Introduction to the Cornbury Music Festival!

cornbury music festival

Hello!

I’m just dropping in today to introduce The Cornbury Festival to you guys, a festival we’ll hopefully be covering this summer! There is an incredible line up so far and I’m told there’s more artists yet to be announced and this year is a great year for the Country musicians! So I’m going to introduce you to the festival and to the stars you guys might be interested in going watching this year!

The festival runs over three days in July (10th, 11th 12th) and is located in the Great Tew Park in Oxfordshire. There are three stages set up, The Riverside stage, Songbird stage and The Pleasant Valley stage and there is something for everyone throughout the course of the weekend with comedy performances as well as the music and you never have to miss a beat with on-site camping or glamping for the ones of you who like a few more home comforts than your average tent and portaloo! This years festival is being headlined by Razorlight, Sir Tom Jones, and Roger Hodgson along with The Fratellis and Blue! But I’m here to give all you Country lovers some top tips and recommendations for each day so lets get to it!

So gates open on Friday at 12 noon and all the days antics kick off at around 14:30. There are 8 acts performing plus the comedy headliner which is Aisling Bea. Now my top tips for Country lovers on the Friday would be British band Police Dog Hogan mixing a blend of Country, Folk-pop and Urban Bluegrass the 8 piece band are on their third album and are a favourite on the festival circuit. But I personally am really looking forward to Larkin Poe an American Roots Rock band fronted by two sisters Rebecca and Megan Lovell. Perhaps not so Country but I have a strong feeling they might steal the show on the Friday and I definitely think they are one to watch out for in the future! With the likes of Chas and Dave and The Fratellis on the bill it sure to be a cracking start to this three day festival!

Headliner: Razorlight

Top Tip: Police Dog Hogan

Now if I didn’t already have you buying tickets just talking about day 1 I know what will make you go buy those tickets… day 2! With headliners Blue and Tom Jones it is sure to be a packed out sell-out crowd and this is the day I’m most looking forward to with a line up made just for the Country lovers! So the first one on the stage at midday on Saturday is Jess and The Bandits fronted by Jessica Clemmons. The singer-songwriter from Houston, Texas with the big voice and the warm personality, bonded with the four Brits who make up the Bandits over their mutual love of the music. Now they’re turning that shared affection into some of the most accessible country-pop-rock of the year. They have had regular radio play on BBC Radio 2 and have performed at C2C Festival so its sure to be a cracking way to open day 2! But the excitement doesn’t end there, oh no! Raintown who we did an interview back at C2C Festival will be entertaining the crowd in the heart of the cotswolds not long after Jess and The Bandits complete their set. The Glaswegian Country duo are such an endearing couple on and off stage, capturing the hearts of many brits with their music. I am delighted to see they are playing at this years festival! Now I’ve said a number of times to numerous people that the duo’s in Country music are doing well for themselves at the moment and the line up reflects this as we see Striking Matches once again back in the UK to perform for the crowds. A favourite amongst the British Country fans they are sure to really give it some welly (you can never be sure with the British weather.) A duo who could give a masterclass in performance technique, guitar skills and songwriting to anyone (even some of these big stars) are bound to steal the show on day 2. But if that doesn’t convince you how about the next two acts on the bill? The Shires, the UK’s most successful Country act ever will take to the stage not long after Striking Matches have left everyone’s jaws on the floor, and Ben and Crissie are sure to pick them back up and have them singing along! The nation do love these two and I’m not surprised, their debut album is packed full of country pop sing-a-longs, heartfelt country ballads and English Pride! And the party isn’t yet over as twin sisters Catherine and Lizzy of Ward Thomas will take to the stage and pick up where The Shires left off and keep up the momentum! Another favourite duo in the Country music world these girls are sure to draw a big crowd and have a great time!

Headliner: Tom Jones

Top tip: Do I have to choose??

This brings us to the last day, Sunday 12th of July and it is some what of a full day! With headliners Billy Ocean and Roger Hodgson the crowd will still be as loud as the previous days and here’s what you can expect! For anyone familiar with The X-Factor you may recognise the name Only the Young, a group who gained a lot of exposure on the programme last year. They will be taking to the stage with some classic covers as well as new original material! The Harbour and CC Smugglers are two groups which I’m excited to hear more from and I think CC Smugglers will be a favourite amongst the crowd. However I think my top tip for you guys is Slim Chance on day 3. Its members are all fine singers, musicians and showmen, playing an amazing array of instruments. The band is known for its pioneering use of  fiddles, mandolin and accordion. Recently the Huffington Post described the band as ‘the real deal’, an ‘organic multifaceted collective’ ‘raising the roof’ at one of their regular London gigs and I can’t wait to see what they do at the festival!

Headliner: Roger Hodgson

Top tip: Slim Chance

So there you are folks, a quick introduction to the Cornbury festival for further information on tickets  and full line up please visit their website: http://www.cornburyfestival.com and I’ll catch you later on in the week with a new interview!

Thanks

Just Zoe x

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