MG
I have been an OFG member for over 20 years. In 2005 I heard OFG playing in the foyer of the Co-op in Chipping Norton. There was a real double bass, and I was impressed, so I joined up. I play mainly fiddle, a little bit of accordion (mainly accompaniment oompahs) and a tiny bit of harp (but it takes ages to tune it). There is an amazing variety of different-sounding traditions in the British Isles, and we are working our way through them. We are also known to play American, Canadian, French, Norwegian, Swedish, Galician…and a tune from Goa, although we cheated and got it from an Irish player. Anyway, it’s all good fun, and I’m going to try to stay for another 20 years.
AB
I started teaching myself the guitar and ukulele in 1963, and the double bass
followed in 1966 playing in a folk group and jug band. Since then I have been
interested in getting a tune out of as many instruments as possible! As well as the
OFG (joined in 2004) I play bass, banjo and mandolin for barn dances, harmonica for
Oxford City and University Morris and do solo shows with guitar, harmonica, ukulele
and unusual instruments such as phono fiddle, nose flute and watering can.
TB-R
I’ve been fascinated by musical instruments and by trying to play them all my life. In 1998 I was having lessons with a violin teacher who played both classical and folk. She told me about the new Oxford Fiddle Group and we went to the second ever meeting. It’s been a load of fun ever since.
I enjoy playing for dancing both in a barn dance band and also playing solo for English step-clog. That’s how I met my wife! My “one-man band” Chartered Accountancy practice occupies my worktime.
RES-W
Totally Oxfordian and formerly a medical biochemist turned teacher now retired, my fiddle and recorder playing began when I was about six years old. I was taught in a traditionally classical style and played in small orchestras whilst at school. Folk music caught my interest at university and classical music got left behind.
I have played with the OFG for many years, and with other local bands for ceilidhs, events and concerts. I love the challenge of learning to play new instruments in the folk tradition and now have the English concertina and whistle to add to the fun and enjoyment of playing music.
PD
I joined OFG just after it moved to Headington Quarry Hall – at that time I had just started playing again for the first time since I left school! Haven’t looked back from then!
Whilst I was teaching, we formed a Folk Instrumental Group for students at school and enjoyed playing concerts both at school and in the Community.
When not playing the fiddle, you’ll find me drifting down the River Thames in our skiff!
MM
I have been a member of Oxford Fiddle Group for ages now, even though I don’t play the fiddle. I joined for something creative to do on a Tuesday evening and so continue to wrestle with an English concertina. It’s the traditional folk music that drew me to the group.
My grandmother played Scottish music on the piano on many Sunday afternoons during my childhood in Surrey, and this must have been an early influence. During adolescence I fell for Bob Dylan, Joan Baez, and then Martin Carthy, Shirley Collins and Planxty. Years later I learnt the concertina, enjoying playing dance music from Britain, the US and Ireland. I am part of the Mouse and Trousers ceilidh band, as I particularly like to be immersed in a wall of sound.
The people here are very warm and welcoming, as well as talented.
CE
I was at the OFG on the first night it met and I’ve been part of it ever since, so 20 years plus now. I was quite young when I first started….I think my greatest achievement is getting the fiddlers out of their black uniform (well some of them!) into purple.
I love playing all sorts of music so I also play contemporary folk with a threesome, the Oxford Jesters, (we compose our own songs), B flat baritone horn with the City of Oxford Silver Band, piano with The Oxford Piano Group and descant and tenor recorder with friends. It’s surprising that I have time to do the day jobs, Librarian at two Oxford Colleges.
DH
Friends took my kids and me to Towersey Festival 20 years ago. That began a journey from playing classical viola to playing folk fiddle – I’d had no idea what fun there was to be had!
I joined OFG after meeting another member at a Kathryn Tickell workshop, shortly after moving to Oxford in 2008. It’s opened my mind to new ways of learning and playing, and a whole new world of music-making. I play folk, classical and other things on the fiddle, and also enjoy playing piano.
KL
I’m a Business Development Manager, a yoga enthusiast, seasonal gardener and part-time musician. My family life was filled with music and from a young age I took recorder, piano and violin lessons, playing with family members in small ensembles and amateur orchestras. After an extended break my beloved fiddle emerged once again and I was inspired to join OFG after seeing them play at an Oxfordshire festival.
Since 2007 I’ve performed with them at home and abroad and have also joined smaller music circles. I love the freedom, story-telling, emotion and history of folk music. Kathryn lives near Oxford.
CM
I have been a member of Oxford Fiddle Group from the start. I live in Oxford and I have many musical friends here. I play some fiddle with the group, but my main role with OFG is to accompany the whole group on guitar, and sometimes banjo or bouzouki. I also provide some vocal.
I play and sing with various other musical groups, including the Mad Marston Hares, a Celtic/American crossover trio, Mouse and Trousers, a ceilidh dance band, the Hole in the Head Gang, a bluegrass band, and the Ozarks, an Americana band. For the US traditional material I also play dobro and mandolin. And I help organise an ‘old-time’ session and attend other music sessions locally. I hope that I bring a variety of influences to OFG from these experiences.
