LONG-STANDING early music group The York Waits always do a stint in the streets at Christmas, especially when they lead the annual Sheriff’s Riding procession from Micklegate Bar on December 21, striding out at 6pm.

However, they come in from the cold as well, and in 2016 their home city Christmas concert takes place on Sunday, December 18 at St Olave’s Church, Marygate at 2.30pm.

The programme is Godday My Lord Sire Christemass, a title taken from a medieval carol, and features the Waits’ large roster of instruments, including shawms, sackbuts, rebec, recorders, bagpipes, gittern and hurdy gurdy, complemented by the singing of Deborah Catterall.

York Press:

The album cover for The York Waits' new Christmas album, Crions Nouel

The music ranges from carols of the 1400s to seasonal songs and pieces from Shakespeare’s time and is entirely English, although the Waits’ latest CD, Crions Nouel, consists of ancient Christmas music from many parts of Europe.

“Sticking to English music this year isn’t a Brexit thing!” said York Waits member William Marshall. “But the new CD and our concerts last Christmas had a focus on music from Germany, Holland and France, so we thought we’d stay on our home territory this year.

“Some of the medieval carols are strange and fascinating, but many of the later pieces are more familiar, including the Coventry Carol and a song about winter with words by Shakespeare: a little tribute in the year that has seen the 400th anniversary of the Bard’s death.

“We’ve played at St Olave’s on several occasions, and it's a wonderfully atmospheric venue for concerts. Handy for the Marygate car park too!”

Tickets for The York Waits' afternoon concert cost £12, concessions £10, and are available online at ncem.co.uk