Tandem Takeover: Starling Sessions at the Sheldonian

Event Information

Tandem Collective and OCM present a day of music and workshops followed by an early evening show celebrating the joy of community and connection through music in an historic Oxford landmark.

Tandem are taking over The Sheldonian to mark four years of Starling Sessions, a global folk community orchestra born of Tandem’s festival days and grown to be one of Oxford’s most treasured and joyous live acts. Joining them is an eclectic line-up of performers from around the world.

DAYTIME LINE-UP

The Sheldonian Theatre
1pm-4pm
Free - no tickets needed

Tarik Beshir // fresh recreations of Egyptian Maqam music from this tremendously gifted singer and skilled oud player.

Oxford Timorese Community Band // traditional tebe music and dance from East Timor, Southeast Asia. Performed by a musical ensemble with a troupe of dancers, Tebe music connects the community with ancestors and nature.

Nostos Greek Polyphonic Group // spirited folk songs from Greece and further afield, including Balkan and Georgian music.

Starling Sessions workshop // come and sing in the beautiful Sheldonian Theatre! The warm and welcoming Starling Sessions team will teach you new songs by ear (no prior singing experience needed) - raise the beautiful roof of this famous venue in an unforgettable workshop.

The Nest
1pm-4pm
Free - tickets to be available soon

Workshops and food can also be enjoyed at Oxford’s newest venue, The Nest, just a 15 minute walk from The Sheldonian. More details coming soon.


EVENING SHOW:
The Sheldonian Theatre
6pm (5.30pm doors)
Book your tickets (£10 / £15 / £25)

Starling Sessions
Starling Sessions is a global folk community orchestra, exploring traditional music from around the world through the people of Oxford. Each member of the 35+ strong band brings a song with them to share and together we create a musical mosaic of the city.

Their music ranges from the wistful longing for distant landscapes, to the tubthumping rowdiness of feasting and revelry, bound by universal themes like love, loss, labour, and kinship. Join us for their joyful, moving and life-affirming celebration of songs that have transcended borders and found a home here.

The Sacred Funk 4tet

A new all-star band playing ancient music for modern times. Featuring two-time Grammy Award-winning percussionist Lekan Babalola and acclaimed British clarinettist Kate Luxmoore, the quartet blends ancient, spiritual music and Yoruba rhythms from West Africa with jazz harmonies, and improvisation.

They delve into a culture and music which, during the Transatlantic slave trade, was exported from West Africa across the New World, leading to an explosion in musical creativity and acting as a foundation for some of the most enduring music genres, including samba in Brazil, and rumba in Cuba.

Lekan Babalola has worked with Ernest Ranglin (Jamaican reggae guitarist), Tony Allen (one of the founders of Afrobeat), and Ali Farka Touré (pioneer of African desert blues). Global media has given him rave reviews for his percussive ‘wizardry’ and infectious grooves.

Kate Luxmoore is a clarinetist whose musical journey has spanned classical to folk, afrobeat and jazz. She’s worked with artists such as Tony Allen, Lucky Ranku, and Herlin Riley.

The exceptional talents of guitarist Ruebin Reynolds and double bassist Josh Vadiveloo make up the quartet.

“Creating new music from ancient melodies drawing on African diaspora styles with a combination of clarinets, percussion, bass and guitars.” Kate Luxmoore

“Jazz highlife with a real old skool warmth” Max Reinhardt (Radio 3 and Soho Radio)

All events are family friendly and workshops are open to all no matter what level of music making experience you have. Children under 18yrs old must be accompanied by an adult at all times).

AFTER PARTY
The Nest
8.15-11pm
Book your tickets (£5)

Natty Hi-Fi
Oxford's No1 Roots Reggae Sound System brings some impeccable vibes to keep the celebration going into the evening. Join us for the party! Limited tickets available.

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Supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Supported with funding from Oxford City Council.
Also supported by:
Sheldonian Theatre 350th Anniversary Community Engagement scheme (STACE)
National Lottery Community Fund
Oxford Community Action
Stanton Ballard Charitable Trust
Oxford Refugee Health Initiative
OCM is a PRS Foundation Talent Development Network Partner supported by PPL and an affiliate Organisation of Oxford Brookes University.


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