Tim Hughes talks to festival director Andy Pickard about Riverside’s 18th anniversary

STARTING life as a small gathering for a handful of local bands, Riverside Festival has come of age. Literally.

This weekend more than 40 bands and artists, and thousands of music lovers, will descend on a picturesque meadow beside the River Evenlode in Charlbury, for the 18th installment of the annual event. And while the festival retains its community spirit, the bill features some of the county’s biggest bands.

For festival director Andy Pickard the secret to the festival’s success is obvious: “It’s free!” he says, during a break in preparations for the two-day event, which begins on Saturday.

“It harks back to the hippy ideal. We have never charged people to come in, yet the festival has still managed to thrive – and even make a profit.”

While numbers are limited to 2,500 on site at any one time, there is no entry charge. Instead, the festival is funded by contributions from traders, bar takings and a grant from Charlbury Town Council. Andy and his crew of volunteers give their time for free, with profits ploughed back into the festival and a donation made to mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind.

To mark the anniversary Andy and his team have assembled a wish-list of artists over three stages. They have been assisted, for the first time, by staff from Oxford’s independent Truck Store record shop and its sister store in Witney, Rapture.

Headlining on Saturday are the db Band featuring former Supergrass member Mick Quinn and rising stars Empty White Circles (see interview left).

They will be joined by Oxford and Witney jump-blues party-animals The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, Witney hip-hop act Death of Hi-Fi, cross-cultural ‘Turkabilly’ act The Brickwork Lizards, Binsey country-rockers The Epstein, psychedelic soundscape artists Flights of Helios, West Oxfordshire singer-songwriter Bethany Weimers, The August List and Band of Hope.

Sunday’s headliners are Million Faces and We Aeronauts. They are joined by Robin and Joe Bennett’s country-rock band The Dreaming Spires, fellow Americana act Swindlestock, hotly-tipped Deer Chicago, Finstock country-singer Ags Connolly, Wantage Afro-math-rockers Nairobi, and Tamara & The Martyrs – featuring Oxford singer-songwriter Tamara Parsons-Baker.

“It’s a great line-up,” says Andy. “As an old Supergrass fan I’m particularly looking forward to seeing db Band, but there are loads of other amazing acts too – like the Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, who are great, and The Brickwork Lizards, who play 1920s swing jazz, Eastern European and Middle Eastern music with rap. They define themselves as ‘Turkabilly’’ but are really impossible to categorise – and are brilliant because of that.

“I’m also looking forward to Swindlestock, who play ‘diesel-country & western. It’s not soppy country – it’s got real bite. Then there are The Mighty Redox, who are festival favourites.”

One of the most interesting acts could be the festival’s youngest – local band Flotsam Jets, featuring Charlbury lad Tristan Stepney.

“Tristan first came to Riverside when he was seven, and helped with the fencing,” Andy recalls. “He always wanted to play the festival and, now he is 17, he will be opening the main stage on Sunday.

“Riverside started with young bands, and we have kept that, while also attracting bigger acts, like the Rabbit Foots – who play across the country.”

To celebrate the festival’s 18th birthday, Witney’s Wychwood Brewery has made a commemorative ale – Glass of ’96. There will also be a Live Lounge in which artists will be recorded playing intimate sets for small audiences.

“We are a family friendly festival,” says Andy. “We have a bigger kids area and music for everyone on a lovely site in the most beautiful part of the Oxfordshire Cotswolds. But we don’t tone it down just because there are children here.

“After all, lots of people also want to come and hear great music played loudly!”

  • Riverside Festival is held at Mill Field, Charlbury on Saturday and Sunday.
  • Admission is free