Tim Hughes soaks up a day of Americana which veers from deeply chilled to full-on frantic.

  • Halfway to 75
  • Isis Farmhouse, Oxford
  • July 30

The sun is going down and a blonde country singer in shades, a long tassel skirt, impressive turquoise boots and matching mandolin is singing about some failed romance or other.

Lilting pedal steel strings fill the air to a deep stand-up bass groove and deft electric guitar. The effect is deeply chilled and, the few hundred people gathered in an Oxford pub garden beside the Thames respond in the best way possible – raising themselves slightly off the grass where they lie, pushing their sunglasses up their noses, smiling, and taking a long slow sip of their drinks.

This may well be the most relaxing festival I've ever seen.

Set up by country music lover Will Banks four years ago as a way to celebrate his 37th birthday, six months late, Halfway to 75 has become a summer fixture in the pastoral oasis that is the back garden of the Isis Farmhouse, at Iffley Lock.

But while it may have a quirky name, the music is beyond reproach – with a solid bill of Oxford bands, a few national acts and a smattering of Americans, playing country, country-rock and Americana. Some of it, like this, Hannah Johnson & The Broken Hearts, is lusciously horizontal, others – like Speedbuggy USA, who followed – are more frantic; but it's all married to a love of 'twang'.

Speedbuggy in fact proved a highlight, with a fevered rock & roll which saw frontman Timbo ("he only goes by that name," I was told) spinning and reeling around, almost, but never quite, losing his balance or composure as the band thrash out a sweat-drenched ball of furious energy with all the force of an out-of-control Mustang flying through Death Valley - red-in-the-face cops waving their fists in the air in hot pursuit as Timbo and his gang grin hit the gas and spit chewing tobacco through the window. Or something.

Based in California, the band are here because of their drummer – Jamie Dawson, formerly of The Dreaming Spires, whose own frontman Robin Bennett recommended them to Will.

"I started watching a video online and decided within 30 seconds that I wanted them, so immediately emailed." says Will. "And by the time I had finished watching the second video, they had said yes."

Also hard and feisty were Loud Mountains – featuring North Carolina exiles Kevin and Sean Duggan of Empty White Circles – who played earlier in the day, pumping up the 400-plus crowd before local staples The Epstein soothed them down with their heartbreakingly lovely blend of country-rock, folk and soul.

The night was rounded off in suitably energetic style with a hoedown by The Doel Brothers – a bunch of good old boys who, in their dungarees and neckerchiefs look like they have also come from North Carolina, but in fact hail from Hampshire.

Groove, driving rhythms and more twang... what a way to spend a summer's day. Lovely people, great bands and a glorious setting; pub gardens will never seem the same again. Yee-haw!

TIM HUGHES 5/5