The musicians of Magpie Lane first came together in the winter of 1992–93 to record The Oxford Ramble, a collection of songs and tunes from, or about, Oxfordshire.
In 2000, the band were asked to record a companion album for A Taste of Ale, a book by the author and folksong scholar, Roy Palmer.
The band have continued to release albums and perform regularly in concerts, folk clubs and festivals in the UK.
[4][5] In 2018, they released their 10th studio album, The 25th, the title of which plays on its Christmastime theme as well as being in celebration of the band's 25th anniversary.
It was released in December, to coincide with the band's 25th annual Christmas concert at the Holywell Music Room.