Playing at Cruden Bay Folk Club

If you’re planning a tour through Scotland—or simply looking for opportunities to share your music with a live audience—you may be wondering whether Cruden Bay Folk Club is the right fit. We believe in being open and clear about what we offer, so you can decide whether a visit to our club aligns with your expectations and goals.

An Intimate, Community-Focused Venue

Cruden Bay Folk Club meets on the last Friday of every month in the dining room of the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel. It’s a small, welcoming space with a capacity of around 50 people on a busy night, which is close to ideal for the room.

What we lack in size, we make up for in atmosphere. Our audiences are attentive, supportive, and genuinely interested in live music—whether that’s traditional folk, contemporary songwriting, or something in between.

Open-Mic at the Heart of What We Do

Our club runs on an open-mic format, and everyone is welcome to take part. Performers are typically invited to play two songs, giving a wide range of musicians the chance to be heard.

Depending on the number of performers on the night, there’s often the opportunity to return for an additional song or two later in the evening. This flexible format keeps the evenings varied, spontaneous, and inclusive.

What Touring Artists Should Know

We understand that touring musicians usually need paid bookings to make their journeys viable. It’s important to say upfront that we are not a paying venue.

• We do not charge admission
• Our only fundraising comes from a table raffle on the night
• As a result, we don’t operate a financial model that allows us to book and pay performers

We recognise that this won’t suit every act—and that’s completely understandable.

What We Can Offer

Despite these limitations, many touring artists have chosen to include Cruden Bay Folk Club in their schedules, and we do our best to make it worthwhile for them.

Where possible, we can offer:

• An extended featured set (typically around 40 minutes) within the evening
• A listening audience that values original material and live performance
• Help with accommodation and travel expenses
• A warm, informal setting that encourages connection and engagement

For some artists, this provides a useful and enjoyable stop between larger gigs—an opportunity to test new material, connect with a different audience, or simply experience a traditional folk club environment.

A Different Kind of Stop on the Circuit

Cruden Bay Folk Club isn’t a conventional tour date. It’s not a ticketed concert or a commercial venue. Instead, it’s a community-driven music night where performers and audience members share the same space and spirit.

If you’re looking for a high-fee booking, we may not be the right fit. But if you value:

• A supportive, listening audience
• An intimate performance setting
• The chance to be part of a grassroots music community

…then you may find playing here a rewarding and memorable experience.

You’re Always Welcome

Whether you’re passing through the north-east of Scotland or planning a wider tour, you’re very welcome to join us—either for a couple of songs at the open mic or, where possible, as one of our featured performers.

Cruden Bay Folk Club remains, above all, a place for sharing music. If that resonates with you, we’d love to hear from you. Just drop us an email: info@crudenbayfolkclub.co.uk, and we’ll see if we can work something out.