Orpington Folk Club exists to promote folk music and song.  It is a non-profit making organisation and is for those who wish to listen to or take part in an informal evening of folk music and song.
No recorded music material is used during our evenings.  The organisers and resident musicians of the club give their time freely and do not benefit financially from their performances or duties.

The residents are singer/musicians who regularly attend the club and are usually committee members. Acting as MC's/Host's, they start the proceedings off and give continuity to the programme for the evening.  The general running of the club also falls to them - advertising, booking of guest(s) and running the door etc. ( suggestions for guest(s) are always welcome )

Orpington Folk Club ( O.F.C ) is the longest surviving folk club in the area.  Having enjoyed several homes since 1965, the O.F.C. is now firmly established most evenings in the restaurant or in the bar annex at :

We have three different types of evening - booked guest(s) nights, singers nights and singarounds.
The last two evenings are sometimes advertised as a "Come All Yea".

The format for most thursdays, except singarounds, is to commence with one of our regular singer(s)/musician(s), followed by a floor singer from the audience who has requested a spot.  For those seeking a floor spot on a guests night.  We recommend you phone or email us first, especially if coming from a long way.  We also have to be selective on guest/s nights.

This is to help us plan the evenings better, ensure the guest(s) get their full performance and avoid disappointment to anyone.

Or should I sing, play an instrument or percussion while others are performing?
While we at the OFC encourage participation, it should be limited to joining in the chorus of a song.  In most cases we find the performers prefer to play it thier way - unless they request that the audience join in.  This applies to both guest nights and singers nights.  Please keep noise and conversations levels to a minimum during a performance.

See Hamish Currie's tips for floor singers

Singers nights start off in a similar way to guest(s) nights but continue on with singers from the floor to perform for us. Each spot will be around 8-10 minutes in duration, depending on how many wish to perform that evening.   Singers nights are a popular part of the club's program with all types of acoustic folk music and song performed.  This is the chance for SOLO or GROUPS of singer musicians to come and showcase their talent.

David Harley's tips for floor singers

Singarounds are much less formal than singers nights.  There is no stage area to sing from. Each singer(s)/musician(s) will perform from where they are sitting.  Starting with one of the resident singer(s)/musician(s), each performer will sing one song. Then moving on to the next person/group, going around the room.  Repeating until around 11:00pm.  The current scratch band members may sometimes conclude the evening with a song or tune.

The ability and quality of anyone floor singer(s)/musician(s) can range from the very experienced professional, to those just starting out.  All are given encouragement and a listening ear.

Every evening is different.  We enjoy a wide variety of entertainment, from highly acclaimed professional, semi-professional singer(s)/musician(s) to amateur enthusiasts.  It includes unaccompanied singers, groups of singers and musicians, playing a variety of instruments.
Apart from guitars, accordions and flutes, some of the more unusual instruments are dulcimers, hurdy-girdys and crumphorns to name but a few.  There are often large helpings of humour in their performances, which is always welcome. Guest(s) are often booked for their humour as much as their music.

People from all walks of life come to the folk club.  Everyone is made to feel welcome and you will find us very accessible and easygoing.

Folk music is the experiences of peoples lives written through the ages in music and song.  All backgrounds, including the nobility and high society have contributed to traditional music and song collections.  Most traditional folk tunes and songs have been passed down from one generation of folk singers/musicians to the next, through what is called the folk process.  The original composers are generally not known and the tunes are often transformed as they are handed on.  Many different versions may exist of a particular tune/song and no one version is looked upon as being "The one and only right version".  Sometimes a tune may have several sets of words with different names or a song more than one tune.  Such is the nature of the folk process.  Music that has been shaped by this process is often called traditional music and song.

The English Folk Dance and Song Society (EFDSS) was founded in 1932 to preserve, promote and develop the English folk arts, and specifically song, tune and dance.

www.efdss.org & A brief history of the efdss

Not all folk music is traditional it encompasses a whole range of musical styles and modes.  Most of them have been performed in folk clubs.  A good portion of the music heard is contemporary and popular songs of the day and the recent past are sung. We have in our own club, members who write and record their own material, which is of very high quality and well liked.  They are also performed by other singer(s)/musician(s), with the permission of the writers and become part of their performances at a variety of folk and other venues.  Some contemporary songs and tunes are written in such a way as to sound traditional.  They sound so authentic and convincing that to the unknowing they are often mistaken for traditional music and song.

Smoking is not permitted in the Farnborough Social Club.
However you may smoke in the areas outside the the building.

Performers are always welcome at the club on guest(s) nights and especially singer's nights and singarounds.  We try to provide an atmosphere that is both comfortable and welcoming for all to give their best and enjoy the experience.

Due to new EU GDPR regulations we are no longer a members club

(Please do Not Phone the Venue)

Enquiries about bookings should be made at the club or via e-mail : Bookings Enquiries

(Please do Not Phone the Venue)

For general enquiries please phone : Ted Handley : 0208 325 6513  Keith Halford : 01474 853 189