When we launched MenSing in 2015, we did so because we knew there was demand in Devon for men who wanted to sing folk songs together in a group - but didn’t fancy joining a shanty crew. We currently have 20 members, and we are seeking more singers to join us. The...
News
Wren Music groups wow Sidmouth Folk Festival
11 Aug
Sidmouth Folk Festival is renowned as one of the most iconic events on the UK’s folk music calendar, so we were delighted that Wren Music were invited to be part of it. Five of our groups performed in Sidmouth during this summer’s festival – MenSing, the Folk...
Wow, what a day! Here’s to the next four decades.
31 Jul
We’d like to say thank you to the hundreds of people who helped us to celebrate our40th anniversary at our ‘Folk Takeover’ of Exeter Phoenix on Saturday 29 July. From music-making sessions and sing songs in the bar, to our inclusive afternoon ceilidh and Celebration...
Our urgent appeal hit the target – in two days!
18 Jul
We’ve been overwhelmed by the support of the Wren Music extended community, following our urgent appeal for donations to get us through this summer. On 30 June, we launched our Bridge the Gap fundraising campaign to raise £7,500 – and within 48 hours, we’d reached our...
Rousing finale to Songs of the Exmoor Forest project
14 Jul
Forty young people from three Exmoor primary schools came together for a concert at Simonsbath Festival – a rousing finale to a six-week project with Wren Music. The children from Exford First School, Cutcombe First School, and Timberscombe First School worked with...
The tunes of the ‘Dartmoor Fiddler’ are revived in new tune-book
23 Jun
Twenty-nine traditional folk tunes that were collected from a 19th century musician who lived on Dartmoor are to get a fresh lease of life with the publication of a second edition tune-book by Wren Music. William Andrews, who became known as The Dartmoor Fiddler, was...
Teaching a new generation of oral historians
20 Jun
Wren Music have been working with schoolchildren in Sidmouth as part of a project which will see a collection of new songs performed at the Sidmouth Folk Week in August. Our oral historian, Marilyn Tucker, spent two sessions with Year 3 and Year 4 children at Sidmouth...
We’ve launched our 40 for 40 challenge
31 May
Are you up for a challenge in 2023? To mark our 40th anniversary this year, we are launching our '40 for 40’ challenge where we are asking our supporters to choose something with the theme of 40 which they can do to raise money for Wren Music. For inspiration,...
Devon Youth Folk Ensemble entertain the crowds at County Show
26 May
Wow! What an amazing day our Wren Music Devon Youth Folk Ensemble experienced on the final day of the 2023 Devon County Show. The sun shone, and an estimated 32,000 people attended throughout the Saturday of the show on 20 May. The ensemble, led by Wren Music...
Exmoor children get ready to release their voices
11 May
Wren Music have been invited to run the 2023 Exmoor Songs Project, which will culminate in children from three local schools singing in a concert at Simonsbath Festival on 19 June. For six weeks in May and June, two of our professional musicians, Jon Dyer and Paul...
New Folk Sinfonietta to play special 40th anniversary ‘Overture’
25 Apr
We are creating our first ever Folk Sinfonietta to rehearse and perform at celebratory events this summer to mark our 40th anniversary. We are inviting members of our community orchestras to take part, and we are also keen for musicians from other genres such as...
Everyone can sing!
29 Mar
Would you like to join our Callington Mayfest Choir and perform at the town's Mayfest event in May? We’ll be enjoying favourite songs from over the 10 years of Callington MayFest as well as learning some new tunes and harmonies together. The first workshop is...