The Oxford Waits
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY 22 JUNE 2024
Oxford Sculpture Garden, Summertown
5-piece:Tim, Caroline, Ian, Edwin & Jon
Afternoon
Further detals tbc
THURSDAY 4 JULY 2024
Frolics of Oxfordshire
Unicorn Theatre, Abingdon
5-piece:Tim, Caroline, Ian, Edwin & Jon
7.30pm Tickets £15
from The Bookstore, 15 Bury Street, Abingdon
Or ring Caroline 07760 242208
SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER 2024
A 17th-century Christmas
Holywell Music Room, Oxford
5-piece:Tim, Caroline, Ian, Edwin & Jon
2pm (afternoon concert only)
Further details tbc
SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2025
Iffley Music Society
5-piece:Tim, Caroline, Ian, Edwin & Jon
The Oxford Waits at the old Abbey Buildings, Abingdon 2019 (photo Ed Nix)
Left to right: Ian Giles, Edwin Pritchard, Caroline Butler, Jon Fletcher & Tim Healey.
'Terrific entertainment’ Brian Kay, BBC Radio 3
The Oxford Waits take their name from a real-life band of city musicians, known as 'waits,' who flourished in Oxford during the 17th century. Performers appear in period costume, and concerts are enlivened by street ballads, dance tunes, airs and rounds as well as readings from diarists and poets. Superb singing voices are matched by specialist skills in an array of period instruments.
LINE-UP
Tim Healey - Narrator, vocals, shawm, recorders
Caroline Butler - Vocals, violin
Ian Giles - Vocals, hurdy gurdy, percussion
Edwin Pritchard - Vocals, violin, nyckelharpa, hammered dulcime,
Jon Fletcher - Vocals, lute, cittern
The Oxford Waits have performed at a wealth of festivals, churches, theatres and arts centres, as well as featuring on BBC Radio 3 and Radio 4. In 2006 they performed before her Majesty the Queen at the Royal Opening of Oxford Castle.
BOOKINGS TEL 01865 249194
The Oxford Waits have often played for period dances, as here with the Vale Island Dancers in Oxford Town Hall (photo Chris Bates)
‘Thank you for coming and playing for us, we had a wonderful time. I've heard such lovely feedback from the dancers about your session.’
Kit at the Inter-Varsity Folk Dance Festival Exeter, 2023
‘You made the dancing easy even for beginners with your lively, articulate playing.’
Louise Siddons (caller)