After the success of our sell-out first night back in April, Bristol Song Circle returns to Rough Trade this summer. In a seated and cosy setting, songs will be stripped-back and shared, with the stories of how they were written woven in between. It is the sound of songwriters talking shop, swapping ideas, and keeping the troubadour spirit alive.

James Walsh will be bringing his deeply personal, emotionally resonant songwriting to the stage. As frontman of Starsailor, he rose to prominence in the early 2000s with a run of acclaimed releases, including their Platinum-selling debut Love Is Here, and a string of hit singles. That success forms the backdrop to Walsh’s solo work, which takes a more intimate, stripped-back approach. His recent album It’s All Happening, draws on a range of inspirations while retaining the emotional directness that has long defined his songwriting -making this an opportunity to experience his music in its most immediate form.

Melody Pool joins us all the way from Australia. Returning in 2025 with her long-awaited album Our Eternal Garden, she channels grief, healing, and curiosity into a body of work that expands her distinctive psychedelic-folk sound. With songs that feel both intimate and exploratory, her performance offers a rare chance to experience this new chapter up close.

As well as a third artist to be confirmed shortly, we will also be welcoming Thaime. A talented singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist from BIMM Bristol, they channel dark grooves, tangy strums, emotional awareness, and soft vocals, into an alternative folk style inspired by artists such as Bon Iver, Saya Gray, and Mac DeMarco. 

Think of it as wandering into a private jam session, pulling up a chair, and staying a whole lot longer than planned.