Cornbury Music Festival, July 2019, Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom

Cornbury Music Festival

Saturday 6th July 2019

Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom 

So we drove up to the locality on the Friday evening with a view to experiencing some of the Saturday attractions. As usual, the Press Tent crew were working hard to secure whatever photo opportunities and/or artist interview sessions they could land. Again as usual, some of the bigger names deigned to refuse time with the media. Those performers that do grant time are treated kindly, some quite new to the interviewing experience.

The photographers are an amusing crew, trooping off to shoot acts from the allowed areas, Some turns are prima donna’s, even refusing shots from the stage pit! Their comments on the performances can be really dry and they add to the business vibe. The local media people are sometimes starstruck and awkward, but generally good natured.

Out in the public areas, families tumble around. Seasoned attenders set up their chairs and shades and picnic boxes, usually in front of the main stage though there is space in front of this coterie to stand near the stage. Two blokes in Hendrix wigs and on stilts chat to awestruck children. The glut of food retailers make a fortune and a water company flogs cups and refills. Face painters have a steady intake of youngsters.

The merchandise tent sells CDs and vinyl plus festival and act t shirts. Some acts play mini shows in the tent. Signings by artists are listed, a good chance for fans to say hi to their favourites. Rachael Sage and Kelly Halloran on fiddle treated the merch tent to several tracks including ‘Spark’ and the pleasant new song ‘Blue Sky Days’ which kept the audience engaged. 

Saturday’s main stage and Songbird stage acts were Liverpudlian Joe Slater, Houndstooth (a vibrant singer Nadine flanked by her band with the guitar chaps sporting wings!), Little Brother Eli, Black Slate (somewhat heavy in mood for a Summer afternoon), Wildwood Kin (the West Country female trio whose very winterish vibe seemed a strange afternoon choice), The Trevor Horn Band (an act that cannot be followed, a set stuffed with hits Horn has produced, every one a giant global radio smash e.g. Two Tribes, Slave To The Rhythm, All The Things She Said, Relax, Owner Of A Lonely Heart, Video Killed The Radio Star..a fabulous and well-received booking) Kolars, The Shires (recently joining a new label) , Billy Lockett, Scottish songstress KT Tunstall, evergreen Elkie Brooks and headliners Keane who have returned following a hiatus with a new album and a popular back catalogue. 

The Caffe Nero tent hosted a wide range of acts – Ivory Pablo & The Blue Notes, Loky, Richard James, JJ Rosa (leading a four piece funk crew and playing itchy guitar with cool effects and plenty of drive), Lisa Wright, James Sayer and Moments.

The Riverside Stage presented Charlbury Ukele Band, Qurtermelon, Les Clochards (accordion led ditties sounding good in the sunshine), Black Hats, The Other Dramas (a thrashing male/female guitar and drums harsh lofi rock sound), Fused, Hope & Glory, The Standard, The Deadbeat Apostles and Rainbreakers. 

(We did speak with Houndstooth and with Horn and Lol Crème (10cc) and articles will follow)

Pete Sargeant