Village

Artists A-Z
Short Drag Roger
The darlings of the Oxfordshire Women’s Institute,
these hunks of testosterone travel the country singing
at festivals, fundraisers, parties and corporate lunches.
Formed 15 years ago, there have been some crew
changes, but they are moving from strength to strength
singing a capella harmonies without the use of a safety
net. These guys may be landlocked but sing both new
and traditional Sea Shanties and Sea Songs from the
days of sail as if born to the sea. Wesley Memorial Church, Saturday 12.30pm
The Skeptics
The Skeptics are an a capella trio with a distinctive style.
Formed five years ago they delight audiences across their
native Oxfordshire performing a miscellany of songs which
draw on their varied musical pasts. Working under the
adage that anything done more than once is traditional,
The Skeptics add their folk-fusion twist to a range of
“traditional” songs you may just recognise from elsewhere!
Small & Gold
Song de Raiz
Blackwells, Saturday 3.30pm and ODHHC, Sunday 11am
Small & Gold are a country/alt-folk
band formed of four sisters from
Oxfordshire. With 4-part harmonies
and a variety of instruments including
banjo, mandolin and guitar, their
music is heavily influenced by the
likes of Old Crow Medicine Show,
Mumford & Sons, Laura Marling and
Bob Dylan. They write songs that
cover a range of topics, including
travelling, relationships and
appreciating where you’ve come from.
Wesley Memorial Church, Saturday 6.45pm
and Blackwells, Saturday 11.30am
Steph West
Artists A-Z
Well known as our local harp sensation, this year Steph will be conducting ‘Green and
Gold’ – a new carol for Spring at the official festival opening, and is also one of our MCs.
Steve Tyler and Katy Marchant
Steve Tyler (hurdy gurdy, cittern) and Katy Marchant (bagpipes, whistle, shawm)
have together or individually played for bals with Woodwose, The Wendigo, Angles,
Jon Swayne and Becky Price. They play their own tunes along with a few from their
friends and some from as far back as medieval times.
Tom Blackburn
Three Pressed Men
Firmly rooted in the English tradition, Three Pressed Men
perform with voices, hammer dulcimer, guitar, melodeons,
accordion, psaltery, harmonica … and several concertinas!
Their music embraces many moods and styles – striking a
capella harmonies, sensitive ballads, lively dance music and
rousing choruses.
Tobias Ben Jacob and
Lukas Drinkwater
St Columba’s Church, Saturday 7.30pm
Blackwells, Saturday 1.30pm
Singer-songwriter Tobias’ startling vocal and
guitar work is perfectly complemented by
Lukas’ masterful upright bass playing and
backing vocals; their performance is a dynamic
and emotionally charged affair, ranging from
high-crystalline falsetto led songs to more Wesley Memorial Church, Friday 8.45pm
driving riff-driven earthy numbers. The Devon
based duo have been recently lauded by BBC 6’s Tom Robinson, and their latest single
has had airplay on national radio. Their masterful, inventive delivery is mesmerizing all
who encounter them.
Song de Raiz (Song of Roots) is a musical exchange project pairing primary schools
in Oxford with the Casa Educativa education centre on Itaparica Island in Brazil, and
NECAT, an educational charity in Oxford’s twin city Leon (Nicaragua). Learning folk
songs and culture from their own country and their partner country, the children have
sent recordings of songs, letters, photos and video, and discovered friends around the
world. In a special celebration at the Folk Weekend, the children will be performing a
selection of songs from the UK, Nicaragua and Brazil alongside professional musicians
giving performances of other folk traditions from these cultures.
Tom Blackburn is a Welsh-born, Oxfordshirebased
folk guitarist and singer. Having made a
name for himself on the London folk club scene,
he has supported Martin Carthy and Patsy Reid,
among others. He is known for his intricate
fingerstyle guitar playing and fresh renditions of
traditional English and Irish songs.
30 ODHHC, Saturday 10.45am
Wesley Memorial Church, Friday 8pm
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