If you’re searching for trad music in London, you might expect to find it in a dedicated music venue or specialist Irish bar. But some of the best traditional music experiences still happen somewhere much simpler: the local pub.
At Skehan’s in Nunhead, traditional music is part of the life of the pub. Musicians come together to play, listen and share songs, while customers can enjoy the music without needing to buy a ticket or attend a formal concert.
With a regular Tuesday Trad Session and Sunday Folk Sessions, Skehan’s is keeping a tradition of informal live music alive in South East London.
Why Does Trad Music Still Belong in the Local Pub?
Traditional music has always had a strong connection with community.
Unlike a conventional concert, a pub session doesn’t necessarily have a performer standing apart from the audience. Musicians can sit together, listen to one another and join in when they know a tune or song.
That creates a very different atmosphere.
The music is shared rather than simply performed.
For audiences, that means you can walk into a pub without knowing exactly what you are going to hear. For musicians, it provides an opportunity to play alongside other people and keep traditional songs and tunes in circulation.
That sense of participation is one reason the local pub remains such an important home for trad music.
Trad Music London: What Happens at Skehan’s?
Skehan’s has regular traditional music sessions as part of its wider programme of live music.
The Tuesday Trad Session brings musicians together for an evening of traditional music, while the Sunday Folk Sessions provide another opportunity to hear and enjoy traditional Irish and English folk music.
These aren’t formal concerts.
They are part of the atmosphere of the pub.
Musicians play together, customers listen, and the evening develops naturally around the music.
That informality is an important part of the appeal.
Irish Music London: Keeping the Tradition Social
When people search for Irish music in London, they may be looking for anything from a live Irish band to traditional songs and instrumental sessions.
There is an important distinction between simply hearing Irish music and experiencing the social tradition around it.
At a traditional session, the interaction between musicians matters just as much as the individual performance.
Someone might start a tune, another musician recognises it and joins in, and the session develops from there.
That is the kind of environment that has traditionally allowed music to pass between generations and between musicians.
Skehan’s provides that environment in a South East London neighbourhood rather than requiring people to travel into central London.
Irish and English Folk Music at Skehan’s
Although Irish traditional music is an important part of the pub’s identity, Skehan’s also embraces English folk music.
The Sunday Folk Sessions provide space for different styles of traditional music to come together.
This is one of the reasons the sessions feel like more than a themed music night.
The emphasis is on musicians playing together and people enjoying the music in a relaxed pub environment.
For anyone interested in traditional music, that can be much more rewarding than simply watching a scheduled performance.
What Makes a Pub Session Different From a Gig?
A gig has a clear beginning and end. There is usually a stage, a performer and an audience.
A traditional session is much less formal.
The musicians are often part of the room rather than separated from it. Customers can listen while having a drink, chatting with friends or simply enjoying the atmosphere.
There’s also no expectation that every moment has to be perfectly polished.
That’s part of the charm.
Traditional music has always evolved through people playing together, learning from one another and bringing their own interpretation to familiar tunes and songs.
A local pub is an ideal environment for that to happen.
From Sheeran to Skehan’s: When Aaron Rowe Stayed for the Trad
A recent secret appearance at Skehan’s provided a particularly good example of how the pub’s different sides can come together.
Irish singer-songwriter and musician Aaron Rowe made a surprise appearance at the pub, performing a set for customers before the evening moved on to its traditional music.
What happened afterwards was perhaps even more fitting for Skehan’s.
Rather than heading straight off after his own performance, Aaron stayed at the pub and enjoyed the trad music that followed. He also spent time chatting with people in the pub.
It’s a lovely illustration of what makes a local music session different.
A musician who had just performed didn’t simply leave when his own set finished. He stayed because there was more music to enjoy and people to spend time with.
From Sheeran to Skehan’s, it was quite a change of setting – but the evening still centred around music and the community around it.
Why Are Local Pubs Important for Traditional Music?
Traditional music needs places where people can actually play it.
Dedicated music venues are important, but they aren’t the only places where musical traditions survive.
Local pubs provide something different: regularity.
A musician can return to the same session week after week. Other musicians can become familiar faces. Customers get to know the music. New players can become part of the group.
Over time, the session becomes part of the identity of the pub.
That’s particularly valuable in a city as large as London, where neighbourhood communities can otherwise become disconnected.
Looking for Trad Music in London?
If you’re looking for trad music in London, Skehan’s offers something more authentic than simply attending a one-off themed music night.
The Tuesday Trad Session and Sunday Folk Sessions are part of the pub’s regular life, bringing musicians and customers together in an informal setting.
You don’t need to be a musician to enjoy it.
Come along, have a drink, listen to the music and experience one of the ways traditional music continues to thrive in a modern South East London neighbourhood.
And if Aaron Rowe can finish his own set and decide to stay for the trad session, that’s probably a pretty good recommendation.
FAQs
Where can I hear trad music in London?
Skehan’s in Nunhead hosts regular traditional music, including a Tuesday Trad Session and Sunday Folk Sessions featuring Irish and English folk music.
What is a traditional music session?
A traditional music session is an informal gathering where musicians play traditional songs and tunes together. Unlike a conventional concert, there may be no formal stage or setlist, and musicians can join in and respond to one another.
Does Skehan’s have Irish music?
Yes. Traditional Irish music is an important part of the live music programme at Skehan’s, alongside English folk music and other live performances.
When is the trad music at Skehan’s?
Skehan’s has a Tuesday Trad Session as well as Sunday Folk Sessions. It’s worth checking the pub’s current music schedule before travelling, as individual events can change.
Is the traditional music suitable for people who aren’t musicians?
Absolutely. The sessions are for anyone who enjoys traditional music. You can simply come along, have a drink and listen.
Did Aaron Rowe stay for the traditional music at Skehan’s?
Yes. After his surprise performance at Skehan’s, Aaron Rowe stayed at the pub to enjoy the traditional music that followed and spent time chatting with people there.