people in kitchen with logo

Bluebell Roots in The Kitchen
with special guests and floor spots
Hosted by Milton Hide

6.15pm (arrive from 6)

Live music in the kitchen. Booking essential
Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen, Bates Green Farm,
Tye Hill Road,  Arlington, Polegate, East Sussex, BN26 6SH. UK. 

NOTE – We have made a change for 2025 – we will be changing our regular day to the FIRST Sunday of every month, but we’ll have a month off in January.

We are licensed as Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen, Arlington, Polegate, Bates Green Farm, BN26 6SH UK – Live Music Venue

Coming up in 2024

Jan 28 – Gabriel Moreno watch video

Feb 25 – Daria Kulesh Watch Video

March 31 – MG Boulter 

April 28 – Johnny Campbell 

May 26 – Natalie Holmes 

June 30 – The Browns 

July 28 – The Long Shorts

August 25 – NO BLUEBELL ROOTS

Sept 29 –  Self Help Group Watch on Youtube  

Oct 27 –  Two’s Company 

Nov 24 –  Steve Pledger 

Dec29  –  A Bluebell Roots Twixmas Celebration BOOK

Podcast

The Bluebell Notes Podcast, a partner podcast to our popular live events. LISTEN FREE TO ALL EPISODES ON MIXCLOUD.
We love live music, food and friends so the podcast features convivial chat, live music recorded at our events, artist interviews and food chat amongst other things. Recorded after each monthly event and hosted by Jim Tipler, Jo Church and Neil Povey, we aim to offer a little behind the scenes insight into the grass roots music scene with material that everyone will enjoy.

Your regular co-hosts, Milton Hide will join Neil Povey, your MC to kick the evening off and send you home with a song at the end of the evening. There will also be wonderful floor performers. (Please email info@bluebellroots.co.uk if you would like to play)

A FEW THINGS TO NOTE:

  • Arrive by 6.15
  • This is a Pass The Hat event. In other words – there isn’t a ticket price, but we do expect a generous donation. We suggest a donation of £12 per person. Having said that, to avoid our events becoming elitist, our ethos has always been ‘pay what you can afford’. Please bring cash on the night.
  • There will be food available (please make sure you give us food preferences for each guest), or you can bring your own snacks
  • Space is limited and when seats are booked, sadly we simply cannot squeeze more people in. Limited to 4 seats per order.
  • BRING YOUR OWN DRINK – THERE IS NO BAR!! – and take your empties home

Donate to the Bluebell roots kitty

donate saucepan

LOCKDOWN SESSIONS

During lockdown we were broadcasting Live-streamed sessions on every last Sunday were while we couldn’t be in the kitchen.
You can watch past lockdown Bluebell Roots shows on YOUTUBE

Blubell roots youtube screen shot

Watch past online events

2021 Live-Streamed Open Mic sessions

We aren’t featuring a particular performer during our live-streams – it will be more like an open floor session. We have arranged for a few regulars and past performers to drop in. Get in touch if you’d like to drop in and we’ll get you on if there’s space.

MONEY!!
OK, there are costs involved in streaming this and we need to build up our funds again to book artists to play in person in the future. We have exhausted the money we had in the kitty, so, just as per our regular Bluebell Roots evening, we will be shaking a saucepan for contributions.
Obviously if you cannot afford to contribute, you are still very welcome – that has always been the way we work.

We are certainly hoping to be back in the actual Bluebell Kitchen as soon as we safely can and look forward to seeing you then.
Neil and Jim and Josie (Milton Hide) and Jade will be hosting, with Milton Hide kicking off the music as always.

Bluebell Roots – Music in the Kitchen page!

Donate to the Bluebell roots kitty

donate saucepan

Diary of past events

2023

JANUARY 29th – The Gillies www.thegilliesmusic.com

FEBRUARY 26th – Chris Fox www.chrisfoxmusic.org

MARCH 26th – Tim Hoyte timhoyte1.bandcamp.com

APRIL 30th – The Last Inklings www.thelastinklings.co.uk

MAY 28th – Alfonso The Magnificent alfonsothemagnificent.co.uk

JUNE 25th – Jason McNiff www.jasonmcniff.com

JULY 30th – Ceol na Mara www.ceolnamara.band

AUGUST 13th – Dandelion Charm www.dandelioncharm.com
NOTE: part of Summer Trifle Festival

(SEPTEMBER 13th – Hailsham Festival special – An Evening with Milton Hide) hailshamfestival.co.uk Not your usual Bluebell Roots night.

OCTOBER 1st – Bruce Watson www.brucewatsonmusic.com

OCTOBER 29th – The Long Hill Ramblers longhillramblers.com

NOVEMBER 26th – Mal McWatt malcolmmacwatt.bandcamp.com/music

DECEMBER 17th – Bluebell Roots Christmas Special

2022

December 18h – Milton Hide Christmas Special.

November 27th – Dan Raza

October 30th – Eva Abraham 

September 25th – Nigel Horn 

August 28th – Friction Farm 

July 31st – Benita Johnson

June 26th – Hatful Of Rain 

May 29th – Marylin Thomas and Ian Cairns 

April 24th – Ian Roland and Simon Yapp 

March 27th – Paul McClure

February 27th – Rodney Brannigan

January 30th – Danny Goring

2021

December 19th – Milton Hide and Friends, A Bluebell Roots Christmas. 6.30pm in the kitchen. LFT requested. TICKETS

November 28th – Kev Minney. 6.30pm in the kitchen. LFT requested. TICKETS

October 31st – Jamie Freeman. 6.30pm in the kitchen. LFT requested.

September 26th – Paul McClure – postponed until 2022

August 29th – Cheer up Mollys. 6.30pm In the woods / barn

July 25th – Daria Kulesh. 6.30pm.In the woods / barn

June 27th – Ben Morgan Brown. 6.30pm In the woods / barn

May 30th – 6.30pm in the woods!

April 25th – 7.30pm Live-streamed open mic

March 28 – 7.30pm Live-streamed open mic

FEB 28 – 7.30pm Live-streamed open mic

JAN 26 – 7.30pm Live-streamed open mic

kitchen at Bates Green
donate saucepan

Past News

58/60 – Bluebell Roots, 28/7/24

58/60 – Bluebell Roots, 28/7/24

It was a scamper to get ready to leave for Bluebell Roots, having got back from Bridport at 4.30pm. But we know what a lovely evening we'll have...

53/60 – Bluebell Roots, 30/6/24

53/60 – Bluebell Roots, 30/6/24

Bluebell Roots with The Browns. Jim arrived early at the Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen to set up while I stayed at home to sort out our spare room as...

43/60 – Bluebell Roots April

43/60 – Bluebell Roots April

with special guest Johnny Campbell. 28th April 2024 at the Bluebell Kitchen. This session was pretty well attended with some regulars who hadn't...

Bluebell Roots Hall of Fame

Mark by Neil Povey

2020 Pandemic sessions

Dec 28th
ELSTOAF session

Nov 29th
Live on Facebook and Youtube

Oct 25th
Live on Facebook and Youtube

Sept 27th
Live on Facebook and Youtube

Aug 30th
live on Facebook from the Bluebell Woods

July 26
live on Facebook from the Bluebell Woods

June 28 7.30pm
Live on Facebook and Youtube

May 31 7.30pm
Live online – Paul McClure, the Rutland Troubadour

APR 26 7.30pm
Facebook Live event on Facebook

MAR 29
Cheer Up Mollys – Postponed
Facebook Live event instead 7.30pm on Facebook

2020

FEB 23
Minnie Birch & Robert Lane

JAN 26
SOLD OUT! Hatful of Rain

Harp in the kitchen

2019

DEC 29
Dan Searle and King Size Slim

NOV 24
Oliver Cherer and Grant Sharkey

OCT 27
Arcelia

SEP 29
Toontones

AUG 25
Jeremiah Longshanks and The Purple Shoes

JUL 28
Ellie Ford

JUN 30
Terry Lees and Hickory Signals

MAY 26
The Self Help Group and Mike Reinstein

APR 28
Dandelion Charm and John Forrester

MAR 31
Pemberton Smith

FEB 24
Bev Lee Harling and Jamie Freeman

JAN 27
The Kimberleys and Kevin Minney. 1 Year of Bluebell Roots

guitar by Neil Povey

2018

DEC 30
SOLD OUT – Lily Ramona and Milton Hide. New Year’s Eve’s Eve

NOV 25
Christine Heartsong and Bernard Hoskin

OCT 28
Cracks in the Land and Folk in Adur

SEP 30
Oliver Hall and Moltenamba Trio

AUG 26
Andy Melrose and Judy Granville

JUL 29
Grant Sharkey and King Size Slim

JUN 24
Ian Roland, Charlie Tipler and Milton Hide

MAY 27
Luna, Night House & guest host Kevin Barber

APR 29
Hickory Signals and Self Help Group (Solo)

MAR 25
Mike Reinstein and Trevor Moss

FEB 25
Jamie Freeman and Chalk Horse Music

JAN 21
Bluebell Roots launch night! Dave Beckett and Swan Steps

cooking - neil povey
Minnie Birch and Robert Lane - Neil Povey
Hands - Neil Povey
Mark in the kitchen
Singing in the kitchen

About Bluebell Roots

Folk, Blues, Acoustic and other music in the Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen in Arlington, hosted by Milton Hide and Hailsham FM’s Neil Povey.
The evening features 1 or 2 invited guest acts plus an “open floor” session.

We are delighted that this event has become known for its listening and respectful audience. It’s a rare thing to find a venue without a bar, a noisy coffee machine and a constant chatter.

The FIRST Sunday of EVERY month (except January), 6.00 for 6.15pm

BOOKING ESSENTIAL

An optional meal, prepared by Philippa and Michael Vine, is served half way through the evening – if you wish to eat you must reserve you seat at the table.
If you wish to perform in the ‘open floor’ session, please book in advance.

FAQs

How much are tickets for the evening?

We don’t charge for tickets but the music is not free – we take a collection during the evening for the music. If having food, you order in advance and pay Philippa on the night – presently £12.50 per person.
We want everyone to be able to come along and enjoy the evening so simply ask you to donate what you can afford for the music – we recommend a £12 donation per person, which goes towards paying invited guest performers.  If you are able to give more, that is great. We prefer cash so we can give it to the performers but you can pay online using the link above if you forget to bring cash.

Do I have to book?

Yes – you need to book in advance. Booking opens 2 weeks before the event. See the link at the top of the page.
You can come along just to listen to the music or you can book a place at the table for a meal. The meal generally costs £12.50 per portion and is payable on the night.
Only those who have booked a seat at the table will be guaranteed a meal.

What time should I arrive?

The evening starts at 6.15pm sharp. Please do not arrive before 6pm. The evening usually ends at about 9.30 / 10pm and we ask you to wait until the end before leaving to avoid disturbing performers and audience.

Is there a bar?

No, please bring your own drinks and glasses and take your empties home at the end of the night..

Who are the organisers?

Bluebell Roots is run by Jim Tipler and Jo Church of Milton Hide and Neil Povey of Hailsham FM. They run the event on a voluntary basis.
The food is prepared by Philippa and Michael Vine of the Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen

Do you have a PRS music licence?

Yes we are licensed as Bluebell Farmhouse Kitchen, Arlington, Polegate, Bates Green Farm, BN26 6SH UK – Live Music Venue

 

How do I get to play a Floor Spot?

What we are attempting to do with Bluebell Roots is to create an evening where everyone feels part of proceedings. And it works! The floor spots are an opportunity for you to play to a listening, attentive audience which is quite a rare thing! You also get to share the stage with other great performers.

We don’t think it’s fair for people to perform just one item and we don’t want people to make a potentially wasted journey – driving out to us to find there isn’t time to include them – so we now ask you to reserve your slot a couple of days before the event. This won’t be on a strict first come first served basis though as we want to try and avoid becoming too cliquey, so please do understand if you are a regular and we ask you to relinquish your reservation (in advance).

We do not pay floor spot performers – if you would like to be paid to perform, please ask us about being an invited guest performer (see below).

How do you book the invited guest performers?

Many of our guest performers have contacted us to ask if they can play a guest slot, sometimes we contact someone that has been recommended to us or that we have seen. Our policy is to arrange the programme for the following 6 months in September and January. [We are fully booked for 2024 but if you are interested in playing in 2025 please CONTACT US at the beginning of September 2024.]

The evening starts at 6.15 with an hour of floor spots then a break for a meal. The guest slot starts from about 8.30 and lasts between 45 minutes and 1 hour.

Our invited guests receive the donations collected during the evening less a small amount we take out for expenses and PRS licence fee. Audience sizes vary (mostly between 25 and 40 people) so the amount in the collection cannot be guaranteed. Philippa provides a meal (either eat in the interval just before you play or wait to eat at the end of the evening) and we provide drinks and a lift to/from the local station if needed. If you are coming some distance we may be able to arrange somewhere to sleep for the night.

 

donate saucepan