jackie oates

Jackie Oates originates from a musical family and was born in Cheshire, spending most of her school life in Staffordshire. She moved to Devon in 2001, where she still lives. Deriving her inspiration from early exposure to Bromyard and Sidmouth folk festivals, she fiddle sings mainly traditional English folk song, in both a solo capacity, as a member of 'Rachel Unthank and the Winterset', and with brand new trio 'Wistman's Wood'. She also occasionally plays as part of a string trio with Devon band 'Show of Hands'.

She works for folk organisations such as Wren music, Folk South West and T.A.P.S, and Shooting Roots, where she tutors young people in the art of folk singing and playing. Jackie was a finalist in the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award 2003, and has since gone on to represent England at the European Network of Folk Arts festival in 2003, and has appeared on severed acclaimed folk albums; Sweet England (Jim Moray), Jim Moray (Jim Moray), Beam (Laurel Swift and Friends), Cruel Sister (Rachel Unthank and the Winterset), Witness (Show of Hands), Ghosts and Greasepaint (Barry Lister) and Twilight of the Dogs (Les Barker).