The Oxford Fiddle Group Tour of the Algarve

I've just returned from a tour of the Algarve, Portugal with the Oxford Fiddle Group. A really wonderful five days of music, eating, drinking and good weather. We left the snow of the UK for the non stop sunshine of the Algarve. We had a busy programme of performing Saturday to Tuesday but there was plenty of time to enjoy the Algarve.

The tour was well advertised and every venue was sold out. Below is an advert in Portugal's English newspaper.

The text of this advert reads:

THE OXFORD FIDDLE GROUP ON THE ROAD AGAIN

Following a highly successful tour of the Algarve two years ago, The Oxford Fiddle Group will be in the Algarve again playing four concerts from 14th to 17th February. They will be playing music from their varied repertoire of English, Irish, Scottish and American music whose origins range from folk, country and classical genres. The group plays a range of tunes and songs from foot tapping jigs and reels to catchy hornpipes and beautiful airs and laments. They never fail to engage audiences with their muisc, their witty ad libs and their obvious enjoyment and since their last Algarve tour, The Oxford Fiddle Group have performed in West Cork, Bonn and Grenoble. Their first CD 'Bonny Kate' sold out within 10 months (luckily for those who haven't already bought it - it has been re-released) and they have just finished recording their second CD 'Beyond the Spires'. "The full band consists of about twenty fiddle players," said group leader Jed Mugford, " and we have nine players travelling out to the Algarve in February. We had such a great time last time we were in Portugal that we are all looking forward to this trip." The players on the this tour are pictured left to right: Adrian Broadway (bass, mandolin), Marilyn Mills (concertina), Chris Mills (guitar, banjo), Jed Mugford (fiddle), Christine Ellis (fiddle), Tom Bell-Richards (lead fiddle), Wendy Creber (fiddle), Peter Day (fiddle) and not in the picture Rita Blewitt (fiddle, concertina).

The four venues on this tour are: 14 February - Phoenix Nights Restaurant and Bar, Monte Carvoeiro; 15 February - Beira Rio Restaurant and Bar, Tavira; 16 February - Faja Lobi Restaurant, Alvar; 17 February - Silves Cine Theatre Club, Silves

Early booking is recommended - their concerts two years ago all sold out!

More information on the Oxford Fiddle Group can be found at www.oxfordfiddle.co.uk

We were even interviewed on the local Kiss FM station and two tracks from our latest CD 'Beyond the Spires' were played.

The Performance at the Silves Cine Theatre Club

We hired a minibus to transport us around and the PA equipment. We brought our instruments on the plane. Obviously I had to bring a bass guitar rather than the double bass!

Time to relax in Silves

A paddle in the sea at Lagos