Saturday 11th JANUARY 2025

PEN & STU

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms (Next to Wath Hall)

We’re launching ourselves onto an unsuspecting 2025 in great style with PEN & STU - an Acoustic Duo from York.
They play original contemporary folk (mostly written by Pen) on BIG whistles and tenor guitar ! And they’re fantastic!
The songs relate stories about famous characters from history, folklore, villains and errr ….. pirate queens . Want to know what one of those is? Come along and find out!

Saturday 25th JANUARY 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms (Next to Wath Hall)

Another of our additional “Singers Nights” Rafters showcasing our amazing band of musicians, singers and poets. Come along and play or just come along and listen. ……. The choice is yours! And all for less than the price of a posh coffee!

Saturday 8th February 2025

IAN PRICE

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Ian Price has been a familiar face in the Flk Clubs of Yorkshire and Derbyshire for a few years, placing his own unique stamp on songs traditional and contemporary. This is his first appearance at Raising the Rafters and at Ian’s request we will be raising money for SHEFFIELD CHILDRENS’ HOSPITAL CHARITY.

Saturday 22nd February 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT showcasing our amazing band of singers, musicians and poets. Just turn up and sing, read or play …. Or just turn up and listen !The choice is yours! It’s a simple format with no raffle, merchandise etc. just wall to wall music all night.

Saturday 12th March 2025

NEW HORIZONS (aka “Garratt, Atkinson & Heppel”)

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

A welcome and much anticipated return to Raising the Rafters by those veterans of the local folk scene, Pete Garratt, Ken Atkinson and Geoff Heppel, now performing as “New Horizons”.
All three have a lifelong commitment to folk music and a huge following. This their third appearance at Rafters and after each of their gigs here the message has been the same …. “When are they coming back…..?

Saturday 22nd March 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 12th April 2025

CHRISTOPHER CROMPTON

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms, Church Street, Wath upon Dearne, S63 7RD

It’s a first time at Raising the Rafters for CHRISTOPHER CROMPTON , a hugely talented songwriter and musician with roots in the British and American folk tradition
He completed two highly successful tours of America in 2023, tours folk clubs nationally, but tonight he’s with us at Raising the Rafters. It’s going to be a great night!
At Christopher’s request, the club will be raising money for the AGAINST MALARIA FOUNDATION

Saturday 26th April 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 3rd May 2025

WATH FESTIVAL CONCERT with THE HUNCH and JAMES HAIGH

Admission: £10.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms, Church Street, Wath upon Dearne, S63 7RD

It’s WATH FESTIVAL time again and Raising the Rafters is once again proud to be hosting the prestigious Saturday Night Concert with two amazingly talented performers.
JAMES HAIGH has made a huge name for himself both locally and nationally, having started his folk music journey right here in Wath upon Dearne. With an amazing guitar technique that is the envy of most musicians, James performs songs from all musical genres from classical to traditional and contemporary folk.
Headlining the night are the utterly incredible band THE HUNCH who describe themselves as “Hard hitting Irish, Americana & Latin Folk ….. with a generous dash of humour”
They’re led by none other than the legendary MICK DOONAN, founder member of Hedgehog Pie and a member of the Tyneside dynasty! Need we say more? Advance booking recommended for this one!

Saturday 10th May 2025

CONCERT FOR MS: TOM BLISS with CHARLIE BARKER & DEN MILLER

Admission: £15.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: THE BARN, ROCKINGHAM ARMS, 8, MAIN STR., WENTWORTH, S62 7TL

This has to be one of Raising the Rafters’ biggest and best fundraisers ever! Folk Music is returning to The Barn at The Rockingham Arms, Wentworth (home for many years of the legendary Rockingham Arms Folk Club) with a concert for the M.S. Society featuring a super - rare appearance by the internationally acclaimed songwriter and musician TOM BLISS with special guests CHARLIE BARKER, DEN MILLER and ALLAN & LIAM WILKINSON. What a night it’s going to be!
It’s a Ticket Only event with limited ticket numbers available …. Tickets on sale now at every Raising the Rafters Folk Club and Rafters Xtra.

Saturday 24th May 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 14th June 2025

THE BREADED CHURCHMAN

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: St. James Rooms, Church Str., Wath upon Dearne, S63 7RD

Steven Fletcher a.k.a. “The Breaded Churchman” has dropped into Raising the Rafters a couple of times and blew us away with his fantastic songs and amazing musical energy. Playing a twelve string guitar, he REALLY knows how to entertain! And tonight he’s coming back as our June 2025 Guest.
Want to know why he’s called “The Breaded Churchman”? Come along and find out!

Saturday 28th June 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 12th July 2025

MOUNTAIN HARES

Admission: £5.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms, Church Str., Wath upon Dearne, S63 7RD,

Mountain hares are a duo playing a mixture of original and traditional folk music on a wide range of instruments ….. guitar, piano, harmonium, banjo, lap steel dobro and Native American flute. With all that lot in the room I wonder if there will be room for any audience? Don’t worry - we will squeeze you in ! And it will be worth it because Mountain Hares have built up a reputation for excellent, participative music . And with a name like Mountain Hares their charity is especially appropriate …. We will be supporting THE WILDLIFE TRUST.

Saturday 26th July 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 23rd August 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 27th September 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 25th October 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.

Saturday 22 November 2025

RAFTERS Xtra

Admission: £3.00

Time: 8.00 p.m.

Location: Saint James' Rooms

Our popular monthly RAFTERS Xtra SINGERS NIGHT, giving a platform to our talented band of singers, musicians and poets. Turn up and play / sing / read (no booking necessary) ….. or just turn up and listen as part of the audience. The more the merrier! It’s a simple, informal format with no raffle, merchandise etc. - just wall to wall music all night. Come along and give it a try.