A FORMER Cheney School pupil and now organiser of a major music festival planned for South Park next year has promised there will be a “strong local flavour” to the event.

The two-day Common People festival is expected to bring 25,000 people a day to the Oxford park on May 28 and 29.

It is being organised by the team behind the Isle of Wight’s award-winning Bestival, and its family-friendly sister event, Camp Bestival in Dorset.

The park was the setting for Radiohead’s much-lauded homecoming show in 2001. But while it has been used for smaller commercial pop music and food events, it has never been used for anything on this scale since.

A celebration of music, film and community called OxfordOxford, which was being organised by a different group, was axed last year, just a week before it was due to begin, due to poor ticket sakes and confusion over headline acts.

Common People festival director, Ben Turner, said: “Oxford has been instrumental in defining the sound of UK music with some of the best bands this country has seen in the last 20 years: Radiohead, Ride, Supergrass, Foals and many more.

“As an Oxford-born music industry individual, my early musical development came from venues and record stores in and around Oxford. As a Cheney School alumnus, I am proud that we are bringing Common People to South Park – we think one of the most beautiful outdoor locations in the UK.”

Common People has already proved a success in its home city of Southampton. Its inauguaral event, this summer, was headlined by superstar DJ Fatboy Slim. The Oxford event will run simultaneously with a similar event in the Hampshire city on the Spring Bank Holiday.

The Oxford event, will see bands playing three stages. Festival curator Rob da Bank said: “Common People HQ is buzzing with excitement that we’re bringing our show to Oxford next May.

“South Park is a stunning setting and we have an amazing line-up to share with you very soon – from pop stars to underground legends, theatre and spoken word to our ace Kids Area and some special Oxford touches.

“Thanks for having us, Oxford.”

An announcement on the first tranche of bookings is expected within the next fortnight.

Aidan Ryne from organisers Get Involved said: “This will be a twin for our already established Southampton event, held on the same Spring Bank Holiday weekend.

The festivals will share some line-up, with a few key regional differences to give each show an unmistakably homespun feel.

“There will undoubtedly be plenty of Oxford bands in the line-up, with our Uncommon Stage being all new and local bands.”

* Tickets will cost £27.50 plus booking fee, per day. Go to commonpeople.net for details and a chance to get a ticket for just £10