With hundreds of festive-themed concerts taking place over the Christmas period, it can be hard to decide which ones to attend, but I'm happy to say this year I made the right choice. The Christmas Hearth - the annual festive offering from The Mellstock Band - was a delightful two hours of traditional folk music interspersed with excerpts and poems from some of England's most well-known nineteenth-century writers. In the atmospheric (and warmer than anticipated) Unicorn Theatre in Abingdon, the stalls and balcony were packed tight and the eager hum of audience voices filled the air as they discussed which of their favourite tunes the band might play. It's clear the Mellstock Band have a strong and dedicated fanbase, but as someone new to the fold, I wasn't well versed in their usual repertoire; suffice to say, that did not stop me joining in throughout the performance and having a jolly good time. Each piece of text read, poem recited and song sung was harmoniously woven together to create an exciting programme reminiscent of a Dickensian parlour on Christmas Eve.

Nothing about this performance was big, and for that I was grateful. We anticipate spectacles nowadays, but The Christmas Hearth was a comforting and cosy alternative which reminded me of evenings spent by the fireside with a mug of hot chocolate and a good book. There were no flashy lights, no huge set pieces, just voices and stories to capture the heart. While readings of A Christmas Carol are expected during the month of December, it was lovely to hear other pieces performed as well. Herrenston, by poet William Barnes, was a firm favourite, along with Winter by John Clare. There’s something magical about poetry recited on a cold winter’s night and the Mellstock Band helped us all to feel that little touch of magic.

Dave Townsend, founder/director and concertina player of the band, brought a stoic decadence to the evening while Tim Hill and Philip Humphries, on clarinet and serpent respectively, kept the audience entertained with their witty charm. The serpent, by the way, is one of the most bizarre instruments I’ve come across and I spent a good portion of the evening mesmerised by Philip Humphries’ superb playing. While it’s clear the men of the band are accomplished musicians, vocalists and performers, the highlight for me came from Caroline Butler. While softly sung, her vocals added depth and heart to the close harmony carols and her talent on violin was enviable. I particularly enjoyed seeing the band in costume, allowing us to imagine they were picked straight out of a nineteenth-century novel.

If only the theatre was candlelit, that’s my only qualm! While I know fire safety regulations must be taken seriously, it would have been wonderful to switch off the lights and experience a true historic Christmas. However, I loved every second of The Mellstock Band's Christmas Hearth and I’d happily venture into their wintry world for every Christmas to come.