St AGNES FOUNTAIN at The National Centre for Early Music YORK

Event information

St. Agnes Fountain
(Chris Leslie, Chris While, Julie Matthews)
Affectionately known as 'The Aggies' the beloved 'St Agnes Fountain' have toured every December since 2001 bar one, and we all know which one that was!
Now they are ready to tread the tinsel boards again in December 2025, bringing their Christmas cheer to the nation.
Christmas, as they say, starts with St. Agnes Fountain. Presenting carols with a curve.

It’s the start of the Christmas season and that means another Christmas show from St Agnes Fountain. Since their first get together, to record the eponymous St Agnes Fountain album in 2001 they’ve brought musical invention and laughter to the star-dust atmosphere of the season.
Founder member David Hughes died in 2021 but Chris, Chris and Julie are keeping the Christmas Aggie spirit alive, still touring as a trio, this year celebrating 25 years together with new material, old Aggie classics and a doff of the fedora to David.
Their albums accompany the putting up of a thousand Christmas trees throughout Britain and it is, without question, the trio’s magical live performances that have endeared them to an ever-growing audience.

In the band are: -
Chris While vocals, guitar, bodhran, dulcimer, banjo, darbuka and percussion and
Julie Matthews vocals, piano, guitar, accordion and gazouki
The duo have been nominated ten times in the BBC Folk Awards for 'Best Song' 'Best Duo' and 'Best Live Act' categories and they won Best Duo in 2009. In 2024 they celebrated 30 years together. They are the longest lasting female duo in the country and celebrated with a brand-new album and an extensive tour of the UK as well as numerous summer festival performances.
Chris and Julie are more powerful and popular than ever in their 31st year as a duo and remain at the very top of their game.
Chris Leslie is a multi-instrumentalist, singer and songwriter from Oxfordshire UK. Primarily known as a member of Fairport Convention, he has toured and recorded with, amongst others: Steve Ashley, the Albion Band, Jez Lowe, Ian Anderson, Chris While and Julie Matthews, Whippersnapper, Alan Stivell, Feast of Fiddles and St. Agnes Fountain.
Chris has also provided music for several Radio Four plays and classic serials.
His fiddle playing has been heard on the TV series Heartbeat, Midsommer Murders and Billy Connolly’s World Tour of Scotland.
Chris plays: Fiddle, Mandolin, Tenor Guitar, Bouzouki, Ukulele, Banjo, Oud, Whistle and Native American Flute and anything else he can lay his hands on!!