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Mediaeval Baebes Celebrate 30 Years of Enchantment with Torchlit Procession and Special Anniversary Concert in Stoke Minster

Mediaeval Baebes will celebrate 30 years with a special anniversary concert at Stoke Minster this December, complete with a torchlit procession, historical instruments and ethereal harmonies.

Mediaeval Baebes Celebrate 30 Years of Enchantment with Torchlit Procession and Special Anniversary Concert in Stoke Minster
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With a torchlit procession, ethereal harmonies and ancient stories; on Saturday 19th December 2026, the Mediaeval Baebes will bring an exquisite spectacle and three decades uplifting harmonies to Stoke Minster, as part of their very special 30th Anniversary Tour.

THE SIGNAL BRIEF

What’s new: Mediaeval Baebes will bring their 30th Anniversary Tour to Stoke Minster on Saturday 19th December 2026, accompanied by a torchlit procession before the concert.

Worth knowing: Families, musicians and reenactors are invited to join the procession, which begins at 6.55pm from The Resting place of Josiah Wedgewood.

The big picture: The concert marks three decades since the ensemble was formed in 1996 and will combine material from their latest album, The Spinning Wheel, with the repertoire for which they are renowned.

A Living Tapestry of Music and Pageantry

Heralding an evening of music, storytelling and seasonal enchantment… in the winter darkness a magical torchlit procession will make its way towards the Minster, leading audiences into a world where music, theatre and dance intertwine. Starting at 6.55pm, from The Resting place of Josiah Wedgewood; families, musicians and reenactors are invited to become part of the merry making. Dress in costume, carry a lantern, bring a drum, or simply watch as the procession makes its way into the church.

The result is a living tapestry of joyful melodic pageantry: a striking visual and a musical introduction to the concert to come.

Inside, the Mediaeval Baebes’ renowned voices will fill the historic church with soaring harmonies, accompanied by an array of exotic and historical instruments. Their performances combining the mysterious atmosphere of the medieval world with the warmth, drama and emotion of contemporary storytelling.

At the heart of this year’s concert is their latest album, The Spinning Wheel; a richly woven collection of twelve songs inspired by the twelve months of the year. Ancient texts and new melodies meet throughout the album, moving from winter laments to summer longing and exploring themes of customs, romance, nature and the passage of time.

For this special 30th Anniversary Tour, these songs will sit alongside the festive celebration and beloved repertoire for which the Mediaeval Baebes are renowned, creating a concert that feels at once ancient and newly born.

The Mediaeval Baebes in chainmail and black lace, holding flaming torches beneath a stone archway

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30th Anniversary Concert • Saturday 19 December

Torchlit processions, ancient songs and voices that sound centuries old, all in one of the city's most atmospheric buildings. Entering is free.

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Closes 11.59pm, Friday 20 November 2026. Full details and T&Cs

Photo: Rob Kelly

Thirty years on, the wheel still turns…

The Mediaeval Baebes have shaped an extraordinary musical journey. Formed in 1996 by musical director and composer Katharine Blake, the ensemble has gone on to release 12 studio albums, tour internationally and perform in extraordinary settings ranging from cathedrals and castles to caves and Glastonbury Festival’s Pyramid Stage.

Their distinctive sound has taken them around the UK and across the United States, Canada, Asia and Europe. They have performed at the Royal Albert Hall, toured with Jools Holland and received an Ivor Novello Award for their performance on the BBC’s The Virgin Queen. They have also received two Emmy nominations and a Royal Television Society award for their work alongside composer Martin Phipps on ITV’s Victoria.

Now, three decades after their wonderous beginnings, the Baebes invite audiences to celebrate their journey with a concert that honours the music that has defined them, while also embracing the next chapter of their story.

Expect voices that shimmer and stories that linger. Instruments that evoke another age and music that carries the audience through winter into light. Everyone is invited to listen.

Mediaeval Baebes – 30th Anniversary Concert

Stoke Minster
Saturday 19th December 2026
Doors: 7pm | Concert: 7.30pm
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