The Yardarm Folk Orchestra is a community-oriented organisation in south Essex, UK, playing British and international folk music throughout the region, often at community, charity or other fundraising events.

We've played at the Leigh Folk Festival and the Tenterden Folk Festival in Kent as well as at other high profile events in Sussex, Essex, Kent and London including spots at the Cliffs Pavilion, Southend and the London Palladium.

The full orchestra currently has about sixty members.

There are three specialised groups within the orchestra:

- The Russian Folk has six members and plays Russian Folk Music. It is led by Malcolm Reid and Cathy Haines - (see the menu at left).

- The Yardarm Ceilidh Band with seven members plays for ceilidhs and barn dances - with a caller if required. Callers are independent of the orchestra and often are paid a fee for their services. The Yardarm Ceilidh band is led by Graham Byde.

- Katjama, (pronounced Kat-yar-ma) has four members, accordion, violin, clarinet and percussion and plays Klezmer and eastern European folk and gipsy music.

We want to bring folk music to as many people as possible, either as audience members or by involving them as participants. We welcome new players and encourage beginners and all levels of skill. There is a place for everyone who can play an instrument to some degree and who is prepared to join in and have some fun developing their potential.

Young people are very welcome but for legal reasons we do have to ask that under sixteens have a parent, guardian or other responsible adult with them at ALL times. We do not set ourselves up as music teachers, but we do provide advice, coaching and support - and then the rest is up to the individual!

We are a very friendly group of people and we will make sure that you feel welcome. There is lots of help for beginners and for those just lacking in a little confidence! Most types of instruments will be suitable for a folk orchestra. We also have a group of supporting members and helpers and you are guaranteed not to feel 'out of place'.