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 2008, and 2009, again performing at the Saturday 'Start the Week' concert.  They are back for Sidmouth FolkWeek 2010 in August, probably in the Methodist Church, with a series of workshops to complement Tim Eriksen's special singing school.

Babylon Lane will also be returning to the Warwick Folk Festival on Sunday 25 July, to repeat their popular workshop of 2009, and the month before they will  be appearing at the Teignmouth Folk Festival, with workshops on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 June.

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. Ken Baddley and Lin Cawthorne have joined the group for some performances in previous years. 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.)