SMALL and perfectly formed, Arcane has rapidly become one of our best-loved festivals.

A far cry from Glastonbury, Reading, or even Truck, it really is minute, but, it seems, the amount of fun to be had is inversely proportional to its size.

Calling itself a ‘micro-festival’ the event organisers donate all their profits to charity – which makes us love it even more.

Yet, despite its size, it effortlessly attracts the cream of the local music scene – and a few random big-hitters.

This year’s three-day bash gets going tomorrow at City Farm, Eynsham, and boasts a line-up of more than 70 acts, including anarcho-folk act Chumbawamba, ska-punks Imperial Leisure, fun-folk act 3 Daft Monkeys, JFB (Beardyman) with a Vaudeville Rave Party, and Oxford’s legendary prohibition jazz-swingers Rabbit Foot Spasm Band – who will use the show as a warm-up for their slot at next weekend’s Bestival.

Other highlights of the weekend will include a Prism-style rave, more DJs, circus and cabaret acts and more bands than you can shake the farmer’s stick at.

“We are a little festival with a big heart,” says co-organiser Su Starling.

And she’s right. Last year organisers donated more than £1,000 to the Oxford Art Room in memory of artist, friend and festival founder Dan Lewis, from Wheatley, who died in a tragic swimming accident.

Previous recipients of festival funds, meanwhile, include children’s author Michael Morpurgo’s charity Farms for City Children.

This year profits will be shared equally between local refugee support group charity Asylum Welcome, poverty-challenging technology charity Practical Action and, again, Farms for City Children.

“Arcane Festival has no corporate sponsors and all food and drink is as locally sourced as possible,” says Su.

That means organic food from Oxford’s Vaults & Garden Cafe, cider from Tutts Clump in West Berkshire, Cotswold Lager and Shotover Brewing Company ale.

“The majority of our performers are from Oxfordshire too,” she says.

Other local names to pop-up over the weekend will include Dead Jerichos, Brickwork Lizards, Borderville, Nine Stone Cowboy, Jess Hall, Tamara & the Martyrs and local hero Osprey and the OX4 Allstars. Plus scores of others.

Adding to the boutique feel, this year’s event has a fancy dress-theme – animals in black tie... so if you fancy spending the weekend as a glamour puss in a ball gown, or a handsome hound in a tux, this is clearly the place to go.

For kids (and fun-loving adults) meanwhile, there are vintage arcade games, workshops, foraging walks, story-telling and an interactive cinema.

And with much of the action taking place under canvas, even the weather won’t spoil the fun if it takes an unlikely turn for the worse.

“It looks really good – all we need now is for the punters to turn up,” says Su.

“But at £40 for the weekend, it is really cheap.

“All their friends are going to be talking about it for ages and you’ll feel like an idiot for not coming along.”

* Arcane Festival runs from tomorrow to Sunday at City Farm, Lower Road, Eynsham. Weekend tickets are £40 for the weekend, £15 for 15-17s, and day tickets for £20 (£10 concs). For more details and full line-up go to arcane-festival.com