Alex James tells Tim Hughes why this year’s Big Feastival is going to be better than ever – especially for the kids

THE stage is set, the kitchens are fired up, and the first guests of the weekend are set to roll through the gates of Alex James’s beautiful Cotswold farm.

It is five years since the Blur bassist teamed up with his mate Jamie Oliver to stage a festival based on music and food. But now, after half a decade, he says it has really come of age.

The Big Feastival, which starts tomorrow, has three full days of programmed music and features the best line-up yet, both of musicians and chefs. Yet it retains its scale and overwhelming sense of niceness.

“The sun is shining and you can taste the excitement, grins Alex as he surveys the scene outside the door of his honey-coloured stone farmhouse on the edge of Kingham, near Chipping Norton.

“It’s the calm before the storm!”he says.

Of all the regular punters who have fallen in love with this annual celebration of music, food and family, none are more excited than the host himself – with the possible exception of his children.

The Big Feastival is not so much a festival as a private party – with a ridiculously long guest list. Alex and Jamie choose the bands – calling in favours from friends and coming up with their own fantasy playlist. They also select the culinary stars – creating a constellation of Michelin stars which would outdo most capital cities. And they are both massively involved – Jamie joining the cooking demonstrations and Alex holding forth in his Cheese Hub – a cross between a dance tent, cocktail bar and high-end cheese shop.

“I am working on that total experience this year,” says the fun-loving fromager.

“What’s great is having more stages. The Cheese Hub is a stage in its own right this year - and it’s great running a club in your back garden.”

Among the A-listers popping onto the farm over the coming weekend are Mark Ronson, Tinie Tempah, Kaiser Chiefs, Norman Jay, Roisin Murphy, Ella Henderson, Foxes, DJ Fresh, Toots & The Maytals, Reef, The Proclaimers, Stereo MCs, DJ Yoda and Roland Gift of Fine Young Cannibals.

On the food front, there will also be demonstrations by Oxford's Raymond Blanc, Tom Kerridge, Thomasina Miers, Gizzi Erskine, Nathan Outlaw, Olia Hercules, and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain. And to keep the younger festival-goers happy,, there will also be appearances by Cbeebies star Justin Fletcher, Twirlywoos, My Little Pony and Optimus Prime.

“This is our fifth year now, says Alex. “I can’t believe how quickly it’s gone.

“It gets bigger and better every year. We’ve gone from 10,000 to 15,000 and now 20,000 people.

“Having 20,000 people is quite a sweet spot. It means we keep our boutique feel, but can have an extra stage and a bit more. And more people want to come because they are happy with it.”

Does he want it to grow further?

“I don’t see it turning into Glastonbury,” he says, I love the boutique level, but let’s see what happens. The thing is, it’s a very popular thing in the local area but we don’t want it to get unrecognisably busy because then you get other problems.”

He goes on: “Everybody is familiar with what it is. It’s an established thing, and that makes it much easier to attract talent. And some fantastic names want to hang out here. I pulled every string!

“Friday is going to be epic. I’m really looking forward to Mark Ronson. I grabbed him by the lapels and told him he should come so it’s great he’s here.

“Then we’ve got Foxes, Stereo MCs and Norman Jay. It’s going to be quite ‘dancey’.

“Then on Saturday we’ve got more big guns, Tinie Tempah, DJ Fresh, Ella Henderson and Reef, then on Sunday Toots & the Maytals, Roisin Murphy, Kaiser Chiefs and The Proclaimers.

“The chef line-up is great too, with Raymond Blanc and Nadia and loads of others. And on Sunday we’ve got a big pub quiz, with festival-goers taking on the chefs in a test of food and drink trivia.”

And will any of his Blur bandmates be coming along? “Rowntree is coming and Graham might too,” he smiles.

Also joining the fun will be Stephen Street, who produced Blur’s latest album, The Magic Whip and four previous Blur long players.

“It will be like a family get-together,” says Alex.

Family is a big theme for Alex. Not only does he take advice from is own kids - Galileo, Geronimo, Artemis, Beatrix and Sable - but he has invited six CEOs - Child Executive Officers - pupils aged 6-8 from nearby Bledington Primary School, to help curate the festival.

"The children came up for a bit of lateral thinking," he said. "Children have the best ideas so we made them Child Executive Officers. And they came up with some good ideas: they want to see more popcorn and make the world's biggest chocolate cake.

"They also want more water fights – and I'm all for that!"

He added: "It's great. Their enthusiasm almost matches mine, and it reminded us of why we are doing this, which is to have a big party."

“We have a clear programme of food, music and kids stuff – which is all stuff I care about. After all, I have five kids, one band and six cheeses.

“I am already planning next year’s Big Feastival. It’s a continual process – but it still sets my chest beating when I see the Optimus Prime tour bus turning up!”

He goes on: “For this weekend we have more Michelin stars than London. It’s like Christmas for me.

“There’s already a lot happening and it’s only going to get more busy.

"The festival has really hit its stride. We as adults know what we want – which is to come and see Mark Ronson and eat lobster and chips – and it has been good getting the kids more involved.

"We don't want to get too clever... just give them what they want, because if the kids are happy, everybody's happy!"

For more on The Big Feastival, and to buy tickets, go to thebigfeastival.com