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.
most viewed articles
current edition
John McKay - InterviewCathode Ray - Interview
Robert Forster - Interview
When Rivers Meet - Waterfront, Norwich, 29/5/2025
Spear Of Destiny - Interview
Fiona Hutchings - Interview
Carl Ewens - David Bowie 1964 to 1982 On Track: Every Album, Every Song
Chris Wade - Interview
Shrag - Huw Stephens Session 08.12.10 and Marc Riley Session 21.03.12
Brian Wilson - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
previous editions
Heavenly - P.U.N.K. Girl EPBoomtown Rats - Ten Songs That Made Me Love....
Manic Street Preachers - (Gig of a Lifetime) Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, December 1999
Allan Clarke - Interview
Oasis - Oasis, Earl's Court, London, 1995
Barrie Barlow - Interview
Beautiful South - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Chuck Prophet - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Pixies - Ten Songs That Made Me Love...
Dwina Gibb - Interview
most viewed reviews
current edition
Peter Doolan - I Am a Tree Rooted to the Spot and a Snake Moves Around Me,in a CircleVinny Peculiar - Things Too Long Left Unsaid
Garbage - Let All That We Imagine Be The Light
Vultures - Liz Kershaw Session 16.06.88
John McKay - Sixes and #Sevens
Little Simz - Lotus
HAIM - I Quit
Pulp - More
Lapsley - I'm a Hurricane, I'm a Woman In Love
Billy Nomates - Metalhorse
Pennyblackmusic Regular Contributors
Adrian Janes
Amanda J. Window
Andrew Twambley
Anthony Dhanendran
Benjamin Howarth
Cila Warncke
Daniel Cressey
Darren Aston
Dastardly
Dave Goodwin
Denzil Watson
Dominic B. Simpson
Eoghan Lyng
Fiona Hutchings
Harry Sherriff
Helen Tipping
Jamie Rowland
John Clarkson
Julie Cruickshank
Kimberly Bright
Lisa Torem
Maarten Schiethart