ABOUT TENTERDEN FOLK DAY TRUST
TFDT is a charity formed in 1993 to preserve and advance public education and appreciation of folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions as part of the living heritage.
The annual four day Tenterden Folk Festival came to an end with a very successful event in October 2024. At that point the Trustees decided the festival was no longer viable in its current form with the longer term effects of the Covid pandemic, the financial crisis and the age and health of those involved in the organisation. So what does the future hold for Tenterden Folk Day Trust?
*The Tenterden Folk Sessions* Tenterden Folk Club started in The Eight Bells in 1992 and, despite several changes in venue, it has been running consistently ever since. The current format is a free folk song and music session in a bar. With effect from 13th November 2024 the sessions have been relocate to the main ground floor bar at The Tenterden Club on the second Wednesday of the month. This move may also offer the opportunity to hold folk club events in the upstairs function room with special guest artists.
All Day Sing-a-round The Trust held the forst All Day Sing-a-round in October 2025 and aims to make this an annual event.
Around Kent Folk magazine The Trust took over publishing AKF following the sad deaths of Bob and Kathy Drage in December 2017. Since then circulation has grown, more editorial, and colour have added so that now approximately 700 copies of AKF are printed every two months and distributed to folk clubs in Kent, Surrey and Sussex. The magazine is also available to read online. The Trust aims to continue to build on this success.
Occasional barn dances or ceilidhs In 2024 the Trust ran two successful fundraising barn dances, as well as the festival barn dance, at the Old Dairy Tap Rooms. We hope to stage further barn dances or ceilidhs in the future.
Occasional concerts and special events For over 30 years the Trust regularly promoted occasional special events during the year, often in co-operation or partnership with folk clubs, Councils or other local organisations. We worked with Ashford Borough Council, Kent County Council, Produced in Kent, The Kent County Show, Folk at the Drum, Revelation Ashford and others. The Trust is keen to continue to work with local organisations to promote folk music in Tenterden and Ashford.