SATURDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
A Saturday Gate Pass provides entrance to the Festival to enjoy the family activities, music and performances across the site from 10.00am until close. The Gate Pass costs just £10 per person.
Tickets can be purchased here:
PLEASE NOTE – Our Festival is jam packed with activities included in the Gate Pass, but there are a couple of extra treats that do have a small additional charge. These are:
Robin Hood in the Great Barn at 12.30pm (Family Performance)
The Tempest in the Great Barn at 2.30pm (Family Performance)
Ian Prowse & Amsterdam Acoustic in the Great Barn at 9.00pm
Please see the ‘Separately Ticketed Performances’ page on the website for full details and tickets for these performances
Discounts are available for Group Bookings. Children under 2 are free and don’t require any ticket.
What’s included in a Saturday Gate Pass
Live Music
Dirty Old Folkers
Tent by the Pond
8.15pm – 9.00pm
Juxtaposing Folk with Comedy, Cabaret and Political satire, Dirty Old Folkers cook up a fine brew of a show. Theirs is a pick ‘n’ mix sweetie bag of musical genius, stretching across an ever expanding repertoire – Irish Folk – Bluegrass – Blues – a quick detour to Jazz – Classical Music – even a nod to Black Sabbath.
They sing of the Bankers’ Bonus system, a sonnet to the Coalition Government, and an Ode to Theology. Deeply rooted in the urban jungle in which they inhabit, Dirty Old Folkers picket against the UK’s industrial demise. Oh, and did someone mention a dancing Panda and Death…?
Its folk, but not as you know it. One not to be missed!
Sam Twigg and the Sometimes Band
Hayloft Bar
7.45pm – 8.15pm
Original folk songs of love, fury, apocalypse, and wine-soaked compromise. Need we say more?
The Shapes
Tent by the Pond
7.00pm – 7.45pm
The Shapes are a nine piece band from Oxford UK. They write and play a unique upbeat indie sound that has received wide acclaim in the media.
They have been performing up and down the country in venues and festivals for the past 8 years. After several EP releases they have now brought out a full album entitled ‘Live in the Moment’
They sing of love, loss and sometimes try to provide a social commentary and play a unique upbeat indie sound that has received wide acclaim in the media.
‘You wonder if perhaps The Shapes ran the world it would be a far better place’ Nightshift Magazine
The Ragged Hearts
Hayloft Bar
6.15pm – 7.00pm
The Ragged Hearts are an alt-folk band based in East Anglia (UK) originally from New York and North East UK, blending influences from soul, blues, world and folk traditions to write songs that are personal and vulnerable, socially aware and passionate.
Whether playing front rooms or festivals, or entertaining a pub with unusual covers and crowd pleasers, their unique sound makes for a memorable experience.
Boogie Me
Great Barn
5.30pm – 6.15pm
Boogie Me are a 15 piece Rhythm, Blues and Boogie band. Formed in 2005 by Jon Lane, the band comprises experienced players who have cut their teeth with numerous bands and orchestras. Drawn together with a collective love of R&B, Soul, Blues and obviously, Boogie, the band continues to grow from strength to strength.
With a set list that includes songs recorded by Ray Charles, Solomon Burke, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Dolly Parton, Amy Winehouse, Nina Simone, LaBelle, Sam Brown, The Commitments, Blues Brothers, James Brown, Jools Holland and others, there really is something for everyone…
If you like your Blues swinging then this is a band you’re going to want to see more of…
Paul McClure
Tent by the Pond
4.45pm – 5.30pm
If you haven’t heard of Paul McClure, then its about time you remedy that. A UK Americana singer songwriter, full-time touring Troubadour, storyteller, road-warrior, raconteur and serial house concert performer from Rutland, England signed to Clubhouse Records.
“Remarkable songwriter… We should all work on helping make him the star he deserves to be.” – Mojo
“the warmth and confidence that Paul McClure brings to the stage means he’s always a compelling entertainer” Americana UK (2019)
Paul McClure’s songwriting style takes inspiration from the greatest of sources, from Townes Van Zandt to Loudon Wainwright III, Elvis Costello to Ryan Adams. A wonderful lyrical balance of wit, pathos, compassion and strength combines with an ear for timeless melody to prove the songs more than strong enough to carry the weight.
With acclaimed performances at many UK festivals including Glastonbury, Ramblin’ Roots, Y-Not, Truck and Cambridge Folk Festival and now The Great Barn Festival!
The Cotswold Voices Community Choir
Great Barn
4.00pm – 4.45pm
The Cotswold Voices is a vibrant pop choir, established in 2010 by musical director, songwriter and teacher, Joe Moore, with over 80 members from the Oxfordshire, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire area. Excelling in original, tailor-made arrangements of well-known pop and musical hits, they rehearse and perform with energy and a smile.
With everything taught by ear, no sheet music and no auditions, The Cotswold Voices is a completely universal community choir, welcoming all, regardless of experience or ability.
May Tumi
Hayloft Bar
3.30pm – 4pm
“May’s heartfelt lyrics and glimmering, soaring vocals are captivating in their directness” Dave Gilyeat, BBC Introducing Oxford.
Deeply personal and instantly relatable, May Tumi’s songs draw on her experiences of love, loss and everything in between. With her beautiful voice and influences including Sandy Denny, Joni Mitchell and Carole King, May is a unique performer. She released her self-titled debut album last Autumn.
David Mitchell
Hay Loft Bar
2.30pm – 3.00pm
David Mitchell describes his guitar playing as “Folk-Classical fingerstyle”, combining these genres to create a beautiful and unique take on some well known pieces and traditional folk tunes as well as performing his own original compositions.
Alongside performing solo, David is also one half of West Country folk duo “Mitchell and Vincent” as well as in the “Monkey See Monkey Do Ceilidh Band”. He also enjoys depping with other bands and musicians near and far.
In addition to being a talented musician, David trained as a luthier at Newark and Sherwood College and uses a Classical Guitar that he crafted himself. He also plays other stringed instruments as well as whistles and recorders.
David has enjoyed performing solo guitar at a range of lovely venues including Banbury Folk Club, Wessex Acoustic Folk Club, Fivehead Folk & Acoustic Music Night, VegFest Bristol as well as many other public and private events.
Looking ahead, David is currently working on his much anticipated debut solo album, ‘Contours’, due for release later in 2024.
Seven O’Clock Junkies
Tent by the Pond
2.00pm – 2.30pm
The Seven O’ Clock Junkies is the alias for Darryl Everitt a British pop singer/songwriter who was possibly born in the wrong decade and definitely in the wrong country.
Blending Californian chime of the Byrds with the vocal hook of every great British invasion band of the 60’s, the Seven O’ Clock Junkies deliver a storming set of foot tapping covers and originals.
Mizike
Tent by the Pond
1.00pm – 1.30pm
So what is Mizike Singing? Well, it’s an infectious blend of music from Africa and Europe that uses urban and ethnic styles and rhythms. It’s a very different way to use your voice and your body – focusing on movement, learning songs by ear and learning alternative and exciting new vocal techniques. But above all, it’s about the amazing sound of polyphony – the effect of lots of voices singing different parts together, building up intricate rhythms and harmonies.
Bad Uke Rising
Hayloft Bar
12.30pm – 1.00pm
Fun with a Small Guitar thingy 🙂
Pandemonium
Tent by the Pond
11.45am – 12.30pm
Pandemonium is a versatile folk music group based in Wantage, Oxfordshire.
The members of Pandemonium sing and play a variety of instruments, including: melodeon, recorder, English concertina, bodhran (Irish hand drum), guitar, bass, violin, piccolo, Irish banjo and mandolin. Their repertoire includes tunes, monologues, recitations, and poetry – serious and light-hearted – and they sing many popular songs.
The emphasis is always on fun and informality.
The Gillies
Hayloft Bar
11.15am – 11.45am
The Gillies – Susan Turner and Mark Evans, are an award winning Americana/Folk singer-songwriter duo, influenced by artists such as Gillian Welch, Dave Rawlings and Sarah Jarosz.
“Music for your graveside is one way they like to describe their songs. Their dark musical bare bones style is the sound of steel-strung and tenor guitars weaving together. It flits between the ethereal and gritty down-home reality, understated melodies which pull you into their haunting songs of love, loss and tangled relationships.”
David Gibb
Tent by the Pond
10.15am – 11.00am
David Gibb is on a one-man mission to make brilliant, engaging and high quality music for families. Guaranteed to have both parents and children singing along in no time, this is music that the whole family can enjoy together.
“prepare to be carried away with the music… packed full of catchy, toe tapping numbers” The Guardian
David Gibb is a musician, theatre maker and author who has spent the last 10 years working with children and families. In 2011 he received the highly commended prize at the Young Story Teller of the Year Awards and in the same year was nominated for a BBC Radio 2 Folk Award. Since then he has gone onto to release four albums for families, written music and songs for numerous theatre projects and had his music played on radio stations all over the world.
Performances
The Story Explorers
The StoryExplorers is a dynamic story-telling performance suitable for all ages.
Nellie and Nathaniel have travelled round the world collecting story-ideas for their StoryGenerator. Watch as they crank the starter handle and bring their much loved machine to life. From out of its secret compartments – The Cabinet of Curiosities, The Book of Wishes and even The Box of Disasters their story-ideas fuse to create tantalising tales, monstrous myths and flabbergasting fables. And through the bedazzling power of The Transmission Helmet The StoryExplorers will offer these up for your delight. And if the StoryGenerator goes KAPUT! (as sometimes it does) the ever-helpful Mr Mender is on hand to lend a hand and put things right.
The StoryExplorers is a dynamic, vibrant and original family performance created by James Richardson of Angel Heart Theatre and Pip Jones of Skylarker. A fiesta of engaging stories, colourful characters and captivating puppetry that will amaze and ignite the imagination.
The Imaginarium
Think of a world where anything might be inside – where any extraordinary act might be on show. Enter the wonderful world of the Imaginarium
Uncle Tacko’s Flea Circus!
8 highly trained fleas perform incredible feats of strength and agility in front of your very eyes – see Madam Flea-Flea soar over the heads of the audience, marvel at the might of Hercu-fleas and thrill to the daring Fleavil Kinevil as he is fired across the ring from the mouth of a huge canon!
Spikes’ Punch & Judy
A traditional, yet alternative take on the slapstick fun of Punch & Judy. In this 25-minute show, set inside a traditional puppet booth, everyone can laugh along with the many misdemeanours of Mr Punch and Ms Judy, along with their usual adversaries. Grandparents, parents and children alike will delight at all their merry misadventures – from stolen sizzling sausages, to a silly snapping crocodile.
This is an old artform made new, as Spike Bones reacts and interacts with whoever and whatever Mr Punch spies, leaving all the generation to agree “That’s the way to do it!”
Uncle Tacko & Captain Ginger
A talking monkey? You won’t believe the children when they tell you what they’ve seen!
Family Activities
David Gibb Song writing workshop
A chance for children to embark on a magical musical adventure to remember with a workshop from award winning song writer and performer David Gibb!
Create your very own song, exploring lyrics, melody, rhythm and more. At the end of the session, perform the song and wow your family and friends.
A fantastic way to introduce children to the concept of creating their own music, as well as developing confidence in creative writing through songs.
The College of Chivalry
The College of Chivalry are a family orientated reenactment group spreading from 1315 to 1445.
We deliver hands on history from the gruesome tales of battles and weapons to the sophistication of weaving, embroidery and calligraphy.
Marvel at our archers shooting on command with medieval longbows. Or choose your Knight to fight in our spectacles. Gaze as our sharp sword demonstrations display the devastating effects of sword cuts and thrusts or try on our armour.
All enclosed within our living history area we invite you to step back in history and experience the measly medieval times, but watch your step not all of the squires are house trained.
Armaleggen
Armaleggan is a Border Morris side with added Grrr…
“Apocalyptic Border Morris”
A contemporary Border Morris side made up of mixed genders, mixed ages and a mixture of tradition and innovation.
We practice at Cumnor Village Hall just outside Oxford, and dance all over Oxfordshire, the Cotswolds and beyond.
Why Armaleggan? – the concept was to attempt to create a side in which younger people would be prepared to participate in and give their energy to The Morris, it had to be “explosive” to compete with other more modern pastimes yet still respecting historic folk traditions.
A firm Festival favourite.
Tiny Wildlings
Tiny Wildlings is an outdoor playgroup which adopts a forest school ethos, encouraging pre-school aged children to learn through child-led play. Come and join in the fun next to the Childrens Tent
Our wildlings can cook up a storm in the mud kitchen, hunt for bugs in the grounds, get wet and messy with some water play or create some beautiful crafts to take home.
Circus Skills Workshops
Drop in to a circus workshop. Learn how to juggle, spin a plate or a diablo. Whether you are 5 or 105, come and join in the fun
Silent Disco
Need we say more, what’s not to love about a silent disco.
The disco will be running across the weekend from the Children’s Tent.
Childrens Tent
There will be plenty of activities running throughout the day from the Children’s Tent with Arts & Craft for all ages.
Pond Dipping
Join the National Trust for a spot of pond dipping as you investigate the wildlife in the Great Barn pond
All nets and equipment will be provided
Great Barn Festival 