Hello folks,
Welcome to all new joiners after Freshers’ Fair! This is the first of many weekly updates on OUCB and the wider Oxford folk scene. Don’t worry, most weeks they’ll be much shorter than this…
First Rehearsal and Session
This week we have the first Rehearsal of the year! We will be meeting at Cohen Quad from 8–10pm on Tuesdays for most of this term. At rehearsal, we’ll be learning and playing tunes from our brand new folder (more on that below). If that isn’t enough to entice you, there will also be a biscuit break halfway through, where you can sample the finest goods that the Sainsbury’s confectionary aisle has to offer.
After rehearsal, we traditionally head over to the Royal Blenheim for a session until closing. For those unfamiliar with a session, it’s essentially a social gathering where we can chat, get to know each other, and also continue to play tunes in the pub. It’s a great way to meet the rest of the band and learn some cracking new tunes!
New Folder
It’s been a long time coming, but the new folder is complete and you can find it here! The link is also on our website here. Matt and Charlotte have been working very hard on this over the summer and there is a whole host of new tunes in there for us all to learn. You can either print it off now yourself or wait a couple of weeks and we’ll do a larger order at cost, depending on interest.
A Gig on Saturday
On Saturday, we also have our second gig of the year: a Birthday Ceilidh at the King’s Centre in Osney Mead. Gigs are open for anyone in the band to play: all you need to do is sign up on the form below and show up with your instrument(s). If you’re interested in coming along to sample the vibes but don’t yet know the tunes, don’t worry — you don’t have to be plugged in/amplified if you don’t want to be!
Details and sign-up form for the gig below. Returning members, note the new “Leading"?” for if you’d like to lead some sets.
Birthday Ceilidh (18/10/2025)
Location: King’s Centre, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0ES
Set-up: 13:00–14:00
Ceilidh: 14:00–17:00
Pack-up: 17:00–17:30
Sign up here
Facebook Chat
Also, for new joiners: we have a Facebook chat where we all chat about things from the important to the inane. If you would like to be added, please contact any of us via the band address or Committee members’ social media links.
Tune of the Week
The Derby Ram, a fun and weird English folk song performed here by Janice Burns and Jon Doran.
Session Round-up
Each week, I include a list of upcoming sessions in Oxford. They’re all lots of fun, and we really encourage members of the band to go along — just make sure to be respectful of the other musicians!
Sunday (today!): Irish+ at the Half Moon, 8pm
Monday: Singaround at the Half Moon, 8pm
Thursday: Open Session at the Oxford Blue, 7:30pm
Friday: Irish at the Isis Farmhouse, 8pm
See you on Tuesday,
Finn
