Jackie Oates and John Spiers bring festive folk magic to Nettlebed

Award-winning folk duo Jackie Oates and John Spiers return to Nettlebed Folk Club on 7 December with A Midwinter’s Night, a seasonal celebration of traditional songs, carols and acoustic music.

Christmas gets a folk twist when contemporary folk duo Jackie Oates and John Spiers bring their acclaimed festive show, A Midwinter’s Night, to Nettlebed Folk Club on Monday 7 December.

The multi-award-winning musicians’ seasonal performance has become something of a Christmas tradition, blending traditional carols, songs and tunes from England and beyond with beautiful arrangements for voice, fiddle, viola and melodeon.

There is a lovely local connection, too. Jackie and John began playing together spontaneously during guest appearances at Nettlebed Folk Club, discovering a shared love of music, particularly material connected with Oxfordshire. They have performed as a duo since 2016.

What began during lockdown as a homemade Christmas concert, filmed in Jackie’s living room and around Oxfordshire, has since grown into a much-loved annual tour. Their 2024 album of the same name developed from those performances, celebrating the joyful and reflective moods of midwinter.

For their 2026 tour, the pair reunite following busy autumns with their other musical projects. John has been performing with Bellowhead, while Jackie has been touring her new collaborative album with Belinda O’Hooley.

Audiences can look forward to an intimate, uplifting evening of old songs, winter traditions and beautiful acoustic music, offering a welcome alternative to the commercial Christmas rush.

A Midwinter’s Night takes place at The Village Club, Nettlebed, RG9 5DD, on Monday 7 December 2026. Doors open at 7pm and tickets cost £19 per person.

To book, call 01628 636620 or visit nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk.

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