The Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street
Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4LU
T. 01384 395 216
E. stourbridge-trust@btconnect.com
The 2025 schedule of boat trips on The Blackcountry Man is now live! There are evening cruises with music ranging from ABBA classics, Soul and Motown to Rock and Roll – Fish and Chips included! We also have a selection of day trips to Kinver and Stourton Locks.
For further information please contact 07889 908090 or tripboat@yahoo.com. All other details can be found here:
https://www.thebondedwarehousestourbridge.co.uk/boat-trips/
Next Level Folk Club is pleased to present Donnelly and South (Plus Quantum Penguin)
Keith Donnelly, one of the most popular, and yes, slightly crazy, figures in the folk world, teams up with the scene’s most exciting new voice – Lauren South. Keith’s songwriting and guitar-playing often take a back seat to his onstage madcappery. Not so in this duo (he promises!). Lauren’s stunning vocals on her own originals, Keith’s songs, and the odd ‘trad’ song, not forgetting her violin, guitar and shruti box playing, never fail to ‘wow’ audiences wherever she goes. They make a fun and energetic combination and have received rave reviews across the country’s folk clubs and festivals.
“a revelation. Keith’s guitar craft was absolutely stunning, and their arrangements felt light and easy despite being wonderfully complex and a joyful place in which to be lost. Lauren’s singing is world class… Humble, honest, powerful, intriguing and mesmerising.”
– Adam Beresford-Browne, Nuneaton Folk Club
“just stunning. Keith Donnelly and Lauren South are one diamond duo combining gorgeous singing and musicianship with barely controlled craziness.”
– The Albany Theatre, Coventry
“What an absolute joy… Superb!”
– The Woodman Folk Club
Support is from Quantum Penguin. Matt Woolley (a.k.a. Quantum Penguin) is a multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter from Shropshire. His love of storytelling through song blended with driving instrumentals means his set is one minute lilting and filled with emotion and the next joyfully energetic with soaring fiddle, guitar or bouzouki.
He has been nominated twice for Folk Musician of The Year at the Shropshire Music Awards. His recently-released second album Adélie has also received Album Of The Series on The Salopian Mixtape podcast. From songs that make you cry to rip-roaring fiddle tunes that will make you stomp your foot, Matt will guide you through the full spectrum of emotions while you sing along!
“Matthew’s love for the folk tradition shines through his soulful singing and exceptional multi instrumental accompaniments.”
– Debra Hannis – Chippenham Folk Festival
“A rising star indeed.”
-Will Sartin – Patakas
“The multi-instrumentalist is a delight to watch and hear… a new generation of folk singer”
– Sofia Lewis – Sound of Shrewsbury Folk
Your host will be Christopher Crompton.
Doors open at 7pm for a start at 7:30pm.
The Trustees of Stourbridge Navigation Trust have decided that the Annual Stourbridge Open Weekend at The Bonded Warehouse will go ahead again this year on October 18th and 19th. This will be the 40th Open Weekend staged by the Trust, and its predecessor; although the first was 42 years ago in 1983 as Covid-19 caused us to miss two years.
We are determined that this anniversary event will be one to be remembered. It will also be recognising 50 years since the start of determined efforts by a band of volunteers to reopen the Town Arm after neglect following the 1962 IWA Battle for the Stourbridge Canal. This year also celebrates 40 years of the legal existence of the present Trust and the availability of the Warehouse to community use with the formal opening in1986. The year 2000 saw the Trust become financially sustainable and stopped relying on public funds and begging bowls. Also, 25 years ago, the Open Weekend boaters were treated to a mud-free towpath. This had been completely rebuilt with the Trust working in partnership with British Waterways (now Canal & River Trust) and Dudley Council using funding all raised by the Trust.
For Boaters attending this year we will be producing a special boater’s plaque with no extra cost to boaters above the Boat Entry fee of £15.00.
One request we make now – we need volunteers to help run the event. Like all voluntary organisations, we are short of help. Why not do your bit to help run this event? A few hours between Friday morning and Monday lunchtime would be very welcome. Or how about becoming a Trustee? Please email your interest as soon as possible to our Manager.
Please download the Boater’s Entry Form below and return the completed form to us by post or simply popping in to The Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street, Stourbridge, West Midlands DY8 4LU.
The team of Harbour Masters look forward to welcoming you this year.
We wish you a good cruising year.
This October we will be celebrating our 40th Open Weekend at The Bonded Warehouse!
The dates for your diaries are Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October 2025, 10am to 5pm. As always, it is free entry.
Further details will be added over the coming months so watch this space.
We are pleased to confirm the Severn Valley Railway (Stourbridge Branch) meetings programme for January to May 2025, held at The Bonded Warehouse. The specific topics to be presented are highlighted in the poster above.
Meetings are usually held on the first Wednesday of each month in the Brindley Room commencing at 7.30pm.
We welcome a variety of speakers covering all aspects of railways, and sometimes other types of transport as well. A small charge of £3 is made to cover room costs.
For further details contact Chris Dyche 01384 375582.
The Bonded Warehouse
Canal Street
Stourbridge
West Midlands
DY8 4LU
T. 01384 395 216
E. stourbridge-trust@btconnect.com
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