About Thurnby and Bushy Acoustic Club

The club is Co-Hosted by Tim Garland and Malcolm Goodall. See below.

Thurnby And Bushby acoustic Club TABAC encourages all sorts of participation. Essentially it involves a sing-around, but appreciates all acoustic contributions, traditional and contemporary songs, accompanied and unaccompanied singing, solo performances or collaborations, playing tunes, storytelling, poetry etc. Please come along and have a go, or just and enjoy the atmosphere and perhaps sing along on the choruses, you will be most welcome.

A fairly unique feature of TABAC is after the first sing-around usually at around 9pm there is a 'featured spot' from a local musician (5 songs or tunes) After the second half sing-around the featured artist gives a closing number / encore to finish the evening.

The club also organises occasional charity Concerts and Ceilidh evenings. It hoped that TABAC will grow sufficiently to be able to eventually put on Folk Days in the same manor as the excellent Poppy Folk Day.

Tim Garland

Tim (Cittern, Guitar, Fiddle and Vocals) is a founder member of Nottingham based folk group FIELDWORK a great Musician, Singer and Songwriter. He has been performing his own material at clubs and festivals nationally for many years He has appeared as a solo artist and with various Duo line ups. He recorded 5 records with FIELDWORK and 3 Solo Albums. Tim currently works with Leicester based folk group LOOMA (Liz Logie, Mark Theobald and Bob Gilmour-Evans) LOOMA have recently released their excellent first CD

Tim is a former head teacher, a superb chef, committed socialist and all round good bloke.

Malcolm Goodall

Malcolm (Guitar, Anglo Concertina and Vocals) is an enthusiastic amateur folky. He was born and bred in Leicester attended folk clubs whilst at University before family and business commitments as a local Architect intervened. Having retired he now has more time to pursue his folk music passion again. A member of Marydene Guitar Society and involved with the Midland Concertina Group. He lives near TABAC's 'Rose and Crown' Venue in Thurnby/Bushby. He actively promotes the club and persuades friends to do featured spots. He has also been involved in various Charity Fund Raisers, such as Folk at the Factory in Fleckney.

The Rose & Crown at Thurnby

visit the pub's website

Thurnby And Bushby Acoustic Club TABAC meet on the First Sunday of the month in the skittle alley of this lovely traditional 16th Century Thatched Roof Public House. 45 Main Street Thurnby / Bushby Leicestershire. LE7 9PJ. The pub is located half in Thurnby Village and half in Bushby Village.It serves great beer and food and the landlords are very welcoming and supportive of TABAC and other community events.

The skittle alley is very smartly decorated, carpeted, heated, well lit and most importantly has wonderful acoustics.

At Christmas time the room is superbly decorated and very festive. In December 2019 the acoustic club hosted 'A Winter's Evening' concert with Reg Meuross, which was sold out. The skittle alley can hold 60 and has its own bar on concert evenings. Most TABAC evenings are held in the round in a traditional sing-around format. The Featured Artist is seated at the end of the room away from the entrance. We charge a nominal pound entrance fee to cover the cost of lighting and heating. The Pub has ample car-parking and there is access to the skittle alley directly from the car park.

History of the club

The first TABAC took place on Sunday 6th November 2016, with co-host Tim Garland as the first Featured Artist. Malcolm Goodall is the other host and administrator who is ably assisted by Lynn Goodall. Both Lynn and Tim's wife Mary dance with Black Annis Morris.

A folk club used to be held in the skittle alley at The Rose and Crown ran by Pete Burnham. Malcolm decided to start TABAC in Pete's venue on the first Sunday of each month which was when Sarah Rawson Nee Burton used to run the acoustic session in Billesdon.

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TABAC Events

We generally meet monthly on the first Sunday. Starting at 7:30pm, prompt.
The list of our upcoming events should be shown below from our Facebook page.
If you don't see the list, please click here or on the link below.

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Other places to visit

Here are details of some of our favourite local clubs and other venues for great folk music in and around the area.

You can find a more comprehensive list at: The Leicestershire Folk diary This is an excellent resource originally put together by Pete Burnham. It started off as a list on paper that Pete would circulate among the many clubs he would regularly visit. Pete eventually moved the list online, and when he moved out of the area back to his native North-East he handed over maintenance of the diary to Bill Wilkes.

Grand Union Folk Club This is an excelent local folk club that was set-up by Bill Wilkes. Meets at The Horse and Trumpet in Sileby, They run monthly singarounds, music sessions and guest nights.

Poppy Folk Club Another great folk club set-up by Phil Preen and Julie Palmer in West Bridgford, Nottingham. Meets monthly on a Sunday evening.

Folk in Quorn

Monthly singaround at The Blacksmiths Arms in Quorn which grew out of 'The King Billy's Army', a club that ran for many years at The King William IV in Thurcaston. Now hosted by 'Between 3 Shores' who are Sarah Brookman, Anna Clay and Mo Shotter.
See The Leicester Folk Diary for more details.

Red Fox Folk group Weekly music session in Leicester on a Monday evening. Originally started by Alice Little at The Swan & Rushes before she moved to Oxford. Now at The Sir Robert Peel... hosted by Nic Griffiths-Hayes.

Pack Horse Loughborough

This is a very long running club which ran for many years at The Pack Horse pub. Now meets monthly on a Friday at The Plough in Thorpe Acre.
See The Leicester Folk Diary for more details.

White Horse Folk Excellent club hosting concerts and singarounds at The White Horse in Seagrave. Hosted by Dave and Julia Taylor.

Tilton on the Hill Acoustic session at The Rose & Crown in Tilton-on-the-Hill. Occasional third Sundays. Now hosted by Sarah Rawson Nee Burton of the 'Ruby Doos'

St Joseph’s Tearooms

Monthly afternoon singaround at St Joseph's Tearooms in Whitwick.
See The Leicester Folk Diary for more details.

Black Horse Folk Club

Monday music club at The Black Horse on Braunstone Gate hosted by Andy Griffiths. Also music session on a Thursday.
See The Leicester Folk Diary for more details.

Melton Folk Club Meet on Wednesday evenings at The Crown in Melton Mowbray. Hosted by Adrian Kerr. The club organise weekend festivals throughout the year.

Croxton Kerrial Acoustic Club at Geese and Fountain 5pm on Second Sundays, Hosted by Sheila Mosley.

Market Harborough

Folk Club at The Royalist at 7:30pm on Third Thursdays. Hosted by Richard Leach who took over from John Maher.
See The Leicester Folk Diary for more details.

EFDSS The English Folk Dance and Song Society is the national umbrella organisation for all things folk.

Folk Festivals

Here are just a few of our favourite folk festivals:
Sidmouth Whitby Towersey and of course a great local event: Moira Furnace Folk Festival

Contact the club

Hello. If you are interested in attending one of our meetings, please just turn up on a first Sunday or call for a chat. Special events and featured spots will be advertised on our Facebook page.

Send us a message here via Facebook Messenger.

Thurnby & Bushby Acoustic Club

Sing-a-round, storytelling and music session

First Sunday each month 7:30pm Prompt!

Rose and Crown, 45 Main Street, Thurnby, Leics. LE7 9JP

Hosts: Tim Garland and Malcolm Goodall

Thurnby And Bushby Acoustic Club TABAC meet on the First Sunday of each month at 7:30pm until Sunday closing at 10:30pm, in the Skittle Alley of the Rose and Crown public house. 45 Main Street, Thurnby/Bushby, Leicestershire. LE7 9PJ. Each meeting there is a Featured Local Artist who does an Extended Spot after a break following the first half.