Wychwood Music Festival

Wychwood Music Festival 2013 promises a fun-packed family weekend in the great Gloucestershire outdoors.

New wave legends, The Human League, will top the bill on Saturday night.

And there will be plenty for little ones to see and do during the three-day extravaganza.

Catch a feast of indie, folk, rock and world music on the main stage every night.

Music festival and family fun thrill seekers lookout, Wychwood Festival is back for another year running, with three absolutely jam-packed days of live entertainment promised at Cheltenham Racecourse, from Friday 31 May to Sunday 2 June 2013.

Dubbed the UK’s leading boutique festival for families, the ninth annual event will see revellers of all ages flock to the stunning Gloucestershire countryside to experience ‘an utterly delightful atmosphere’ and an eclectic and innovative programme spanning indie, folk, rock and world music from talented emerging artists and industry veterans alike.

And new for 2013 will be the launch of Feel Good Friday, extending the opening hours of the first day’s unmissable entertainment and offering a full day programme, with festival-goers being able to pitch up from 10am and watch bands from midday.

Music

Live music highlights on Feel Good Friday include Soul II Soul, The Beat, Toploader, Sam Lee & Friends and Mausi, alongside local talent such as Jake Watson and Thrill Collins; The Human League, Caravan Palace, Kate Nash, Lo’Jo and Stressechoes on the Saturday; and The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, Dreadzone, Sizu and Lucy Rose on the Sunday, joined by local bands Swift Manouver and KSH and the Going Goods.

There’s a host of breakthrough acts from the surrounding counties lined up throughout the weekend, including Gloucestershire bands Stereo Influence and Canary Swing; Hereford and Worcester artists Becky Rose and Johnny Kowalski; plus Oxford talent courtesy of Mr Grey Horse and Vienna Ditto.

Comedy

A big festival highlight is expected to come from furry-faced comedian Bill Bailey with his latest tour, Qualmpeddler, on the Sunday night, when he is set to treat audiences to his trademark musical mash-ups, multi-lingual riffs, philosophizing and silliness on a grand scale.

Plus, fans of funny will be filling up the late-night comedy tent, which will be offering tales of debauchery and amusing anecdotes from the likes of award-winning Rob Deering, Sol Bernstein, Kelly Kingham, Jon Wagstaffe, Christian Steele and festival favourite compere Nick Page.

Culture and family

Visitors can look forward to a fantastic selection of poets to entertain and inspire them at Wychwood, while the Artists and Makers Area promises a hive of creativity and talent, with demonstrations from the likes of John Noble-Milner, David Meredith and Sarah Stoker lined up, as well as the chance for everyone to have a go in various workshops.

The City Venue will play host to musical theatre, Caribbean carnival dance, Bokwa, Zumba, belly dance workshops and more; the Mountainside will provide the setting for foraging, ukulele, jewellery and print making; while kids can head to the Hillside for circus and singing workshops, the dedicated children’s literature festival and Roald Dahl Museum for stories and crafts, and the Seaside for family shows including Theo the Mouse’s Comedy Circus and The Giant Turnip.

Meanwhile, there will be plenty of crafts for adults on offer in the Forest, including making juggling props, graffiti and recycled flowers; and The Meadow will see outdoorsy types get stuck into clay workshops, under the canopy creations and even join a flashmob choir.

Plus, the DocTent will be showcasing the latest in compelling documentaries, and don’t miss the headphone disco and healing gardens, which offer a fabulous selection of treatments for the mind, body and soul, and a break from the bustling entertainment schedule.

Camping and facilities

No music festival would be complete without the chance to camp, and Wychwood is no exception – offering plenty of pitches, regularly serviced toilets, showers, water points and even Hotel Bell Tents, Tipis, Yurts and camper van options too.

There’s also a cafe serving hot food and drinks, a security tent, phone charging points and an on-site shop for those last minute essentials.

And for the first time in Wychwood history, there will be a dedicated Hobgoblin Beer Festival serving up a wide variety of craft and artisan beers to revellers, including On for the Roadie, White Wych and Cocker Hoop – some of which will feature on a bespoke beer and food pairing menu that promises to add another dimension to the masses of entertainment on offer at Wychwood Festival.

A true UK, let alone Gloucestershire, highlight, don’t delay in getting tickets for the whole family to enjoy Wychwood Festival 2013.

© SoGlos

Tuesday 26 March 2013