Baylis & Seal @ Crookes Folk Club
Schedule
Thu Jun 11 2026 at 08:30 pm to 11:30 pm
UTC+01:00Location
Crookes Folk Club, The Princess Royal, 43 Slinn Street, S10 1NW | Sheffield, EN
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A Crookes Folk Club presentation at The Princess Royal, 43 Slinn Street, Sheffield, S10 1NW.*TICKETING & DOOR POLICY*
Whilst we occasionally run ticketed Friday Night Specials, entry for our regular weekly Thursday club nights is on a first-come-first-served basis and unticketed and we do not take advanced seat bookings.
Entry for regular club nights is free, we pay our guests by way of a *CASH* collection. Whilst we understand that some simply haven't the means to make a contribution and absolutely DO NOT wish to exclude them, we expect those who can to make as generous a donation as they are able in recognition of our guest's work.
*PLEASE CHECK FOR UPDATES BEFORE SETTING OUT*
Life is full of unexpected ups and downs, illness, weather and other unexpected things can spoil the best made plans. We may sometimes have to change our guest at short notice, or even cancel an evening altogether. To avoid disappointment please re-visit the relevant night's event for updates *BEFORE* setting out.
*BAYLISS & SEAL
In an era saturated with highly produced, multi co-writer music, the raw, unvarnished artistry of a true singer-songwriter can feel like a breath of fresh air.
Joe Bayliss & Mike Seal are firmly planted in this esteemed tradition, delivering a collection of songs that are as introspective as they are universally relatable.
Bayliss possesses a vocal quality that is immediately captivating—a warm, slightly weathered timbre that conveys a depth of emotion without resorting to overt theatrics. There's an authenticity in his delivery, a sense that every lyric is pulled directly from lived experience. He navigates melodies with a gentle precision, allowing the natural ebb and flow of his voice to carry the narrative.
Mike Seal on upright bass, lays a strong foundation for Joe's melody, adding depth and richness. Precise rhythms and melodic insight create a backdrop that allows Joe's vocals and delicate guitar to truly bite through.
Where Joe truly shines is in his song writing. His lyrics are poetic yet grounded, painting vivid pictures with simple, evocative language. He delves into themes of love, loss, hope, and the quiet complexities of everyday life, often finding profound insights in the mundane. What stands out is his knack for storytelling; each song feels like a carefully constructed vignette, inviting the listener to step into his world.
Joe came to music very late in life. In his own words:
"the oldest 'new kid' on the block".
"Telling a story people can connect with is profoundly important in my music. However, it is the soundscape that truly initiates the process - a constant search for open chords, dissonance, resonance, and tension. From these musical foundations, an atmosphere emerges, that somehow seems to provide the trajectory that almost pre-writes the lyrics that follow."
Mike has worked as a musical director, composer, producer and engineer with many professional artists, and has performed over a thousand gigs across the world, playing on, more than 50 albums and writing over 300 songs. His experience has covered everything from Punk, Blues, Jazz, Ska, Country, Americana and Indie. As a player he seeks to ‘serve the song’ and to complement and extenuate the artists performance. He is Currently also performing with award winning, Blues artist - Sean Taylor and Americana duo - A Different Thread.
What others say:
"..If you're never heard Joe sing , then you should make the effort and go to one of his gigs, his soft mellow speaking voice transcends into his vocal performance, to soft, yet punctuated high tenor that's barely a whisper , but can be heard in the back of the room , and in contrast, his baritone - vibrato rich and full, resounds in your chest as you listen ...A headline act that can grace any venue in the country" - Birch & Stock folk club
"A wonderful vocalist and sensitive guitar player with original songs complimenting his style. His amiable chat between songs made it feel like a carpet had been placed on the stone floor! The audience went extra quiet during his set and he got loud applause for a lovely song about a homeless guy and a slightly quirky song about Rose Tyler from Dr.Who. Methinks he was in love with her..!" - Doug Armstrong - sofa sessions
"..possesses a great talent with a relaxing easy genre. Lovely vocals and well written songs ... Great musician and a fine man!" - Andy Plimmer - Chase Radio
"..confident, easy style ... with subjects drawn from life portrayed with feeling and uniqueness ... a welcome visitor to our club" - Will Morgan - Brewood Acoustic Club
Web: https://www.baylissandseal.com/
Facebook: whttps://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61584071529406
YouTube:- www.youtube.com/channel/UCtaUv4aH3vWCLMEpjcjWPqw
Bandcamp:- https://joebayliss.bandcamp.com/
Doors open 8:15, *PLEASE WAIT DOWNSTAIRS UNTIL CALLED*
Singers and musicians of all standards and styles are welcome to come along and do a short floor spot.
Free entry: Collection & raffle for guest.
Part of Crookes Folk Club's Spring 2026 Season: https://www.facebook.com/events/3214804152031849/3299447860234144/
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Where is it happening?
Crookes Folk Club, The Princess Royal, 43 Slinn Street, S10 1NW, 102 Bates Street, Sheffield, S10 1NQ, United KingdomEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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