LOVERS of music and nature came together for three days of fun in the woods which marked the start of the county’s summer festival season.
Hundreds of revellers – from families with tots to veteran rockers – gathered at Braziers Park in Ipsden, near Wallingford, for the three-day Wood festival which came to a close on Sunday of last week.
Those enjoying the rich bill of bands, dancing, workshops and wholesome activities hailed the festival as a triumph.
Highlights of the sunny weekend included sets by captivating singer-songwriter Willy Mason, soaring country-rockers Albert (the new project of Treetops Flyers stars Reid Morrison and Laurie Sherman), hypnotic harp and electronica duo Masal, and US band Frontier Ruckus – who closed the event on Sunday night with a jaw-dropping show of polished Americana.
Their Appalachian-tinged new country was given a haunting edge by a traditional bowed saw wielded with virtuoso expertise.
“It’s like a poor man’s theremin,” one enamored fan observed, comparing the soaring, otherwordly sound to the electronic gadget famously featured on the Beach Boys' Good Vibrations.
And he was right
The biggest crowds, though, were for children’s favourite Nick Cope – former indie-rocker with Oxford rock band Candyskins who has found CBeebies superstar stature with a repertoire aimed squarely at the pre-school crowd. So popular is the loveable and deceptively clever singer-songwriter, that he played two sets – the only artist afforded the honour.
Very different, but equally eagerly-anticipated, was the Saturday headline show by Oxford band Stornoway, who delighted with a crowd-pleasing set of lilting folk-pop. The booking of frontman (and ornithologist) Brian Briggs’s band of wonderful fellas was inspired, the group sharing the festival’s nature-loving ethos.
And listening to the crowd singing along to their best-loved song, Zorbing - which namechecks Cowley - it was clear they were very much in their natural habitat.
It was good to have them back.
The event is run by the founders and former organisers of southern Oxfordshire’s Truck festival, musician brothers Joe and Robin Bennett. The latter is also a Green councillor and deputy leader of South Oxfordshire District Council.
Both brothers appeared on stage with the Bennett Family Singers. Joe also performed with a-cappella group Vocal Spokes, which saw a talented 12-strong choir perform stunning unaccompanied pop and rock hits – many deftly rearranged by Joe.
The show was an unexpected high point of the weekend – the intricate interplay of voices and engaging reinterpretation of familiar tunes creating a soul-stirring and strangely emotional experience.
It was heartfelt, brilliantly done, uplifting and utterly sublime – much like Wood festival itself.
What a start to the season.
Fortunately we don't have to wait a full year for further festival fun at Braziers Park. The Bennetts will be back in September for their self-declared 'slightly psychedelic' end of summer bash, Septembersong.
- For details of Septembersong and tickets for next year's Wood festival, go to woodhq.org
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