THE ORGANISERS of Witney Music Festival hope headliners The Farm will provide a fitting soundtrack to this weekend's event.

The Liverpool-based rock band will perform their hit All Together Now on day two of the popular festival, which takes place on Friday and Saturday on the Leys.

Putting on this year's event has proved a challenge, with organisers disagreeing with Witney Town Council over various logistical details in recent months.

But with these issues ironed out, festival chairman Eric Marshall believes All Together Now is the perfect song for the weekend ahead.

He said: "The irony's not lost on me that we have The Farm performing, whose big hit was All Together Now.

"Everybody involved has taken the time to listen to each other and they all realise we just want the best for the town."

Such harmony seemed unthinkable in May, when organisers clashed with the town council over a finishing time for the event, held on council-owned land, with 11pm eventually agreed.

One month later, tensions ran high at a full council meeting over the festival's event management plan.

However, within 24 hours representatives of both sides sat down to work out their differences and since then relations have been cordial.

The town council has even awarded a grant to the festival, which has become the biggest musical event in the Witney calendar .

In recent years, up to 17,000 people have flocked to the Leys and such demand persauded organisers to spread this year's festival over two days.

The free event begins at 6pm on Friday, with Noasis, the UK's biggest Oasis tribute act, headlining the main stage.

Revellers will be back again from 11am the next day, before The Farm bring the curtain down later that evening.

A capacity of 5,000 people means organisers are expecting it to be one-in-one-out from early afternoon, but Mr Marshall believes this highlights the town's passion for music.

He said: "There's no denying the popularity of the festival and what it brings to Witney.

"When people come together for the day it's all about the music.

"There's always a really good vibe and everyone gets behind what we deliver, which is the community coming together for local musicians and talented artists.

"I always get very emotional on the weekend because there's something special about watching people enjoy the musical talent we have in Witney."

The chairman revealed around 300 bands and artists applied for festival's 17 slots - with some from as far as Eastern Europe.

A BBC Introducing stage will feature for the first time, which reflects the festival's aim of giving local musicians a platform.

Hundreds of young artists participated in events in the run up to the festival, including Battle of the Bands and the oxFactor.

Jim Ashby, who manages the festival's artists alongside Matt Keeble, believes this highlights Witney's thriving music scene.

He said: “The interest in the festival has been overwhelming, not only from artists wanting to play, but from people in the community coming out to support all these events we have run to engage with local musicians.

"It's been truly humbling."

p If you're interested in volunteering at the festival email info@witneymusicfestival.com, while VIP tickets are available at witneymusicfestival.co.uk