There is a thriving folk scene within Wantage, Grove and surrounding villages.
Wantage Folk Dancing
The effervescent Icknield Way Morris Men dance Cotswold Morris. They practise on Wednesday evenings through the winter at Denchworth Village Hall, and from May to September dance out on Wednesdays at pubs around the Vale of White Horse.
The energetic Cornucopia perform Appalachian step clogging and British clog dancing, with their own band, the Shady Grove String Band. They meet most Monday evenings in Grove.
The light-heartedly dignified Vale Islanders perform 17th century Playford dances in the costume of the period. They practise most Tuesday evenings, 8pm to 9.30pm, at Charney Bassett Village Hall.
The Wantage Folk Dance Club is a friendly group who dance a variety of dances (traditional, modern, Playford, American squares and contras). It meets on the first Friday of the month, 7.45pm to 10.15pm, at Steventon Village Hall. It’s a fun way to exercise!
Wantage Ceilidh (barn dance) Bands
These bands play for ceilidhs (barn dances) and can be hired to play at weddings and other events.
Larkrise Ranters – traditional English ceilidh band
Melobo Ceilidh Band – English folk/rock barn dance band
Pandemonium – ceilidh and folk music band
White Horse Ceilidhs
Stomping barn dances at Grove Village Hall. White Horse Ceilidhs hold a dance about every two months, with a live band, a caller, a half-time display spot and a bar with real ale.
Local display teams are invited to perform during the half-time interval, with Cotswold, North West, Border, Rapper, 17th Century English dance, Appalachian and English Step Clog groups all based within the Vale of White Horse, so you’ll be well entertained whilst you catch your breath!
Folk Music Sessions
The Shoulder of Mutton, Wallingford Street, Wantage, has a session on the 1st Wednesday of each month from 7.00pm.
The Bell at Grove has a Slow Session for beginners and less confident players on the 2nd Sunday of each month from 2.30pm.
Folk Festivals
The White Horse Folk Festival is held in Grove in mid August (14 to 16 August in 2026) and gives you the opportunity to watch, listen to and dance to folk and traditional artists.
A little further afield are Bunkfest in Wallingford and the Oxford Folk Festival in April – quite a few musicians from Wantage, Grove and the villages perform at these.
Christmas
Christmas is a particularly busy time, with the Wantage Mummers performing their play on Boxing Day in Faringdon Market Place (10am), outside the Bear Hotel in Wantage (noon) and at Childrey in the early afternoon.
Graham Hubbard and Howard Hill
Updated September 2019; practical details checked September 2026