Helen Lindley

@helenlindley

Sings folk songs. Plays fiddle. Writes songs & tunes. Reviver of old songs (see Sing Yonder books & In The Roud podcast). Hear my music on Bandcamp & YouTube.

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Helen Lindley@helenlindley· 22d

Someone has been poking around in the wood workshop and is now laying down in the garden wearing a rather fetching cobweb hat and veil combo! 😂😂 #blackcat #cobwebs

Image shows our black cat who has been a total eejit by poking around in our wood workshop. His head and face is covered in cobwebs like some weird lace veil and he has gone outside into the garden to sit in the sun, complete with the aforementioned cobwebs still over his head and face. He has made no attempt to remove them and is trying to pretend they aren't there!

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· 24d

Exciting news! My next EP of unaccompanied singing of folk songs is available to download on Bandcamp from Friday. Just finalising the cover & pdf lyric sheet. This time the cover art is from an acrylic on board painting so I had to digitise it (which meant taking a very high res photo.) #folksong

Image shows part of a blue painting in the foreground. Behind is a computer screen with the digitised image of the blue artwork partially showing. Next to the screen is an empty beer glass and a blue and floral mug with the words, "I am not sure how but I will" printed on it. In the far background a piano keyboard is visible and some golden fairy lights.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· 25d

That's three more episodes recorded with @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social for the @intheroud.bsky.social this summer. One episide has already gone out (season 7, episide 2), and the other two will be out shortly. And like all episodes, it's available from the usual podcast provider. #InTheRoud #FolkSong

Image shows Matt Quinn and Helen Lindley recording episodes of the In The Roud folk song podcast.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Apr 6

A rubbish start to 2026. It's improving so I'm having an hour in the garden. In early Jan, husband Simon found a problem with one eye. Had emergency surgery to save the sight caused by a detached retina. Weeks of recovery and no driving. He's thankfully on the mend but by 'eck it's been stressful!

Image shows a garden on a sunny spring day. In the background there is a blue sky and trees beginning to bud by a fence. In the foreground is a book on Hildegard of Bingen by Fiona Maddocks and a mug of tea. The mug has the words, "I'm not sure how, but I will." printed on it. You can't see the cat as he's hiding near a hedge.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Apr 4

Great looking moon tonight *waves to the Artemis II crew* #moon #moonphotography #moonmission2026 #Lincolnshire

Image shows a night sky with an almost full moon showing through hazy clouds giving a pinky halo effect.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Mar 7

Massive congrats to Oscar's Room for winning Battle of the Bands last night at Woodys near Grantham and gaining a stage spot at the Summer Festival in June 2026. So proud of you Ryan, Oscar, Vee, and Ben. Blummin heck, you absolutely blew us all away with 2 amazing sets. #livemusic #woodlandwaters

Image shows the band Oscar's Room performing on stage at a Battle of the Bands competition - they won!

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Mar 7

Oops, another new acquisition in the instrumental department! I now have a lovely wooden Risa concert ukulele. Risa make some gorgeous ukes. I don’t know much about this one, other than she's a few years old and was made in Europe. (Just don't ask how many instruments I own 😂🤫) ##folkmusic #ukulele

Image shows a ukulele in the foreground, laying on its black gig bag. Behind it is a concertina, a fiddle, and a speaker with a microphone on top.

Image shows the label inside a Risa ukulele.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Feb 6

A bunch of musicians that both my daughter and son know are in a band called Oscar's Room. We popped along to watch them on Wednesday; they were really good. If you're local to Grantham, catch them at future gigs. It's great we have venues willing to support musicians, so thanks to The Blue Man pub.

Image shows a band of 4 teenagers performing on a stage on a pub. On has a bass guitar, one is singing into a microphone, another plays an electric guitar, and one is playing an electronic drum kit (as the stage is too small for a full size drum kit).

Black and white Image shows a band of 4 teenagers performing on a stage on a pub. On has a bass guitar, one is singing into a microphone, another plays an electric guitar, and one is playing an electronic drum kit (as the stage is too small for a full size drum kit).

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Jan 9

My brain's having one of its 're-live conversations I've had/messages I've sent' moments, which then results in my berating myself for any (often imagined) offence I've caused. Am I the only one who does this? 😫 Sometimes I think my brain dislikes me. So I'm going to try to drown it out with tunes.

Image shows an old fiddle on a stand with a bow. To the left is an audio speaker on which stands a microphone and some rosin.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Jan 9

From 1-31 Jan 2025 I decided to learn a new fiddle tune every day to increase my session repertoire. It helped a lot so I decided to do the same for 1-31 Jan 2026. Except it's far easier & quicker this time as I've played lots of sessions and noticed I've gotten massively better at sight reading!

Image shows some old fiddle tune books in the foreground with some black and orange headphones on top of them and an open laptop screen in the background with music notation software displaying on it.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 24

Last carol singing session of the year, this time outside our village church among its community-decorated trees. Then it was time to pop inside the church to drink mulled wine. #CarolSinging

Image shows a dusk community carol singing session outside the village church in Barrowby in Lincolnshire.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 23

One of my musician friends, who lives up the road from me in our village, is originally from Sheffield. He's realised that I sing Sheffield Carols so asked me to partner him to sing some in the pub last night. So we rehearsed them yesterday and did just that. An absolute privilege to perform them ❤️

Image shows a fiddle, a concertina and a ukulele on a table, along with a folder containing songs. There is a gaudy christmas tablecloth on the table that we really like for its sheer garish colours!

Image shows an acoustic guitar in a brown case and a part of a Busson Harmoniflute (a rare tabletop squeezebox from 1860s Paris).

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 21

Another fab time last night singing Christmas carols and songs, this time as part of a group of performers leading the singing in our village. We displayed the lyrics on a screen for everyone (controlled by our splendid new sound guy who did both sound desk and screen).

Image shows a bunch of 7 musicians and singers after a carol concert.

Image shows a bunch of 6 musicians and singers plus sound guy after a carol concert.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 21

How super hearing the truly wonderful @angelcakepie2.bsky.social on Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone on BBC 6 Music just now. A gorgeous voice and a lovely person ❤️

Image shows the BBC 6 Music page for Stuart Maconie's Freak Zone. The track playing is He Comes In The Night by Angeline Morrison.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 12

Another carol singing session completed. This one in my own village of Barrowby in Lincolnshire. Outside. And yes, it was cold. Very cold. Even with my big coat on! #Lincolnshire

Image shows a group of around 20 people are dressed in winter hats and coats. They are singing Christmas carols outside.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 12

A stunning night last night at Lincoln Castle Christmas illuminations. A really beautiful display at the castle (and Lincoln Cathedral looked fabulous too). #Lincolnshire

Image shows a winter tree lit by green lights. Next to it is a conical tree shape made of lights with a illuminated star on top. In the background is a castle wall and an illuminated doorway.

Image shows a huge white Christmas bauble shape illumated with white lights. 3 people are standing inside it.

Image shows the front of Lincoln Cathedral illumated woth cerise-coloured lights.

Image shows the grounds of Lincoln Castle with a variety of coloured Christmas illuminations around it.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 9

A fab night at our bi-monthly Singers' Night in my local pub. A couple of people snuck in some Sheffield Carols, and I intoduced the group to the song 'Boxing Day' by Robb Johnson. I've been asked to take my Sheffield Carols book next time (by those who grew up there!) so I'll expect much singing!

Image shows the White Swan pub in the village of Barrowby, Lincolnshire. It is taken at night so the sky is dark, although the outside of the pub is lit. The pub is a corner pub and a wet road and pavement glistens to the front and side. The downstairs pub windows appear to be purple and red because of Christmas lights inside the building.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 7

Had a magnificent afternoon singing Sheffield Carols for over 2 hours in Dungworth near Sheffield. These sessions really are special; singing together is a huge passion of mine and this village along with some of the people who come to sing here have played a huge part in my journey as a musician

Image shows Sheffield Carols being sung in Dungworth near Sheffield.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Dec 7

A glorious night of songs & friendship at Royal Trads. @magpielane-oxford.bsky.social were super (lovely to meet @audinarymusic.bsky.social in person after years of online chat!) Then hearty singing of Sheffield Carols, expertly(!) accompanied by @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social & @jonboden.bsky.social.

Image shows the folk band Magpie Lane performing at Royal Traditions folk club near Sheffield. The band are holding their instruments and standing next to a lit-up Christmas tree.

Image shows Matt Quinn and Jon Boden accompanying carol singing on Wheatstone Maccann Duet concertinas at Royal Traditions folk club. They are both dressed in black shirts. Jon also wears black jeans and Matt wears dark blue jeans. Jon is standing on one leg.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 29

No sooner is one folk song re-setting completed than it's time to start the next. And it comes with the exciting news that the current batch of rare/previously unrecorded #folksongs (some of which I've discussed on the @intheroud.bsky.social podcast) will be finding their way onto my next EP!

Image shows a pencil on some papers with blurry words. There is a drinks mug behind them.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 22

My very lovely friend @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social has a new episode of @intheroud.bsky.social podcast out. In S5/Ep6 I'm back chatting with him about another rare folk ballad, Lord Ingram & Chiel Wyet (Roud 46). I created a new version especially; get it from your usual podcast provider. #FolkMusic

Image shows the title page of the In the Roud podcast, season 5 - Episode 6. The writing say In The Roud, a folk song podcast with Helen Lindley.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 19

Another @intheroud.bsky.social recording with @mattquinnmusic.bsky.social completed (this might be linked with my previous post!). Out soon for you all to listen to! #InTheRoud #folksong #Podcast

Image shows Helen Lindley and Matt Quinn recording an episode of the In The Roud podcast. Helen is wearing a pink jacket and sits on the left of screen in front of a microphone whilst Matt, also in front of a microphone, wears a blue shirt and a set of over the ear headphones. Both have shelves of books behind them and Helen also has a fiddle, a concertina and a keyboard behind her.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 18

I finished writing/re-setting a folk ballad last night and recorded it today. This one was a request and one of the harder ones to complete. There were 5 historical text versions to consult and no known tune. After several lyric rewrites and similar number of melody revisions, it's done! #folkmusic

Image shows a laptop screen with a music recording programme on the display. There are visual soundwaves in blue against a black desktop.
The song was written by a real person with pen, paper, a voice, and occasionally a fiddle. Proudly none of that AI stuff got anywhere near it!

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 15

That was a wonderful night at Stamford Corn Exchange Theatre for The Wassail tour of @elizacarthy.bsky.social and @jonboden.bsky.social. Eliza reciting a Marriott Edgar monologue made me cry a little. But it was all brilliant and I recommend you see the tour if you can! More info at thewassail.com

Image shows a stage with 3 microphones at the front and 3 lit-up Christmas trees at the rear. There are also 3 fiddles, a guitar, a concertina, and 2 melodeons.

Image shows Eliza Carthy standing at the front of a stage with an arm outstretched. She was pretending to hypnotise the audience. Behind her is Jon Boden standing with a concertina in his hands.

Image shows Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden singing on a stage. Jon is holding a concertina. Behind Eliza is a Christmas tree.

Image shows Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden on a stage. Jon is playing a concertina and Eliza is playing fiddle. Behind Eliza are 2 Christmas trees.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 14

I finished the first draft of the latest folk song re-setting last week. Time for the second draft. And then there's the melody to compose, although thankfully I have some voice recordings saved on my phone of some suggestions. #folksong

Image shows a yellow pencil on a blank page of a A4 lined notepad. To the left, on a sheet of the same paper, are some partiall-obscured song lyrics. To the right is a blue cardboard folder.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 12

I am really loving this new album from @leveretband.bsky.social (@samsweeney.bsky.social @andycutting.bsky.social Rob Harbron). I recommend you buy it. Or add it to your Christmas list so someone buys it for you. leveretband.bandcamp.com/album/lost-m... #folkmusic

Image shows the new Leveret cd entitled Lost Measures. The cd cover shows a countryside theme.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 8

Not a bad little folk-related book haul from the charity shop! #books

Image shows 3 books on a wooden . On the left is a book entitled French Folk Songs and Carols; in the middle is a book entitled Five English Folk Song (R Vaughan Williams); on the right is a book entitled The Ballad of John Clare by Hugh Lupton.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Nov 4

It's that time of year again! Time to rehearse #ChristmasCarols. But even better is that this year I'll be able to sing them in my own village, here in Lincolnshire. It seems my years of travelling to the #Sheffield Carols will indeed serve me well! #CarolSinging 🎶

Image shows 4 books containing Christmas Carols with post-it page markers. The 4 books are The Sheffield Book of Village Carols, The Faber Book of Carols and Christmas Songs, The Oxford Book of Carols, and English Traditional Songs and Carols by Lucy Broadwood.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Oct 28

Morning!

Image shows 5 characters from the 1970s British TV kids' show, Bod.

Helen Lindley@helenlindley· Oct 25

Time to get back into the folk songwriting/resetting again as there's a deadline to meet! #FolkMusic