Welcome to our Spring 2008 programme of events. I very much hope you will find something here to satisfy your taste buds, and that you might also trust our reputation enough by now to take a risk on something new.

The series kicks off with a duo widely regarded as the UK’s most consummate Scottish folk musicians: Aly Bain and Phil Cunningham, both recipients of MBE’s for their services to music, at a venue new to us this season – New Beaconsfield Hall, Shipton Under Wywhwood.

Undoubted highlights this series include a welcome return of the Israeli bassist and bandleader Daphna Sadeh and her band The Voyagers playing their unique brand of Sephardic and Middle Eastern jazz at The North Wall Arts Centre; Robert Plant’s guitarist and producer of Tinariwen, Justin Adams with Gambian griot Juldeh Camara at the Academy; and the mighty Bedouin Jerry Can Band from the Sinai Desert, whose name is derived from their joy of discovering music in the most unlikely of places: the discarded jerry cans and ammo boxes, left behind after Israel's occupation of the Sinai in the Sixties and Seventies.

The series comes to a close just as the Summer begins - on Midsummer’s Eve - with a very special collaboration between Big Village and On Form, the acclaimed contemporary stone sculpture exhibition, set in the dreamy Oxfordshire gardens of Asthall Manor in the Windrush Valley. This features a concert and workshop with Senegalese master kora player Seckou Keita and his band.

Prior to most of the performances, the artists will share their expertise and knowledge of their cultural backgrounds through master classes, workshops, forums, talks, films and food. We are always happy to hear feedback and suggestions, and very much look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon.

Matt Sage
Artistic Director