The Oxford Waits
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY 21 DECEMBER 2024
A 17th-century Christmas
Holywell Music Room, Oxford
5-piece:Tim, Caroline, Ian, Edwin & Jon
2pm Tickets £17 from Tickets Oxford at The Oxford Playhouse
(concessions available)
www.ticketsoxford.com tel 01865 305305
https://www.ticketsoxford.com/events/the-oxford-waits-2
SUNDAY 12 JANUARY 2025
Iffley Music Society
5-piece:Tim, Caroline, Ian, Edwin & Jon
Further details tbc
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 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)
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