The LiveFriday ethos aims to showcase contemporary culture alongside historic masterpieces within the Ashmolean collection and beyond. The unique mix between old and new; historic and contemporary; traditional and cutting-edge has never been more apparent than in the Oxford Folk LiveFriday programme. Organised in association with Folk Weekend Oxford, this LiveFriday is inspired by Oxford’s rich folk heritage and will include workshops, morris dancing, ceilidh dancing, film, and live music performances throughout the museum spaces. With traditional carols from Rising Voices Community Choir and the chance to join in, this evening of festive-infused folk will also form part of the city’s annual Christmas Light Night celebrations.

Folk music in all its guises will be performed throughout the museum:

• A stage dedicated to the Oxford Country Folk Songwriters Circle will give a platform for local performers of contemporary folk music. This stage will include sets by Swindlestock and Olly Wills, the lead singer and songwriter of local alt-country band The Epstein, as well as Tamara Parsons-Baker, Ragdoll and The Black Feathers. Alongside this collective of folk bands, glam-folk artist James Bell will be performing both traditional and contemporary songs including those from his recent, highly acclaimed album Joy And Jealousy.
• Boldwood will marry traditional folk music to the Ashmolean’s collections with a performance of music written on the back of a fan exhibited in the museum collection. More traditional folk-loving visitors will enjoy performances by the young jazz-folk duo Will Pound and Henry Webster as well as the renowned Steph West and Jackie Oates. Having played with the British Paraorchestra for the Paralympics Closing Ceremony, Steph is a well-known harpist, singer and composer. For Oxford Folk LiveFriday, Steph will be giving a solo performance that will take visitors on a journey through traditional English folk music. As if that weren’t all of the hugely talented folk musicians that Oxford has to offer we are also excited to announce that the internationally renowned, Double Folk Award winner, harpist Jackie Oates will also perform at Oxford Folk LiveFriday.
• In addition to the rich examples of folk music, the evening will include live theatrical performances inspired by traditional Mummer plays and Oxford folklore devised by Oxford-based UnderConstruction Theatre Company. Such short, seasonal plays were traditionally performed in public houses and were an early form of street theatre. UnderConstruction Theatre Company’s Mummers plays are lighthearted episodes that explore folklore through mythical and imaginative tales and often tell of good overcoming evil.
• The Ashmolean’s vaulted café will also come alive with visitor participatory ceilidhs for all abilities hosted by the popular Red Ceilidh band. Dance till you drop and they’ll keep playing bringing visitors an evening of high energy dance and music so don’t forget to don those dancing shoes and join in!
• Visitors wanting to participate musically will be delighted to join a workshop with co-curator Cat Kelly to learn a series of locally inspired carols, and will later have the opportunity to join local choir Rising Voices to perform in the Ashmolean’s central Atrium during Oxford Folk LiveFriday. For those that enjoy the quieter side of contemporary folk activity look out for a temporary yarn-bombing installation around the museum. For those that enjoy the quieter side of contemporary folk activity look out for a temporary yarn-bombing installation around the museum.
• Tim Healy, writer and historian will be giving a talk uncovering and exploring the significance of the mythical Green Man around Oxfordshire. The Green Man appears in architecture and crafts through the ages and Tim will be looking at local tales of the Green Man and might uncover his presence in the Ashmolean’s own collection. During the evening, local artist Lorna Marrison will be making drawings of morris dancers amongst other subjects.

More information at www.ashmolean.org/livefriday/2013-11