Tim Hughes talks to festival director Andy Pickard about Riverside’s 21st anniversary bash

TO anyone who loves live music it sounds perfect: a laid-back, family-friendly festival on a meadow in the Cotswolds, featuring a diverse range of excellent bands playing to a friendly crowd, supplied with a steady stream of good food and drink. Oh, and it’s free.

It may sound like a fantasy, but Riverside Festival is no figment of the imagination.

For two decades, this lovely gathering has drawn in bands, artists and revellers to a pretty island in the River Evenlode, on the edge of Charlbury.

This weekend it returns for its 21st anniversary and with a stellar line-up, which, even by its own high standards, is impressive.

Indie-pop act Neverlnd, disco ceilidh band Saedly Dorus & The Hoolie Band, soulful Americana boys The Epstein, the ale-loving The Wonder Beers, rock act Leader, bluegrass party people The Knights of Mentis and African-flavoured math-rock band Bright Works, are among the more than 40 acts line-up to play three stages at the site.

Up to 80 per cent of the bands are from Oxfordshire.

“I’m very happy with the line-up for our 21st anniversary festival,” says festival director Andy Pickard – taking a well-earned break from preparations with a quiet drink in the pub.

“The second stage is also great, with bands like The Hummingbirds, Cherokee, Alphabet Backwards, Frankenstein’s Lobster and The Black Hats,” he says.

And with the weather playing ball, a big turn up is expected. Many of those arriving over the course of Saturday and Sunday are annual visitors. So what is it that keeps them coming back?

“It’s a free festival,” says Andy. “We are nothing like Truck or the other big events. We have a more homely feel and people come with their families for a bit of a reunion.”

Andy, who works for mental health charity Oxfordshire Mind, has been involved with the festival since the start (“I know, I look too young,” he laughs). And despite there being no admission charge still manages to raise cash through donations, bar takings and contributions from traders, to make a sizeable donation to good causes, including Mind, of course.

Andy, his army of helpers, and all the performers, give their time and energies for free.

To celebrate the event’s 21st year, Witney-based Wychwood Brewery has created a special commemorative ale – called, rather neatly, Twenty Thirst.

“We go to some effort to make the site look nice,” says Andy. “And people at Mind have been busy making 100 papier-mache dogs of all sizes – some up to 3ft high, which people will be able to buy.

“I have just driven back from Oxford with a load in my car, which caused some hilarity and ridicule.”

The project was overseen by Mind supporter, artist Tom Campbell.

There will be more arts and crafts at the weekend, with everything from cake decorating to hat making.

Because of the constraints of the site, capacity is limited to 5,000 a day, though Andy says: “We have never had to turn anyone away yet.

“And because people love the ethos of a family-friendly free festival, they keep coming back.”

The Riverside team have already been in action this month, running the ever-popular Riverside Stage at Cornbury Music Festival. Some of the bands playing that were also invited to join the bill at Riverside.

“Cornbury was good,” says Andy. “We had a big stage with a quick changeover of bands, which people like. Many people say it is their favourite stage. A few of the same bands play Riverside too, though we try to keep them different.

“It’s a a bit of a warm-up for this. After all we work hard as well as play hard!”

He adds: “Come and join us. Bring sun lotion and a hat, and enjoy a festival on an island in the middle of the Cotswolds.”

Andy’s Riverside picks

  • 1 Neverlnd – Oxford’s new Radiohead
  • 2 Saedly Dorus & The Hoolie Band – a ceilidh band playing disco tunes
  • 3 The Epstein – Americana favourites and Riverside heroes
  • 4 Leader – Our own stadium rock band
  • 5 Mighty Redox – Psychedelic hippies and festival veterans
  • 6 Bright Works – Original indie-rock with an Afrobeat twist
  • 7 Dave Sutherland – Acclaimed London folkie
  • 8 The Hummingbirds – Beatles-esque style Merseyside
  • 9 Black Hats – Indie-rock darlings of Riverside back for more
  • 10 Dave Gibb – Big name in music for adults and children