Oscina
Oscina weave tantalising tunes and spellbinding songs for concerts, balfolk & Euro-dances.
Oscina brings together three accomplished musicians to create their unique and captivating sound ... Anna Pack (diatonic accordions), Frances Watt (voice, flutes) and Chris Walshaw (sax, pipes, whistles). Together they create mesmerising dance music to lose yourself in.
The line-up
Anna Pack
Anna Pack is a dancer & musician with a long-standing interest in French traditional dance, performing in duos with Blowzabella's Dave Shepherd and Hekety's Jo Veal, as well as having performed with Karen Tweed and others in The Chase & Circa Compania.
Frances Watt
A founder of FolkBeat, Frances Watt is a flute player and community choir leader who has extensive Eurodance & performance experience in bands such as The Chase, Circa Compania and JigJaw.
Chris Walshaw
Chris Walshaw plays English & French bagpipes, saxophone, flute and whistles. He is well known on the Eurodance scene with bands such as Meridian, MoltenAmba, The Chase, The Duellists & Angles.
Oscina
Together Anna, Frances & Chris bring a range of musical textures and a wealth of experience playing for Balfolk and Eurodance events to bring the driving, intricate soundscape that is Oscina.
Gigs 2024 and beyond
1st June 2024 - Bagpipe Society Blowout, Polesworth > bagpipesociety.org.uk/blowout/
2nd - 9th August 2024 - Sidmouth Folk Festival - bals & dance workshops with Kerry Fletcher > sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk
28th September 2024 - Dancez Francais, Patcham > http://www.dansezfrancais.org.uk/
16th November 2024 - Rondez Vous, Chester - bal & music/dance workshops with Kerry Fletcher
15th June, 2025 - Les Batons, Hollingbourne, Kent > lesbatons.org
Past gig highlights
2023
15th January, 2023 - Les Batons, Hollingbourne, Kent > lesbatons.org
4th - 11th August, 2023 - Sidmouth Folk Festival - bals & dance workshops with Kerry Fletcher > sidmouthfolkfestival.co.uk
25th - 28th August, 2023 - Shrewsbury Folk Festival > shrewsburyfolkfestival.co.uk - bal & dance workshops with Kerry Fletcher
6th - 8th October, 2023 - Festival des Panards, Todmorden, W. Yorks > facebook.com/people/Les-Panards-Dansants/ - bal & dance workshops with Kerry Fletcher
4th November, 2023 - On-y-va bal, Saxmundham > facebook.com/events/1404527856773274
2022
27-29th August, 2022 - Towersey Festival, Claydon Estate, Buckingham
Fun FAQs
What does Oscina mean?
Strictly speaking, nothing. But it's derived from "oscine", meaning songbird.
How is Oscina pronounced?
Opinions vary ... come to a gig and find out how we pronounce it.