THE Comedian Bill Bailey and musicians Tom Odell, Del Amitri and Howard Jones are among the names set to play a long-running music festival.
Towersey Festival, which unusually for a music festival runs over four days with a full programme, is the longest-running independent festival in the country, having been launched in 1965 – five years before the first Glastonbury Festival. The folk-flavoured event takes its name from the village near Thame at which it was formerly held though is now at home on the Claydon Estate near Bicester.
The August Bank Holiday weekend bash, from August 26-29, will welcome BRIT and Ivor Novello award-winning singer-songwriter, Tom Odell, Scottish alt-rock band Del Amitri, Barnsley folk artist Kate Rusby, acoustic indie act Turin Brakes, Grammy and Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter Anaïs Mitchell, and, as a probable highlight, musical comedy star Bill Bailey.
Also appearing on the eclectic line-up is 80s pop singer Howard Jones who will be performing a fresh take on his best-known hits as part of the Howard Jones Acoustic Trio.
Kate Rusby
Scottish singer-songwriter Eddi Reader, alt-folk artist This Is The Kit, folk band and instigators of the Tik Tok sea shanties phenomenon The Longest Johns, Scottish rockers Skerryvore, Celtic folk-punk band Ferocious Dog, comedian Rob Deering, folksters Talisk, Americana-influenced Police Dog Hogan, contemporary Highlands fiddle band Blazin’ Fiddles, folk singer-songwriter Kris Drever, London’s Hackney Colliery Band and Peter Knight’s Gigspanner Big Band will also make appearances.
The festival will also feature a comedy-beatbox show from Jarred Christmas & Hobbit The Beatboxer, and sets from London songwriting duo Ferris & Sylvester, comedian Laura Lexx, English-reggae roots band Edward II, The Langan Band, Faustus and over 50 other music and comedy acts across 10 stages.
There will also be swing and jive dancing along with ballroom and ballet, a silent disco, music from the Yiddish Twist Orchestra, DJs playing Afrobeat, roots reggae and blues and over 24 hours of ceilidh.
Revellers will be invited to join workshops and classes, circus and theatre shows, storytelling, outdoor games, history and ghost walks, a fun run, forest school, campfires, and music jams. A new young people’s area will offer everything from crafts to discos.
Festival Director, Joe Heap, said: “I am so excited to welcome such an incredible line-up to Towersey Festival next summer. After two years of cancellations due to the pandemic, Towersey is back, bigger and better than ever, in our beautiful new home. With a packed line-up of music, dance, comedy, workshops, food, real ale, crafts, games, workshops, ghost walks and much else, Towersey Festival is set to be the most exciting yet – a worthy testament to my grandad who founded the festival back in 1965.”
He adds: “With a pristine new site, incredible line-up and our much-loved community atmosphere, we can’t wait to welcome attendees young and old to join our Towersey Festival family in August 2022.”
Tickets from towerseyfestival.com
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