THE CREAM of the Oxfordshire music scene turned out to grace the bill of the county’s biggest and best free festival.

The Riverside Festival, which took place in Charlbury over the weekend, featured more than 30 bands and thousands of music-lovers, with Saturday’s attendence topping 3,500.

Artists like Charly Coombs, from Supergrass, and Oxford bands Borderville, Family Machine, Delta Frequency, Huck and the Handsome Fee, The Black Hats, Alphabet Backwards and the Mighty Redox brought the crowd to their feet.

Yesterday had a ‘crazy bug’ fancy dress theme – and culminated in an Ugly Bug Ball, where children dressed as ladybirds, beetles and butterflies danced along to disco favourites.

The festival was compered by musician Bryony Cunningham, from Charlbury, and Oxford Mail journalist Steve Hay.

Miss Cunningham said: “It was the best Riverside Festival so far, and it had the biggest turnout. It has been brilliant.

“The bands were amazing – with headliners Borderville putting on an incredible show on Saturday night. And because it was Father’s Day yesterday, we had lots of families too.”

Among those enjoying the atmosphere was Andy Mundin, from Cowley, Oxford.

He said: “It was a great weekend. The weather was nice and the whole town seemed to come out and support it.

“It was a real family-friendly affair too, with loads of kids running around – which is always good to see.

“The surprising thing was the calibre of the bands. It was amazing really – especially considering it was free.”

All artists play the festival for free, with the event funded by sales of food and drink, and income from traders.

Festival spokesman Katherine Custance, from Charlbury, said: “Riverside Festival started 15 years ago as a modest affair with just one chemical toilet and two barrels of beer to share. Now it’s become a major event in Oxfordshire’s music calendar.”

The festival team are now looking forward to next month’s Cornbury Festival, in Charlbury, which hosts a Riverside stage featuring Borderville and Charly Coombs, among other names.

Cornbury takes place from July 3-4. For details go to cornbury festival.com thughes@oxfordmail.co.uk