THE York Waits will be waiting to entertain an audience at Worcester’s Huntingdon Hall, by bringing festive cheer through song and melody.

The event, presented by the Worcester Concert Club, won’t require the Spirit of Christmas Past to give folks a glimpse of festive times in centuries past.

That will all be achieved through the magic of historic, seasonal music.

A spokesman said: “The concert, Make We Joy Now in this Fest’, will offer Festive music for Advent and Christmas, performed on period instruments by The York Waits, and singer Deborah Catterall.

“The Waits explore the wide diversity of medieval and renaissance music from across Europe-fifteenth century English carols, Lutheran chorales, French Noels and Mediterranean lullabies, performed on a vast array of instruments.”

The spokesman added: “The York Waits give regular concerts throughout Britain for festivals, music societies, schools and private functions.

“They accompany dancers and choirs, hold workshops and period dances and have appeared in stage productions in York, London, Copenhagen and Bruges.

“Join them this December to celebrate the festive season.”

The York Waits are certainly a name to be conjured with.

According to the group's own website, they take their name "from the ancient city band of York, the earliest evidence for which we find in 14th century records.

"Before they turned to music full time the waits had been night watchmen and, although their guard duties diminished, they continued to keep the night watches in the weeks leading up to Christmas, playing at various points to mark the hours and wake the citizens.

"The band is known to have been in continuous existence for at least five hundred years, until abolition in 1836."

And now, of course, the name lives again, much to the delight of their many fans.

The date for the diary is Sunday, December 8, from 3pm.

Tickets: On 01905 611427.