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wantage folk music and dance

There is a thriving folk scene within Wantage, Grove and surrounding villages.

Dancing

The effervescent Icknield Way Morris Men practice every Wednesday night throughout the winter in Wantage Civic Hall, and dance at pubs around the Vale during the summer. Their favourite pub is the Abingdon Arms in Wantage and they organize community events such as the New Years Eve Ceilidh.

The energetic Cornucopia perform Appalachian Step Clogging and British Clog dancing and meet at Grove Village Hall every Monday night, than afterwards at The Bell in Grove.

The light-heartedly dignified Vale Islanders perform 17th century dances in the costume of the period. They meet every Tuesday at Charney Bassett, then afterwards at the session in The Chequers.

Music Sessions

Abingdon Arms, Wantage. Every 3rd Friday in the month from 9.00pm.

The Chequers, Charney Bassett. Most Tuesday evenings from 9.00pm.

Greyhound, Letcombe Regis. (1) Every 2nd Sunday from 3.30pm there is a “Slow Session” for beginners and the not so confident players. (2) 1st, 2nd and 4th Fridays there is a music session. www.greyhoundmusic.co.uk.

Barn Dances

There are several local Barn Dance (English Ceilidh) bands, such as Bathshebas Wedding, JigWorks, Larkrise Ranters, The Mad Hatters, Pandemonium, Shady Grove String Band, Scratch ‘n’ Sniff and Tumbledown Dick. As well as playing for Weddings, Birthday Parties and fund raisers in the local area, many of these have been instrumental in the setting up of the new English Ceilidh series – White Horse Ceilidhs – stomping Barn Dances in and around Grove.

Festivals

There are two well established festivals run by Kate and Dave Guest - Folk for MS is the first weekend of the Wantage Summer Festival and White Horse Folk Festival is usually the third weekend in August. Both events give you the opportunity to watch, listen to and dance to some of the best folk and traditional artists in the country.

Concerts

Evenings of varied entertainment - folk music, songs and recitations are provided by Pandemonium.

Christmas

Christmas is a particularly busy time with Carols in the Abingdon Arms the last Wednesday before Christmas and the Wantage Mummers annual rendition on Boxing Day in Faringdon (10am), Wantage (12noon) and the Hatchet in Childrey (1pm). There is also Around the Christmas Tree an evening of music and readings put on at Wantage Museum jointly by The Domino Players and Pandemonium.

wagarts

Wantage and Grove District Arts Guild
A "Virtual Arts Centre" in which members can share information for mutual benefit (e.g. about venues, fundraising and publicity) until such time as we can get a real Arts Centre built for the very lively arts community of this district.
Contact Bob McLatchie
www.wagarts.org.uk

Graham Hubbard and Howard Hill December 2007
Updated February 2010