Saturday 27 January 2024 at 19.30
St Andrew's Church, Linton Road, Oxford OX2 6UG

Programme:
Suppé, Pique Dame Overture
Rimsky-Korsakov, Christmas Eve Suite
Tchaikovsky, Symphony no 1 "Winter Daydreams"

Conducted by Dwight Pile-Gray

Tickets are available at the door, £11, concessions £10 (under-18s free). For more details see www.stgilesorchestra.org.uk

Oxford Improvisers Collective presents Party Pieces; pieces for small instrumental groups, including freely improvised and composed pieces, and a performance of John White's Drinking and Hooting Machine (2007).

An inclusive evening of inspirational music-making.

Following its success last year, OSJ Music for Autism presents another inclusive concert, featuring two amazing pianists Derek Paravicini, Ashleigh Turley and other young musicians across the spectrum of neurodiversity

“Rising stars of the folk scene” – BBC Radio 3

Owen Spafford and Louis Campbell (Sam Sweeney) met as as part of the first cohort of the National Youth Folk Ensemble. Since forming their duo in 2018, they have been nominated for the BBC Young Folk Award and been played on BBC Radio 2 and 3, as well as RTE1. A shared musical ‘true north’ and lasting friendship enable the duo to make two instruments seemingly sound as one; creating subtle and emotive textures that re-calibrate the fiddle and guitar duo idiom.

Their debut album ‘You, Golden’ (04/11/22) manages to envelop influences from contemporary classical, post-rock, ECM Jazz and bluegrass cohesively and organically into English folk music with a combination of traditional and contemporary material which is sonically indistinguishable in origin. It was recorded entirely live in a barn in the Oxfordshire countryside in just two and a half days and has seen remarkable critical acclaim for such a new act.

The duo’s live performances present an extraordinary sense of musical intimacy, covering the full dynamic spectrum, with as much of themselves being put into every note as possible. For technically advanced young musicians they hold an unusual allegiance to the beauty of simplistic melodies, putting their musical point across as clearly and honestly as then can.

“Rising stars of the folk scene” - Katie Derham, BBC Radio 3

“Beautiful, swirling, modern English folk music” - Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2

“Gorgeous Music” - Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, RTE 1

It has been five years since the last offering from the popular husband and wife duo Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman and their latest album proves a ‘tour de force’ of musical and lyrical surprises.

‘Almost A Sunset‘, their seventh album, is a collection of thoughtful, varied songs that range from re-worked traditional ballads to the off-piste storytelling style that has become their trademark.

Recorded at Devon-pace in their studio on Dartmoor over the course of a year, the couple explore favourite characters, childhood memories and deep emotion to pull together a collection of songs that demonstrate their musical versatility, a sharp interest in the world around them and their own unique perspective on the folk genre.

Duos come and duos go, and some nurture and fine tune their art and watch it grow into something totally original and captivating. For over a quarter of a century Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman’s partnership has proved personal, permanent and pivotal.

From their early days in folk supergroup ‘Equation ‘ through to their new album this multi award-winning couple continue to exude timeless class with their exquisite brand of traditional and contemporary acoustic music.

‘The couple’s intimacy and strength of passion on stage have won them many fans and an enviable reputation as ‘songwriters par excellence’– fRoots

“It’s folk music for the modern age.” – The Telegraph – London

“These guys are something very special” – Acoustic Magazine

“Rightly regarded as one of the most engaging folk / acoustic duos on the circuit” – Rock n’ Reel

Introducing You Talk Too Much

Get ready to immerse yourself in a mesmerizing blend of sound and poetry as we proudly present You Talk Too Much, a sensational collaboration project between the exceptionally talented Daniel Ma’ani and Markus Reyhani. As they embark on their early 2024 Oxford Tour, we invite you to join us at the iconic Old Fire Station, where their magic is set to unfold.

At the heart of You Talk Too Much lies a profound connection, a shared passion for artistic expression, and a dedication to meaningful themes. This project is the brainchild of two friends who have beautifully amalgamated soundscapes with spoken word poetry. The result? A sonic journey that will touch your soul and ignite your imagination.

Spoken Word Meets Music
If you’re a lover of spoken word and music, this is the event you’ve been waiting for. “You Talk Too Much” crafts a unique experience that takes you on a voyage through the intricate emotions and stories woven into their performances. With a brilliant fusion of rhythm and language, they evoke deep emotions and inspire thought-provoking reflections.

Daniel Ma’ani: The Poet
Daniel Ma’ani is the mastermind behind the poetic aspect of “You Talk Too Much.” His words are like windows to the human experience, offering a poetic lens through which to explore the complexities of life, love, and the world we inhabit. His performances are not just recitations but heart-touching, soul-stirring journeys into the depths of human emotions.

Markus Reyhani: The Musician
Markus Reyhani is the musical genius of this duo. With his mastery of various instruments and soundscapes, he provides the perfect musical backdrop to Daniel’s profound words. Markus weaves together melodies and harmonies that breathe life into the poetry, making each performance a symphony of emotions and sensations.

Support from Joshua Jones
Joshua Jones (he/him) is a queer, autistic writer and artist from Llanelli, south Wales. He co-founded Dyddiau Du, a NeuroQueer art and literature space in Cardiff. His fiction and poetry have been published by Poetry Wales, Gutter, and others. He is a Literature Wales Emerging Writer, 2023, and is currently working with the British Council to connect Welsh and Vietnamese queer writers. His debut short story collection, Local Fires, was published November 2023 by Parthian Books.
He will be supporting You Talk Too Much with extracts from his latest short story collection along with spoken word poetry.

Join Green Arts Oxfordshire Network to get certified as Carbon Literate, a certification recognised by the United Nations!

What is Carbon Literacy Training?

Carbon Literacy Training equips learners with the knowledge, skills, motivation and confidence to embed positive climate action in your work and personal lives. Our course is catered to Oxfordshire’s creative community, helping learners to measurably reduce the carbon cost of creative projects and creating a cultural shift towards climate justice and a zero-carbon future.

Is this course right for me?

Our course has been designed for independent creatives, freelancers, artists, writers, performers, members of community groups and staff and volunteers from cultural organisations and venues.

This session has been funded by the Vale of White Horse District Council Climate Action fund, so is open to anyone based in the Vale of White Horse area in Oxfordshire.

To access this training, please join the network (for free) by signing the Green Arts Charter.

Spaces are limited. Please let us know if you can no longer attend, so that we can offer the space to someone else.

Who are we?

Green Arts Oxfordshire Network (GAON) exists to unite Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency. We believe that a better future is possible, and that we as cultural leaders need to create the change we want to see in the world.

What's the format of Carbon Literacy Training?

Our training is a full day of learning made up of 3 parts:

Part 1: Online e-learning Platform

This section increases your understanding of the science behind climate change, and the global and local impacts. It is self-directed, including videos and quizzes, and is completed online in your own time ahead of part 2. We expect this to take around 2 - 3 hours.

Part 2: Online Training Session with a Carbon Literacy Trainer

This section outlines what we need to do as a society to reduce carbon emissions, introducing national plans, local initiatives and high impact actions that you can take, in the context of the creative sector. This is an interactive session including group discussions and opportunities to ask questions. The session will last 3.5 - 4 hours inclusive of a 30-minute break.

Part 3: Participant Details Forms

The final part of the training involves you developing an action pledge both as an individual and with a wider group, in order to reduce carbon emissions. This section should take around 1 hour to complete.

Accessibility

If you have any access requirements, please let us know when you book your training session. We have live transcriptions available to support learners during our training sessions. This is available to request anonymously before the session through our short pre-course questionnaire.

What's the impact?

The sustainability consultancy firm Jacobs did a study on the effectiveness of Carbon Literacy training, and discovered that there is between a 5 - 15% carbon saving per person for those that undertake the training. A study at the University of Leeds also found that Carbon Literacy is an effective way of instigating lasting change.

Testimonials from GAON Carbon Literacy Training Participants

“The trainer was very passionate and inspirational. The training has really opened my eyes to what changes I can make as an individual and artistic director of a small charity. Thank you and please keep up the great work!”

“Thank you Green Arts Oxfordshire for providing such a thorough, well-informed, accessible training! I feel the training helped us gather more accurate info about our carbon footprint, and gave a lot of useful insights on how to reduce it. Everyone should take this course!”

“This is a very informative and helpful introduction for anyone in our times.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed the training. I learnt a lot and it helped me clarify what direction I should take next in my commitment to doing something about climate change. It left me feeling positive, which is something I rarely feel when our future can appear overwhelmingly disastrous.”

* This session may be postponed if we do not secure 15 bookings.

Acknowledgments

We gratefully acknowledge that this cohort of training has been funded by the Vale of White Horse District Council Climate Action Fund.

The development of this course was supported by Oxford City Council's Community Impact Fund, as well as Fusion Arts, Tandem Collective, Oxford Friends of the Earth, CAG Oxfordshire and anonymous donors.

Do you wonder how your creative practice could be more friendly to and respectful of the environment?

Seeking alternative ways to print your artist publications or travel for your cultural event?

Which vocabulary to use to communicate your interest and involvement with sustainable practice?

Get inspired for the year ahead by joining this gathering of creatives and artists interested in sustainability and working towards climate justice. Bring your works in progress and ideas to share, or come along to listen, experience a sense of community and connect with local creatives. We look forward to welcoming you.

Who are we?

Green Arts Oxfordshire Network (GAON) unites Oxfordshire’s artists and cultural organisations in their work to tackle the climate & ecological emergency. We believe that a better future is possible, and that we as cultural leaders need to create the change we want to see in the world.

Who is this for?

Both professional and hobbyist creatives of all kinds, (including writers, artists, performers, curators, musicians, photographers and more) are invited to join this community gathering and exchange free-flowing ideas. You do not need to already be creating 'green' artwork to join the conversation!

Accessibility:

This gathering will be in the Old Fire Station's Studio. Please enter the building at 40 George Street via the foyer. There is level entry into the foyer of the Old Fire Station, and step-free access to the Studio via a lift. There is an accessible toilet on the same floor.

Getting there:

We've put together some information that we hope will help you to reduce emissions and frustrations when visiting museums, theatres and arts venues in Oxford city centre, perhaps even make your journey part of the fun! Take a look at our at-a-glance guide at the bottom of this page, with more detailed information here.

Photograph by Johanna Tagada Hoffbeck

For over 25 years now Kiki and Carmelo have been touring their spellbinding acoustic live show across the UK and Europe. Performing in this stripped back fashion allows each of their exceptional talents to shine through and create a wonderful and warm sense of intimacy for the audience.

Kiki has recently celebrated her 55th year in the music industry and has cemented her status as one of the UK’s finest and most revered vocalists, always moving forward with the music that she creates with Carmelo. Kiki says Carmelo is her favourite guitarist, and he co-writes and produces all their songs.

The duo’s latest critically acclaimed album THE LONG RIDE HOME was released in 2022, and is full of haunting, emotional and stunning songs that will hopefully please their army of fans.

Join Kiki and Carmelo for an acoustic journey of their songs and stories which also include some tracks from the new album, unique covers of songs by artists such as Kate Bush and Frank Sinatra and of course Kiki’s own hits “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”, “I Got The Music In Me”, “Loving & Free” and the stunning “Amoureuse”.

https://www.kikiandcarmelo.com/

BBC Four's Old Grey Whistle Test: For One Night Only. She's Smiling Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wiS4w7xQeo
Digging In The Dirt - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V-xAATQN4FY
The Long Ride Home - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T266DuZYMsQ