The cold and rain that greeted the first ever Cornbury Festival meant it was just like a mini-Glastonbury -- in more ways than one.

Bryan Ferry

Big-name performers including the James Taylor Quartet, Blondie, Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra, Will Young and Hothouse Flowers lined up alongside bands little known outside the county circuit.

James Cobb, one of the festival committee, said: "It went absolutely brilliantly, exactly how we were expecting.

"There was a fantastic vibe all weekend and people have been asking us the date for next year, but I don't even want to think about that for a couple of days."

And although some were upset that bottles, cans, alcohol, picnics and chairs were banned from the festival in Cornbury Park, Charlbury, caterers selling exotic foods were encouraged.

Oxfordshire Blues Band KingB opened the festival, which by Saturday night (July 10) had attracted about 6,000 revellers.

Organisers hope it will become a regular fixture on the live music calendar.

Meanwhile, poor old Bryan Ferry may be left with a cold as well as laryngitis after his weekend concert at Cutteslowe Park.

The Roxy Music frontman who performed in Oxford on Saturday cancelled a show in Wales yesterday after a recurrence of a throat infection -- his sixth cancellation in seven scheduled shows.

There had been some doubt whether the 58-year-old Geordie would be fit enough to perform in north Oxford because of his recent illness, but he did to the delight of the 2,500-strong crowd who enjoyed his hour-long set and a firework finale.

But the after-effects meant he was forced to cancel yesterday's gig at short notice.

Promoter Chris Bailey said: "It was great Bryan was able to perform to thousands of fans but a shame he had not fully recovered from the effects of laryngitis, which is why the show was slightly shorter than usual.

"However, everyone was delighted he performed so many of the records for which he has become so well known."

Organisers had expected more than 4,000 fans to turn up to the four-day Summer Pops festival in Bangor, North Wales, which ends with an appearance by Pop Idol star Will Young tonight, fresh from his appearance in Oxfordshire on Saturday.

Bryan Ferry fans in Oxford can count themselves lucky. Not only did the heavy rain earlier on Saturday ease off for his performance -- it was also a rare chance to see Ferry sing live in his home country.