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Oxford NAGS is a four piece ceilidh band based around Oxfordshire and a bit of Hampshire.
They play stonking English tunes for stonking English dance.

The Oxford NAGS - Andy, Nina, Sandy, Gareth

Nina Hansell (PolkaWorks, The Bismarcks) has been playing the fiddle and English traditional music for more than 30 years and is deeply committed to traditional dance, through morris, clog and providing music for other dancers. She delights audiences with her passion for playing bouncy English tunes – not only do the audience feel the need to dance, she does too; in fact she can't not.

Sandy Shallis is a melodeon player from Adderbury. She plays for folk and local ceilidh bands including Tinker's Ditch, and her local ladies morris side. With Tim Howes she won Best Folk Duo at the Chipping Norton Music Festival. John Kirkpatrick described their performance as outstanding. Until recently Sandy kept her melodeon-arm muscles in shape by pulling pints in The Bell, Adderbury, referred to by many as "best pub in the world". 

Andy Turner plays anglo-concertina with Oxfordshire dance band Geckoes, and with the concert band Magpie Lane. He is a very experienced dance musician, having been playing for ceilidhs, barn dances and morris for over 40 years. Andy gets tunes out of an Anglo concertina that aren't there. He is a lot older than he looks.

Gareth Kiddier (many, many bands, including PolkaWorks, The Bismarcks, English Contra Dance Band and The Watch) sits in the corner and plays the piano, and generally does what he's told.

 

Oxford NAGS have played at folk festivals including Towersey, Whitby and Dartmoor.

Six tracks by Oxford NAGS were included on the EFDSS Community Dances double CD released in 2020.

The band is available for festivals, dance clubs, and local barn dances - weddings, parties etc.

Gigs

These listings show public gigs only - we're also available for private events.

2024

Saturday 30th March
White Horse Ceilidhs
Grove Village Hall, Main Street, Grove, Oxfordshire OX12 7JY
caller: Aidan Hansell

2023

Sunday 31st December
Unicorn Ceilidhs
St Mary’s Church Hall, Church Street, Baldock, Hertfordshire SG7 5AD
caller: Barry Goodman
SOLD OUT!

 

 

Listen

Short excerpts of Oxford NAGS playing live for dancing:

Red Fox Ceilidhs, Leicester, 20th January 2018

Caller: Bob Morgan

Weymouth Quickstep

James Higgins' No.1 / 15 Welsh Street

Michael Turner's Jig

 

Bridport Ceilidhs, 6th January 2018

Caller: Gill Spence

Bal Frances

 

Meltdown Ceilidhs, Haywards Heath, 19th March 2017.

Caller: Aidan Hansell

Miss Ann Fraser Mackenzie / Tommy Jenkins

 

Truro Folk Dance Club, Haddon Village Hall, 2nd December 2016.

Callers: Frances Oates and Beryl Jukes

Three Around Three / In the Toyshop

Orange in Bloom

The Troublesome Cossack

Contact

For all enquiries please contact Gareth Kiddier on gareth.kiddier[at]gmail.com replacing [at] with @.