St. Mary's Arts Centre

About the Folk Club by John Gisbey

After a brief pause of forty years the folk club will return to St Mary's this autumn.

It was back in the first half of the nineteen-seventies when my jeans were flared, my flowery shirts had jumbo collars and my hair was way over my ears that I would carry my guitar on a Sunday night to St Mary's Church which was then one of the foremost folk music venues in Kent.

Reverend Hugh Maddox had come to Sandwich from St Martin-in-the- Fields, just by Trafalgar Square in London, where he had presided over a folk club in the crypt every Sunday night.

Hugh had brought with him his contact book, thus he was able to invite premier acts to our town. Not forgetting that the famous Davey Graham lived in Bowling Street and often joined us. The folk music scene in Sandwich was the very best of the Seventies Folk Revival.

These days Sandwich enjoys a vibrant music scene, in our pubs and in St Mary's church also known as St Mary's Arts Centre. Our Folk and Ale Festival, in the five years since it began, has earned a prominent position on the folk music festival circuit.

The St Mary's Folk Club will return for three nights.

On Sunday 11th September and Sunday 9th October I will be inviting local folk singers and musicians to perform their best tunes on stage.
Then on Sunday 11th November I shall be asking them to perform songs and tunes related to remembrance of the fallen.

Hopefully the evenings will be successful and when the warmer evenings return the St Mary's Folk Club might re-establish itself and St Mary's will become once again the top acoustic venue it deserves to be.

John Gisbey

Sunday 30th October - from 10:30am to 4:00pm

Vintage Fair

Let's Do Vintage....in Autumn

Vintage Fair with a feel of Autumn about it.
Lots of ideas for making your homes cosy this Autumn & Winter. Vintage clothes, handmade crafts, jewellery, china, glass, accessories, collectables and maybe some Christmas goodies to be had at this popular fair.
Refreshments courtesy of Lola & Co.
Adults £1 Children Free

Saturday 10th December
Manwood Singers Christmas Concert

Sunday 11th December
Sandwich Concert Band Christmas Concert

Saturday 17th December
Living Calendar Concert (to be confirmed)

Sunday 18th December
Dance Class / Show

Past Events at St. Mary's