It’s a staggering 25 years since St Agnes Fountain first launched their unique brand of festive music into the world. Originally comprising David Hughes (guitar, vocals), Chris Leslie (fiddle, mandolin, guitar, flutes, vocals), Chris While (guitar, percussion, vocals) and Julie Matthews (keyboards, guitar, bouzouki, vocals), the band quickly carved out a sound all of their own.
Blending original Christmas songs with traditional carols, delivered in their unmistakable style, St Agnes Fountain have become an essential part of the festive season for thousands of people. So much so, they inspired the much-loved phrase: “Christmas starts with St Agnes Fountain.”
As one devoted concert-goer wrote in 2025:
“I would not mind if I missed the Christmas dinner, the pudding and mince pies, the presents and the drinks. But I would be devastated if I missed St Agnes Fountain at Christmas!”
Following David Hughes ’retirement due to ill health in 2020, and his sad passing in 2023, Chris While, Julie Matthews and Chris Leslie continued as a trio. Since then, they have released two studio albums and one live album, adding further depth to an already formidable catalogue of festive recordings.
December 2026 will see St Agnes Fountain tour their Silver Jubilee Show — a celebration of a quarter-century of music-making and festive celebrations. The show will draw from their extensive back catalogue of songs and tunes, poems and stories, as they once again raise the stained-glass arches and drape the fairy lights.
If you like Christmas, you’ll love St Agnes Fountain.
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