Live at the Betsey Trotwood (main room), Farringdon, London. Sat 24th Jan, matinee. 1.30pm - 5pm.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Keiron Phelan and Peace Signs return to The Betsey Trotwood in full 6 piece glory with their '70s tinged baroque chamber pop. Black sheep philosophers, time travelling step-daughters, sixth form poetry, '70s pornography, swiss army knives, imaginary friends, new best friends, very dead friends and more. Shades of Kevin Ayers and Scott Walker, a whisper of John Cale, a suggestion of Marc and a soupcon of Harley. With that Neil Hannon fella lurking round the corner.  

Spoken word crypto-fantasy meets smooth glamour. London based Bobby Zodiac and the Clairvoyants sing about being abducted by aliens, 1980s video nasties, and Jean-Paul Sartre. It's all done with relentless optimism and a retro-futuristic energy.  “Somewhere between Mozart Estate, Half Man Half Biscuit and Sparks, these are wry spoke-sung tracks with an unashamed focus on entertainment” CLASH

Drew Morrison and the Darkwood’s central vision of a music illuminated by the guiding star genres of Country, Pop & Rock ‘N' Roll all tinged with wide open spaced Bob Nolanesque 'golden chording' has remained focussed and realised itself into a unique sound. Expect to hear flashes of late 1960s Velvets, Jimmy Webb-esque wordplay and electrical guitar playing that has one foot in the 1950s and the other very much in the now.

“I am celebrating my birthday this year with a special concert at The BETSEY TROTWOOD where most of my musical dreams commenced in the UK. This place has meant so much for many of us in the alternatice folk world and to commerate the occasion I am bringing my favourite band in London DIEGO BROWN AND THE GOOD FAIRY. They will blow your socks off.
I will be playing with the Quivering Poets and it will be a special day. Come if you can. “ - Gabriel Moreno

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

London's only monthly book quiz! Doors 6.30pm, quiz starts 7.30pm. £5 entry, maximum team size = 5. Prizes to be won

To book a table, please contact Gary via gpwigglesworth.co.uk

Black Cat Music 🐈‍⬛ and the TUC presents….

An evening of…Solidarity and Song, bringing together trade unionists, MP’s and anyone else who wants to sing a tune to raise money for MAP

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

A special event to enjoy music and raise funds for a good cause featuring

Paul Nowak
Matt Wrack
Dave Ward
Michael J Sheehy
Ella Spencer
Picket Line Poetry
Joanne Thomas
Martin Furlong and Warren Hobden
Annette Mansell-Green and Gawain Little
Paul Ray-Burns

And hosted by James Hodder with more to be added

This will be in the upstairs room at the Betsey and is mainly unreserved seating

Showcasing some of London’s finest new comedy talent JESTER JESTERS is an intimate night of
COMEDY, JOKES & REFLECTIVE TOMFOOLERY in our upstairs venue on Mondays.

Come down, invite your mates & enjoy or even try some open-mic comedy!

8pm UPSTAIRS

More info and tickets: www.facebook.com/jjesters

Double bill for these two critically acclaimed songwriters. They will be playing solo sets and a few songs together. Not to be missed

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Bear's Choice and Shagrat Records present:

Passing Through Time - New Year Evolutions

THE THORN and THE GREEN RAY

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com
£12 plus booking fee.

Kick off your New Year gig list with a chilled afternoon at the psychedelic end of folk and rock in the form of The Thorn and The Green Ray at the wonderful Betsey Trotwood.

The Thorn is the latest vehicle for Jack Sharp (Wolf People and Large Plants) to add his twist to the English folk idiom by driving it towards a heavier perspective.

Following will be The Green Ray, psych-rock wanderers from North London with a melodic bent mixed in with sinuous guitar and woodwind.

All within the lovely main bar of the marvellous old London pub that is the Betsey Trotwood. A venue committed to supporting music and the arts.

An afternoon to remember is on the cards.

Louis will be rounding up the troops once more for a very special late afternoon celebration of the season to celebrate his new Christmas number one single, "Christmas is The Hardest Time Of Year". Expect sad bangers, yuletide classics and nog of some sort. Very Special Guests TBA

Scott Lavene returns for what is becoming an annual appearance at The Betsey Trotwood. Expect an intimate evening of B-sides, deep cuts and requests from the crowd.

Small venue. Big banter.

"Part Ray Davies, part Billy Bragg. All Scott Lavene." Louder Than War

Tickets here: www.skiddle.com

After selling out the evening show in under 48 hours, Scott Lavene adds a matinee performance for the same afternoon.

Scott Lavene returns for what is becoming an annual appearance at The Betsey Trotwood. Expect an intimate evening of B-sides, deep cuts and requests from the crowd.

Small venue. Big banter.

"Part Ray Davies, part Billy Bragg. All Scott Lavene." Louder Than War

Tickets here: www.skiddle.com

Yes, unfortunately it is our penultimate monthly Folks, folks, but we are delighted to have Bob Collum and his band booked to entertain us, with support from the lovely Elaine Palmer.

Tulsa born, Essex settled Bob has become a stalwart of the British Americana scene, with 7 albums to his credit (his new collection Wasted Wonderland is out this year) which testify to his love for country, rock’n’roll and anglo-power pop with a special affection for his adopted country’s pub rock heritage. Bob has appeared on stage with musicians like BJ Cole and Martin Belmont, and his current band – now simply monikered the Bob Collum Band - features Mags Layton on fiddle and vocals, Martin Cutmore on bass and vocals and long-serving sideman Paul Quarry on drums and squeezebox. A formidable live unit, they bring the swing of a Tulsa bar band to every venue they play.

Elaine Palmer hails from an isolated village up on the North Yorkshire Moors in England but spent most of her life travelling back and forward to her family in Phoenix, Arizona. Growing up in an old Watermill in the wilds of Yorkshire Elaine surrounded herself by music, writing songs influenced by her surroundings and music both in the UK and USA. Elaine has released a handful of records and toured the UK extensively, playing with the likes of KT Tunstall, Patty Griffin, Courtney Marie Andrews and Paolo Nutini.

The show is hosted by Alan Tyler and Patrick Ralla from the Rockingbirds, and our DJ, as usual, is the Nine Stone Cowboy. Please bring a fiver or more to put in the jug for the musicians!

Times:

5pm - doors and DJ

5.30 - live music begins

6.15 - Elaine Palmer

7pm - Bob Collum Band

For your diary…The Last Folks!*

21 December

Big Steve’s Christmas Show, featuring various Rockingbirds, The Mike Stewart Experience and other illustrious guests.

*...apart from Red Rooster next year, and whatever else we might do from time to time..

Singer songwriter Jeremy Tuplin returns to the Betsey to celebrate his latest album Planet Heaven. Expect poetic lyricism, ambient soundscapes and psychedelic flourishes. With support from Dominic Silvani and MarieQ.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Homecoming gig from the mini tour! Agent Anonyme records label nite! Single launch! Come and celebrate with us and watch everyone fall over. Special guests tba. Bundle tickets - you get a 7" single at a massive discount and ltd edition badge and a sticker. GET IN.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Showcasing some of London’s finest new comedy talent JESTER JESTERS is an intimate night of
COMEDY, JOKES & REFLECTIVE TOMFOOLERY in our upstairs venue on Mondays.

Come down, invite your mates & enjoy or even try some open-mic comedy!

8pm UPSTAIRS

More info and tickets: www.facebook.com/jjesters

British-Cypriot artist Eleni Skarpari, known as Echo Wants Her Voice Back, crafts a sound rooted in folk noir, indie, blues, and world music — layered with myth, memory, and personal storytelling. Her work draws inspiration from artists like Kate Bush, PJ Harvey, Lorde, Anohni, Radiohead, and Leonard Cohen.

Tickets here: dice.fm

This intimate performance in the cellar of The Betsey Trotwood features Echo alongside long-time collaborator Adam Green (guitar) and a special surprise guest. Expect a stripped-back, emotionally charged set of original songs and reimagined traditional Cypriot material.

Edmund Jeffery will be sharing this special evening, peforming an extended set. An exceptional singer-songwriter and wonderful storyteller, Edmund has taken his wonderully melodic songs and trademark percussive guitar playing around Europe, as well as headlining Pizza Express Live, and many other London venues.

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart return to the Betsey!

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

The London debut from the outstanding Dublin singer. Eileen was the guest singer on the Microdisney reunion tour. In London she will be accompanied by Jon Fell and John Bennett (both High LLamas/Microdisney).

She has sung with some of Irelands most acclaimed bands. (Microdisney, The Would Be’s, The Revenants and The Drays). She has worked with Damian O’Neill (The Undertones, That Petrol Emotion) and Sean O’Hagan produced a four track EP of her songs in 2022. She has written and produced two albums both of which received four-star reviews in The Irish Times, her later second album also received a four-star review in Mojo music magazine. Her material is frequently played on RTE Radio, Lyric FM and BBC 6 Music radio.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Henry Taylour plays live at The Betsey Trotwood. His debut album 'A Relentless Pursuit of Happiness' was released earlier this year.

Tickets here: www.eventim-light.com

Semi-noted Australian performer Ben Salter returns to London and brings old friends Conor Macdonald & Bridget Lewis aka "Captain Fighting Machine" along in a dual support/backing band capacity. Opening the affair will be locals The Silver Tears.

Tickets here: www.trybooking.com

Over the past 25 years Salter's esoteric songwriting and impassioned delivery have made him a cult favourite among audiences and peers alike in his native Oz. He's released scores of albums across multiple ensembles & toured domestically and internationally many times over and collaborated with artists including Marlon Williams, Emily Wurramara, Gareth Liddiard (The Drones/Tropical Fuck Storm), Robert Scott (The Clean, The Bats), Mike Watt (The Minutemen) & Liz Stringer. For the past five years he's been part-time artist in residence at MONA Museum, Tasmania, where he now lives.
Captain Fighting Machine play grave, funny songs that evoke the Gothic Americana of Sparklehorse, Will Oldham and Bill Callahan with a distinctly antipodean edge. London's Silver Tears bring dark and light, raga infused, wonky love songs. They are currently putting the finishing touches to their next album, 'Palace of Noise' the follow-up to this year's Giraffe, so expect to hear some very new songs. They've recently been described as "a kind of psychedelic Talking Heads." 

Showcasing some of London’s finest new comedy talent JESTER JESTERS is an intimate night of
COMEDY, JOKES & REFLECTIVE TOMFOOLERY in our upstairs venue on Mondays.

Come down, invite your mates & enjoy or even try some open-mic comedy!

8pm UPSTAIRS

More info and tickets: www.facebook.com/jjesters

The Bob Dylan Record Club

Classic albums chosen by special guests.
Laid-back vinyl listening sessions & lively in conversations hosted by Travis Elborough.

With special guest Pete Astor

Seasoned and erudite Indie auteur, Pete Astor writes, sings songs and teaches music.

He is the author of a study of Richard Hell and the Voidoids’ Blank Generation, part of Bloomsbury Academic’s 33 and a Third Series, along with articles on songwriting practice for the Cambridge Journal of Popular Music and Ashgate books. He is currently Senior Lecturer at the University of Westminster.

He was singer songwriter in early Creation Records trailblazers The Loft, releasing records that helped define the sound of the label and the emerging Indie genre. He subsequently formed The Weather Prophets, signing to Warner Brothers and releasing records and touring worldwide. Since then Astor has continued to release records on different labels, including Matador, Heavenly, Warp and Fortuna Pop. He currently resides, along with Lloyd Cole, Robert Forster and Comet Gain on the estimable Tapete label.

He’s also contributed a chapter on “Love And Theft” to Bloomsbury’s New Essays on Beloved and Underrated Albums.

Pete’s choice is Bob Dylan’s Love and Theft, an album that had the slight misfortune of being released on 11 September 2001.

The Betsey Trotwood
Doors 2pm / £5

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Showcasing some of London’s finest new comedy talent JESTER JESTERS is an intimate night of
COMEDY, JOKES & REFLECTIVE TOMFOOLERY in our upstairs venue on Mondays.

Come down, invite your mates & enjoy or even try some open-mic comedy!

8pm UPSTAIRS

More info and tickets: www.facebook.com/jjesters

Jerry Sadowitz solo magic show. Two nights only. 3rd and 10th November 2025. Betsey Trotwood pub, Farringdon. 7.30pm. Advance booking only. sadowitzinfo@gmail.com

Miniseries launch the debut album 'Pilot' with special guests Sarah/Shaun.

Tickets here!

Treasured indiepop band The Felt Tips play songs from Living and Growing, their debut album reissued on vinyl by Unspun Heroes, 15 years after it first surprised and delighted indiepop fans worldwide. The record will be available to buy on the night too, and we'll be joined by London's finest, The Understudies.

Tickets here: www.tickettailor.com

NOTE: Limited number of gig and vinyl bundles available at https://unspunheroes.bandcamp.com/album/living-and-growing

From Los Angeles – pop-Americana artists Anny Celsi and Nelson Bragg team up with Dublin’s Duncan Maitland to form a high-energy, high-flying trio. It’s Brill Building hooks, Byrds-y harmonies and Beatle-esque psychedelia!

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Anny Celsi’s style has been described as “beatnik cool,” “pop-noir,” and “slightlydelic pop jangle,” with comparisons to Suzanne Vega, Jackie DeShannon and Chrissie Hynde. Her album “Tangle-Free World, ” produced by Bragg, was described by one reviewer as “… Byrdsian jangle and exquisite psyche-pop harmonies perfect for a long car ride.”

Nelson Bragg is well-known for his high-energy, rock-solid performances as vocalist-percussionist with the Brian Wilson Band. But between world tours he also found time to release several critically acclaimed albums of his own, from the highly acclaimed “Day Into Night” to his most recent release, “Mélodie de Nelson,” on Big Stir Records.

Duncan Maitland has plied his 12-string with Picturehouse and XTC, among many others. His “Lullabies for the 21st Century” is “a trip through the acid-tinged English foothills of rainyday sunshine pop.” Maitland’s long-awaited followup album is planned for a 2026 release, and he’ll be teasing some of the new material on this tour!

"A soul-enhancing evening from three truly outstanding musicians” – Pennyblack Music

"…captures that magical time when vocal harmonies, sweet melodies, memorable songs and psychedelic overtones gave birth to the L.A.'s Byrds and London's Fairport Convention." - Robert Kinsler, Rock n' Roll Truth

They’ll be joined by special guest Nick Haeffner.

Richie Philips & Rob Corcoran welcome you to an enchanting and charming musical evening in our upstairs acoustic room featuring the finest new and established folk influenced talent playing round the camp fire (but without the fire). And it's like a real society too, you know.

£5 entry (cash only)

More info here

Dimple Discs features three acoustic artists.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

A cast of etoiles awaits at ClerknWell ARTslab's 5 November Extraordinaire. With more than a soupcon of French from John Hegley, Cina Aissa, and hosts Diego Brown &the Good Fairy, brilliant songs from the legendary Gabi Garbutt, cutting edge poetry from peacemaker Chip Hamer and deep folk from Lou and Leo. Up the escaliers at The Betsey Trotwood. Get stuck in for dix pounds.