Oxford Folk Weekend: Joyous ceilidh to mass morris and song

Folk is a way of life” says Folk Weekend organiser Cat Kelly, as we chat over a pot of tea in darkest Eynsham. “I was brought up with it.”

“Both my parents were Morris dancers. They met at a Folk Camps holiday. When I was young, that’s how our weekends were spent; surrounded by music and dance.”

Cat went on to embrace folk in a manner which would warm the heart of any parent or fan. So when she received a call asking her to take over the troubled Oxford Folk Festival, she rose to the challenge. Renamed Folk Weekend: Oxford, the festival now bellows into its fourth, triumphant year.

Let’s talk about the dance events first of all. Personally, I love a ceilidh.

“Ceilidhs are a great place to start. They’re a brilliant part of the festival” enthuses Cat, who even met her husband at a ceilidh dance. “They’re social, fun and energetic.”

The music is great too: “We’ve got three fantastic ceilidh bands this year, including Threepenny Bit, an up-and-coming young group who’re fast making a name for themselves on the folk festival circuit.” Morris dance also features strongly. “We’re expecting around 500 Morris dancers to be performing around Oxford city centre. We have a group called Yarmarka, who have flown over from our twin town, Perm, in Russia, specially to perform at the festival.”

Cat has never seen me dance, but she’s quick to reassure that joining in isn’t frowned upon.

“If anyone fancies having a go, then local side Owlswick Morris will be leading a family Morris workshop at the Pitt Rivers museum on Sunday, suitable for all ages.”

Folk Weekend: Oxford continues to gather momentum. Cat says: “We’re selling more tickets, recruiting more volunteers. And we’re getting more artists eager to play for us.”

This year they include Chris Wood, dubbed “the renaissance man of English Folk” and “life-enhancing” quartet Boldwood.

There are also rising stars Patsy Reid, Kelly Oliver, Wednesday's Wolves and the appropriately-named Ben Folke Thomas.

All can be enjoyed in venues around Oxford city centre, without needing to plunge your wellies into the mud of the countryside.

“We have some really amazing and intimate gigs lined-up. Some people tell me they love the low-key atmosphere at the Old Fire Station. Others love the excitement of a large venue and a loud band. We like to celebrate the entire city. When you come to Folk Weekend, you should know you are in Oxford.”

Any personal highlights? “It’s really hard to pick one or two acts out,” she explains, “but I’ll definitely try to catch our new patron, John Spiers, on Saturday lunchtime. He’ll be bringing along a very special mystery guest to perform with him,”

Cat is also a big fan of groundbreaking vocal trio Lady Maisery, who perform at Wesley Memorial Church on Saturday night.

As with many festivals, there are hidden gems that might take your breath away.

“When I was first looking through the line up, I watched a YouTube clip of Steve Turner. He had me spellbound. As did a recording from a duo called Ninebarrow.”

Are there any local performers who stand out? “Sarah Fell, who has performed for the last couple of years. Tom Blackburn, who’s a really captivating singer. Jess Hall has a stunning voice and Coldharbour are a new trio who will play European-style folk tunes.” Elsewhere there will be performers who sport Hawaiian shirts and a Greek language choir. But one concert, the Makaton Project, has Cat especially animated.

“We’re showcasing the results of a pilot project we have been running on accessibility within music. So on Saturday morning will have a concert which incorporates Makaton signing as part of the performance.

“The aim is to make it more inclusive to people with communication difficulties.”

New patron: John Spiers

Cat asserts that she would like it to be “perfectly normal to have a workshop in Wheelchair Morris dance. Or to place “singing with voice output communication aids” alongside Scottish fiddle tunes and beginner’s melodeon.

“That’s the dream” she smiles, “I don’t know of anything else like it in the folk world.”

Doesn’t that make her nervous? “I’m not sure how it will be received by our regular audience. I hope it will show that you can be musically inclusive without compromising on the quality of the performance.”

Alongside plenty of family-friendly activities, the festival boasts a Village Fete, now in its third year. Based around Gloucester Green, the fete has grown into a popular event, with craft stalls, mostly local to Oxford, and mostly selling handmade goods.

“You can browse through the different crafts, including handmade cushions, earrings, scarves, vintage clothes, eco-friendly furniture, toys, and drums among other things.

“We encourage people to get involved, because it’s people who are the real heart of the festival.

“I worked out once that there are over 1,000 people involved in making Folk Weekend happen. That includes artists, volunteers, young performers, crafts people and Morris dancers. That’s before we’ve even got any audience in.”

So of what is she most proud?

“That our festival showcases and celebrates the strong folk scene in Oxford and has grown up from the roots of that.”

Folk Weekend: Oxford
Various venues
Friday-Sunday, April 17-19
Visit ticketsouth.co.uk/

Weekend stars: Wednesday's Wolves