Jagger's Pub Serenade
Rolling Stones Frontman Mick Jagger Surprises Oxford Pub with Impromptu Folk Song
Anonymous
Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, 82, made an unplanned appearance at The Half Moon pub in Oxford on the night of June 7, 2026, joining a weekly folk session to sing "Handsome Molly" — a traditional ballad he first recorded on his 1993 solo album *Wandering Spirit*. KIRO 7 reported the performance lasted until around 11:15 PM, with Jagger blending into the crowd before stepping up to sing.
The impromptu moment came after Jagger and his partner, former ballerina Melanie Hamrick, spent the evening as guests of Lord Mendoza, the Provost of Oriel College. They attended Evensong at the college chapel and dined at the High Table before a small group headed to the nearby St Clement's pub. Oriel College posted video of the performance on June 10, and it quickly racked up over 27,000 likes on Instagram.
From Oxford High Table to a Packed Folk Pub
The evening began with ceremony. Jagger and Hamrick arrived at Oriel College around 4:00 PM as personal guests of the Provost. They joined students at Evensong in the college chapel — a formal Anglican service — then moved to a High Table dinner and drinks in the Senior Common Room, Action News Jax reported.
After the formal proceedings wrapped up, Jagger, Rolling Stones keyboardist Matt Clifford, and Oriel politics academic Robert Cheah made their way to The Half Moon. The pub had no idea what was coming. A pub representative named "Johnnie" told WPXI the venue prides itself on "welcoming everyone from beginners to international stars" at its weekly folk nights.
Jagger Swaps Stadiums for a Singalong at 82
Just before 11:15 PM, Jagger joined the house Irish folk band and launched into "Handsome Molly." The song is an old Appalachian folk ballad. He recorded it as the closing track on *Wandering Spirit* in 1993. According to GB News, he even swapped out a lyric — replacing "Dublin" with "London" for the crowd.
Witness Cinzia Bertano, who filmed part of the night, said the moment felt "surreal." She noted that almost nobody in the room realized who he was at first. There was no security team, no entourage — just Jagger in what she called a "cosy retreat," Boston 25 News reported. His voice, witnesses said, remained strong and controlled.
First Public Performance Since the Hackney Diamonds Tour
The Oxford pub appearance is Jagger's first known public performance since the Rolling Stones wrapped their *Hackney Diamonds* tour in 2024. The band announced their 25th studio album, *Foreign Tongues*, at a New York City launch event on May 5, 2026, hosted by Conan O'Brien. The album drops on July 10, 2026, WHIO reported.
The lead single "In The Stars" has already been released. The Half Moon pub is now expected to draw rock-and-roll tourists. Venues tied to surprise Stones appearances have historically become permanent stops on music tourism maps, WSBT noted.
Oxford Pub's Folk Night Gets 27,000 Instagram Likes Overnight
Oriel College waited three days before going public. On June 10, the college posted video of Jagger's performance. The post hit 27,000 likes within 24 hours, WPXI reported. The college framed the visit around academic tradition — emphasizing the Evensong and High Table dinner — rather than the celebrity angle.
The reaction online split into two camps. Many fans focused on Jagger's "normalcy" and energy at 82. A smaller group on Reddit shrugged it off. One local resident wrote they "wouldn't pay to see them if they were setting up in my kitchen," reflecting a fatigue some feel toward high-profile "surprise" events in university towns, according to WSOC TV.
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