In early 2023, three friends came together with a shared passion for live music and a desire to create a welcoming space for musicians and music lovers alike.
That spark has now become monthly, must-attend event Circle Social, held on the second Friday of every month at Northlight Arts Centre.
What started as an experimental and casual get-together among the trio and their friends has blossomed into a vibrant community celebration of local talent run by Tim (@hevelwood), Jim and Christina (@kirkstall.almanac) and Satnam (@satnamvocalist).
Jim writes….
When we first had the idea, it was simply about creating something for ourselves and our musician friends to enjoy, but we quickly saw a need for a recurring live music event away from the city centre that could serve as both a performance platform and a social hub where people could come, play some tunes, and connect with others who shared their passion.
That welcoming spirit has been integral to the music night’s success and growth over the past two years. We have an inclusive approach where we showcase an eclectic range of performers and have had guitars, pianos, banjos, drone boxes, trumpets, mandolins, violins, electronic stomp boxes, concertinas and a melodeon on stage, not to mention bags and bags of talent.
Circle Social has become a testament to the unifying power of music, bringing together performers and audiences from all walks of life. This multigenerational, multicultural mix has become one of the night’s defining features, with everyone from young songwriters to veteran musicians sharing their talents, while young families and seasoned concertgoers alike fill the audience. The inclusive, judgement-free atmosphere proves that music truly knows no boundaries, creating a space where everyone is welcome, regardless of their background or experience with live music. Everyone is welcome.
What we feel sets this night apart from traditional gigs is the carefully curated atmosphere and deeply attentive audience. People tell us there’s something magical about performing here. The audience really listens – they’re not just here for a drink with music in the background. You can feel that energy in the room with each act receiving the audience’s rapt attention and enthusiastic applause. This welcoming spirit has proven to be a major draw for performers, many of whom have become loyal regulars at the monthly event. It’s a perfect antidote to uninterested audiences who haven’t come to listen to the music.
One of our night’s most unique features happens after the scheduled performances end, when attendees are encouraged to bring out their own instruments and join in around the house piano. These post-show sessions have led to some of our most magical moments and a way to forge new musical connections.
We run the night voluntarily, and the venue let us put it on for free but after a while we felt like it was important to pay our acts for their talents. We introduced a pay as you feel model which has worked better than we ever expected. PAYF keeps the night accessible and we’ve found that audiences give really generously. It’s been a real vote of confidence and helps sustain the quality of our lineups.
It’s been incredible to watch this event grow and evolve over the past two years. What started as an experiment is starting to blossom into a true community hub – a place where people can discover new artists, musicians can hone their craft and everyone can come together to celebrate the power of live performance.
The remaining Circle Social events for 2024 are scheduled for November 15th and December 13th and will continue in 2025 running (usually) on the second Friday of the month.
You can find more information about future Circle Social events and see photos and videos of previous nights on Instagram (@thecirclesocial) and Facebook.
