New Folk in the Colne Valley 🦌🌿✨

Red Deer Club is a grassroots music promoter based in the Colne Valley, West Yorkshire, dedicated to championing folk, acoustic, and experimental music. Founded and curated by Duncan Sime, Red Deer Club platforms emerging and established artists in forward-thinking, authentic and accessible community-focused events.

Since September 2023, Red Deer has hosted intimate live music nights at their ‘spiritual home’ of Zapato Tap (Marsden), The Northern Quarter (Huddersfield), Slaithwaite Civic Hall, and at festivals across the region. Our events foster close connections between artists and listeners and seek to push the boundaries of what folk can be. We are committed to platforming diverse voices, supporting underrepresented artists, and nurturing local talent through our collaborative programme and hosted gatherings.

Our ethos is rooted in inclusivity, sustainability, and community engagement. We are working to expand our work in 2026 with multi-venue micro-festivals to bring our mix of music, arts and storytelling to bigger audiences, and to establish the Colne Valley as a vibrant hub in the UK folk calendar.

Long live the new folk.

Red Deer Club: Manchester Roots (2005–2015)

Red Deer Club began life in 2005 as a grassroots live music night in the upstairs room of a vegetarian café in South Manchester. Founded by Duncan Sime, it quickly became a vital part of the city’s independent music scene, riding the wave of the “Nu Folk” movement and offering a platform for experimental, acoustic, and genre-defying artists.

Throughout its first decade, Red Deer Club was known for its eclectic programming and intimate atmosphere, hosting both local talent and international acts. It became a hub for musical discovery, community connection, and artistic collaboration. The club’s ethos was rooted in authenticity, inclusivity, and a DIY spirit that resonated with Manchester’s creative underground.

Red Deer Club also operated as a boutique record label, releasing music from artists such as Stealing Sheep, Songs for Walter, George Thomas and the Owls, Sara Lowes, and Paddy Steer. These releases showcased a broad spectrum of folk, experimental, and lo-fi sounds, contributing to Manchester’s reputation as a city of musical innovation.

By 2015, Red Deer Club had become synonymous with a particular kind of warm, welcoming, and forward-thinking folk culture. Its legacy in Manchester laid the foundation for its later evolution in West Yorkshire, where it continues to thrive.

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https://www.patreon.com/cw/RedDeerClub