The Abingdon Town Band was performing on Abingdon Market Place, conducted by Steve Rich, bringing joy to people drinking coffee at the tables of Pablos Lounge, Costa, Starbucks, Ma Cherie, R&R, Java, and Throwing Buns.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the band’s reformation in 1965, a milestone they’ll celebrate with a special Anniversary Concert on June 28th. What’s striking is their journey from rehearsing in an old air raid shelter to performing for HRH the Princess Royal at Windsor Castle. They are still on the way back to full strength after the Covid layoff and have been seen more in the last year or so.

We stopped to listen, and were serenaded with: Slaidburn, Bach’s “Minuet in D,” and a Lady Gaga hit.