Oysterband head out on their winter “A Long Long Goodbye” tour
This Winter, Oysterband have embarked on their extensive “A Long Long Goodbye” tour.
On the road right now, with dates throughout November / December, the full list of the band's headline shows can be found below.
While recognised as one of the UK’s foremost folk-rock bands and an unparalleled live proposition, the band confirm the decision they made recently to call time on their touring career.
Intending to bow out on a high, Oysterband will serve up a resolute reminder of their captivating live performances and immortal songbook as they chart a special Autumn tour around some of their favourite UK towns and venues that have supported them all these years.
Having kicked off in Shrewsbury on 4th November, the 20-date run sees the band travelling the length and breadth of England, from Bodmin to Bruton, Manchester to Maidenhead and beyond.
These new shows come in addition to Oysterband’s previously announced “A Long Long Goodbye” dates with June Tabor, in which they performed alongside the English folk singer who has guested on some of their greatest works, for the final time earlier this year. The remaining tickets for those fixtures are on sale now.
Speaking about their upcoming shows Oysterband say:
“The reaction to our first announcement has been far greater than we ever imagined it would be. We’re genuinely moved by people’s desire to say what the songs have meant to them."
Oysterband - ‘A Long Long Goodbye’ Tour
Wed 6 Nov 2024 - Leeds - City Varieties Music Hall
Fri 8 Nov 2024 - Bodmin - St Petroc's Church
Sat 9 Nov 2024 - Bruton - St Mary's Church
Tue 12 Nov 2024 - Maidenhead - Norden Farm Centre
Wed 13 Nov 2024 - Milton Keynes - The Stables
Thu 14 Nov 2024 - Bury St Edmunds - The Apex
Sat 16 Nov 2024 - Kendal - Brewery Arts Centre
Mon 18 Nov 2024 - Manchester - Band On The Wall
Tue 19 Nov 2024 - Beverley - East Riding Theatre
Wed 20 Nov 2024 - Sheffield - Memorial Hall
Fri 22 Nov 2024 - Hertford - Corn Exchange
Sat 23 Nov 2024 - Cranbrook - Queens Hall Theatre
Sun 24 Nov 2024 - Wimborne - Allendale Centre
Mon 2 Dec 2024 - Exeter - Phoenix
Tue 3 Dec 2024 - Exeter - Phoenix
Wed 4 Dec 2024 - Portsmouth - The Wedgewood Rooms
Thu 5 Dec 2024 - Stroud - Subscription Rooms
Fri 6 Dec 2024 - Emsworth - Emsworth St James' Church
Remaining tickets are on sale now HERE.
Photo (c) Graham Whitmore
Emerging in the early 80s from their folk club and ceilidh band days, Oysterband infused both the traditional and their own songs with a passion and energy that was electrifying. Polkas, politics and a heaving dance floor seemed just right for Thatcher’s Britain. Signing to new roots label Cooking Vinyl, headlining English Roots Against Apartheid, playing Glastonbury and the Fleadh several times each, touring with The Pogues in Europe and Billy Bragg in North America, hosting their Big Session Festival in The Midlands. All gained them a large and loyal following both at home and internationally.
Endlessly touring and writing over the course of their 45 year career, the band have played all over the world and released dozens of studio releases throughout their career, including seminal albums like “Holy Bandits” (1993), “The Shouting End of Life” (1995) and “Diamonds On The Water” (2014), not to mention timeless compilations, and unbeatable live albums.
Collaborating with June Tabor in 1990, the meeting of minds produced the cult favourite Freedom & Rain. Reconnecting some 21 years later, the resultant album “Ragged Kingdom” would become one of the best-selling folk-rock albums of the new millennium.
And Oysterband’s efforts have not gone unnoticed either. Awarded winners of several BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including Best Band twice, Oysterband’s song-writing has never stood still, and hits such as The Oxford Girl, When I’m Up (I Can’t Get Down), Everywhere I Go and Put Out The Lights are now staples of the folk canon.
Most recently, Oysterband released their final studio album “Read The Sky’ to much acclaim in 2021 and recently undertook an extensive tour of Europe, plus a special “Decades” tour across the UK where they explored their back catalogue.
Now, after 45 years on the road, the legendary Canterbury-formed collective will be hanging up their touring boots with a tour aptly named “A Long Long Goodbye”. Planning a year of unmissable shows at some of their favourite haunts of old, they will be performing career-spanning sets, while also revisiting highlights of their work with June Tabor.
In a statement about the upcoming ‘A Long Long Goodbye’ tour, Oysterband said:
“We’re hanging up our travelling shoes, but we’re taking a year or so to say goodbye to our lovely live audience. And we mean to enjoy every minute! It’s been a long, tough, joyful journey, but the time has come. In the words of our own song “Granite Years”, we’re waving you a long, long goodbye… Come help us celebrate!"
Featuring John Jones (vox, melodeon), Ian Telfer (violin, keyboard), Alan Prosser(guitars), Sean Randle (drums, percussion), Al Scott (bass, mandolin) and Adrian Oxaal(cello, guitars); Oysterband will be going out on a high as they bid “A Long Long Goodbye” to fans and friends at these unforgettable live shows.
