With a mix of new stars and musical legends this weekend’s Cornbury Festival ticks all the boxes, director Hugh Phillimore tells Tim Hughes

Hugh Phillimore can be forgiven for feeling a little smug. The director of Oxfordshire’s first big festival of the summer has not only confounded critics by still being here after 12 years, but has pulled the line-up of a lifetime out of his dapper panama hat.

Sir Tom Jones, Motown legend Martha Reeves, 80s star Billy Ocean, 60s pop icon Lulu, Seal, Supertramp founder Roger Hodgson, pub-rockers Chas & Dave, Joss Stone, country stars Hank Wangford, The Shires and Ward Thomas, X Factor contestants Only the Young, and indie-rockers Razorlight and The Fratellis...

Here is a line-up that cuts across the generations and really does have something for everyone.

“It’s not bad is it?” he smiles, taking a break from a busy week which sees him and his crew putting the finishing touches to the site at scenic Great Tew Park near Chipping Norton.

“I’m chuffed to bits that we’ve got something that covers all the bases. It’s my favourite line-up yet and has ticked a lot of boxes for me.”

He admits Sir Tom was a tough star to land despite him being on his festival wish list for years.

“I’m particularly pleased to have got Sir Tom,” he says. “We’ve been after him for a while so it’s great to have finally got him.

“You can bust yourself for years trying to get these people, but they come when they’re ready.”

Starting life a few miles away at Cornbury Park, from which it takes its somewhat confusing name (Cornbury Park is now home to the rather different Wilderness festival), Cornbury Music Festival has become a well-loved fixture in the region’s musical calendar.

Its enduring popularity is down to its easy-going nature, family atmosphere and an ever-changing eclectic line-up which appeals to everyone from glittery teenage pop-lovers and picnic blanket-toting parents to beard-stroking country, rock and blues fans.

And while no one, not even Hugh, would call it “cool” it remains a family favourite – as well as a haunt of the local Chipping Norton set, with the likes of David and Sam Cameron and celebrity Cotswold farmers Adam Henson from Countryfile and Alex James from Blur among those wandering around its manicured acres. It remains to be seen, however, whether previous visitors – embattled former Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson and former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks will also be attending this weekend.

If the Camerons and their entourage do return this year, they will also be treated to performances by alt-folksters Paper Aeroplanes, blues artists Joanne Shaw-Taylor and James Hunter, up-and coming artists Jack Savoretti, Chastity Brown and The Harbour, Larkin Poe, The Felice Brothers, the Trevor Horn Band, Police Dog Hogan and the James Hunter Six.

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“We’ve really got something for everyone,” Hugh says proudly. “And, as ever, it’s always interesting.

“Last year was hard as we didn’t get what we wanted, but we’ve got something for all in this fantastic line-up. It’s always a hairy ride but I’m feeling pretty good about it.”

And while he admits to being a particular fan of the country artists on offer, he says it is the presence of Valleys crooner and star of BBC TV’s The Voice, Sir Tom, which is causing most excitement.

“I have always wanted to work with him,” he says. “He’s a great star and is huge once again because of The Voice.

“I also like what he has been doing with his more folky, roots stuff, and the combination of that and his pop classics means he can’t go wrong.”

The booking tops an illustrious roll-call of big name acts over the years, which has included Paul Simon, Robert Plant, Amy Winehouse, Humphrey Lyttelton, Elvis Costello, Van Morrison, Dr John, Candi Staton, The Pretenders, Joe Cocker, Blondie, Crowded House and the James Taylor Quartet.

Hugh adds: “There are not that many icons left – and some have been consistently out of our reach, which makes it doubly gratifying to have Sir Tom here after what was a protracted negotiation.”

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  • Poised: Cornbury Festival promoter Hugh Phillimore at the main stage

Non-musical entertainment comes from punk poet Dr John Cooper Clarke, Stanford-in-the-Vale’s distinctly un-punk Pam Ayres, and a comedy line-up boasting Chortle Award-winners Katherine Ryan and James Acaster, and fellow jokers Joe Lycett, Aisling Bea, Oxford University’s Ivo Graham, Adam Hess, Felicity Ward, sketch comedy group Massive Dad, musical comedian David Elms, Pierre Novellie, Minor Delays, Kieran Hodgson, Emma Sidi and hosts Fin Taylor, Patrick Turpin, Jack Barry and Elis James.

Also performing will be Cornbury regular and fully paid-up Cotswold set member Dom Joly, who hosts an onstage question and answer session in the festival’s QI stage.

And that’s only the half of it with a great bill of local, up-and-coming and unsigned bands also holding forth on the popular Riverside Stage, run by the volunteers behind the eponymous free festival in Charlbury.

This year’s highlights include Oxford country-rockers The Dreaming Spires, vintage jazz act The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band, West Oxfordshire party-covers group The Standard, King B, Brickwork Lizards, Alphabet Backwards and Brightworks – starring The Oxford Times reporter Pete Hughes on guitar.

With its well-heeled clientele, unthreatening atmosphere, country house setting, lack of mud, fenced off VIP area and preponderance of bars serving up chilled Champagne, Pimms and fine wine, it is inevitable that the gathering has been dubbed “Poshstock”. “I didn’t like it when it was first referred to as ‘Poshstock’,” says Hugh. “But if that means it is safe, nice and well run, then I can live with that.”

As, apparently can Sir Tom. “I’m really looking forward to playing Cornbury,” he told The Oxford Times this week. “The crowds should be in a great mood as it’s one of the loveliest festivals in the UK. There’s something to experience and enjoy for everyone of every age, which should put a smile on every face.”

Sir Tom said he would be playing a selection of classic hits and material from his recent albums. He added: “At festivals, there are a lot of people who see you for the very first time, which is always great.

“So, see you at Cornbury - hopefully in the glorious sunshine!”

Cornbury Festival runs from tomorrow to Sunday at Great Tew Park, near Chipping Norton.
Go to cornburyfestival.com for details and tickets

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