Starting out as an acoustic busking band in York nearly 20 years ago, Blackbeard’s Tea Party have evolved into a solid five-piece folk rock band whose live performances have included the legendary festivals of Glastonbury and Fairport’s Cropredy Convention. If you insist on your folk delivered in a traditional acoustic way complete with flat caps, then this may not the band for you. However, if you’re up for something a bit livelier, then check them out. We did, at The Bodega...
Blackbeard’s Tea Party comprise singer/melodeon player Stuart, fiddle player Laura, Paddy on bass, Ben on guitar and Dave on Drums. They have regularly released albums and EPs every few years since 2009, and their current tour is in celebration of the 10-year anniversary of their album Retrobates. The album is a mix of traditional tunes and original songs by chief song writer Stuart, that deals with a selection of immoral characters throughout English history. The themes may be a little dark, but the music is bursting with energy.
It’s all too easy to describe bands by comparing them to other, more well-known bands, but Blackbeard’s Tea Party aren’t really like any others I can think of. They are similar to some Celtic rock/punk bands, but they are very much ‘English Folk’ and the sounds they create are more varied than just folk done with electric guitars. There is a lot more going on. Some of it feels very traditional, yet other parts feel heavier with and some even have African and Cuban rhythm influences.
If it helps, imagine this: Andy Bell from 80’s pop sensation Erasure forms a band with Flea and Keith Richards. Flea is good mates with Animal from the Muppets and he agrees to play drums. Keith makes a pact with the devil to play a golden fiddle. They agree to play English folk songs and sea shanties, but with a fun filled rock edge to them. They also agree that Andy can wear his glitterball crash helmet as long as he writes a few good songs to get them started. If that band existed, it would probably sound like Blackbeard’s Tea Party.
The venue is starting to fill up nicely before the show starts, and it appears to be a broad mix of ages tonight. There are one or two people who I suspect may be traditional folk fans, but not a flat cap to be seen.
The support band tonight is an excellent choice – Common Culture, who describe themselves as "a rousing, fiddle driven alternative folk band". They come from Barnsley and comprise Dan – vocals and guitar, Lizzie – fiddle and vocals, Evie – bass and vocals and Chris on drums. Like Blackbeard’s Tea Party, they take onboard both traditional and modern influences. They also include three-part harmonies to create an upbeat and unique sound.
They released their debut single The Travelling Life in 2024 and their debut album is scheduled for release in the summer or 2026 and will feature collaborations with BBC 2 Folk award nominee Damian O’Kane and 14 times Grammy winner Ron Block. The band have been very active on the festival circuit, including a performance at DHP Family’s Bearded Theory Festival where they got rave reviews and will be returning this year along with appearing at a host of other festivals. I am not one for comparing bands, but sometimes it is useful, so I will say if you like the Levellers, then Common Culture are probably going to be your cup of tea.
The night kicks off when Common Culture take to the stage and, I’m sensing a little bit of nerves, but they are straight into Taking Hold followed by Facing a Storm. It is a solid start and is getting the crowd dancing from the very start.
You would not know the band have only been going since 2024. They are clearly individually very accomplished musicians and as a band are really tight. It is a polished performance from the start, and the crowd are full engaged with lots of singing along and enthusiastic dancing. Judging by the t-shirts in the crowd it looks like Common Culture have good following.
There is just something about Celtic folk inspired rock that just makes you want to dance. The use of the fiddle and the harmony signing is particularly effective. A highlight for me was the song Blind. Dan offers a pint to anyone in the crowd who can guess what the song is about. No-one can. This is not a surprise when we find out that it’s about a mole that has died from an LSD overdose! We only get six songs from the band and they finish with The Travelling Life to massive cheers and applause from the crowd. They clearly want more. What a great start to the night.
After a short break, our headliners take to the stage to tremendous cheer. It looks like Blackbeard’s Tea Party have a loyal following here in Nottingham. I’m not sure what the capacity at The Bodega is, but the venue looks pretty full, but with enough room for dancing which is perfect.
The set starts with Slave Chase, a traditional 18th century abolitionist song about a Royal Navy ship hunting down illegal slave traders but the song has been given the full Blackbeard treatment and is a powerful opener. This is swiftly followed by Devil in the Kitchen which is an infectious and lively instrumental which confirmed, if anyone has doubted, Laura Boston Barber’s exceptional talent as a fiddle player. She has a great stage persona too, dancing along at some points and staring intently into the crowd at others. It is impossible not to dance to it.
Without missing a beat, the band are into The Steam Arm Man, which is song about a soldier losing his arm at the Battle of Waterloo and replacing it with steam powered one. It has a very traditional feel, but with some great driving guitar from Ben Trott. The song really showcases Stuart Gidden’s singing style which is absolutely perfect for the band with solid clear vocal sound with a bit of a Northern accent along with a big dose of theatre in the delivery. He is a great frontman for the band. Very lively and charismatic, he is clearly having a great time on stage, and off it too, as he runs into the crowd for a dance on more than one occasion.
As the night continues the songs keep coming, often with a little bit of lighthearted choreography or costume change, including the glitter ball crash helmet! It’s chaotic and it’s fun. The band are enjoying themselves and so are the crowd.
It’s a long set too, at least 1½ hours. But the band show no signs of slowing. It’s a big performance all round and it’s clear all the members are great musicians and work together as a highly polished unit. Their years of experience really shining thorough. But it’s also clear they are having a lot of fun on stage tonight. I think every member of the band apart from Dave the drummer left the stage to dance among the crowd at some point during the gig.
Song of the night for me was Chicken on a Raft, a sea shanty written in the 1960’s by British submariner Cyril Tawney, but again given the Blackbeard treatment. The driving drums, bass and guitar combined with the repetitive lyrics of a sea shanty getting the crowd singing along whether they had heard the song before or not.
Another highlight is the opening of Hangman’s Noose when Dave the drummer moves up front and he and Laura play the fiddle at the same time. He is hitting the strings with little drum sticks (fiddlesticks), whilst she uses the bow, and they both pluck the stings too. It is incredible to watch and then the rest of the band join in with full on guitar and drums and the place goes nuts.
The set finishes with John’s gone to Hilo, another sea shanty, and a definite crowd favourite.
So, all in all a great night for folk fans who like their folk turned up to 11. Blackbeard’s Tea Party put on a great show. Their music is truly wonderful, and they have taken traditional tunes and made them their own, but the live experience is very much where they shine. Talented musicians and a tight band, but with a big dose of fun and an underlying sense of humour throughout. It was an exhilarating show just bursting with energy that had the crowd dancing and singing long from the very start.
Ten years on from Retrobates for Blackbeard’s Tea Party and it was a celebration worthy of the milestone: loud, joyous, slightly chaotic and utterly infectious. Whether you are a folk fan or not, I would strongly encourage you to check out both of tonight’s bands. But if you do go to see them live, please leave your flat cap at home.
Blackbeard's Tea Party performed at The Bodega on 20th February 2026.
@blackbeardstp / @commoncultureband
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