MERRY HELL is a band founded on the ever evolving Folk tradition – music made by the people and shared by the people. Though our hearts and souls are tuned to the songs which came before us, we bring you new words and music forged from our own experiences, from the lows and the loves of our lives. Our art is energy and our hope is unity. Our pleasure is to please: let the audience be the acid test and let the music speak for itself...

Dates: 17th – 19th February 2017

Times: Friday 7.30pm – 10pm / Saturday 9.15am – 9.30pm / Sunday 10am – 5pm

Venue: The Music Projects, 830 Ormskirk Road, Pemberton, Wigan, Lancashire, WN5 8EX

Cost: £150 per person

Looking to treat that special creative person in your life, helping them release the inspiration within (it can be your good self)? Why not treat them to a songwriting masterclass weekend with members of Merry Hell? Feb 17th to 19th in Wigan!

Read more information here.

'We Need Each Other Now' - the new song from Merry Hell - a song for our times. This video was put together bysongwriter/ musician and broadcaster George Papavgeris after he received a promotional copy of the song. Not only was he moved to make the video but you can also see George and his band playing a version of the song a mere 2 days after first hearing it!
We hope you like the song and if you do and agree with the message, please feel free to share. It's from our new album 'Bloodlines' which will be out in October.

DELIGHTED and PROUD that 'Loving The Skin You're In' has been chosen as the Song Of Wigan Pride.

Merry Hell have only gone and been nominated for another award. Those fine folk at Folking.com have included the band in the Best Group category for the Folkies Awards, alongside some of the cream of the UK folk scene. This time it's a public vote, so anyone who wants to, please follow this link and vote Merry Hell. You know it makes sense (you have to go through the different categories to get to the Best Group!).

It was absolutely fantastic to win the Fatea Award for best group/duo yesterday - particularly given that a couple of years ago we were delighted to have been chosen as first support to Bellowhead and now being nominated in the same category as them is almost unbelievable. However, what has been particularly wonderful has been the response from our friends/fans who appear to have shared our delight who have been so quick to 'like' and 'share' our good news on Facebook. It all adds to our feeling that things are happening for Merry Hell and that this is because what we do actually strikes a real chord with the people who listen to our music and come to our gigs. Thanks again and onwards into 2016.

COMPETITION TIME
To celebrate the winning the best group category of the Fatea Awards and STARTING THE RECORDING OF THE NEXT ALBUM we are giving you the oppertunity to win a very rare Promo Cd of 4 tracks from the live DVD! Click here to find out how to enter.

A Concert for the Refugees - Tuesday 23rd February 2016
Come and join "Merry Hell", "Grateful Fred" and "The Good Intentions" for this acoustic concert in the lovely surroundings of The Nordic Church.
ALL proceeds will be donated to "Medicins Sans Frontiere" to help with their amazing work worldwide assisting refugees.
There will be raffles, food, "Merry Fred Ale" and refreshments. Or bring your own. (Subject to £1 corkage).
Concert doors open at 7.30pm but please come earlier to enjoy refreshments. The Nordic Church cafe' will be open well before the concert.
Click here to visit the venue website
Click here to visit the events facebook page
Click here to buy tickets
Click here to download the flyer

Song Writing with Bob, Recording with John

A message from Bob:
I'll be hosting 4 song writing 'workshops' on Saturdays 13th, 20th, 27th, Feb and 5th March. No previous musical experience is necessary – but if participants want to bring their instruments and ideas, that'll be welcomed. We'll be working in a group format. I'll demonstrate a method of writing a song which will be totally based on the group's own contributions. You'll then be able to use that technique to help with your own compositions in future.
After that, we'll record the song we've written together at John's
studio on Sunday 6th March (I'll also be there for that session).
I'll look forward to working with you. It should be fun.

Song writing workshops with Bob Kettle:
1pm – 3pm
Saturdays 13th, 20th and 27th February and 5th March

Recording session with John Kettle (full day in a professional studio):
Sunday, 6th March

The venue for the workshops and recording will be:
Pemberton Music Projects, 830 Ormskirk Road, Wigan WN5 8EX
Cost £100 (includes tuition, recording day and CD!)
To book your place, contact Healthy Arts:
07542 114383 contactus@healthyarts.org.uk