The Gaslamp

The increasingly popular Manchester folk night features performances from local and international artists – as well as free cake.

Folk singer Elin Rossiter was fed up with not being able to get a good gig around town, so she decided to just put her own night on. The result of her determination is  The Folk Cellar, an acoustic night which runs every month amongst the intimate, tiled walls of The Gaslamp. The bar’s previous manifestation as the kitchens of a street children’s mission may go some way in explaining its accommodating nature and is something The Folk Cellar contributes to with its laid back celebration of acoustic music.

Rossiter was drawn to the Bridge Street bar after staging an album launch there. “The Gaslamp had such a nice atmosphere that I decided to start The Folk Cellar and put on acts that I enjoyed,” she explains. “The audience has always been so good and so attentive to the people playing here.” Each month, Rossiter invites guest to play alongside her resident set, with previous performances from Armenian folk band, The Rubber Duck Orchestra and Dr. Butler’s Hat Stand Medicine Band. Since starting in October, every one of the Folk Cellar’s nights has been a full house and can sometimes be standing room only.

The term “folk” is used in a broad sense when choosing acts

This month featured classical Spanish and Italian pieces from Mosaic Guitar Duo, who met as students at the Royal Northern College of Music and Bolton guitarist, Danny Throwing Pandas Liptrott. Rossiter uses the term “folk” in a broad sense when choosing her acts and hopes to please both her regulars and the ever-increasing number of new audience members. Music aside, The Folk Cellar is free entry and even provides free cake (this month’s was Peach Melba) – now that’s got to be worth checking out a bit of live acoustic music for hasn’t it?