The 2009 festivals kick off next weekend in fine form with the Oxford Folk Festival. They’ve released the full programme and as you can see they’ve assembled quite a line up. Photo by Alan Cole.
Friday 20 March
Town Hall Main Hall
8pm: The Dhol Foundation + The Afropean Choir + Jack Harris
£15/£13(cons). Includes admission to Cornbury Stage events below.Cornbury Stage, Town Hall (in the Old Library)
8:00pm: Tandara Mandara
8:55pm: Maeve Bayton
9:40pm: Moonrakers
10:30pm: Bill McKinnon
Holywell Music Room
8:00pm: The New St George Waits + Oxford Fiddle Group £10/£8 (cons)
Marston Ferry Rugby Club
8-11pm: Ceilidh – John Mason School Folk Band with John Spiers and caller Lizzy Harrall. £5/£3(cons) (pay on door).
Folly Bridge Inn
8:30pm: Oxford Folk Club – Open Night. £2 (pay on door).
Performers welcome, speak to the MC, preferably at the start.
Saturday 21 March
Town Hall Main Hall
12:00pm: Robert Maseko & The Congo Beat + Kismet £12/£10 (cons).
4:40pm: Lau + Fay Hield with Jon Boden & Sam Sweeney £14/£12 (cons).
9:00pm: Kate Rusby with Donald Grant & Red Skies String Ensemble £19/£17 (cons).Cornbury Stage, Town Hall
12:00pm: The Craic Addicts
12:55pm: Bob & Gill Berry
1:50pm: Wytham Wood
2:45pm: Rob Ryan & Friends
3:40pm: Scarecrow
5:20pm: James Bell
6:05pm: Cal Folger Day
7:00pm: Jamie Huddlestone & Liv Dunn
7:55pm: Telling the Bees
9:35pm: Kris Drever
10:30pm: Meryl Jane
Holywell Music Room
12-5pm: School choirs FREE
5:00pm: Workshop – Rising Voices: Singing Histories FREE
6:30pm: A Bit of a Do – a night of Irish poetry and music £10/£8 (cons)
Oxford Brookes University Main Hall (Gypsy Lane Campus)
8-11pm: Ceilidh – The Cock and Bull Band with caller Mike Courthold £10/£8 (cons)
Town Hall – Long Room
3:00pm: Workshop – African drumming: Robert Maseko £5
7:45pm: Workshop – Fiddle: Aidan O’Rourke (Lau) £5
Town Hall – St Aldates Room
4:00pm: Workshop – Harp: Lynn Finnegan £5
7:45pm: Workshop – Piano accordion: Martin Green (Lau) £5
The Bate Collection
11am-12pm: Workshop – Jew’s harp: Michael Wright £5
1-2pm: Workshop – Flamenco guitar: Rafael £5
Oxford Castle
11am-4pm: Children’s activities at the Key Learning Centre £2
12-5pm: School choirs in the garden marquee
12-4pm: Morris displays.
Pub sessions – Just turn up and play!
Far From the Madding Crowd, The Half Moon The Old Tom and The Lamb & Flag.
Sunday 22 March
Town Hall Main Hall
11:00am: School Choirs (St Barnabas Primary School, Windmill Primary School, John Hampden School and John Mason School) £4/£2(cons).
1:30pm: Spiers & Boden + Reel Bach Consort £14/£12(cons).
5:00pm: Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain £19/£17(cons).Cornbury Stage, Town Hall
11:00am: Jack Harris
11:45am: The Selenites
12:40pm: McDowell
1:35pm: Jonny Kearney & Lucy Farrell
3:30pm: Wilber
4:25pm: Scarecrow
5:20pm: Wayland
6:15pm: Cosmic Aubergine
Town Hall – Long Room
11:00am: Workshop – English fiddle and song: Jon Boden £5
4:00pm: Workshop – English melodeon: John Spiers £5
Town Hall – St Aldates Room
1:00pm: Workshop – English folk guitar: James Bell £5
The Bate Collection
11am-12pm: Children’s Session – led by Andy Lamb £5
1-2pm: Workshop – English tunes by ear: Alice Little £5
Oxford Castle
11am-4pm: Children’s activities at the Key Learning Centre £2
10:45am: Workshop – Cotswold morris dancing: Icknield Way £5
11:45am: Workshop – Border morris dancing: Armaleggan £5
12-4pm: Morris displays.
8pm: Exclusive Friends of the Festival gig
Newman Rooms
7:00pm: Ceilidh – The Oxford Fiddle Group + Reel Bach Consort £5 on the door.
Pub sessions – Just turn up and play!
12 noon: French session - Far From the Madding Crowd
Sessions also at The Half Moon The Old Tom and The Lamb & Flag.