With a bill of of creative artists playing in a scenic pub garden, Saturday’s Irregular Folk Summer Session is set to be a seasonal highlight. Tim Hughes finds out more
It sounds like the perfect summer’s day: 10 extraordinary acts playing in a gorgeous Bedouin tent in a riverside garden.
Featuring a hand-picked collection of quirky, and incredibly talented bands and artists, the Irregular Folk Summer Session is set to be a highlight of Oxford’s summer season of music.
It takes place in the delightful garden of The Perch, beside the Thames, in Binsey – with music-lovers invited to continue the party while being ferried back to the city centre, on a vintage 1930s river boat run by Salters Steamers.
“It’s going to be amazing!” said artist and music promoter Vez Hoper, who organises the event, now in its second year.
“People will be plunged into a crazy Midsummer Night’s Dream world”.
Starting life in Oxford’s Cellar club, the Irregular Folk sessions are perfectly suited to a sunlit summer garden. Though anyone expecting traditional folk could be in for a surprise. “Irregular Folk is about putting on music that dips a little toe in folk but is more of a modern take on the genre,” says Vez. “Instead of traditional singer-songwriters, we try to push the boundaries in lots of directions to create a lovely summer soundtrack.”
There are no headliners, with all acts getting equal billing. Music comes from baroque art-pop orchestra The Irrepressibles; quirky singer-songwriter Ollie Thomas – aka Salvation Bill; female four-part harmony group The May Birds; witty and irreverent singer-songwriter Ben Champion; r’n’b folk-harpist Rachel Gladwin and the Red Socks; cello and loop master Duotone; dreamy and contemplative; You Are Wolf, alternative offbeat chamber-pop act Steady Hands; stripped-back minimal folkstresses Jess Hall and Steph West, with performance poet George Chopping introducing the acts and providing his own offbeat interludes.
“It’s all over the place,” says Vez. “We go on a journey, starting with the more traditional-sounding artists, but then it takes you on twists and turns, leaving you gently screaming and asking ‘do you wanna go faster?!’”
“There are a few darker bits but it’s not all uber-serious, will all be tied together by George Chopping, who is amazing fun – and the perfect misfit.”
Harmony group The May Birds will be performing
Also included is Kerry Andrew under the name You Are Wolf
And the venue, within the city, but a world apart from its bustle, is a star in its own right.
“As a Cowley Road dweller, I know it’s all too easy to stay where you are,” says Vez.
“But I want to remind people there’s a jewel out there – with an old thatched cottage, gorgeous garden and lovely willow trees close to the river in a place that inspired Alice in Wonderland.
“It’ll be a real adventure, and getting there and back is all part of it. It’s a beautiful walk or bike ride from town or Jericho, and people can be in a world of their own for the afternoon, without being too far away.
“Then they can sail back down the river to Folly Bridge by night. There’s also a bar on the boat, so people can extend the party.”
She invited punters to dress up, with the promise of a prize for the best-dressed, with the theme ‘English summertimes, old and new’.
She adds: “It’s nice to dress up and this is an ideal occasion, though, of course, people can also come in jeans and T-shirts.
“The session is an opportunity to do something outside in a beautiful tent. It’s perfect for a summer’s day – and night.”
Kerry Andrew plays under the name You Are Wolf. She said: “I make music fusing traditional British folk with unusual layered vocal sounds and a loop pedal, leftfield pop, world and experimental classical influences. I do new things to old songs – splicing them with spoken words and loops, adding beatboxing, smashing them together and mixing them up with Prince tunes. And I like a theme, which is currently birds and folklore.”
She added: “My previous Irregular Folk set was my favourite gig of last year, with a wonderful promoter and a wicked audience. I’m expecting much of the same at the Summer Session, with added sunshine, cake and river-swimming!”
Jamie Irrepressible from the band The Irrepressibles, describes himself as a singer, songwriter, composer, and visual artist. He says: “I compose music for orchestral instruments, make electronic music and sometimes rock. With this gig we’re doing something with stringed instruments expanding orchestrations with loop and octave pedals.
“What makes Irregular Folk so special is Vez’s incredible energy. She’s passionate about music and musicians, and because of her taste and expertise, all the musicians performing are really interesting artists.”
CHECK IT OUT
The Irregular Folk Summer Session takes place at The Perch, Binsey, from 2-11.30pm on Saturday. Tickets are £15 from wegottickets.com
The Irregular Boatbus is run by Salter’s Steamers, takes 45 minutes and costs £7 from wegottickets.com
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