Oxford violinists are being given a rare opportunity to learn gipsy fiddling from the very best in the business.

As part of the Big Village programme, a series of events offering music from all over the world, the London Gypsy Orchestra will be coming to the Oxford Carling Academy, in Cowley Road, on December 8.

But, unlike normal concerts, the show will also see ticketholders invited to an hour-long workshop in gypsy music, led by band leader Gundula Gruen.

Matt Sage, one of the organisers of Big Village, said: "It is going to be a frenzied journey around the music of Eastern Europe and the Balkans, with everything that entails.

"All of our gigs have some added element to them and this is a really great opportunity to learn some tunes with some masterful players and teachers."

The workshop is aimed at violinists and fiddle-players of any ability. No previous knowledge of the music is necessary - but players need to have their own instruments.

Mr Sage said: "I'm excited because of the scale of it. We have put on all kinds of wonderful events over the past 12 months but this is the biggest, certainly in terms of the band, and it will bring its own sense of occasion."

Gundula Gruen is a classically- trained violinist who sings traditional songs in their original languages, including Romany, Russian and Yiddish.

She founded the London Gypsy Orchestra two years ago. It is now a 35-piece outfit with fiddles, strings, mandolins, accordions, voices and horns.

Mr Sage described their repertoire as "exuberant dance tunes and dramatic songs of romantic passion, strange adventures and curious moral tales."

The concert and the workshop, will take place in the Zodiac room at the Academy. The workshop starts at 6pm. Ticket-holders do not need to book places but can just turn up with their violins.

Tickets cost £9 in advance and are available from the Carling Academy box office on 0844 477 2000 or see www.bigvillage.org The Big Village season will conclude on Saturday, December 15, with Matt Sage and his band playing at the Abbey in Sutton Courtenay.