Tim Hughes looks forward to a little festival with big ideas — Towersey

Almost half a century ago, a group of South Oxfordshire villagers sat down to discuss ways of paying for the refurbishment of their village hall.

They hit on a novel idea. Instead of jumble sales and raffles, why not get a bunch of musicians together, put them in a pub garden and charge people to watch them play.

It worked. The hall got its revamp and the villagers had a great time. In fact they had such a good time they decided to repeat it the following year. Now, 49 years on the good people of Towersey are still at it, though the event has changed beyond recognition.

Taking place over five days, Towersey is Oxfordshire’s longest, and longest-running, festival. Up to 10,000 people descend on this tiny community of 500 souls, to see almost 200 acts play 12 stages. “It’s a fantastic festival,” says festival director Joe Heap, whose grandfather, Dennis Manners set the first festival up.

“The thing we are most proud of is it is a safe, family event which attracts people year after year.”

The festival has branched from its original folkie roots, and now embraces world, jazz, blues, Americana and other genres. Though, says Joe, the bands can all be described as “acoustic”. This is not the place to come for banging techno or head-splitting metal. Instead expect sets from folkie father-and-daughter double-act Martin and Eliza Carthy; Show of Hands, featuring Steve Knightley, Phil Beer and guest Miranda Sykes; Northumbrian siblings The Unthanks - aka Rachel and Becky; folk guitarist Martin Simpson; Albion Band spin-off Home Service; Swiss Cajun band Mama Rosin; Italian-electronica act Nidi d’Arac; ska-calypso-Klezmer-funk band Orkestra del Sol; Bellowhead founders Spiers and Boden; bearded Australian singers The Spooky Men’s Chorale; American roots artist Stompin’ Dave Allen; acclaimed banjo player Dan Walsh; 24 year-old singer-songwriter Lisbee Stainton; English Ceilidh band Gas Mark 5; roots reggae and dancehall band Jamatone; and gypsy-folk-stompers Manière des Bohémiens.

Then there are more folky offerings from Moulettes, Lucy Ward, festival patron Roy Bailey MBE; Sara Grey, Kieron Means & Ben Paley; The Poozies; BBC Radio Two Folk Musician of the Year Tim Edey; Tyde; VAMM; Dave Burland; Fabian Holland; Grace Petrie; Greg Russell and Ciaran Algar; James Delarre and Saul Rose; Joseph Topping and Banquet of Boxes Representing local artists, meanwhile are Oxford’s talented cross-cultural world band The Brickwork Lizards and a stripped-down line-up of country-rock band Swindlestock. Providing a quirky start to the festival, last night, meanwhile, was the late Ian Dury’s old band The Blockheads.

“We always have something quirky for a Thursday,” says Joe. “It’s fun and get’s local people involved. The Blockheads are a great dance band and roll out all the hits.”

He said he was proud of the strength of this year’s line-up.

“If you’re into quality music, you’ve got to come,” he said. “It has been going for so long, people on the acoustic scene want to play it.”

Then there are scores of non-musical acts — spoken word artiste Debs Newbold, Ozark dance leader Steve Green; poets, dancers, circus performers, workshops, beginners classes for guitar and ukulele, theatre, film, plate-spinning; a display of traditional Romany life, Japanese pottery firing and pretty much everything else under the sun.

“It’s a real feast of fun with surprises around every corner,” says Joe, who grew up in the village, but now lives in the East Midlands.

“It’s the oldest independent festival in the country, with no corporate sponsorship and no high street names. Everything is different; the beer is sourced locally and we have more than 30 food vendors from around the world.”

While the event has changed beyond recognition, certain things remain. The festival-goers still flock to the pub garden — though there is now only one hostelry in Towersey compared to three when it began. The event also continues to raise money for the village — including the village hall, which has just benefited from another timely refurb. “The village loves Towersey,” adds Joe. “The festival is a great tradition.”

While all attention is focused on this weekend, thoughts are also turning to next year’s 50th anniversary bash. “Next year is the big one,” says Joe with relish. “There are lots of people I’d like to see play, and, for the 50th, loads of people want to be a part of this wonderful festival.

“The current boom of folk music into the mainstream with the likes of Bellowhead and Mumford And Sons has seen many pretenders, but Towersey is the real deal. “It’s a community festival where folk music has real roots. The people that come, and the sheer variety of music and art on offer, make Towersey a total escapist event.”

  • Towersey Festival
  • Until Monday.
  • Weekend tickets £125 for adults. Camping is extra. Day, youth and child tickets are also available
  • Call 023 8071 1818 or visit towerseyfestival.com