Jools Holland made an appeal to the Boogie Woogie God to stop the rain halfway through his Sunday night set, which brought the ninth Cornbury Festival to a close.

“No rain,” the ever-good-humoured Cornbury crowd chanted as the drizzle became heavier. But Jools and his 18-piece rhythm and blues orchestra are certainly a band for all seasons. What with Rico Rodriguez, one of the first and greatest living ska artists in the line-up, the sound of Jamaica is effortlessly conjured, just as smoothly as the swing of the 1940s or the beat boom of the 1960s.

Guest musicians included another legend of the trombone, Chris Barber, one of the few who can claim to have played with more musical heroes than Jools.

Only Marc Almond, performing Tainted Love from his Soft Cell synthpop days, seemed strangely out of place.

It was a busy Cornbury for soulful vocalist Louise Marshall, who performed with both Holland and Staxs, the high-energy soul/ rhythmn and blues band, also well known for augmenting the line-up with star guests. They certainly did not disappoint this year, persuading Steve Winwood to join them for three numbers.

The ex-Traffic man, who lives nearby in Gloucestershire, may have had the relaxed air — and dress sense — of a man who had spent the morning in his garden, but he fitted in effortlessly as the ultimate musician’s musician.

The audience were treated to Higher Love and Gimme Some Loving.

It could all have been a bit of an anti-climax after that but fortunately the festival had another Steve taking the stage on the other side of the site in Great Tew, where the festival was being staged for the second time.

There can be few more engaging performers at work than Seasick Steve, whose career was transformed by an appearance on Holland’s television show. The American bluesman played his usual odd assortment of personalised guitars, seemingly made of beer cans and car hubs, with the stories behind the songs as entertaining as this remarkable playing. Elvis Costello packed in the songs to make Saturday a memorable day.

It might be Poshstock but Elvis managed to bring a touch of vinegar to the rain by letting the audience know what he thought of some of the local figures from the world of politics spotted in the audience.

Festival director Hugh Phillimore reckoned it could be his best Cornbury line-up yet. Maybe.

Let’s hope he enjoyed it sufficiently to go for his tenth festival next summer.