Contrabridge

04/11/2026

Meet our caller for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 25th April:

Adam Hughes has been dancing contra in the UK and US for 25 years, and calling contras across the UK for nearly that long. He calls new and traditional dances from across the world with clarity, enthusiasm and a hint of mischief.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1649940292694547

03/23/2026

Contra Sutra are coming (back) to the UK in May!
And Marni (part of the group who started Contrabridge) will be arriving a little ahead of Dave and Ben, to play for us in April.

We haven't updated here in quite a while, but we have a lot of fun things coming up this spring and summer to tell you about!

First, we're going back to England!

Before the rest of the band arrives, Marni will play the 25 April Contrabridge dance in Cambridge with Alan of Contrasaurus and Vic of Bearded Dragons, Adam Hughes calling.
https://contrabridge.org/events/2026-04/

When Dave Bartley and Ben Schreiber arrive, Contra Sutra will head to May Hey Days at Evesham May 1-4 - come spend the early May Bank Holiday weekend with us there!
mayheydays.org.uk
https://www.facebook.com/share/1AwgupG9uM/

Then we will return to the Friday Alcester Contra https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1XZXgd7ZGP/, Saturday
London Barndance Contra, and Sunday afternoon Englefield Green Contra https://www.ashfordfolkdancers.org.uk/contra_dances/ the weekend of May 8-10 with Diane Silver calling.

After that, what else but on to Halsway Manor for the 🎻 Spring American Contra 🎻 Week, Mon 11 - Fri 15 May, 2026, again with Diane Silver. https://www.halswaymanor.org.uk/event/american-contra-2026

And to wrap up this tour, we'll all head to Bristol for their contra the evening of Friday 15 May before going our separate ways for a bit. https://www.facebook.com/events/1171371544908197
https://bristolcontra.wordpress.com/

We're super excited to return to the UK and see friends old and new there!

(and looking ahead, Marni will be at NM FolkMADS with Karina Wilson and Debbie Jackson over Memorial Day Weekend, and then Contra Sutra reunites at Lady of the Lake June Week, June 21-27.)

03/14/2026

Meet our band for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 21st March, Stomping Ground.

Stomping Ground is a new Sheffield-based contra combination comprising Ian Roberts on melodeons and feet, Matt Quinn on tenor banjo and Charley Roberts on piano. Their mission is simple - deliver joyful, solid dance tunes that put a smile on your face and a beat in your feet. The name evokes that satisfying sound of the dancers' feet decisively hitting the floor in sync - a sure sign that the trio of dancers, musicians and caller is working together as one.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2587951461576230/

03/12/2026

Meet our caller for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 21st March, Rob Humphrey.

Rob Humphrey has been attending folk dance events his whole life, but only discovered Contra dances in 2015 when one happened to follow a handstand class he was attending. He was hooked pretty much immediately, and started calling shortly afterwards. Based in Cambridge, Rob enjoys contra dances with pleasing patterns and unusual geometry that flow and provide opportunities for embellishments.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/2587951461576230/

02/14/2026

Meet our band for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 21st February, Box of Frogs:

Two of the most exciting players on the Contra dance scene. With creative, colourful accordion player Ali Messer (Blue Mountain, Alterations, Fat Harry, Fiddle Chicks) and high energy fiddling from Linda Game (ECDB, Token Women) expect an evening of fabulous dance music. Box the gnat and swat the flea, but can you spot the frog?

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1431995005244102

02/11/2026

Meet our caller for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 21st February, Andrew Swaine:

Andrew is one of the country's leading callers, for whom contra dancing is a passion. He started calling in Cambridge when a student just before the millennium, and turned his hand to contra shortly after as a wave of great English contra bands was beginning. Since then he's called at events and festivals all over the place and written some contra dances that push the boundaries of what defines a contra dance. He aims to give a programme that balances giving every dancer a great experience while showcasing the variety of choreography in contra dancing, as well as including the occasional square.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1431995005244102

01/24/2026

Meet our caller for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 31st January:

Lisa is a folk dance caller who started off in the ceilidh scene, but has a wide repertoire of different styles. Having learned to call through Cat's Calling Academy and Sheffield Ceilidhsoc she went on to co-found Bristol Contra. She now lives in Warwickshire and calls at a range of events across the country, specialising in inclusive dances for beginners.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1102538821930205

01/17/2026

Meet our band for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 31st Jan:

Contrary Faeries arise from Sheffield to delight, entrance, and enthral! Sol Loreto-Miller on piano and Joshua Rowe on fiddle will whisk you away to a world where you can dance forever and forget your troubles, your home, and the life you lived before.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/1102538821930205

01/04/2026

Was "Dance More!" in your New Year's resolutions? Our plan for 2026 is nearly good to go, and it is looking great!

11/25/2025

Meet our band for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 29th Nov:

Trip Hazard are Colm (misc hitty things), James (misc squeezy things), Robin (misc blowy things) and Caro (misc things) — a new and exciting bunch of experienced dance musicians with altogether too many instruments. They play tunes, but only the good ones.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/833475799102307

11/22/2025

Meet our caller for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 29th Nov:

Adam Hughes has been dancing contra in the UK and US for 25 years, and calling contras across the UK for nearly that long. He calls new and traditional dances from across the world with clarity, enthusiasm and a hint of mischief.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/833475799102307

10/13/2025

Meet our caller for our Contrabridge dance on Sat 18th October:

Jack has grown up dancing at folk festivals and started calling whilst at Bristol University. With over five years of calling ceilidh and contra dances under his belt, he brings energy, clarity, and a deep love for traditional dance to every event.

Event info: https://www.facebook.com/events/791907870307032