Acclaimed singer-songwriter Charlie Dore is coming to Abingdon! Dore will perform at the Unicorn Theatre on Thursday, September 21st, as part of her latest UK tour.

Dore is a cult favourite. She has written songs for Tina Turner, Celine Dion, George Harrison, Lisa Stansfield, and Jimmy Nail. Her own music is known for its observations of human nature, melody, and storytelling.

Dore will be joined by Julian Littman of Steeleye Span for her Abingdon show. The two will perform songs from Dore’s well known back catalogue and some of her own lesser-known favourites.

This is a rare opportunity to see one of the UK’s most talented singer-songwriters in the intimate setting of the Unicorn Theatre. Tickets are on sale now at charliedore.com.

For all Music at the Unicorn see https://www.musicattheunicorn.org.uk/.

Thank you to Peter for sending this. One for the diary or early tickets.

Abingdon and District Music Society will hold two concerts in March.

The orchestral concert will be on Saturday 11th March, and the choir concert on Saturday 25th March, both in St Helen’s Church, West St Helens Street, Abingdon OX14 5BS, starting at 7:30pm. They will be conducted by Alexander Walker, and Kate Bailey will lead the orchestra. If people come by car, it would be best to arrive early as parking can be difficult.

Saturday 11th March:
Grieg – “Peer Gynt” (excerpts from both suites)
Glazunov – Violin Concerto (soloist Alda Dizdari)
Mussorgsky – “Pictures from an Exhibition”

Saturday 25th March:
Vaughan Williams – Five Mystical Songs
Bob Chilcott – Little Jazz Mass
Karl Jenkins – Suite, “The Armed Man”

For each concert, tickets cost £15 at the door or £13 in advance (children £1 in both cases). Advance tickets can be obtained from Peter Smith.

The Come and Sing group came together on Saturday to rehearse from 11am to 3pm with the orchestra and soloists (Tara O’Connor, David Pope and Peter Willis all live in Abingdon).

Then from 5.30pm until 6.45pm performed a mini-concert of the Messiah (Part 1) in St Michael’s Church Park Road.

They will sing Handel’s Messiah parts 2 and 3 on April 15th 2023. This is to get people singing together and to raise funds for the Abingdon Passion Play.

Thanks to Elaine and Joyce for the pictures.

Abingdon Music Centre was established over 45 years ago to give the people of Abingdon opportunities to make music, from the very young to the very old. They run many groups, and yesterday at Thomas Reade School, the different groups performed for each other.

In this picture, the singing for pleasure group sang some old favourites and two catchy songs written by a local composer for The Queen’s Jubilee: ‘Celebration’ and ‘What would you do if the Queen came to tea?’