Miscellaneous - Profile

  by Nick Dent-Robinson

published: 29 / 6 / 2018

intro

Nick Dent-Robinson previews three Oxfordshire summer festivals, the Henley-on-Thames Festival, Cornbury Music Festival and Truck Festival.

Henley-on-Thames Festival, Oxfordshire, 11th-15th July; henley-festival.co.uk Probably one of the country's smartest festivals, as usual this year's Henley event follows on from the town's world-famous regatta and takes place alongside the River Thames. Headliners this year include singer Rita Ora, art-rock icon Grace Jones and disco legend Nile Rodgers. Henley describes itself as a very “civilised showcase of music” and the event includes classical music as well as art and comedy. Other performers this year include Curtis Stigers and Ronnie Scott's Big Band, with a selection of Frank Sinatra tunes as well as the English National Opera performing a repertoire of much loved classics from several operas. Comedy comes from Paul Merton, Phill Jupitus, Lee Nelson, Lucy Porter, Mark Watson and many more. Cornbury Music Festival at Great Tew Park, Oxfordshire, 13th – 15th July; cornburyfestival.com Festival organiser Hugh Phillimore believed last year's Cornbury would be the last and bid an emotional farewell at the 2017 event. But, bowing to public pressure, Hugh has now revived the event which is already close to selling out this year! As ever, the music will be top quality - if not always cutting edge – and the festival (known by many as ‘Poshstock’ because of its appeal to a well-heeled clientele) thrives on its family-friendly image. Artists this year include Jamaican reggae star Jimmy Cliff, Dutch jazz singer Caro Emerald, Italian icon Zucchero, Israeli artist Irit as well as American veterans PP Arnold and Mavis Staples. Also featured are Edinburgh's Nina Nesbitt, Glaswegian pop act Deacon Blue, singer Amy MacDonald and hip-hop act Stereo MCs as well as North London's 80’s star Mari Wilson plus Kent's Pixie Lott and Essex country star Megan McKenna. There are Champagne and Pimm's bars as usual and VIP areas which will no doubt help attract Cornbury's usual stream of celebs like Jeremy Clarkson, the Camerons, a range of film and TV stars plus a sprinkling of royals. Truck Festival, Steventon, Oxfordshire, 20th – 22nd July; truckfestival.com By way of contrast, the annual more indie-focused Truck Festival is celebrating its 20th year with acts including multi-million selling singer-songwriter George Ezra as well as Friendly Fires, Courteneers, Everything Everything, Rat Boy, De La Soul, Peace, Marika Hackman, the Oxford Symphony Orchestra and more. The organisers have worked hard to ensure past problems like mud, ticketing issues, long queues plus traffic jams on local roads will not re-occur.