The Oxford Waits
The Oxford Waits at the old Abbey Buildings, Abingdon (photo Ed Nix)
Left to right: Ian Giles, Edwin Pritchard, Caroline Butler, Jon Fletcher & Tim Healey.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
FRIDAY 14 FEBRUARY 2025
St Valentine's Day Special!
Oxford Folk Club
Marston British Legion, 8.15
17 Hadow Road, Oxford OX3 0JW
£8 To secure tickets in advance email:
THURSDAY 20 FEBRUARY 2025
Sibfords History Society
Village Hall, Sibford Gower OX15 5RW
Social gathering with evening meal!
7pm Book in advance by 13 February
Sibfords History Society – The Oxford Waits and supper – The Sibfords
SATURDAY 5 JULY 2025
Turrill Sculpture Garden
South Parade, Oxford OX2 7JN
Further details tbc
SATURDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2025
St Helen's Church, Abingdon
Further details tbc
SATURDAY 20 DECEMBER 2025
Holywell Music Room, Oxford 2pm
Further details tbc
'Terrific entertainment’ Brian Kay, BBC Radio 3
LINE-UP
Tim Healey - Narrator, vocals, shawm, recorders
Caroline Butler - Vocals, violin
Ian Giles - Vocals, hurdy gurdy, percussion
Edwin Pritchard - Vocals, violin, nyckelharpa, hammered dulcimer,
Jon Fletcher - Vocals, lute, cittern
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.
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)
