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Join us at the Ashmolean to celebrate the festive season in a special late night opening, as part of Oxford Inspires Winter Light.

Visitors to the Museum can enjoy a diverse programme of live music played throughout the evening, late night Christmas shopping in the Ashmolean Shop and mince pies and mulled wine in the Café. This will be the last opportunity for the public to visit the Museum after-hours before the galleries temporarily close from 23 December until the opening of the new Rick Mather building in the autumn of 2009.

From Christmas carols to African rhythms, a brass band and rock 'n' roll beats, the Ashmolean is delighted to present a wide selection of music to suit all tastes. Playing for the first time at the Museum, the Ashmolean welcomes singers from QEH School Bristol, the Lieden Brass Band, and the blues band Hipbone Slim and the Kneetremblers. Inspired by the likes of Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Howlin’ Wolf, the band features Hipbone Slim aka Sir Bald on guitar and vocals, alongside Bruce ‘Bash’ Brand on drums and Gez Gerrard on double & electric basses, harmonica and vocals. Special guest appearances from Kid Wig on the guitar/piano and Bob Johnson on the harmonica.

Ashmolean Winter Light Programme

6.00 Museum opens
6.15 - 6.45 Carol singing with St. Ebbes School Choir, Oxford
7.30 – 8.00 Christmas music from QEH School Bristol
8.20 – 9.00 African rhythms from the Afropean Choir
9.10 – 9.40 Lieden Brass Band
9.50 – 10.30 Rock ‘n’ Roll and Rhythm ‘n’ Blues from Hipbone Slim and the Kneetremblers
10.30 Museum closes

The Ashmolean Museum and the Cafe will temporarily close to the public from 23 December to prepare for the opening of the new Ashmolean building in the Autumn of 2009.

The Ashmolean Shop will remain open for business as usual (the Shop will close for Christmas and New Year: 24 to 26 Dec and 1 Jan).