30th May 2026 with No Bad Ideas, calling from Malcolm Jowett

No Bad Ideas is a new and exciting project creating folk dance music live from code. Drawing on a background in software engineering and extensive experience playing for folk dance (Trip Hazard, Flying Cat, Portmanteau), No Bad Ideas combines folky melodies with live-coded beats and groovy basslines, compiled for maximum danceability.

After being dragged along to a ceilidh at the age of 17, Malcolm realised that dancing had to be a part of his life. He started calling while a student at the University of Nottingham. He went to his first real contra dance in 2009 at Austin, Texas, and loved it. The energy and flow of contra dance makes it a firm favourite when he calls at dance clubs around the East Midlands. He has a friendly, inclusive style which is enjoyed by beginners and experienced dancers alike.