We are celebrating our 40th anniversary in 2026, and we are sharing our adventures here. There's so much happening in the folk world locally and around the region.

9 May 2026 – Ashcombe House Care Home

This Saturday saw us at a summer fete for Ashcombe House Care Home in Basingstoke. Residents and their families came outside to sit in the sun and let us entertain them with 40 minutes of music and dance. We alternated our signature dances with some tunes and a bit of patter from our squire. Our audience seemed to enjoy our performance, but the stars of the show were the two children who danced along from the sidelines.

After a performance in the blazing sun, we were offered ice lollies distributed by those same children – thank you very much!

5 May 2026: A solo spot at the Coach & Horses, Rotherwick

We had a free Tuesday evening with nothing scheduled, but dancing is much more fun than sitting quietly at home. Luckily the Coach & Horses in Rotherwick was happy to have us come and dance on short notice. Normally we share our Tuesday pub evenings with another side, but an early-spring solo spot is a good chance to get in a final practice and work on our lines (the bane of all Morris sides).

And the Coach & Horses has particularly tasty chips!

When it started to get dark and chilly, we moved indoors to play some tunes, sing a few songs and drink some more of the excellent ales on offer. We'll be back at the Coach & Horses again on 23 June, this time with Kennet Morris. See you there!

23 April 2026 – St George's Day in Odiham

Hook Eagle Morris hold an annual St George's Day event in Odiham, and it's always a delight – this year more than ever, because of the reopening of The Bell in the Bury, a beloved old pub which has been purchased by the community.

Along with Hook Eagle and the other guest sides, we started things off at The Waterwitch, a lovely and welcoming pub down by the Basingstoke Canal. A couple of dances from each side, then a long trudge up the hill for more dancing at The George/The Red Lion. As it got dark, we made our way to The Bell in the Bury for the highlight of the evening, the inaugural 2026 Shakespeare Shout, organised by St George's Holiday. Our shout was awarded the Best Experience by the organisers, so feather in all of our caps.

Happy St. George's Day – Celebrate England's National Day, 23 April

The evening ended with well-deserved pints and coffees, and a lively session in The Bell for those who still had the energy.

12 April 2026 - Oxford Folk Festival

Oxford Folk Festival, our first dance out of the season. The weather can be unpredictable this early in the year, and although we were a little worried by accounts of cold winds and sudden hail showers from the sides who performed on the Saturday, the sun was shining brightly when we caught the train from Basingstoke on Sunday morning.

Our first spot was at Oxford Castle, and we arrived early enough for hot drinks in their excellent coffee shop. We were dancing with Lodestone, Sussex Junction and Wilkes Gob, all great sides with some interesting dances. The weather held out for another sunny lunchtime spot outside the White Horse on Broad Street, then there was just enough time for a quick pint before heading to Radcliffe Camera, where the rain really started to come down.

Full props to all the sides in attendance – they were there to dance and play, rain or shine, and they gave it their all. Everyone was making the best of it and dancing with energy and a real sense of fun, even if they were soaking wet. (And those rag coats of Wreckers must have been a lot heavier than usual!)

All our musicians were swathed in waterproof parkas to protect their melodeons, except for Rob who'd come out wearing a fleece. Many thanks to the lovely lady from Wilkes Gob who kindly held her umbrella over him for the whole of our last dance!