Jacken Elswyth

The World’s Music at Oxford is a project that blends research into global musics with live performance, run by postgratudate students and supported by St John’s College at the University of Oxford. Our events showcase some of the most renowned roots-based musicians and performers on the international scene, blending research into global musics with live performance. All our concerts are free and open to all.

The World's Music at Oxford

The World’s Music at Oxford welcomes in the spring with TWO concerts by one of the most exciting instrumentalists on the UK folk scene

The Barn

For the first time, The World’s Music at Oxford presents a (mini) residency, as Jacken Elswyth joins us for two performances in St John’s College’s unique and intimate art-space The Barn – one in the evening (Saturday 1st March) and one in the afternoon (Sunday 2nd March).Jacken Elswyth is dedicated to the banjo. As a musician, she finds new directions for the instrument’s solo repertoire, deeply rooted in traditions from Britain and Appalachia, explored and extrapolated through experimentation with drones (supplied live by a foot-pumped shruti box), musique concrète, extended techniques and improvisation. Her art also extends past the banjo’s sound itself, as she builds and repairs the instruments, focussing on folk and vernacular techniques and creating her own designs, too. These dual experiences as instrument builder and musician inform each other, connecting craft and music with the same purpose and passion – heard most evidently in Jacken’s astonishing 2021 album Banjo with the Sound of its Own Making. Her most recent album – 2024’s At Fargrounds – was a critical success, with The Guardian placing it in their top 10 folk albums of 2024, and The Quietus proclaiming it #14 in their overall albums of the year. Look out for her limited-run CD and zine with poet CA Conrad, to be released on 6th February.In her solo work as well as her wide-reaching collaborations and as a member of the pioneering Shovel Dance Collective, Jacken Elswyth uses the banjo to create a traditional music to resonate with the people and culture of the 21st century.Timings: Saturday 1st March – doors 6:30pm, performance starts at 7pmSunday 2nd March – doors 1:30pm, performance starts at 2pm

The World’s Music at Oxford is a project run and supported by St John's College at the University of Oxford, which blends research into global musics with live performance. Our events take place at our location at St John's College and are free and open to all. Find out more on our website: <a href="https://theworldsmusicatoxford.com" title="https://theworldsmusicatoxford.com" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">theworldsmusicatoxford.com</a>

Our {communityGuidelinesLink} describe the sort of content we prohibit on Eventbrite. If you suspect an event may be in violation, you can report it to us so we can investigate.

To report other categories of prohibited or illegal content, submit {link}

Jacken Elswyth

More events from The World's Music at Oxford

Discover more events from The World's Music at Oxford, from Music to other experiences you might love.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Oxford and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.

Jacken Elswyth

More events from The World's Music at Oxford

Discover more events from The World's Music at Oxford, from Music to other experiences you might love.

More Music events

Browse more Music events with different dates, prices, and formats to find your next great experience.

Still looking for the right event?

Explore all events in Oxford and filter by date, category, and more to find the perfect fit.