Village

Welcome to
Folk Weekend:
Oxford
It’s always a slightly strange moment when I sit down to write the welcome for
our next festival – in some ways it feels like the last one has only just finished!
2015 was a fantastic and memorable year for many reasons (those of you who
remember the fire evacuation will know what I mean!) and I can’t wait to show
you what we have in store for you in 2016.
When I started Folk Weekend in 2012, my aim was to create a festival that the
local community felt a part of, and felt ownership of; I think (I hope!) we’ve
been pretty successful in that aim so far, as demonstrated by the hordes of
local artists who donate their time for free, the legions of volunteer stewards,
and the fantastic volunteers who sit on the organising committee all year
round.
However, Folk Weekend is more than just a festival. It is the flagship event of
Folk Arts Oxford, a not-for-profit company that I originally set up to ‘officially’
run the festival, but which has grown to encompass so much more than that.
We run a local listings website, support community music groups and aspiring
performers, and support disadvantaged people to access the folk arts. To learn
more about what we are doing, have a look at ‘Beyond the Festival’ on page
36, or go to www.folk-arts-oxford.co.uk/home, and please check out some of
our ‘Special Saturday’ events (see p14 for details).
Towards the end of 2015 we ran a big fundraising drive, urging people to
sign up as ‘Friends’ of Folk Weekend. Regular income like this is hugely
important for our long-term security, and for as little as £20 per year on an
annual subscription (less than £2 per month) you can make a big difference
to our future, and help us to continue bringing the best of the folk arts to
the local community. I’m delighted with the response we’ve had to our plea,
and to those who have already signed up – a massive THANK YOU!! If you’re
interested in becoming a Friend yourself please see page 37 of the programme,
or visit www.folkweekendoxford.co.uk/friends.
I hope you have a really brilliant Folk Weekend – don’t forget to let us know
how it’s going by tweeting us @FolkWeekend or posting pictures to our
Facebook page facebook.com/FolkWeekendOxford or Flickr group. We’ll share
and retweet as many as we can during the weekend and afterwards.
Cat x
Jackie
Oates
Welcome to Oxford’s 5th Folk Weekend! This
is my fourth year as patron; I’m really proud to
support my local festival, and I’m very excited
about seeing so many exceptional musicians
from our own Oxford folk scene, as well as an
array of talent from further afield. This year’s
line-up includes some of my favourite artists,
so I’m very excited that I’ll be able to relax and
enjoy listening to them for a change!
Oxford is the perfect location for a festival;
with musical happenings cropping up amidst
all manner of settings. Wandering around the
city centre, you will find events taking place at
a variety of interesting places, including The
Pitt Rivers Museum, The Ashmolean Museum,
Blackwell’s Bookshop(!), and the beautiful
Wesley Memorial and St Barnabas churches.
As well as the ticketed events there are lots of things you can enjoy for free,
including many of the family events, and don’t forget the Morris dancers and
informal sessions which go on throughout the weekend.
It’s that time of year again when the streets
and pubs of Oxford ring out to the sound
of sticks clashing, squeezeboxes squeezing,
singers singing and bells jingling. Yes. It’s
Folk Weekend, and as I have been given the
privileged title of a patron I would like to
welcome you all, newcomers and regulars alike.
This year’s festival features some of my very
favourite artists and I cannot hide my jealousy
that you will all get to enjoy the stunning lineup
while I am out on the road with Bellowhead.
You may not know that the main reason for
Bellowhead splitting up is so I can attend next
year’s Folk Weekend!
Along with the main attractions of whirling
morris dancers and street performers, plus the
wide range of local and national talent in the
venues, I am very proud that Folk Weekend
also ensures that the festival is as inclusive as
possible, with special events for young families,
a signed folk song performance and the
promotion of special needs ceilidhs. I have been
privileged to play for one of these ceilidhs and
the sheer joy it can bring is amazing.
John
Spiers
Jackie
So get your instruments ready for the sessions, get your dancing shoes on,
prepare your ears for some gorgeous musical experiences and get stuck in!
I will see you all in 2017.
John