FOR fans of food and music it’s a match made in heaven.

Next weekend Blur bassist turned celebrity cheesemaker Alex James opens his farm gates for The Big Feastival.

Staged in collaboration with his mate Jamie Oliver, the event is the perfect blend of sound and taste.

Musical highlights come from dance icons Basement Jazz, precocious upstarts Rizzle Kicks, Lianne La Havas, The Feeling, singer-songwriter KT Tunstall, soundsystem king Norman Jay, ‘90s survivors Dodgy, Take That’s Mark Owen, Essex boys The Milk, Inspector Lewis’s sidekick-turned musician Laurence Fox, and The Cuban Brothers.

The event also features a groaning platter of foodie offerings, with snacks cooked by leading chefs, cookery displays and workshops.

The whole thing takes place in Kingham, near Chipping Norton, on Saturday, August 31 and Sunday, September 1.

And Alex told us he can’t wait for it all to begin. “Working with Jamie on The Big Feastival has been a real pleasure,” he said.

“We had a lot of fun last year and we couldn’t wait to get started on the next one. Food, music and fields are among my favourite things, and to have it all happening on the farm with the family around just makes it even better.

“We live in such a beautiful part of the country. It’s great to give people an excuse to visit and enjoy this little corner of Oxfordshire on a late summer’s day.”

Win!

We convinced Alex to give us a one-day family ticket, allowing two adults and two children entry to the Big Feastival on the Sunday.

For a chance to win, tell us the name of Blur’s debut album.

Email your answer with your name, address and day time phone number to: tim.hughes@ nqo.com

or post it to: Big Feastival competition, The Oxford Times, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford, OX2 0EJ.

Entries must be received by midday on Wednesday, August 28. Usual rules apply. The editor’s decision is final.

  • IF rock, punk or indie music is your thing, you can’t have failed to have noticed that tomorrow marks the start of that annual celebration of noise that is Reading Festival.

The event, which takes place at Little John’s Farm, features more than 300 bands. Perhaps the most interesting name on the bill for Oxonians is that of Foals. The local indie/math-rock band play the main stage on Saturday. Tickets have sold out.