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Wantage, Grove & Villages
Folk Music and Dance
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There is a thriving folk scene within Wantage, Grove and surrounding villages.
DANCING: The effervescent Icknield Way Morris Men practice every Wednesday night throughout the winter in Wantage Civic Hall, and dance at pubs around the Vale during the summer. Their favourite pub is the Abingdon Arms in Wantage and they organize community events such as the New Years Eve Ceilidh at Lains Barn.
The energetic Cornucopia perform Appalachian Step Clogging and British Clog dancing and meet at Grove Village Hall every Monday night, than afterwards at The Bell in Grove.
The light-heartedly dignified Vale Islanders perform 17th century dances in the costume of the period. They meet every Tuesday at Charney Bassett, then afterwards at the session in The Chequers. Their dances come from “The English Dancing Master” first published by John Playford in 1651.
SESSIONS: Music sessions and barn dances (ceilidhs) bring the dance teams together. The third Friday in the Month Abingdon Arms session from 9.00pm is usually packed with musicians. You can also find live folk music sessions most Tuesday evenings in the Chequers at Charney Bassett from 9.00pm. The is a “slow session” at the Greyhound at Letcombe Regis every second Sunday afternoon from 3.30pm. This is for the not so confident players, although experienced musicians are always present to help it along.
BARN DANCES: There are several local Barn Dance (ceilidh) bands, such as Bathshebas Wedding, Larkrise Ranters, The Mad Hatters, Pandemonium, Shady Grove String Band, Scratch ‘n’ Sniff and Tumbledown Dick. As well as playing for Weddings, Birthday Parties and fund raisers in the local area, many of these have been instrumental in the setting up of the new English Ceilidh series – White Horse Ceilidhs – stomping Barn Dances in and around Grove.
FESTIVALS: There are two well established festivals run by Kate and Dave Guest - Folk for MS is the first weekend of the Wantage Summer Festival and White Horse Folk Festival is usually the third weekend in August. Both events give you the opportunity to watch, listen to and dance to some of the best folk and traditional artists in the country.
CONCERTS: Evenings of varied entertainment - folk music, songs and recitations are provided by Pandemonium.
CHRISTMAS: Christmas is a particularly busy time with Carols in the Abingdon Arms the last Wednesday before Christmas and the Wantage Mummers annual rendition on Boxing Day in Faringdon (10am), Wantage (12noon) and the Hatchet in Childrey (1pm). There is also a concert put on at Wantage Museum jointly by The Domino Players and Pandemonium.
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Graham Hubbard December 2006 (edited by Howard)
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