abylon Lane is a group of shapenote singers which was founded in 1997 by Steve Fletcher and Sheila Girling Macadam.

They led the shapenote workshops at the Sidmouth FolkWeek in August 2007 and 2008, with a repeat performance at the Saturday 'Start the Week' concert in the Parish Church, as part of FolkWeek in the Church.  Babylon Lane will be appearing at the Rhythms of the World Festival in Hitchin on 5 July, and leading the shapenote workshop at Warwick Folk Festival on 26 July. They are back for Sidmouth FolkWeek 2009 in August, this time in the Methodist Church.

Members of the group have been singing shapenote music for more than 20 years, both in the UK and in the USA. Steve and Sheila have both taught singing schools in the UK, and Edwin and Tony  also lead West Gallery quires in Warwickshire (Immanuel's Ground), and Kent (The Marsh Warblers)  respectively. They are joined this year for some performances by Lin Cawthorne, of Cuckoo Oak and the John Moore Quire. All belong to the West Gallery Music Association.

Babylon Lane offer workshops in shapenote music, using material from;

the 1991 edition of The Sacred Harp,
the 1998 edition of Northern Harmony, and
Norumbega Harmony, 2005,
as well as contemporary compositions in the genre by English writers.  

There is no charge for these workshops to community groups, although a contribution to travel expenses, and overnight accommodation when necessary, would be welcome.  Babylon Lane also offer workshops and singing schools to traditional folk festivals, and other musical and educational organisations on a negotiable basis, to include travel and other expenses.

For further information on shapenote singing in the UK please visit the UK Shapenote website.

For Babylon Lane workshop enquiries please contact either Sheila Girling Macadam or Steve Fletcher.

( NB. Please substitute @  for -at- in the email addresses.)