Friday 1st March - 9:15pm

Pacho Vibes

Pacho Vibes, a multicultural Bournemouth band. They play the already created sounds from producer Mr Pacho as well as some of their original tracks. Totally festival party poppers to have and great time to remember. Producing danceable live world music vibes for the body, soul & feet! A collective of multicultural, talented musicians & their unique music backgrounds naturally bond together to make these powerful magic sounds, which work a treat in this broth.

Saturday 2nd March - 9:15pm

Monkey Bizzle with Dr. Splink

Monkey Bizzle are a West-Country hip hop outfit who tell tales of the unexpected on relatable subjects symbiotically fused with live scratching, synced visuals and heavy beats. To put it into perspective imagine The Wurzels entering ‘The Bardo’ during crop season whilst in convoy on a 1946 Ferguson TEF.

Sunday 3rd March - 4:00pm

Mutter Slater and Chris Cleaver

Mutter Slater was the front man and flute player for the 70’s cult band Stackridge (produced by George Martin, signed by Elton John): a group that established itself as a firm favourite on countless stages throughout the land and appeared regularly on BBC TV’s The Old Grey Whistle Test and John Peel’s radio programmes. Chrid id the current lead vocalist and guitarist with The Fat Marrow Blues Band

Wednesday 7th February - 8:00pm

Ropemakers Open Mic Night

We extend a big o all musicians, poets, comedians, storytellers and any other performers to come down and show your talents in the Ropemakers Open Mic Night. Hosted by the talented Chris Deacon

Friday 8th March - 9:15pm

Shelby's Elbows

Shelby’s Elbows are an acoustic duo, made up of Dorset musicians Martin P. Davies and Phil Jeffs. Formed after meeting in various Open Mic nights in 2008, Shelby’s Elbows have developed into a locally well known entertainment duo, playing a variety of instruments and producing an instantly recognisable sound that surprises people when they discover that there’s only two people making it. Starting out as a covers band, they are now writing and recording their own original music from a wide variety of influences gained from their covers set – from Nirvana to Neil Young, Seal to Skynyrd, Dire Straits to Turin Brakes and anything in between. Shelby’s Elbows are an exciting, dynamic duo, delivering a deep filled sound that punches well above the level which their numeric deficiency should allow. Inspirational lyrics and catchy conundrums for those who like to rock their fun but socially-aware world with guitars, exuberance and honesty, along with the misuse of inappropriate and inaccurate presidential quotes.

Saturday 9th March - 9:15pm

Joli Blon

Joli Blon, who take their name from a much loved Cajun waltz, play traditional dance music from Louisiana: a riotous mix of red-hot accordion, rip-roaring fiddle and gutsy, driving guitar. Stomping, hypnotic two-steps, mournful waltzes telling of heartache and despair so sad they make you happy, and a bit of blues - all sung in Cajun French and brought to you by a core trio of women. The music is uplifting and infectiously danceable – bringing audiences of all ages up on their feet and onto the dance floor.

Sunday 10th March 4:00pm

Moonfleet

Something special for Mothering Sunday – Talented duo from the Weymouth area who play improvised music from around 15 different countries. Rhythmic and melodic, different and interesting, perfect to create a relaxed and happy atmosphere. Mark Duxbury has played for several decades with many musicians. He was part of the English Jazz Quartet alongside Herbie Flowers, Steve Gray and Ronnie Asprey. He has worked alongside Al Kooper, Tom Robinson as well as recording in the Abbey Road Studios with John Williams. Ester Lovaz trained classically in Budapest, then spent time living in Paris and Amsterdam before moving to the UK. She has played with a selection of orchestras before diverging to other, more creative styles of music including Arabic jazz, Armenian and Latin American. This is one not to be missed!

Wednesday 14th February - 7:30pm

Ropemakers Cheese Club

This month we welcome six more excellent cheese together with crackers and accompaniments. There will be three sittings, one at 7:30 pm, one at 8:00 pm and one at 8:30 pm. The cost for this event is £8.50 per head and there will be a selections of paired drinks chosen by Palmers Wine Store available for purchase. Booking for this event is essential.

Friday 15th March - 9:15pm

The Fat Marrow Blues Band

The Fat Marrow Band play jazzy rhythm and blues with a feel good factor. Experienced and reliable they find inspiration in traditional blues music and update and embellish it with brass, harmonica and sparkling guitar to create a fantastic sound. Influences such as Stevie Ray Vaughan, BB King, John Mayall and Robert Cray are all used, and, having played together for some time, the music is tight and polished.

Saturday 16th March - 9:15pm

Around About Dusk

Around About Dusk are an adventurous musical conception playing original music with influences ranging from musette, New Orleans jazz, old time, and European folk traditions with eclectic instrumentation and rich vocal harmonies. "Around About Dusk have formed from a journey to New Orleans playing on the porches of Louisiana and heading through busking festivals of Europe to campfires in England. They are warm, gentle and unique!"

Sunday 17th March - 4:00pm

Rosie Eade & Jon Maybey

Rosie Eade "Folk Pixie" and Jon Maybey have long been crossing paths on the south-west music scene. As multi-instrumentalists and songwriters, they now combine their love of folk and world music, with a splash of pop/rock, around a mix of traditional and original songs, tunes and improvisation. Rosie on vocals (likened to the voices of Sandy Denny, Maddy Prior and Grace Slick), acoustic guitar, saxophone and penny whistle. Jon on mandolin, electric guitar, stomp box and loop station.

Monday 19th February - 8:15pm

Sunset Café Stompers

The Sunset Cafe was a top night-spot on Chicago’s infamous South Side. Al Capone owned it, Louis Armstrong starred there. The Sunset Cafe Stompers do play the music of that period... great tunes from Scott Joplin, Irving Berlin, Jelly Roll Morton, Duke Ellington, Fats Waller... but the band’s wide repertoire also features songs made famous by artists as diverse as Patsy Cline, Marilyn Monroe, the Inkspots, Fats Domino... even Elvis. Beneath it all, one can sense the elusive, shifting, pulse which defines the sound of New Orleans. In that city, ever since the 1900s, bands have been hired to attract a crowd, or to add spirit and generate excitement for all kinds of occasion. Throughout the last twenty years we have followed in that tradition: playing jazz clubs, concerts for churches, arts centres, village dances, weddings, festivals, funerals, garden parties... from our Dorset/Somerset base, down to Cornwall and up to Cumbria

Friday 22nd March - 9:15pm

The Skalatans

Bridport based Rocksteady band with a little Latin infusion. 7 piece band guaranteed to get you moving! Guitar – Philip Wilcock Bass – Richie Robertson Drums – Jim Sherman Sax – Simon Hartung Trumpet – Michael Grew Keys – Thomas Hughes Percussion – Ben

Saturday 23rd March - 9:15pm

D'Ska Assassins

D’Ska Assassins are one of the most popular ska acts in the South West. They perform classic ska, from the likes of the Skatalites and Prince Buster, ska revival by bands such as Bad Manners and The Specials, and some great high energy originals

Sunday 24th March - 4:00pm

Ma Polaine's Great Decline

The band offer a beautiful blend of folk tinged americana with their new album Molecules, due for release on the 22nd March 2024, The final song “Molecules” is like an umbrella for so many emotions explored throughout the album. Human connections, our necessity for it, companionship and its fragility, the injustices in the world, acknowledgment of our flaws, passion, love, and hope… Ma Polaine’s Great Decline are an award-winning band praised by MOJO Magazine for their unique blend of pop, folk, blues, and Americana. Ma Polaine’s music resonates as both comfortably familiar and refreshingly innovative, creating a truly engaging experience. With airplay on BBC 6 and BBC Radio 2, and the support of Cerys Matthews, the band's genre-defying charm unfolds through songs that explore the intricacies of human connections, weaving tales of light and dark with uplifting melodies and heartfelt storytelling. Throughout their journey, they have released three albums and five EPs. "City of Love," their album from June 2020, was a pivotal moment for them, when they received "Best band/duo" award from Fatea Magazine. The band had fantastic reviews in publications like MOJO with a 4 stars review. In 2020 they were due to perform live on BBC Radio 2 for Cerys Matthews when the world ground to a halt, faced with lockdown. In spite of this difficult time they had some wonderful moments such as BBC 6 radio play on International Womens Day. Live, Beth has a black humour that gives the audience the chance to laugh at themselves, our human connection, love, and the complex facets of pain, with an understanding life can go a bit wonky sometimes. The band seeks to offer a raw, authentic portrayal of real-life experiences that will resonate with audiences from all walks of life. There’s a cathartic nature to Beth’s lyrics, song writing and sound that hugs the listener and draws them in.

Thursday 22nd February - 8:00pm

Folk Sessions

Folk Sessions with Chris Deacon

Friday 29th March - 9:15pm

Gurt Dog

Gurt dog on the prowl in deepest darkest Bridport & we can't wait. It'll only be gig number 3 for the Dogs and we'll be ably aided & abetted by the old hand that is JDR acoustic doing some old favourites, plus one or two you won't have heard before.

Saturday 30th March - 9:15pm

Grumpy O'Sheep

Grumpy O Sheep is a French rocking crazy duet This unusual duo mixes with energy and talent the colours of Irish melodies imbued with peat, whiskey and beer and the wild rhythms of the Spanish guitar, all in a resolutely Rock interpretation. Think Rodrigo et Gabriella play Irish!!

Sunday 31st March - 4:00pm

Robert Brown

Robert Brown is an emerging singer songwriter with obvious comparisons such as Nick Drake, Davy Graham and Jimmy Page, not only in his writing but with his remarkable finger style technique. “I was lucky as a kid. When I was 17 I got to tour with Dick Heckstall Smith, and later in my teens I toured the southern states for 6 months with the US funk rock outfit the Blast. It was a crazy learning curve in which I saw our promoter being shot and having Boy George's producer chasing us all over Houston thinking we were the next big thing and had free coke to burn!” Whilst touring in New York last year, he was also approached by Alice Cooper’s Press agent and tour manager after they heard a particular track. Songs that are remembered the next day seem to be one of his main gifts. Extensive travelling in Europe, North Africa and North America have enabled Robert to absorb the music and culture, and this emerges in subtle rootsy nuances within his work. Some obvious, some hidden to all but the expert ear.