Folk Weekend Oxford is back in the city this weekend for the first time in four years as it took a break in 2019 and was then hit by the pandemic.
As folk fans look forward to performances at a number of different venues, we have picked out some photos from the Oxford Mail archive.
For the past two years the vast majority of performances were streamed online.
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But this weekend there will be folk music performances at venues across the city centre, with Morris dancing sides pouring in from across the country to entertain the crowds.
Creative producer Jim Driscoll said earlier: “We are so excited to be back in Oxford this year, with new venues and partners, and being able to add Morris dancing and workshops again to the festival mix.
“Having had a couple of years to consider our festival model since the planned 2020 festival we are now presenting a mix of partner-promoted and FWO-promoted events."
Folk Weekend Oxford patron Jackie Oates plays a folk gig for families at the Story Museum this afternoon, while Saturday evening features Martin Carthy at the Old Fire Station and Melbourne-based band Charm of Finches at the Holywell Music Room.
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Tomorrow, the Fay Hield Trio play in the afternoon, and the Melrose Quartet play in the evening, both at the Jacqueline du Pre Music Building at St Hilda’s College.
There will also be a series of more intimate gigs in the Blue Room above the St Aldate’s Tavern, featuring local and national acts such as Granny’s Attic, Nick Hart, Angeline Morrison, Folkatron Sessions, Moonaroon, Steph West and Paul Rademeyer, the Boot Band, the Kirals, and a trio of solo acts from Big Ginger Tom Music, Patrick Griffin, Anna Renae, and Craig Joiner.
Mr Driscoll paid tribute to the festival’s previous festival director Cat McGill, who launched the current version of the festival in 2012.
He said when Covid-19 hit arrived in 2020, she was determined that lockdown would not mean the festival would be cancelled completely.
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Mr Driscoll added: “In the space of just five weeks our festival was put online and as many of our performers as possible became internet streamers.
"With over 20 performances on zoom and numerous local performances through Facebook Live, festival goers were treated to three days of music while confined to their homes in lockdown.
"This amazing feat has been recognised with Cat being awarded a British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list last year.”
Visit folkweekendoxford.co.uk.
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