Wantage presents…
Music in the Marketplace
Music in the Marketplace
- Music in the Marketplace involves buskers in Wantage Marketplace during Saturday mornings May to September
- It is a warm welcome to Saturday shoppers, residents and visitors during the Summer
- It is an opportunity to collect donations and give the cash to local charities
- Started by Howard Hill in 2008
Charities supported by Music in the Marketplace
Manor Road Park Refurbishment, Wantage Food Bank, Wantage Blind Club, October Club (Alzheimer’s support), Thames Valley Air Ambulance, Sobell House, Hen Rescue Centre, Sweatbox, Vale and Downland Museum, Oxfordshire Mind, Maggie’s Centre, Wantage and Grove Street Pastors, Little People (resources for young families), Helen and Douglas House, Wantage Advice Centre, Cancer Research, First Responders, Alzheimer’s Society in Grove (Singing for the brain), Fitzwaryn School, Autism Family Support Oxfordshire
Special Causes
Pandemonium has done a few specials, such as the Haiti Earthquake Appeal, Ebola Crisis, Iraq Crisis, Help for Heroes (Lee Rigby) and the Grenfell fire in London (via Red Cross). Melobo joined forces with the Help save Wantage Hospital. We’ve also joined a few of Ray Collins’ local fund raising events outside of Sainsbury’s.
A letter of support from Ed Vaizey

Letter from Ed Vaisey MP
Music in the Marketplace 2020
PERFORMERS: The Mocktails, Melobo, Whoosya, Troubshort and Turnipseed, Saving Kathren, Cat N Fiddle and the Vineyard Trio.
Fewer performances than usual, as you’d expect, but we managed a few and had great fun in the process.
Music in the Marketplace 2019
PERFORMERS: Wantage Stage Musical (cancelled due to rain), Al Jenkins (cancelled as it looked like rain), Shady Grove String Band, Mocktails, Charm (their singer cancelled), Quintessence, Pandemonium, Hendred Ukulele Group (HUG), Forget Me Not, Vale Islanders, Whoosya, Rose Hips, Wantage Community Church, St Deny’s Bell Ringers, White Horse Folk Festival, Ashna Tribal, The Song Birds and Rumours.
Music in the Marketplace 2018
PERFORMERS: KIVA, Al Jenkins, POSH, Quintessence, Vale Islanders (17th century music, costume and dance), Whoosya, HUG (Hendred Ukulele Group), Shady Grove String Band, Pandemonium, Wantage Community Church, Flower of the Quern, Ashna Tribal, St Denys’ Handbell Ringers, White Horse Folk Festival and Rose Hips Belly Dancers
Music in the Marketplace 2017
PERFORMERS: Hill’s Angels, Shotgun Weather Ferret, Quintessence, Rose Hips Belly Dancers, Sarah Fell, Pandemonium, St Denys’ Handbell Ringers, HUG (Hendred Ukulele Group), Flower of the Quern, Al Jenkins, Brian Staton, Jigsaw Stage Musical, Mad Hatters, KIVA, the Songbirds and White Horse Folk Festival,
Music in the Marketplace 2016
PERFORMERS: Quintessence, Rosehips Belly Dancers, Sarah Fell, Pandemonium, St Denys’ Handbell Ringers, HUG (Hendred Ukulele Group), Flower of the Quern, Al Jenkins, Brian Staton, Mad Hatters, Vale Island Dancers (in 17th century costume), Edward Fitzgibbon, KIVA and the Songbirds.
Music in the Marketplace 2015
PERFORMERS: Quintessence, Rosehips Belly Dancers, Cornucopia Appalachian Dancers, Eloise Rees and Co, Polecat, Dave Oakes, Reuben’s Rocket, Nick Ruck and Sharon Harman, Shotgun Weather Ferret, Sarah Fell, Pandemonium, St Denys’ Handbell Ringers, HUG (Hendred Ukulele Group) and Flower of the Quern
Music in the Marketplace 2014
PERFORMERS: Melobo, Dave Oakes, Cornucopia, Nick Ruck, Brian and Wende, Sarah Fell, Quintessence, Polecat, Howard and The Chicken Lady, Flower of the Quern, Reuben’s Rocket, Trev Williams, Pandemonium, Maddie Pound and Rose Hips.
Music in the Marketplace 2013
PERFORMERS: Howard and friends (various combinations of individuals and groups Melobo, Shotgun Weather Ferret, Pandemonium and Greengage).
Music in the Marketplace 2012
Howard and Friends
Music in the Marketplace 2011
Howard and Friends
Music in the Marketplace 2010
Howard and Friends
Music in the Marketplace 2009
Greengage
Music in the Marketplace 2008
Greengage. Howard Hill formed the folk band “Greengage” (Howard Hill, Justin Greenhalgh, Charlotte Pascoe and Graham Lee) to play Music in the Marketplace in support of events organised by the “Wantage Rejuvenated” committee of the Wantage Chamber of Commerce (headed up by Lou Hatter).
Music in the Marketplace says “Thank You”
Thank You to The Bear Hotel in Wantage who kindly allow us to use their mains electric during our performances.
Thank You to Wantage Town Council for permission to perform.
Thank You to all my fabulous music friends!
Thank You to Lynn Christer (our regular photographer) and other photographers (Annie Hill, Howard Hill (yes, me), David White, Peter Kent, Annette Edwards, David Roberts, Dave Bridge, Jacqueline Hall, Roland Gooday, and Graham Hubbard (who responds well when I shove a video camera in his hands)
Thank You to all the Wantage residents and visitors who donate cash so generously.

Pam and Howard of “Pandemonium” – as featured on the excellent Facebook page “People of Wantage”
Howard Hill
Revised June 2019