Music Group Sessions in Bury

A Music Group That Anyone Can Join

If you've been looking for a music group in Bury, you've probably noticed the options tend to sit at two extremes. Choirs want you to read music and hold a harmony. Bands want gear, rehearsal space and years of practice. Neither is very welcoming if you've never played a note.

Our sessions are the middle path. You turn up, borrow an instrument if you need one, and within minutes you're playing and singing familiar songs with a room full of people who were exactly where you are, not long ago. No auditions, no sheet music, no "we'll tell you if you're good enough" - just a group making music together because it feels good.

The instrument we play is the ukulele. Stay with us - even if you've never considered it, it might be exactly what you're looking for. Four strings, soft on the fingers, small enough to learn anywhere, and forgiving enough that you'll be strumming along to real songs in your very first session. Most of our members had never touched an instrument before they joined.

We've been running these groups across Bury since 2021 as a community interest company, and they've grown into four weekly sessions across the borough - because one turned out not to be enough.

Our Weekly Sessions in Bury

Four sessions, one friendly group, pick whichever fits your week:

Monday Mornings at Greenmount Old School

Start the week by making something. Our Monday group is popular with retirees, shift workers and anyone with a free morning.

When: Every Monday, 10:15am-11:15am
Where: Greenmount Old School, Brandlesholme Road, Bury, BL8 4DS
Cost: £8 per person
Getting there: 10 minutes from Bury centre by car, with its own car park

Tuesday Mornings at Ramsbottom Library

Music and conversation in one of Ramsbottom's loveliest buildings, with coffee and lunch spots right outside afterwards.

When: Every Tuesday, 10:30am-12pm
Where: Ramsbottom Library, Carr Street, Ramsbottom, BL0 9AE
Cost: £8 per person
Getting there: Short bus ride from Bury centre, or easy drive with parking available

Tuesday Evenings at The Den

Our longest-running group, and the cosiest room we play in - living-room seating, a projector for the songbook, and hot and cold drinks included.

When: Every Tuesday, 5:30pm-7:00pm
Where: The Den, Stubbins Vale Road, Ramsbottom, BL0 0NT
Cost: £8 per person
Getting there: Short bus ride from Bury centre, or easy drive with parking available

Thursday Evenings at Wyldes

Our after-work group, right in Bury town centre - an easy walk from the Metrolink.

When: Every Thursday, 6:15pm-7:45pm
Where: Wyldes, 4 Bolton St, Bury, BL9 0LQ
Cost: £8 per person
Getting there: Right in Bury town centre, easy walking distance from the Metrolink station

What Actually Happens at a Session

If you've never been to a group like this, here's how it goes:

You arrive and say hello. Someone will show you where to sit and lend you a ukulele if you don't have one. First-timers sit together.
We tune up together. Takes two minutes, and it's a surprisingly nice icebreaker.
We learn one easy chord, then another. With four strings, that's genuinely all you need to start. Your facilitator walks the room and helps anyone who's stuck.
We play songs. Real, recognisable songs - folk classics to modern pop - from our songbook, with everyone strumming and singing at whatever volume they like.
You leave having made music. That's it. No performance, no exam, no pressure.

Sessions are structured but relaxed. We weave in small, digestible pieces of technique and music theory for those who want them, and the more experienced players get their challenge from richer arrangements. Everyone contributes at their own level.

Why the Ukulele Is Our Instrument of Choice

We didn't pick the ukulele by accident - we picked it because it removes every common excuse for not making music:

Four strings, not six. Fewer strings means simpler chords, and simpler chords means you play real songs sooner.
Soft nylon strings. No sore fingertips in your first weeks, unlike guitar.
Small and light. Easier to hold, easier to fret, easy to bring along.
It sounds cheerful even when you're learning. There's no unpleasant beginner phase - a beginner strum still sounds like music.
It's made for singing with. The ukulele accompanies the voice beautifully, and singing together is half of what our sessions are about.

Plenty of people arrive thinking they're "not musical" and leave having played half a dozen songs. The ukulele is the most approachable route into group music-making we know of - and if you catch the bug, you can go as far as you like with it.

What to Bring (and What Not To)

Nothing, if you prefer. We provide instruments free of charge - just let us know when you book.
Your ukulele, if you have one - any size, any condition. We'll help you tune it.
Our songbook - download the UGN Songbook (PDF) onto a tablet, or print it. We also have paper copies at sessions.
A willingness to sing badly with good company. That's the whole entry requirement.

One-to-One Lessons with Ben

If a group isn't your speed, or you'd like to move faster, Ben - our founder and group facilitator - offers one-to-one ukulele lessons. He has over 20 years of musical experience across piano, guitar and bass, and eight years of bringing the ukulele's particular joy to learners of all ages. His style is friendly and laid-back, ideal for nervous beginners.

Ben travels to you within roughly 30 miles of Ramsbottom, and remote lessons are available via Zoom.

Lesson prices: - 30 minutes: £20 - 60 minutes: £30

Book Your Place

Spaces are kept limited so everyone gets attention and nobody gets lost in the crowd - booking ahead is recommended. Get in touch via our contact page or email NH6kj9HR-TFI-pas5NVBgEJ1V4E58cBq1UU and tell us which session you'd like to try and whether you'll need to borrow an instrument.

All abilities welcome - complete beginners are especially encouraged!

Already know you want to learn properly? Read more about our ukulele lessons in Bury - same sessions, same people, with the learning path front and centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

I've never played any instrument. Is that really OK? It's not just OK - it's normal here. Most of our members started from zero. The first session is all about one easy chord and a song you'll recognise.

Do I have to sing? Singing is part of the group experience, but nobody's graded on it. You can hum quietly for the first few weeks - many people do - and most find themselves joining in properly before long.

Is the ukulele a "real" instrument, or a toy? A real one - with its own concert repertoire, professional players, and an increasing presence in mainstream music. It's simply also one of the easiest real instruments to start.

What if I'm not the "joiny" type? Plenty of our members would say the same about themselves. Sessions are weekly and low-key; there's no social obligation beyond being pleasant in the room.

Can I try one session before committing? Please do. One session, no strings attached - figuratively speaking. There are no membership fees or long-term commitments; you simply pay £8 for the sessions you attend.

Are there age limits? No. We've had members from school age to their 80s, and the mix is part of what makes the group work.

Which session should I try first? Thursday evenings at Wyldes suit anyone working 9-5; Monday mornings at Greenmount are popular with retirees; the two Tuesday groups in Ramsbottom draw a lovely mixed crowd. All four are run the same way, so you can't pick wrong.

Do you perform in public? Occasionally and voluntarily - small local events, never compulsory. Some members love it, others never perform, and both are fine.