Folk Weekend Oxford - a spectacular feast of live music and dancing – and a magnet for many Morris dancing sides - takes place this weekend.

Concerts take place at the Quaker Meeting House, Old Fire Station, The North Wall in Summertown, St Michael’s at the North Gate and out of town at Harwell Village Hall.

Highlights are set to be shows by Narthen, Balladeste and Fran & Flora on Friday; Milady Clare’s Musicke, Three Acres And A Cow, Emily Portman & Rob Harbron and Merry Hell on Saturday; and George Boomsma on Sunday.

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The Folk Weekend Oxford website said: "Working with our partners in Oxford, and with venues and organisations around the city, we have a fabulous weekend of music and dance for you. Whether you enjoy a concert, a ceilidh, a workshop or a bit of Morris dancing there should be something for you."

Oxford Mail:

About 30 local artists will also perform at free stages at a festival hub in the Covered Market, Weston Library, the Westgate Library, the Old Fire Station, Pitt Rivers Museum and Blackwell’s Bookshop.

But the gigs are only part of it, with lots of hands-on, have-a-go-fun DIY fun.

Ceilidhs and dance workshops run by Oxfolk will take place in the grand surroundings of St Barnabas Church in Jericho; sessions will break out in pubs around the city; and Morris dancers will clash sticks and jangle bells on the streets. 

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As well as al fresco dancing, Morris expert Mike Heaney will talk about his new book, The Ancient English Morris Dance, at Blackwell’s bookshop.

Oxford Mail:

With this year marking the 100th anniversary of Morris being danced for May morning in the city, it is a fitting celebration of the tradition’s strong local roots.

For those keen to brush up their skills, or learn a new one, there will be Saturday workshops at the Pitt Rivers Museum where you can take improve your guitar skills, sing in a choir or sing with a shanty crew. 

Singers can also raise the rafters at Blackwell’s Norrington Room on Saturday morning by joining a festival choir which will perform folk song arrangements by the late Paul Sartin.

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Former Bellowhead member Paul had strong links with Oxford, and had many fans through his other high-energy folk acts Faustus and Belshazzar’s Feast.

The multi-instrumentalist – best known for his oboe, fiddle, vocals and humorous song introductions – studied music at Magdalen College on a choral scholarship, was a lay clerk at Christ Church Cathedral and a vocal tutor at St Edwards School in Woodstock Road.