GOOD King Wenceslas certainly never heard of the band that quotes from his famous carol, but St Agnes Fountain can make a claim to be as much a part of Christmas as the kindly ruler, at least for the group’s many fans.

And the good news is, the band that gives Christmas songs “a good, if respectful, kicking” returns to Huntingdon Hall in Worcester for an 18th sell-out season.

A spokesman said: “Since ‘The Aggies’ first get together to record the eponymous St Agnes Fountain album in 2001, the quartet of founder David Hughes, Fairport Convention’s Chris Leslie, and 2009’s BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Best Duo, Chris While and Julie Matthews, has brought musical invention and laughter to the star-dust atmosphere of the season year in and year out.

“The Aggies’ have now released twelve treasured albums; eight studio albums and two live CDs as well as a couple of ‘Best Of’ albums, combining new versions of classic Christmas carols, original compositions and one or two fun surprises.”

The spokesman added: “Although St Agnes Fountain’s albums accompany the putting up of a thousand Christmas trees throughout Britain, it is, without question, their magical live performances that have endeared them to an ever-growing audience.

“Indeed, as in previous years, tickets were already being sold for this year’s tour as the curtain fell on last year’s festive season.

“Performing “rhythmed-up” carols and Christmas music, interspersed with laughter and spoken word, St Agnes Fountain bring sparkling musicianship, humour and heartfelt renditions of your favourite Christmas tunes, both original and those you know so well or thought you did.”

So what about that unusual name? It comes from the carol Good King Wenceslas, from the verse where the king is given directions to a poor man in great need,

The words are “Sire, he lives a good league hence,/Underneath the mountain/ Right against the forest fence/ By Saint Agnes fountain.”

The carol, however, is not particularly old, dating back in its present form to the mid Victorian period.

It was 1853 when the English hymn writer John Mason Neale wrote down the words for Good King Wenceslas, in collaboration with his music editor Thomas Helmore.

The tune was far older, however, being based on a 13th century song about the coming of spring.

As for King Wenceslas, in real life he was a Duke of Bohemia, not a king, who had the misfortune to be knifed to death.

This was probably at the instigation of his brother, the rather aptly-named Boleslaus the Cruel.

After his death, the murdered Duke was declared a saint for all the good deeds he carried out in life.

And years later he had his own carol to prove it.

Now Christmas, as fans of the band say, begins with St Agnes Fountain, and their appearance at the Huntingdon Hall will make for a far more joyful story.

The concert takes place on Wednesday, December 5.

Tickets on 01905 611427.