Trotwood Events proudly present a double bill of neo-psych legends Balloon and Danny & The Champions Of The World & Grand Drive frontman Danny George Wilson

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

BALLOON heads out on a first UK tour in more than 30 years to perform acoustic arrangements of songs from its two classic LPs. The band’s acclaimed 1992 debut Gravity was recorded at Daniel Lanois’ New Orleans studio by Michael Brook, and featured Sarah McLachlan. 2024’s eagerly-awaited follow up Gas ‘n’ Air was madein Mexico City, and also earned rave reviews. Balloon’s folk-soul sits alongside artists such as The Go-Betweens, Blue Nile, and Velvet Underground, and fans include journalist and broadcaster Pete Paphides and BBC DJ Gary Crowley.
• “A total, 24-carat masterpiece. I’m almost crying as I play it.” Luke Haines, Record Collector Magazine
• “Such a beautiful album. I swear it will bring a tear to your eye.” David Rea, State of Sound Magazine
• “God, I love this group.” Pete Paphides, Soho Radio
• “Such a good record.” Gideon Coe, BBC 6 Music
• “An album I have not stopped playing since I first heard it.” Gary Crowley, BBC Radio London
• “Deeply affecting…breathtaking.” Chris Roberts, Prog Magazine
• “Balloon’s 1992 album Gravity was a faultless debut. Gas ’n’ Air matches it.” Martin Aston, ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mojo Magazine

DANNY GEORGE WILSON’s formidable credentials go back to his days in seminal UK roots rock band Grand Drive with brother Julian, a solo album released on Paris-based tastemaker label Fargo Records and six albums of consistently high calibre output on Loose Music with the revolving cast of his Danny & The Champions of the World incarnation. In 2016 the Champs swept the boards at the inaugural UK Americana Awards, winning with Album, Artist and Song of the Year. Alongside Robin Bennett (The Dreaming Spires, Goldrush, Saint Etienne) and Tony Poole (Starry Eyed and Laughing) he released an eponymous album as Bennett Wilson Poole in 2018 (“instant classics… hints of Willie and Levon” Bud Scoppa, Uncut) �" bagging another UK Americana Awards ‘Artist of the Year’ alongside being voted Americana UK’s ‘Band of the Year’..

Our monthly BLUEGRASS HOEDOWN ... keepin’ it pure and keepin’ it real with the finest pickers in the land totally unplugged and harmonising the hell out of the upstairs bar ... banjoes, mandolins and candles, it's a beautiful thing!

doors 8.15 pm UPSTAIRS / £10/£5 consc

Residents: FOGHORN LEGHORN

banjo, mandolin, dobro, fiddle, upright bass and guitar plus knockout Appalachian/NorthLondon harmonies! Speedgrass, Philosograss, and Lovegrass all the way from our resident heroes.

+ special guests

FOGHORN'S MY GRASS IS BLUE FACEBOOK

“I'm really excited to have signed to INH Records for the release of my new single, come celebrate with me and the band in the basement of The Betsey Trotwood…” Gabi Garbutt 

With special guests The Outers

Tickets here: www.outsavvy.com

Matchbook Book is launching at the Betsey on the 10th March 2026, 7-10pm. Join us for a drink or two, say hello and get a copy of the new book by @vintage_matchboxco 🔥

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

Just Another Magic Monday! A different show every week. Close up magic and sleight of hand trickery with Jerry Sadowitz and Caspar Thomas. Doors 7pm, show starts. £15. Advance booking only. email sadowitzinfo@gmail.com

THE LOST SONGWRITERS TOUR

A roadshow of alternative folk, dark country and experimental pop songwriters

In January 2025, four songwriters drifted together for a one-off show in the small Swiss village of Ins. Their contrasting takes on contemporary songwriting slotted together like a strange jigsaw puzzle and they formed a connection based on the seeds of kinship and late-night discussion. It was decided they should join forces elsewhere for more concerts to see where the journey took them …

So, the Lost Songwriters tour was born. Don’t miss these special gigs!
Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

ADAYA (CH)
Adaya weaves spellbinding early folk-influenced songs which accompany us through the creature-filled wilderness of her Swiss homeland and broadcast poetic messages to humankind. On other days, whisked away, she provides ethereal vocal and woodwind toplines to the magnificent sound of globetrotting pagan-folk band Faun.

ADELE H (IT)
Primordial, experimental, pop songs using minimal piano and a hauntingly daring voice. An unexpectedly philosophical mind-trip directly into the emotions many of us cannot find words for. A cool, uncluttered musical breeze from the mountains of northern Italy.

BOB SPRING (CH)
Dark country with a big heart. A man who lives his songs completely. Gritty melodies that balance vulnerability with rebellion. No banter is needed, let Bob’s voice and poignant songs take you down the road and into his story.


RUSSELL JOSLIN (UK)
With a guitar style reminiscent of a grunge-soaked John Fahey, plus keening vocals that drift towards the gravitas of 16 Horsepower’s David Eugene Edwards, London-based Russell Joslin is a distinctly 21st-century songwriter who is not afraid to use folk traditions to examine today's splintered society and find the connections between us all.

Come and get stuck in with ClerknWell ARTSlab's incredible bill of clowning, song and spoken word - upstairs at The Betsey Trotwood on 4 March:

Hear We Ahh: Blah blah blah. Clown and sound and silence. Angels. Beauty. Ugly. Waiting. For... Hear We Ahh are a dadaist clown soundmaking duo, an absurdist dialogue of intimate strangers saying nothing. A strange place to be.

Archie Shuttler brandishing just one epic song from his upcoming album Cowboy Jazz about a fella he holds to be one of history’s greatest unsung heroes - until now.

Richard Allen - stand-up poet writer-ranter singer-strummer works poetic comic folk-punk poke-funk hip-hop techno music-hall mash-up tonguetwist rhythmrhyme genius profound profanity profane profundity will make you laugh think think laugh laugh think again. John Hegley meets John Cooper Clarke, gets drunk with Dr Suess and vomits through TS Eliot's letterbox. "Inspired" – The Independent

Tom Conrad Johnson is a folk musician from North East London. He plays the guitar and sings. "He uses writing as a form of staggered escapism. The music and lyrics hold the door open for each other, to walk through one note at a time, all boozy and in need of somewhere to rest." Honestly, this  understates it. Just come and listen to this voice and these songs.

£10 on the door.

Get stuck in.

Judge, cook, horsethief, editor—and poet.
Joaquin Miller (1841–1913) was a true original of the American West, and now, his wild, untamed poetry is brought to life through music.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

In this intimate concert, Espen Langbråten sets Miller’s poetry to music in a raw, modern Americana style—staying true to the spirit and honesty of the original texts. With a selection of handpicked poems and stories from Miller’s life, Langbråten paints a vivid picture of a man who lived a dozen lifetimes in one.

From the Oregon Trail to the California Gold Rush, the Pony Express to London’s literary salons, Miller’s journey is as dramatic as his verse. You’ll hear songs that capture the sweeping landscapes, the danger, the adventure—and the deep emotional undercurrents—of 19th-century America.

Blending music, imagery, and storytelling, this concert offers a powerful, heartfelt tribute to a forgotten voice of the frontier.
When you listen, you’ll almost feel the wind on Mount Shasta—or the spray from the deck of the Santa Maria.

Artist Bio – Espen Langbråten

Espen Langbråten is a Norwegian singer-songwriter with a deep-rooted passion for storytelling through music. Best known as the frontman and primary songwriter for the band Helmers Hage, Langbråten has been an active voice in the Norwegian music scene for years. His songs have been featured multiple times on NRK (the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation), earning national recognition for their lyrical depth and melodic strength.

Earlier in his career, Langbråten was the guitarist for Bristol Songs, a band that toured extensively in England during the early 2000s.

His latest project, The Miller Sessions, explores the life and poetry of the forgotten American poet Joaquin Miller. Through a unique blend of Americana music, narrative, and visual storytelling, Langbråten brings Miller’s vivid world back to life—bridging the gap between 19th-century poetry and contemporary sound

Spotify link:
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2iPNVvIdD45ZtiwM2JRHor?si=9pOEu_eDSxa3OOUjOI1nsA

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

Maggie May Treanor debuts at The Betsey Trotwood.

This award-winning UK Americana artist brings an authentic approach to the genre. Raised on a working horse farm, she offers a truly authentic sound that weaves a line between the classic country vocals of Emmylou Harris and emotive storytelling of Jason Isbell.

"Treanor held the knowledgeable clientele transfixed”. Americana-UK.com

With her music generating over 200,000 YouTube streams, this Irish/English/Spanish artist is quickly catching the attention of the global Americana scene. Collaborating with top-tier producers and musicians – including 2 x Country No1 producer Dan Mizen and 4 x Grammy winning Chris Wilkinson, she's crafting a sound that's both familiar and refreshingly original.

Steady Habits - acoustic set

The inimitable Sean Duggan of Steady Habits will perform an intimate acoustic set.  

Hailing from New Haven, Connecticut, Sean was co singer-songwriter of Loud Mountains, the harmony-driven band he formed with his brother Kevin Michael Duggan in 2014. Steady Habits was created when Kevin set sail to Nashville, Tennessee in 2019. Sean will be performing his widely acclaimed original Alt-Americana songs full of outstanding lyricism, stoic sensibility and addictive hooks.

Tickets here: www.universe.com

We are excited to welcome back Malcolm Morley of Help Yourself & Man to the Betsey Trotwood for a special solo show in our upstairs function room. With special guests Josh Ace and James Beck.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

“German Comedy Ambassador” and King Charles III’s favourite German comic Henning Wehn returns to his favourite Bierstube for an eveningen of teutonic jollyness.

If you would like to eat before the show, please reserve a table via bookings@thebetsey.com.

This show is now SOLD OUT!

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

“German Comedy Ambassador” and King Charles III’s favourite German comic Henning Wehn returns to his favourite Bierstube for an eveningen of teutonic jollyness.

If you would like to eat before the show, please reserve a table via bookings@thebetsey.com.

This show is now SOLD OUT!

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

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

Trotwood Events are super-duper excited to announce yet another instalment of our ongoing Glasgow-London-Cultural-Exchange-Programme. It’s an absolute honour to welcome the amazing James Kirk and Warren McIntyre to the Betsey for an afternoon show on Sunday 15th February 2025.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

James Kirk is a founding member of Glaswegian indie legends Orange Juice and his jangly, melodic guitar riffs were integral to the “Sound Of Young Scotland”, which in turn gave birth to indie music as we know it and inspired countless guitar players. He also wrote their jangletastic song Felicity. A few months ago his old bandmate Edwyn Collins asked him, alongside original Orange Juice drummer Steven Daly, to join him for a sorta OJ reunion on his farewell shows in Glasgow and London…and they sounded fabulous!

James has recently joined forced with Warren McIntyre of melodic pop folk-rockers Starry Skies, after he was asked to play Glasgow Goes Pop (an inspired indie fest held in Glasgow every year curated and organised by Tita and Kenji) in 2022.
They have become a prolific songwriting duo with their 1s single, limited edition double AA side Miss Green Tea and Costa del Culzean released (GGP-001 vinyl) in the Summer of 2025 to coincide with Glasgow Goes Pops 4th outing. An album is in the post!

On stage they are joined by Hal on bass and Michael (V-Twin/1990s) on drums.

Support comes from Brighton's Lovejoy. Lovejoy is Richard Preece, in collaboration with Ally Board, Keith Girdler and Paul Stewart. They lead a simple life just outside Brighton, England. They have gained a reputation for providing sophisticated indie music.

This gig will be happening in the main bar of the Betsey Trotwood.

Trotwood Events are excited to announce the continuation of our Glasgow-London-Cultural-Exchange-Programme with a triple bill of some of the finest acts north of Hadrian’s Wall.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

wor_kspace

Headlining the night will be Glasgow-based musician and producer Finlay Macdonald (Teenage Fanclub/BMX Bandits/Lenzie Moss) with his experimental electro pop outfit ‘wor_kspace’. Influenced by early German electronica and contemporary groups like Yo La Tengo and Stereolab, the sound is a continuation of where his previous creative vehicle Music and Movement left off - and we absolutely love it!

-> https://workspace041.bandcamp.com

Gerard Love

Joining us for a solo set is a man that needs no introduction to the Betsey crowd, Gerard Love! After his sold out show at the Betsey and Moth Club last year, the Teenage Fanclub/Lightships main man is making the journey back to London for a an extra special solo set.

Radhika

Opening proceedings will be Radhika. Radhika is a Glasgow-based artist of Indian heritage. From an early age, she has been exposed to all forms of music in her creative home. Her main inspirations are The Pastels, Cocteau Twins and Strawberry Switchblade. She is currently finalising her debut album with some super special guest artists from Scotland's independent music scene, including Stu Kidd, Sushil K Dade & Jack Wilson.

-> https://radhika.bandcamp.com/

This gig will be happening in the main bar of the Betsey Trotwood.

Real Presents The Roves plus special guests The Volume

The Roves hail from North London. The band play guitar fuelled British rock and roll music and are no strangers to The Betsey Trotwood.

Tickets here: dice.fm

An afternoon of left-field singer-songwriting.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

Jack Hayter
Multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, poet and polymath, Jack has played with a bunch of great bands (Hefner, Dollboy, Papernut Cambridge) and also has his own distinctive voice as a solo artist.
"... one of the weariest, most world-beaten voices around" Pitchfork
"... a buried treasure in the truest sense" Jamie Halliday

Sharron Kraus
Sharron's music weaves folk with the old lore, where the preternatural is real and the songs are spellbinding. A collaborator as well as a solo artist, her music is always compelling and memorable.
"... floating freaky fun of the highest order" The Wire
"... an album layered with memories of landscape and memories of sound. It is a completely immersive experience and a fine achievement" The Quietus

Jason Steel
Fingerpicking on guitar, banjo and lap slide. Singer of songs – think lycanthropy, Paul Klee and Leadbelly. Jason has recently returned to recording and performing, for which we are excited and grateful.
"...a beautifully stark and honest collection, a compelling snapshot of an artist rediscovering his voice and preserving fleeting moments of inspiration" KLOF Mag

Band of Holy Joy’s irrepressible frontman Johny Brown performs songs from his extraordinary and life-affirming solo album 'Dream a Memory of Home' - recently released just this last Christmas Eve on the 'Skill' label.

Opening we have Johny's longtime associate and collaborator, South London crooner Robert 'Hacker' Jessett, noted for his work with urban country myth makers Morton Valence, whose captivating songs you'll be familiar with if you're a regular listener of BBC6 music.

A magical night awaits, in the equally magical surroundings of the Betsey Trotwood.

Tickets here: www.wegottickets.com

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.