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Since the Middle Ages, the Town of Colchester employed a band of musicians to entertain the populace and perform at civic occasions. These "Waits" would have walked the streets with shawms, sackbuts and other loud wind instruments, wearing liveries of the town. The Colchester Town Waits were first revived by Phil Manchester in the 1970's and have been playing tabor pipes, drums and other folk instruments since then.
About three years ago, Lizzie Gutteridge of Wyldes Noyse started looking for people in the area who might be interested in playing the original waits instruments of the Middle Ages and Tudor times: shawms and sackbutts. Gradually a new band was formed which now has a membership of about a dozen players from a wide range of backgrounds whose aim is to create an upbeat take on the traditional instruments and tunes.
This year is their second season of playing out and about around Essex and as you can see from our diary page it will be quite a busy one. We are very lucky to have formed a partnership with another relatively new group in Colchester - the Colchester Tudor Dance Society, with whom we will be performing throughout the summer.
Rehearsal dates 2009: Monday 18th May 7pm at Layer Marney Tower, Friday 5th June & Friday 3rd July at St Andrews Church Rooms, Marks Tey.
Background:
For more on the Colchester Town Waits revival, going strong since 1973, see the Colchester Waits on Myspace.
For more on Waits history and other existing bands see the Waits Website.
To hear modern Waits music at its best listen to the York Waits.