WITHOUT fail the pilgrims of Cropredy return year after year to gather for the world-famous folk celebration led by Fairport Convention.

Once the band finished their three-hour set at the end of the three-day festival on Saturday night, fans were already looking forward to next year.

Up to 20,000 revellers gathered for the festival in fields near the north Oxfordshire village and enjoyed performances by acts including UB40, The Travelling Band, Hayseed Dixie, Horslips and Blockheads.

Festival spokesman Andy Farquarson, who first met Fairport Convention in 1967, said: “Cropredy started out in 1980 with about 1,000 people here.

“Now we have up to 20,000 and our audience is local, national and international.

“Given the diminishing attendances at all festivals this year we are really pleased at how our ticket sales have held up.”

Adult learning services manager Lynsi Hayward-Smith, 57, from Essex, at the festival with her husband, Tim, 56, said: “I have been here every year since 1984 and it’s an absolute pilgrimage... the year does not happen without it.

“We came here through grief when we lost our fathers and with joy when we had our children. It is a landmark in our lives.

“There has been such a good variety of music this year, it’s not just a folk festival.”

Emily Smith, 43, who moved from Chipping Norton to Nottingham 10 years ago, was at Cropredy with daughters Lily, 15 months, and two-year-old Grace.

“Lily was almost certainly conceived at Cropredy,” she said.

“I’ve got a wristband from 1993 and I’ve been coming here ever since.

“It’s so relaxed and you can pack a holiday into four days and meet friends from all over the world.”

Sally Ohlsen, 25, an occupational therapist from Mile End, London, was at the festival with boyfriend Simon Watchman, 26, a trainee teacher from Sheffield.

She said: “It’s great to get away to Cropredy after the riots. I first came here when I was two years old.”

Rozz McDonald, 39, from Long Hanborough, was at the festival with partner Lee Dawson, 38, and daughter Lily, six months.

She said: “Blockheads were definitely the highlight for me. I listened to New Boots and Panties all the way through my adolescence.”

Doug Scrivens, 60, a psychiatric nurse and member of Alvechurch Morris near Birmingham, said: “I’m a Cropredy virgin and I have really enjoyed it. Everyone is very friendly even when they have had a load of beer.”

TV director Daniel Precious, 35, from Walthamstow, London, came with a large family group including his niece Holly Kirby and nephew Tom Kirby, both six.

He said: “There is loads of space and we were able to park right next to the caravan. It’s nice to be able to spend time with my family in such lovely surroundings.”

Paul Chalmers, 46, from Carlisle, who worked in a biscuit factory until he was made redundant, was first at Cropredy in 1995, and said: “I come here as often as I can.

“The line-up has been great this time. Seasick Steve was brilliant and I love Horslips.”