Fountain of Christmas music from fab folk four in Marlborough

The Aggies are David Hughes, guitarist, author and playwright, Chris Leslie, multi-instrumentalist from Fairport Convention, award-winning folk duo Chris While and Julie Matthews. The team up to perform festive folk Carols and Christmas music from 8pm at Marlborough Town Hall in the High Street tomorrow.

Chris Leslie said: “It’s wonderful that so many people see their St Agnes Fountain gig as the official start of Christmas.’’

The musician is also a songwriter and has recorded five solo albums including last year’s Turquoise Tales. His fiddle playing can be heard on a number of TV programmes such as Heartbeat, Midsummer Murders and Bill Connolly’s World Tour of Scotland. He is also a member of Feast of Fiddles, who regularly tour the UK, and he is much in demand for Radio 4 plays and serials.

Another BBC Radio 4 stalwart is David, who played his distinctive percussive finger-style guitar regularly on Loose Ends with the late Ned Sherrin.

David has written five books including Diary of a UK tour supporting Fairport Convention. He has played with many other top names including Pentangle and Eddi Reader.

Chris and Julie won the Best Duo category in the 2009 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. They both played for The Albion Band before striking out as a duo, notching up eight studio and two live albums along with touring both here in the UK and overseas.

The folk four lock themselves away each year in the Cumbrian home of some friends, set in the mountainside, to prepare for their Christmas offering. Chris Leslie said: “We have some super new numbers to play this year. David has set another traditional Carol to the music of a chart track, and Chris and Julie have written some brilliant new songs. It’s the only time we see each other all year and lots of energy goes into it.’’

Tickets are £20 from 01672 512465 or www.marlboroughfolkroots.co.uk/buy-tickets. - Flicky Harrison