Before there was carolling, there was wassailing, where seasonal songs were exchanged for money, food and ale. In the countryside trees were blessed, while in the towns wassaillers went house to house with their songs and calls for Christmas treats. Coming from the Anglo Saxon waes hael, ‘wassail’ is a toast wishing good health with a ‘be well’.

The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden

Yoko Ono Lennon Centre

If there is one musician who embodies the dynamism and vitality of the current English folk revival, it’s Eliza Carthy MBE.

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Eliza Carthy + Jennifer Reid

Portsmouth Guildhall

Eliza Carthy graces the Howard Assembly Room stage this Christmas – joined by an illustrious band of her friends and family for an evening of seasonal joy!

Christmas with Eliza Carthy

The Grand Theatre & Opera House Leeds

Describing herself simply as a "modern English musician", Eliza Carthy is one of the most recognisable faces of the English folk revival and one of the most impressive and engaging performers of her generation.

Eliza Carthy & The Restitution

Colchester Arts Centre

Dynamic forces of contemporary British folk music, Eliza Carthy & The Restitution + The Young'Uns, promise to deliver an impassioned and uncompromising double bill folk show to remember!

Eliza Carthy & The Restitution + The Young'Uns

University of Warwick

Before there was carolling, there was wassailing, where seasonal songs were exchanged for money, food and ale.  In the countryside, trees were blessed, while in the towns wassaillers went house to house with their songs and calls for Christmas treats. Coming from the Anglo Saxon waes hael, ‘wassail’ is a toast wishing good health with a ‘be well’.

Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden's Wassail

The Music Room

Long before the tradition of carolling, festive revellers would go house-to-house, exchanging songs for money, food and ale. Coming from the old English waes hael, 'wassail' is a toast wishing good.

Eliza Carthy

Events

Upcoming events

Dec 14, 2025

Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden's Wassail · Anvil Arts

Past events

Nov 30, 2025

The Wassail with Eliza Carthy & Jon Boden · Royal Liverpool Philharmonic

Jul 5, 2025

Eliza Carthy + Jennifer Reid · Portsmouth Guildhall

About

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