Bandleader and music writer Stuart Macbeth shares his favourite moments from this year's Cornbury Music Festival

Great Tew Park provided an idyllic setting for the 11th Cornbury Festival - with five stages set among rolling Oxfordshire countryside.

This year’s line-up was jam packed with big names. Friday night headliner Jools Holland had a spring in his step as his feisty Rhythm and Blues Orchestra swung madly through the rain.

I tapped my wellies to exceptional solos from the likes of drummer Gilson Lavis and saxophonist Lisa Graham – who once strutted her stuff with Henley College Big Band.

Guest singer Marc Almond wowed the crowd with Say Hello, Wave Goodbye while Melanie C made a brave stab at Stevie Wonder’s I Wish.

Friday also saw strong sets from Suzanne Vega, Sophie Ellis-Bextor and US hip-hoppers Arrested Development - although from the crowd’s inhibited dancing I suspect Cornbury might not yet be ready for an urban music revolution.

On the fringes of all this action I saw the standout set of the day in the Tew Drop Inn – which is basically a giant campsite bar - from London’s Delegators. Fronted by Janet Kumah they play lively Ska and Rocksteady and kept their large crowd jumping late into the night. By this point I was starting to have an exceptionally good time.

On Saturday, country-singer Kacey Musgraves performed over at the Songbird Stage, followed by the legendary Georgie Fame, accompanied by the Guy Barker Big Band.

Fame seldom makes appearances so it was a real thrill when Cornbury announced him as part of the line-up. As a performer Fame’s phrasing was immaculate.

He has a well lived-in, soulful voice which rises straight out of him to bounce among the riffs from Barker’s brass section, with impressive bop licks from saxophonist Rosario Giuliani. When Fame slips off stage, getting straight into his car and driving off, it leaves me and my autograph book pining for more.

On Sunday there are sets from the likes of Kid Creole, The Gipsy Kings and Peatbog Fairies, whose baffling mix of jigs, reels and hip-hop brings out the most excitable dancing of the weekend.

There’s also plenty of action on the Riverside Stage, run for many years by Charlbury resident Andy Pickard.

Each year Andy handpicks a bill of the finest local talent. Shows from the likes of Brickwork Lizards, Black Hats, Knights of Mentis, The Epstein and Grudle Bay ensure that the quality remains exceptionally high. Young Witney band The Standard proved themselves ones to watch with a brilliant, fun set featuring lively bass work from Lloyd Reed.

Oxford Mail:

Country girl: Kacey Musgraves

This was my first visit to Cornbury Festival and there’s an attention to detail on site which really puts this festival a gear ahead of its rivals. The site was unusually well signposted. There were massive perks - hot, running water in the showers, clean loos with paper and soap, well-staffed bars - a five-star effort from the crew on site making me thoroughly recommend that you book your tickets for Cornbury 2015.

Oxford Mail:

Brazilian-style: Grudle Bay