The Court

19:30 (2hrs)

Feel the breeze shift, marking the turn of the seasons. The Wheel of the Year spins anew, unveiling a distant, fleeting realm... Welcome to The Court! Join our coterie, led by Queen Mab; local singer, songwriter, and performance artist.

The Court is a celebration of folklore, folk culture, and folk horror. It's a living zine - a vibrant hub where scholars and artists converge, bonded by a deep affection for ancient tales and rustic mystique. Through talks, stories, and music, we weave a rich tapestry of tradition, wonder, and imagination.

Above, in the theatre, we dive into a world of creativity and exploration, with curated performances and an open mic welcoming all who wish to share their folk-inspired art. Below, in the bar, wander through the enchanting night market, where local artisans showcase their crafted treasures. Our night market runs through-out the evening of The Court, welcoming you at The Yellow Book from 18:00 - 22:00.

With Yule fast approaching, and the longest night upon us, we are honoured to showcase performers who kindle the spark of creativity, inviting you to bask in their warmth and light…

Jon Mason

Jon Mason is a Brighton-based storyteller known for his captivating delivery and love of tales that connect our history, our present, our landscapes, and ourselves. He performs regularly at festivals, online, in schools, and at storytelling clubs across the UK, as well as appearing in the Brighton Festival and Fringe, and creating storywalks and podcasts. His most recent Fringe show, Promised Land: The Myths of Rock'n'Roll, was shortlisted for the national Get A Word In Edgeways Step Up Commission in 2023. 

"This is wildly ambitious exuberant storytelling" - Brighton Source
"You really brought those stories to life and it made me wonder why we don’t all know these stories of this beautiful land better. I want to go and visit those places now!” – Guesthouse Storytellers, Newhaven. 


David Bramwell

David Bramwell takes us on A Solstice Saunter Through Moominland Midwinter. He is the host of Brighton’s long-running spoken word salon, The Catalyst Club, and co-creator of Singalong-A-Wicker-Man. He has produced programmes for BBC Radio 3 and 4 on topics ranging from trickery and time travel to Ivor Cutler and clapping. He is the presenter of the Adventures in Nutopia documentary podcast series and author of The No9 Bus to Utopia, The Odditorium, The Cult of Water, The Singalong-A-Wicker-Man Scrapbook, and a new collection of essays, Outlandish. He has, to date, watched The Wicker Man 234 times but still forgets the lyrics to “Corn Rigs.” He is a HUGE Moomin fan and has read Moominland Midwinter almost every year since he was nine.  


Sairie

Sairie are a three-piece folk band from East Sussex. Their music is sparse and delicate, often inspired by their shared love of folklore, nature, and dark tales. The band was formed in 2018, and to date, they have released two 7” singles on the Fenny Compton and Gardner’s Delight labels, two self-released EPs, and their latest project, The Cinder Sheet: a collection of their favourite songs from films. They are now working on their debut album.

“... retains the English folk tradition nurtured by Anne Briggs and Shirley Collins” The Wire
“Anticipation grows for where Sairie can take their open-eared psych-folk vision next.” Folk Radio UK