There are a lot of live music events in Abingdon, many of them in pubs, but also others at places such as the Guildhall, Unicorn Theatre and the Amey Theatre at Abingdon School.
Many of these events are only advertised within the pub itself on noticeboards or blackboards, or by following every pub on facebook or twitter. Most people in Abingdon don’t visit pubs regularly or follow every pub on social media so have no idea that most of these events are happening. To help with this, I have created a shared Google calendar to show these events. You can access it by clicking Live Music Diary at the top of this page. I have only just started adding events, so not all events are listed yet.
I will endeavour to visit pubs, look at web sites, facebook and twitter and try to find out what is going on to keep it up to date, but it will be easier if the pubs, bands or organisers can email details to me at info@abingdonbeer.co.uk.
Abingdon is full of talented musicians including world renowned jazz Saxophonist George Haslam who leads the Abingdon Swingtime Band (who can be seen at the Brewery Tap‘s beer festival on 24th March); homegrown talent Adam Matthews singer/songwriter/guitarist and member of Abingdon band Full Circle (will be performing covers and some of his own material at the Nags Head on 12th April). Other local bands include The Happy Men, and Nameless. Jon Spiers from Spiers & Boden and BBC2 folk award winning band Bellowhead who’s last album was number 1 in the UK independent charts and number 16 in the overall UK charts, was brought up in Abingdon and went to school at John Masons (you just missed Bellowhead performing in Oxford a few weeks ago). Folk at the Unicorn brings in some of the UK’s top folk performers to Abingdon. If you want to take part in the music, there are open mic sessions at several pubs including an acoustic session at the Kings Head & Bell every monday evening, and the Abingdon Traditional Morris Dancers and friends often have sessions in local pubs where they welcome other musicians to join in. The Skittle Alley has evenings of local bands and is so named because it started out using the Skittle Alley at the back of the Horse & Jockey pub in Bath Street, but kept its name after the pub closed in 2002, their next event is at the Royal British Legion Club in Spring Road on 16th March.
Pubs that have regular live music events include:
- The Nags Head
- Cross Keys
- White Horse
- Brewery Tap
- Back Swan
- Prince of Wales in Shippon
- Waggon & Horses in Culham
- Railway Inn in Culham
- Royal British Legion Club
- Conservative Club
- Unicorn Theatre
Apologies if I have missed anyone out.
Also check out ‘The Local’ on Abingdon’s own internet radio station Abingdon Xtra, which showcases local unsigned Oxfordshire bands.