He has developed into a fine young man and a very good musician.

His dad, John, has appeared solo a few times at the club and has a very good voice.

They have performed at Acoustic Club a couple of times as a duo and have given us great renditions of well known, loved songs.

On the strength of this, they are giving us a headline set and will entertain us very well.

BRUCE WATSON

Bruce Watson is an icon and longtime favourite of the Australian folk scene.

His performances are joyful and thoroughly engaging, with witty lyrics and energetic presentation. He is a masterful craftsman of songs, be they evocative and heart wrenching, or side-splittingly funny.

Bruce has appeared at more than 200 folk festivals as well as innumerable folk clubs and other venues across Australia, New Zealand, and undertook his first successful tour of the UK in 2019 - just beating the pandemic!

He has received a stack of prestigious songwriting awards.

You will get powerful songs, funny songs, and a genuine and joyous relationship with his audience. CATCH BRUCE ON HIS CURRENT UK TOUR!

Support will come from Bill Tarran

Acoustic BASH runs this weekend, Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th at the Bandstand on Sworders Field, Castle GardensThe weather...
14/08/2026

Acoustic BASH runs this weekend, Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th at the Bandstand on Sworders Field, Castle Gardens

The weather looks as though it is going to be very kind to us with lower temperatures and a modicum of cloud cover.

This is a collaboration between Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club and Stortford Music Festival "Bish Bash".

Once again, this lovely event is sponsored by Circadian FX.

Music will start at 2pm on each day and will finish at 8pm.

Many of our favourite local, (and not so local), soloists, duos, and bands will be performing......See attached schedules.

This is a free event with collections if you wish to contribute for two local charities as follows:-

Bishops Stortford Food Bank
Save Water Lane Hall

When it comes to refreshments, we will have >>>

Smoke BBQ Kitchen catering for us.

A fully licensed bar with a range of alcoholic/non alcoholic drinks, including beers from The Belgian Brewer and Buntingford Brewery.
Steves Ices providing the ice creams etc.

Pav on hand to serve his lovely coffees/teas etc.

Please just bring your chairs/blankets and enjoy.

What's not to like?

LET'S KEEP IT LIVE!!

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club does not run tonight.We are back on THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST at SOUTH MILL ARTS with a "Trip...
13/08/2026

Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club does not run tonight.

We are back on THURSDAY 20TH AUGUST at SOUTH MILL ARTS with a "Triple Headliner" night.

There will be 30 minute sets from each of the following:-

THE GILLIES

The Gillies are an Indie Folk Americana singer-songwriter duo.
Understated melodies pull you into their haunting songs.

JOHN & DANNY McCARTHY

They have performed at Acoustic Club a couple of times as a duo and have given us great renditions of well known, loved songs.

BRUCE WATSON

Bruce Watson is an icon and long time favourite of the Australian folk scene.
You will get powerful songs, funny songs, and a genuine and joyous relationship with his audience. CATCH BRUCE ON HIS CURRENT UK TOUR!

Support will come from BILL TARRAN.

We are at South Mill Arts Centre, 1 -3 South Road, Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire CM23 3JG

There is plenty of parking + good access for the less able/disabled.

Doors Open at 7.30pm.....Music starts at 8pm

Tickets are on sale online at £7 each via the following link >>>

https://southmillarts.ticketsolve.com/ticketbooth/shows/873678199

Alternatively, listeners can pay £7 cash or card on the door on the night.

Please come along to support your community music club....LETS KEEP IT LIVE!!!

Full information about what's happening in the future can be found on our Website >>>

www.acousticclub.co.uk

Thanks
Bill and Geoff
PS DON'T FORGET IT'S ACOUSTIC BASH ON THE SWORDERS FIELD BANDSTAND THIS WEEKEND. WE WILL PUBLISH LINE-UP ETC. TOMORROW.

Just one week to go before the wonderful Acoustic BASH on The Bandstand in Sworders Field, Castle Park on Saturday 15th/...
08/08/2026

Just one week to go before the wonderful Acoustic BASH on The Bandstand in Sworders Field, Castle Park on Saturday 15th/Sunday 16th August.

This is a collaboration between Bishops Stortford Acoustic Club and Stortford Music Festival "Bish Bash".

Once again, this lovely event is sponsored by Circadian FX.

Music will start at 2pm on each day and will finish at 8pm.

Many of our favourite local, (and not so local), soloists, duos, and bands will be performing.
We will post the final line-up early next week.

This will be a free event with collections for two local charities as follows:-

Bishops Stortford Food Bank
Save Water Lane Hall

When it comes to refreshments, we will have >>>

Smoke BBQ Kitchen catering for us.

A fully licensed bar with a range of alcoholic/non alcoholic drinks, including beers from The Belgian Brewer and Buntingford Brewery.

Steves Ices providing the ice creams etc.

Pav on hand to serve his lovely coffees/teas etc.

People just bring their chairs/blankets and enjoy.

What's not to like?
LET'S KEEP IT LIVE!!

Address

South Mill Arts Centre, 1/3 South Road, Bishop's Stortford
Bishops Stortford
CM233JG

Telephone

+447906663075

Website

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