Magpie Lane

 Magpie Lane is a five-piece band from Oxford, specialising in traditional English songs and dance tunes, playing lesser-known material from the archives alongside well-worn favourites. The band’s Christmas repertoire contains a good helping of folk carols and wassails, plus lively seasonal dance tunes and secular songs – both traditional and modern – on a variety of Christmas and Winter themes.

The band’s front man, Ian Giles, is blessed with one of the finest voices on the folk scene: warm and mellow, but with great power when required. With four lead vocalists the quality of the singing – whether individually or in harmony – is never in doubt. This vocal strength is matched by the band’s instrumental prowess, accompaniments being sensitive or rollicking as each song demands. And when it comes to playing dance tunes, the front line of Mat Green and Andy Turner on fiddle and concertina has few peers. Jon Fletcher and Sophie Thurman complete the line-up, with gorgeously-played guitar, bouzouki and cello. With over 30 years of live performance, and ten critically-acclaimed albums under their belt, you’re assured of a good night out. Magpie Lane website

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

 Formed in 2001, the Time Bandits are a Chester-based folk band who are equally at home playing concerts and for dances. Influenced by artists such as the Albion Band, Blowzabella and Steeleye Span their repertoire mixes Renaissance and early dance music with traditional and contemporary songs and tunes played on a variety of instruments including fiddle, border bagpipes, saxophone, recorders, melodeon, bouzouki and electric bass. The band have recorded a total of six albums to date. The most recent, Stolen Histories, was released in May 2022.

The band chose its name from the Terry Gilliam ‘Pythonesque’ movie of the same title. Similar to the spirit of the movie, the remit of the band is, in essence, to be musical ‘time travellers’ raiding and pilfering over 500 years of musical material to be brought back and performed in an updated setting for a modern audience.

Central to the band’s philosophy is that this music is not for the museum. Whether first played 500 hundred years ago, or perhaps a mere hundred years ago, this is living music that should be played and enjoyed with a passion. We hope you agree. The Time Bandits Website

KELLY'S HEROES website here

JESS & RICHARD ARROWSMITH website here (INCLUDING SINGING WORKSHOP)

LOOMA 

PHIL SMEETON & HAZEL ATKINSON

BAR SESSION

SINGAROUND

Details coming soon...

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

Blurb coming soon...

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

Blurb coming soon...

Our round-the-room format is a relaxed and friendly affair. You can sing a song or play a tune, but  if you dance or are a story teller then that adds nicely to the mix. There's also plenty of room for those who just want to listen, or maybe join in a chorus or an occasional session tune.

We have a half-time break for the re-charging of glasses, general chit-chat, and- of course- a raffle.

No need to book in advance.

Blurb coming soon...

Blurb coming soon...

coming soon...