Oysterband's John Jones, Ray Cooper & Al Scott - The Song goes on Tour 2026

Name: Oysterband's John Jones, Ray Cooper & Al Scott - The Song goes on Tour 2026
Start: 2026-10-15T20:00:00+02:00
End: 2026-10-15T20:00:00+02:00
Location: Zeche Carl

took place · 15 Oct 2026

Zeche Carl, Essen, Germany

concert Folk date culture

Oysterband's John Jones, Ray Cooper & Al Scott - The Song goes on Tour 2026 — Zeche Carl, Essen

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Description was written before the event

John Jones, Ray Cooper and Al Scott – three musicians from the legendary British band Oysterband – are hitting the road for The Song goes on Tour 2026. The evening at the intimate Zeche Carl venue in Essen promises an acoustic, small-scale show rich in folk sounds and the stories woven into their songs.

Line-up

John Jones
Ray Cooper
Al Scott

About: John Jones

The voice behind Oysterband for nearly five decades, John Jones now takes the stage as part of a stripped-back trio with Ray Cooper and Al Scott - drawing on his own songs, Oysterband classics and traditional material, with three-part harmonies at the core.

3.3K

Facebook page likes (John Jones / Oysterband)

20+

Oysterband studio albums released

UK Folk Chart peak - Ragged Kingdom (with June Tabor)

UK Folk Chart peak - Read the Sky (2022)

What's new

2026
John Jones launched 'The Song Goes On' UK and European tour in 2026 as a trio with Ray Cooper and Al Scott, following Oysterband's retirement from touring.
2026
The John Jones Trio completed successful tours of Denmark and the UK in 2026, with Germany and Austria/Italy dates scheduled for October.
2025
Oysterband retired as a touring act in 2025, with their final festival shows at Shrewsbury and Tønder.

Tour

ManchesterLiverpoolLondonDenmarkGermanyAustria

Tracks

The Early Days of a Better NationOysterband anthem, one of their most enduring live songs

When I'm Up I Can't Get Downfan favourite, covered widely in the folk scene

Granite Yearsfrom the album Deserters (1992), rated #1 Oysterband song by fans on Rate Your Music

Ragged Kingdom2011 collaborative album with June Tabor, UK Folk Chart #1, BBC Folk Award winner

Read the Skyfinal Oysterband studio album (2022), UK Folk Chart #5

About: Oysterband

Formed in Canterbury in 1976, Oysterband spent nearly fifty years channelling traditional English folk through a punk-rock lens - winning the BBC Radio 2 Folk Award for Best Band twice along the way. Their final studio record, Read The Sky (2021), capped a catalogue that stretches across more than twenty albums.

2×

BBC Radio 2 Folk Award - Best Band

45+

years active as a touring band

20+

studio albums released

What's new

2025-08
Oysterband played their final concert as a touring band at the Tønder Festival in Denmark on 30 August 2025, closing out the 'A Long Long Goodbye' farewell tour.
2025
Following the band's retirement from touring, frontman John Jones announced he would continue performing with new collaborators Ray (Chopper) and Al Scott.
2024-11
Oysterband extended the 'A Long Long Goodbye' tour with a 20-date UK autumn run, travelling from Shrewsbury to Bodmin, Manchester and beyond.

Tracks

When I'm Up (I Can't Get Down)from Holy Bandits (1993); later a major hit for Great Big Sea in Canada

The Oxford Girltitle track of 2008 album; a folk canon staple in their live sets

Granite Yearssignature anthem; lent its name to the 2000 best-of compilation

Put Out the Lightslive favourite, regularly featured as an encore

Freedom and Raincritically acclaimed 1990 collaboration album with June Tabor

Oysterband's John Jones, Ray Cooper & Al Scott - The Song goes on Tour 2026

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