Cornbury is back for an unexpected return and after last weeks all female announcement for Saturday 14th July they have today announced the full line up for the spectacular family friendly festival in Oxfordshire and there really is something for everyone.
Today’s announcement is truly international in its spectrum and for me one name stands out as something really special and one that I have followed for years. Zucchero Fornaciari is an Italian singer songwriter who came to the notice of audiences in this country with his collaboration with Paul Young for ‘Senza Una Donna’, but Zucchero is so much more than one incredible song. He has the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic and has sold over 60 million records around the world, in a career that spans more than three decades and includes 14 studio albums. His huge relevance in the world of music is no better illustrated by the huge stars that have collaborated with him. Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Brian May, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, B.B. King, Sting, Bono, Peter Gabriel and Luciano Pavarotti are just some of the names who have made music with this Italian superstar and, having seen him live a few times myself at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Cornbury will be blown away.
The international flavour continues with Caro Emerald, the Dutch jazz singer, Jimmy Cliff, the Jamaican reggae superstar, and Marc Cohn, American folk rock singer famous here for his ‘Walking in Memphis’ classic. Representing the British Isles will be Deacon Blue, Amy MacDonald and the superb Nina Nesbitt from Scotland; Grainne Duffy and Catherine McGrath will bring their magic from the Emerald Isle and Wales, not to be outdone, have Amen Corner and Andy Fairweather Low in attendance. If we can find a Frenchman singing somewhere we might just have the six nations of music.
The headliners for this year are UB40 on the Friday night, Alanis Morissette on Saturday 14th July and then bringing the party to a close on Sunday evening will be South London royalty Squeeze, I simply can’t wait!
Throw into the mix Pixie Lott, Megan McKenna, 80’s fave Mari Wilson, the Stereo MCs, local band Danny & The Champions of the World, house band STAKS, Israeli starlet Irit, LA’s PP Arnold, Mavis Staples, Luisa Nelson & The Promise of the Real, the lovely Lissie and it really looks like organiser Hugh Phillimore is back with a bang. He says:
“I’m so excited to return with such an amazing mix of brilliant artists. It’s rather extraordinary to be back quite so soon and able to work with such an international cast. It’s a real honour for a musical trainspotter like me.“
Tickets are available via www.cornburyfestival.com and having attended my first Cornbury last year I can vouch for just how much fun can be had at this wonderful event.
