The Pulpit

APRIL

15th –  St Fian We are pleased to welcome the incredible South West based folk duo St Fian to Swindon for the first time.

The pair play a raw, resonant brand of original folk music with a gritty, traditional edge. Exquisitely crafted and hauntingly beautiful songs that weave folklore, history, and the deepest corners of the human experience into a powerful tapestry of sound.

Their music doesn’t just entertain, it stirs the soul. With tales that unearth forgotten truths, explore shadowy pasts, and celebrate life’s stark realities, St. Fian invites you on a journey through laughter, reflection, rhythm, and tears.

22nd – Harmony Asia   It is always a pleasure to have Harmony Asia back to one of our stages. Her voice is one that silences rooms and the songs captivate audiences.

More than just a girl with a guitar, Harmony Asia uses music to communicate her deepest feelings and most powerful ideas directly to the audience. Open, honest and authentic, her lyrics are more like an intimate conversation with a good friend than a public performance. For all their personal and heartfelt nature, the ideas she presents us with are thoroughly relatable. Musically, her music sits between chilled acoustica, indie folk and understated soul, and it is a blend of wit and wisdom, charm and insightfulness that belies her young age.

28th Swindon Folk Club present Sian and Rob Colquhoun  With a crowd-pleasing mix of Bluegrass energy and driving Old-Time rhythms, Sian & Rob Colquhoun deliver an authentic performance full of vitality. Expect toe-tapping tunes and songs, including self-penned originals with gorgeous close harmonies, fiery flatpickin’ and hypnotic clawhammer banjo with a flourish of percussive flat-foot dancing.

Music from 8.00pm. Entry free but do bring some cash for the hat to show your appreciation and help keep music live.

MAY

3rd – 3pm –  Cheese Club

6th Mark Harrison  It has been a while since ace bluesman Mark came to town so we are pleased to have finally managed to get him back.

Mark Harrison is an established, multi-award-nominated artist with an ever-growing reputation for being unlike any other artist out there. He performs all-original songs in his own very individual style. He has been regularly featured on BBC Radio, including the Radio 2 Pick Of the Week show, and a live session on Radio 2 Cerys Matthews Blues Show. He has been described by the BBC as an artist who ‘makes you think afresh’ and by countless reviewers and audience members as ‘uplifting’ and ‘inspirational’.

Mark is well-known in the blues world – BBC Radio has said ’He’s kind of reinvented the blues in this country. What a glorious sound he makes’, he has been described as ’one of the most genuinely innovative, interesting bluesmen in Europe today’ by Blues Matters magazine, and he has been nominated multiple times in the UK Blues Awards (including 2026).

13th Cal Murphy  It is great to be able to welcome back the brilliant tongue-in-cheek silliness of Cal Murphy to the Pulpit for a couple of sets of lively silly & serious songs with an Irish lilt.

20th Canutes Plastic Army You could probably start calling Canute’s Plastic Army local legends these days. This seasoned crew of musical maestros have been collectively treading the boards in Swindon for longer than they would care to remember.

Initially a mainly acoustic duo but now expanded to a 4 piece band, they bring together the soaring, passionate vocals of Anish Harrison and the intricate and dynamic guitar playing of Neil Mercer. Songs range from dark, almost gothic-tinged folk to more bluesy, pop-roots tunes, taking in sparsely picked guitars and looped effects, anthemic vocals and whispered voices.

26th Swindon Folk Club Present The Ivy Green A unique project by SFC’s own Chantelle Smith and Jessie Thompson. They focus on songs collected by by Swindon’s own folk song collector, Alfred Williams, playing a range of instruments including harp, accordion, guitar and whistle to support their gorgeous harmonies.

27th Poetry in the Pub New to The Pulpit, following the success of Januarys’ Swinterfest Poetry evening. We are delighted to host Maurice Spillane and Tony Hillier in an evening filled with the delights of the spoken word. Join us 7:30-9:30 for selected readings from our hosts and open spots. Present your own words, or read a favourite, or even ask our hosts to present a poem for you. A fun evening of poetry, and celebration of the spoken word. 

JUNE

2nd Old Town Comedy Festival New to The Pulpit, we are proud to be part of Old Towns’ first comedy festival !! The smallest venue on the circuit be sure to get tickets early for this, our first double-header comedy night. Hosted by Swindon Old Town Comedy Club. More details to follow…..

3rd Ferbrache and Fry

7th Cheese Club

9th Old Town Comedy Festival

10th Harrison Rimmer

17th Paul McClure

24th Poetry in the Pub

30th Swindon Folk Club Present. Wings and Whispers

JULY

1st Tom Corneill (Young Martyrs) solo

5th Cheese Club

8th Joe Kelly solo

15th Jamie R Hawkins

22nd Phil Cooper

29th Poetry in the Pub

AUGUST

2nd Cheese Club

SEPTEMBER

6th Cheese Club

7th-13th SWINDON SHUFFLE 

16th Phil Maguire

23rd Joe McCorriston

OCTOBER

4th  Cheese Club

14th Bluebeard and the Desperate Hours (duo)

NOVEMBER

1st Cheese Club

4th Sian and Rob Colquhoun