THE ORGANISER of Oxford's Common People festival has unveiled plans to make next year's event even better, with each day taking on a different theme.

Launching an Earlybird ticket promotion for the event, DJ Rob da Bank said this year's festival had exceeded his expectations and praised Oxford people for taking it to their hearts, but said there had been demands for a less eclectic line-up.

More than 15,000 people joined the event on each day of the weekend-long gathering which took place in South Park in May. They enjoyed sets by 80s pop icons Duran Duran, dance singer Katy B, Chas & Dave, Soul II Soul, Oxford DJ David Rodigan and Chipping Norton's Esther Joy Lane on the first day.

Primal Scream, Public Enemy, Ghostpoet, Sugarhill Gang, Craig David, The Chuckle Brothers and Wheatley's Gaz Coombes played on Sunday.

Reviews of the event were overwhelmingly positive, from festival-goers and those living near the site.

Rob da Bank, real name Robert Gorham, is the man behind the long-running Bestival event, held near his home on the Isle of Wight and its family-friendly spin-off Camp Bestival in Dorset.

Oxford's Common People is staged concurrently with a sister event in Southampton.

Rob said: "The festival went a lot better than forecast. We always had faith that it was going to be a success, but there was some hesitancy from the Oxford contingency as to whether we'd pull it off. But they've seen we delivered everything we said we would.

"It was a lovely weekend with a slightly older crowd than our Southampton festival, and with a nice mix of families, kids and young people, and loads of Oxford acts playing."

He added: "We wouldn't change it massively as we were overwhelmed by positive feedback. If it 'aint broke, don't fix it."

But he added: "One thing Oxford struggled with was the eclectic nature of the bookings, which was maybe a little higgledy-piggledy. Sometimes people like their music more in one vein, so we will have a bit more of a theme to each day, with more family friendly music on Saturday, such as indie and rock, and a more dancy line-up for a younger crowd on Sunday."

He said work was underway to select this year's acts, with the line-up due to be released in January.

He said: "We have got our heads down, trying to get the bill together and tussling with headliners. We have lots of ideas, with world-class headliners, local talent and everything in between. Some stuff has already been confirmed."

He dismissed rumours of a set by The Cure, who headlined this year's Bestival, but declined to rule out the festival's other headliners, such as reggae artist Sean Paul.

Rob said Oxford should feel proud of itself for throwing itself so wholeheartedly into the new event, saying: "From the city council, to the emergency services and the festival-goers themselves, Oxford was great.

"The first one is a hard one and you never know if it's going to work. But I was very pleased with the reception we received – and I feel good about this coming year."

Christine Simm, Oxford City Council's executive board member for Culture and Communities, said: “In the light of what a great success last year’s event was, I am thrilled that Common People wants to return to Oxford, and I am sure it will be another fantastic event in Oxford's calendar that we can all look forward to.”

* For the rest of this week, including this Sunday, revellers will received up to four children's tickets for each adult ticket purchased. Earlybird adult tickets cost £24 for a day or £45.50 for the weekend.