Written on July 6, 2010 at 1:51 pm

We have been gathering some treats for you, collecting together all of the content we gathered from Wychwood 2010. We’ve just uploaded some new photos to our gallery. If you have some photos which you would like to share with us please add them to our flickr group.

A few weeks ago we published an interview with Connor, a young Wychwood fan. We caught up with him again at the festival – listen to the interview and he also did an interview for hedgewytch. Connor’s Dad had a few words to say after the festival in a post on the IKEA blog.

Some of you were lucky enough to catch the surprise gig performance Thrill Collins in the campsite. Watch a video of it here:

The band also did an interview, which you can listen to here. You can also hear an interview with someone who was watching it with his family.

We also have some interviews with contributors ‘Against Cancer’ here and here.

You can read some blogger reviews from emergency bunny, techno kitten, folk stories, chelt jules, breaking more waves and adventures in lala land. You can catch up with all of the interviews from the festival courtesy of tuna the day and Voice audio and video.

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Written on June 17, 2010 at 3:17 pm

BBC Gloucestershire reporter Stephen Morris has praised the performances of the local artists who played at Wychwood festival this year. Stephen has also written a more general review of the festival as a whole.

“The atmosphere bares all the hallmarks of a good festival with a real party feel as everyone relaxes, soaks up the sun and enjoys some good music.” Stephen Morris – BBC Gloucestershire

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Written on June 15, 2010 at 9:51 am

The reviews are in! Find out what people had to say about Wychwood 2010:

• efestivals
• Virtual Festivals
• The Independent
• Birmingham Post
• The Beat Surrender
• Breaking More Waves
• Family festivals
• Emergency Bunny
• Horizon Vu

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Written on June 15, 2010 at 8:57 am

I’ve been coming to Wychwood as a punter since 2007. Why? Because it’s 50mins down the road, I love most of the music and the people that go and the sun always shines.

I’d covered some of last year’s event for a world music programme and enjoyed the process, so that when I spotted an opportunity to create a package of social media coverage via a company I’m affiliated to called Voice I jumped at the chance of attending all 3 days.

I’m a chatty bloke with a big mouth so I thought the best thing I could do was spend my time doing some short interviews with that would hopefully create a verbal sense of what it’s like to attend my favourite live music event.

I’m not one to write lots (mainly because the spell check would go into meltdown) so what follows are some chats I had with comedians Nick Page and Silky (my Parkinson/Emu moment) and promoter Andi Currie and musicians including the wonderful Nick Hemming from The Leisure Society, singer/songwriter Noush Skaugen who has over 1million Twitter followers, my favourite Oxfordshire band The Epstein, the far too young to be that good Kill It Kid and brooding solo artists Daisy Chapman and Matthew Kilford.

I have also got to make mention of Tony and his band The Ukuholics. Not only did they run some great workshops, but also provided one of my best festival moments by busking late into the night on the Friday.

Not wanting to just mix it with the ‘celebs’ I also talked to some of the behind the scenes people who help Wychwood run so smoothly like Paddy the Deputy Steward Manager and Kevin from Box Steam Brewery.

Finally I managed to squeeze in some questions for the guys on the RSPB stand and had a lovely talk over breakfast on the Sunday with

Danny, Abby and their mum Catherine who are Wychwood regulars.

For those of you that went this year I hope these chats reflect your experiences and if you’ve never been I hope they inspire you to go next year.

Ade www.tunatheday.com

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Written on June 9, 2010 at 4:36 pm

As some of you have probably noticed, we had a team of bloggers in place who were documenting our event on a spontaneous blog here, on Twitter (check hashtag #wychwoodfest) and on their own websites. We have a nice write up here, some interesting audio recordings here, videos and entire photo set on Flickr here. All of the bloggers are still uploading their content to watch out for the hashtag:)

I myself managed to get hold of our youngest blogger, Connor, whose parents kindly agreed to meet us. You can listen to the entire interview with Connor here – please do so! He is an amazing boy, who has serious plans related to journalism and music! As a regular Wychwood Festival goer he knows a lot about this event. And he comes from an amazing family (of bloggers?;))!

Connor and his family are only few on many amazing people I have met last weekend! Wychwood is a real family event and we hope you really enjoyed it too!

Do let us know in the comments section what you liked the most and what we can still improve on!

Thank you ever so much for all your support! See you next year!

Update: Connor’s dad, Anthony, has posted a review of Wychwood Festival on his blog here.

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Written on June 9, 2010 at 3:45 pm

We hope you had a great time at Wychwood 2010.

We’d like to thank everyone who came, both as contributor and festival goer, and we hope that they had the time of their lives. We really hope you’ll come back next year and tell all your friends about our special little festival.

It would help us enormously in making Wychwood 2011 even better if you would fill out our feedback questionnaire. You can also share your festival memories via our presences on flickr, youtube, myspace, facebook, twitter etc.

If you are looking for lost property please give us a call on 01993 771587 and we can try our best to marry you up with your missing items.

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Written on May 31, 2010 at 6:30 pm

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Written on May 28, 2010 at 9:53 am

Tickets are selling fast, so don’t delay in reserving yours.

BBC Introducing

We are pleased to announce the names of the 28 bands that have been chosen for the BBC Introducing Stage at Wychwood this year. Picked from 70 bands submitted by the 7 BBC local radio stations nearest to the festival, the judges included Tom Robinson and Beth Elfyn, so you know you are in for a treat!

The bands are: We Aeronauts, Wes Dance, Roving Crows, Roundstone, Barbarix, Adelaides Cape, Elliot Withers, The School, Out Like A Lion, Fixers, Les Cadets, UTE, Oui Messy, Divine Secret, Echo Empire, Charley Coombs & The New Breed, Daisy Chapman, Matthew Kilford, Aspen Sails, Mechanical Owl, The Jon Trowbridge Band, Thom Kirkpatrick, Spring Offensive, The Bronze Medal, The Scholars, Islet, Babel, and Kill It Kid. Find out more.

More Comedy

We can finally announce the addition of Christian Steel and Matt Richardson to the comedy line up. Matt is one of the hottest thing to come out of Didcot since they first fired up the cooling towers of Didcot-A. With observations and quips that put his experiences far in advance of his age, Matt can please all audiences. Christian (also a star of stage and screen landing a part in Shackleton with Kenneth Branagh)  is pretty much Sting, only a mini-me version, with a good combo of his own material and audience participation, Christian is a festival comedy-goers dream. Find out more.

Cinema and Kids Lit Fest Additions

Our final additions to the Cinema and Kids Literature Festival are now in. From our friends at the Cheltenham Film Festival, who are curating our Cinema yet, we are pleased to announce The original 1960 The Little Shop of Horrors, and some classic Sinatra for you with The Man with the Golden Arm. Find out more.

Our final addition to the Kids Literature Festival this year will be John Dougherty- the author of books such as the hilarious Zeus stories, Niteracy Hour, the tales of Monster Investigator Jack Slater, and Bansi O’Hara and the Bloodline Prophecy; he’s also a poet and songwriter, and has been described as “One of the very best authors…for both schools and festival events”. John used to be a teacher in London, but as soon as his first book, Zeus on the Loose, was shortlisted for the prestigious Branford Boase award for an outstanding first novel for children, he ran away to the Cotswolds and has been living in Stroud ever since, writing more books in a shed. Find out more.

Healing Gardens

There is just so much going on at Wychwood and we wanted to bring to your attention our special spot of tranquility, our Healing Gardens. Relax and chillout, while pampering yourself with one of the wonderful treatments on offer there to help you relax your mind, body and soul. You can choose from Reflexology, Indian Head Massage, Holistic Palmistry, Thermo Auricular Therapy (Hopi), Reiki, Chakra Balancing, Osteopathy, Sound Therapy, Swedish Massage, Seated Massage, Thai Massage and Homeopathy. Please visit our Healers Page for more information, and from where you can email us to pre-book a treatment time. Find out more.

Ticket Info Tickets

Tickets are selling faster than ever this year. You can still reserve tickets in advance for pick up at the Festival Box Office on the day by calling us on 01993 772580. A number of our agents also offer an over the counter pick up option. Get your tickets now.

That’s it for now, see you next week!

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Written on May 27, 2010 at 2:58 pm

We are lucky here at Wychwood FM as the festival is one of the leading boutique music festivals in the UK and it happens right here on our doorstep. Throughout the year students across many courses are led by our POM and RAP students in covering some very high profile events and their efforts culminate in this final broadcast of the academic year.

Tonight we are broadcasting a live feed to the Wychwood Festival site as an official PR event on their behalf. Our POM students are running and programming the “Pomme Stage” and our RAP students are broadcasting to Cheltenham and the surrounding area on 87.7FM to a potential 250,000 listeners, all co-ordinated using the student radio station Tone Radio.

From 7.45pm tonight we will broadcast live performances from bands performing on the Pomme Stage as a little treat ahead the festival next week.

Click here and select “listen live”.

The Wychwood 87.7FM team x

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Written on May 26, 2010 at 12:51 pm

Hi,

The programme has now gone to the printers so I am just sorting out the fine details. Wondering where to squeeze everything in! The poetry pod will be nestled up with the trapeze, medieval storyteller, clay making workshop and the play development team. The pop up circus will squeeze in somewhere too. The roald dahl museum are going to be making zoetropes and the details are finalized for the mosaic everyone can join in making. Materials have been bought for decorating the tents and ideas are flowing for making the area look beautiful. Less than a week now before the team get on site and start getting things ready.

Jem

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Written on May 25, 2010 at 3:50 pm

There are so many great bands, which I am looking forward to seeing at Wychwood this year, so I will aim to keep this brief! I tend to be pretty busy during the weekend of the festival, but I try to see as many bands as I can.

On Friday I am mostly looking forward to seeing some of the less well known bands. I have only recently discovered Oxford based The Epstein. I put a show on with them playing in Cheltenham recently and everyone in the audience was in agreement that they were fantastic.

Some of Gloucestershire’s finest will be playing on the Pomme Stage. I was lucky enough to see The Tom Hollister Trio at Cheltenham Jazz Fringe recently. The band have an amazing blues-rock style and Tom is a charismatic performer, so they are certainly worth catching if you can. I will also be hoping to catch the rare acoustic set from ska outfit Coxons’s Riot and emerging talent Ryan Martin & The North Ship.

On Saturday I can’t wait to see the Lightning Seeds. I saw them play last year at Summer Sundae and really enjoyed their set… despite a mob of drunk men shouting “Three Lions” between every song! I’m also pleased to see the return of Goldheart Assembly this year. They were great last year and their tunes are now stuck in my head thanks to the lovely DJs at BBC 6Music. Another returning star is Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer. Sadly I missed his set last year, but I have heard so many great things I will make sure I don’t make the same mistake again! Our youngest band The Crowd will be playing on Saturday… with band members as young as 12 they are sure to wow the audience.

Heading back to the Pomme stage, there is some fantastic talent from eccentric folkster Men Diamler, bluesy singer Alexander John, the soulful Amy Spencer and acoustic stars Joe Summers and Gareth Candidate. I’m also keen to see one of Cheltenham’s most promising artists Jim Lockey.

On Sunday I hope to end the weekend watching Seth Lakeman and Dreadzone. Both of these bands have a great live reputation and I haven’t had the chance to see them before. Further down the bill 6 Day Riot, Theo Altieri and The Echoes will all be fantastic.

On the Pomme Stage be sure to catch Thrill Collins. They play 80’s and 90’s pop songs in a skiffle style. Keep an eye out for them around the site too as they are partial to playing guerrilla gigs! Also keep an eye out for Not In My Nature and Hats Off To The Big Man.

Of course, there are loads of other great bands playing. I’m a big believer in pushing musical boundaries, so I will also try to go and see some bands that I’m not sure about… it’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised.

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Written on May 25, 2010 at 1:53 pm

As you all know by now, this year we have decided to use social media channels to reach out to our great fans, so we have started this blog, increased our activity on Twitter, Facebook, Flickr as well as decided to engage with all our on-line audiences. We see our fans talking about Wychwood Festival, so this year we want to join you in those conversations. We sat down with guys from Voice, who offered their support, and decided to give away free blogger passes because we think that there are many very ambitious people in our area who express their honest opinions though social-networks like Facebook or Twitter, and of course through their blog but sometimes simply cannot make it to the event. We hope they will help us to work out how we can improve even more on our festival.

We have asked few of our blogger friends from Voice to come over and help us with the social media coverage, as they have done this before. We have also invited few bloggers form the area and left few passes to five away through on-line announcement. This way we can not only invite bloggers, but also give them additional value in opportunity to learn from each other.

We have invited our bloggers to a meetup happening during the festival, and shared with them information about a ’surprise’ we plan in response to feedback you have left on our forum. But pssst…you will hear about it on Twitter, I am sure of it;)

This and the entire blogger engagement programme means we are more than open to your feedback, ideas and suggestions for this and next years. We really hope you will enjoy next weekend, but also let us know the good, the bad, and the ugly – so we have even more fun next year.

In the meantime, here is our Twitter feed - if you have a site or a blog, you can grab the code and embed it to keep an eye on our updates and update your audience too;)

See you next weekend!

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Written on May 25, 2010 at 1:07 pm

Hello,

I’m Andi, I run the Lil Fat comedy club in Witney. This year I have made my first move into festival comedy. It’s a surprisingly simple transition. Basically, I have taken what I consider to be the cream of the crop of comedy in the UK and have brought them together under one canvas roof.

Each night there is something different to be excited about. Personally I’m looking forward to seeing Ray Peacock in a slightly less controlled environment. The first time I saw Ray (or Ian as he is know to family and friends) he spent 20 mins dressing up a heckler on stage as Darth Vader, using a beer case as a make-shift helmet and a stage backing curtain cape, before beating him in an impromptu Light Saber fight. Every-time since, even when he was on Russell Howard’s Good News, he has performed something new, exciting and always, massively funny!

It’s quite hard to get excited about any one particular comic on any night, as, and this might just be my personal opinion, the standard is pretty high! Saturday nights line up includes Silky, who runs 20 of his own clubs up and down the country under the Killforaseat  banner. He himself is a wonderfully talented musician and comedian and will be looking after proceedings for the evening as MC to the simply sublime Robin Ince, With a plethora of support from Nathan Caton and Local girl Iszi Lawrence, whose mix of surreal observations will be prove to be the perfect stepping stone into the world that is Mr Ince.

I had considered making the Sunday a little more relaxed and down tempo to match the mood of the ending of the festival for another year, then I thought, why not just go out with a bang! So I got on the phone to a criminal, convicted of gaining money through fraudulent means, Former host of BBCs Escape to the country and all round sociopath (but a very good friend non the less) Nick Page, Nick has a way with words that are quite unlike anyone else I have ever met, he could insult you so deeply, yet it would sound like he was trying to buy you a drink, the man is a legend and its this disposition that makes him one of the most sort after headliners on the UK comedy circuit, its also the main reason I have him performing as ring master, he has the task of getting everybody quite and looking the right way so that he can introduce the Midget sting look-a-like Christian Steel,  East Anglian born Tony Cowards who are all regulars at my lil Fats club in Witney.

The main show of the night though, and I say that with no disrespect to any of the other acts, would have to be, for me, the rather wonderful Pete Johansson, The Canadian born son of a NHL star (his dad has his name on the Stanley cup!!) and all round madly funny guy, Pete is the perfect man to round off a weekend of comedy, having burst onto the scene here in the UK with in the last 2 years Pete has gone from strength to strength in a very short time, being shortlisted in his first year at the Edinburgh Festival for the very sort after title of Best newcomer, which is no mean feat. he is currently on tour all over the UK.

This years comedy, has a new feel about it, there are some contrasting styles, from the gritty and edgy Glaswegian Del Strain, to the more subtle and soft tones of Didcot Youngster Matthew Richardson, all held together with the top of the class boys from the world of comedy Compering.

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Written on May 25, 2010 at 9:20 am

@tunatheday: Firstly congratulations on getting a slot on the BBC Introducing Stage. In my experience some of the more ‘interesting’ acts end up on there. Stupid question, but are you looking forward to it?

Matthew: To get the Introducing slot is something any band or musician would want and hopefully it can just get the music out there just that little bit more. So in a more straightforward and less annoying way I guess I’m saying yes, yes i am

@tunatheday: Is this your first experience of the festival circuit?

Matthew: I’ve only been writing songs the last couple of years by myself, so it’s been mainly local festivals although I’ve tried to get myself onto a few more festivals this year and be a bit more pro-active. I got picked by a panel which included Huw Stephens from 6 Music & Emily Eavis to be put into the public vote in the Glastonbury Competition; that was a great experience and helped open a few musical doors. I also got the chance to return and play the Camden Crawl and that was one of the best London gigs I’ve played in a long time.

@tunatheday: You cite John Martyn (sadly no longer with us) as being an influence. Was he someone you listened to at an early age or have you come to him more recently?

Matthew: I’m beginning to wonder if I’m morphing into him, sadly not in terms talent, but in the way that I look. My girlfriend finds it quite odd watching some of his earlier performances.

I think like most people of my generation I found out about John Martyn through listening to Nick Drake records. His name was always linked to Drake in books that I read yet the first time I heard his music was when my housemate at the time Emily sat me down and made me watch him play “May You Never” on the Old Grey Whistle Test.

Listening to his guitar playing first has me in a state of inspiration which then in turn soon leads to a case of “how the hell is he doing that finger picking pattern?” and “Should I even continue bothering to pick up the bloody guitar”

@tunatheday: Male singer/songwriters seem to be back in vogue with the likes of Newton Faulkner riding high in the charts. Is it a good time to be plying your craft?

Matthew: I’m not sure there are that many male singer/songwriters riding high in the charts any more; it’s been more a female dominated genre these past couple of years. Fionn Reagan, Scott Matthews and Foy Vance are the one’s out there flying the flag best for us males, although Jackson Browne and James Taylor are still writing songs as good as they did 25 years ago.

It seems the best recipe being made at the moment is that you’ve got to have banjos, a little folie chord progression going on and about 6 people singing with a plethora of percussion in your armoury. I probably don’t get on well enough with people to have a band that large. Music will always change and evolve, but at the same time musicians, myself included, can’t help but steal plenty from the past. I’m predicting an early Beatles “backbeat sound” to hit the airwaves next but with Aphex Twin style videos.

@tunatheday: Is there anybody, apart from yourself that you would recommend we listen to?

Matthew: I tend to only catch local acts around where i lived so it’s mainly Oxford or Swindon where i venture out. People like the Dacoits, Lighterthief, Stornaway and The Alfonz who have been turning heads around these parts this past year or so. On the more acoustic side of things you have people like “Good Things Happen in Bad Towns” who are forever evolving in members and instruments and Zoe Mead is writing some brilliant tunes at the moment.

Plenty of upcoming producers who tend not to get talked so much such as Sam Bates who’s just opened up a new studio and Stuart Rowe is also getting to work with some brilliant up and coming musicians. It’s all go round my way

@tunatheday: Thanks for your time and have a good time at Wychwood!

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Written on May 21, 2010 at 4:41 pm

As we are approaching the actual weekend of our festival we thought we would like to ask you, fellow bloggers, to join us in celebrating this lovely, summery weather too! So we have decided to give away few free blogger passes to those of you who for any reason did not manage to get hold of a ticket and would love to come to the festival.

We do hope that as an official event blogger you will post your reviews on-line and help us in our social media activities too. But most of all we hope you will have just as much fun as we!:)

If you want to grab a free blogger pass, please leave us your contact details in comments section or DM us on Twitter (@wychwoodfest).

Hope to see you there!;)

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Written on May 21, 2010 at 3:38 pm

With the approval of his mother, we have asked Connor Browne, one of our most precious and faithful fans who is 12 now, to share his experiences of Wychwood Festivals on our blog. Here is what he has prepared for us. Enjoy!

I have been going to Wychwood for the past few years and everything has been really good. The bands, the workshops, the sunday parade – and even the weather (so far!)

My first festival was 2007, headlined by The Levellers and Badly Drawn Boy. I had never been to a music festival before so it was a brand new experience for me. The Levellers put on a great show (as ever!) on Friday night and I remember being right up by the barrier and having a fantastic time dancing to the music.

The next year – 2008 – was another great festival and as we departed the site in our campervan we were excitedly chatting about how much we were looking forward to 2009! What impresses me most is the festival’s ability to combine both up and coming bands and favourites from a few years back. The amazing line-up included: The Proclaimers, Duffy, The Divine Comedy and many more great bands. I think I was in the biggest Wychwood crowd so far when Duffy took to the stage on Saturday evening. I remember ducking and weaving to try and get a glimpse of the to-be double Brit winner but she put on a brilliant show.

As for 2009, the line-up got even better than the last year. Among the awesome acts were Supergrass, Super Furry Animals, Little Boots, Red Light Company, The Wonder Stuff, Bellowhead, The Beat and the beautiful voice of Cara Dillon. Bellowhead won a new fan in my dad because I had checked them out beforehand, I urged him to come and watch them. They really were great live.

Finally – for this year, my 4th time, the line-up looks great. I’m sure you have heard of all the headliners, The Happy Mondays, The Levellers, (as mentioned before) Seth Lakeman and The South – but I’d like to give you some tips on some new bands. You should look out for:

• Rook & The Ravens – Mancunian Indie-rock band, Sunday in the big top.
• Goldheart Assembly – Rock-pop six-piece from London, has played at mainstream festivals across the UK  – on the mainstage Saturday.
• Mr B Gentleman Rhymer – Posh rapper, big-top Saturday.
• 6 Day Riot – Folk-pop, supported Seth Lakeman on his recent winter tour, Saturday mainstage.
• Noush Skaugen – Rock solo artist, played at America’s SXSW representing the UK, Saturday Big Top

Enjoy The Festival!

Connor Browne

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Written on May 21, 2010 at 12:00 pm

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

Sarah: I was fortunate enough to work at Wychwood Festival last year and thoroughly enjoyed the relaxed yet exciting atmosphere. The kids thoroughly enjoyed taking part in the Kite workshop and it was a pleasure to work with them.

Syl: Tell us more about your workshop.

Sarah: This year I am looking forward to doing something a bit different. My workshop will allow individuals to contribute to a growing magical enchanted garden. Everyone is welcome to join in by making a flower or bug to be planted in a designated area which will blossom over the course of the festival.

The key theme of this exciting workshop is to create a collective piece of art utilising reclaimed and recycled material producing a new colourful installation.

Syl: Tell us more about yourself and your other programmes?

Sarah: I am a community artist that operates under the business name of ‘Spare Room Arts’. My work consists of coordinating and facilitating projects in Schools and youth clubs to outreach projects and commissions. The whole concept of Spare Room Arts is that art can be spontaneous, meaning that art workshops can be set-up anywhere not just restricted to formal studios or settings.

Syl: What are your plans for the rest of 2010?

Sarah: I am looking forward to taking Spare Room Arts workshops to other festivals across the West Midlands throughout the remainder of 2010. I am available for children’s parties or similar events please contact me on 07784612277 or check out www.spareroomarts.org.

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Written on May 17, 2010 at 11:52 pm

Inspired by one of your photos posted on Flickr we decided to create an additional activity for you and your families during our event. We would like to ask you to bring one potted plant to the festival and place it in a designated part of the healing area (simply ask when you enter the festival venue), where we will build a small landscape for you. We will also encourage our younger attendees to re-model it as they wish to any time during the event. We hope this to be your little place of living art. At the end of our weekend we will choose a charity or a local kids nursery who will receive the plans as a small present.

So look around your house and garden for little plant you can bring on the weekend, and if you have a tip as to who should receive the entire collection after our festival, do let us know in the comments section.

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Written on May 16, 2010 at 10:07 pm

Just 3 weeks to the day until the festivities begin!

The news is still pouring in as to who’s going and what’s going on- have you got your tickets yet? They are selling quicker than ever before, we have already outsold the weekend sales of last years’ festival.

Latest Artists
We are proud to be extending our band list again this year. Martha Tilston will be joining the mainstage line up on Sunday- a captivating performer, an enchanting singer-songwriter blessed with a gloriously clear and seductively beautiful voice. Rusty Shackle will be opening up the Big Top on Friday – Formed in early 2010 the Shackle create a rustic old time sound that conjures up imagery of Mississippi steam boats, seedy show girls and bar room brawls.

This year we’ve also managed to cram even more bands in with The University of Gloucester who will be hosting sessions up on the Green each evening. On The Pomme Stage you can enjoy La Heroine the Tom Hollister, Ryan Martin & The North Ship and Coxon’s Riot on the Friday, The Joe Summers Band, Men Diamler, Alexander John, Gareth Candidate and Amy Spencer on the Saturday, and Thrill Collins, Not In My Nature, Hats Off To The Big Man, and Macaroni Wood on Sunday! Find out more.

Next week we’ll be announcing the entire line up for the BBC Introducing Stage, now that Tom Robinson and the judges have made their final selections!

First Comedy Announcements
We are delighted to be able to announce that Silky is joining us on Saturday night to preside over the evening events. Silky has performed internationally, and is also the evil mastermind behind the Kill for a Seat Comedy clubs across the UK, and has performed with the Comedy Store’s MEN at Work satirical team and Monkey Lab Improv. A tall, versatile, funny and very likeable performer, whether you need an MC, an extended set, or simply something down from the top of a cupboard! Find out more.

Cinema
We are very pleased to announce our partnership with the Cheltenham Film Festival, and UK Film Council, to bring you a full weekend’s worth of classic movies, new breakthrough movie shorts, and some of the best horror from the last 65 years of celluloid to keep you entertained into the small hours. Films include: The Life Aquatic, The House on Haunted Hill, Finding Neverland, The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and many many more. for a full film listing visit our cinema page.

http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/line-up/cinema

Authors
Adding to the list of kids authors we have coming along to give talks and run workshops to inspire your budding JK Rowlings… we are delighted to welcome Katharine Hollabird on Sunday. Best known for her multi-award winning creation Angelina Ballerina, Katharine is also the author of books about a little boy called Alexander and his many entertaining adventures. Inspired by her own two daughter’s love of dancing, Angelina Ballerina has in turn motivated many youngsters to start ballet.

We also welcome Justin Richards on Sunday- Justin loves writing Science Fiction books with ‘The Invisible Detective’ being his first series. As well as writing, Justin has worked closely with the BBC as the creative director of the very successful ‘Doctor Who’ children’s books. Justin’s most recent novel is ‘The Parliament of Blood’ which brings us vampires, mysteries and forgotten legends – Something that all the family can enjoy.

Also on Sunday, Alexander Gordon Smith who co-wrote ‘The Inventors’ which was shortlisted for the 2005 ‘Wow factor award’. Alexander’s most recent series is called ‘The Furnace’ and has had one of the five books already published, with the second being published this year. Finally, we welcome Guy Bass on Saturday- Guy started life with the ambition of becoming a superhero, even owning his own Spiderman costume. Since then he has outgrown his costume and is now the successful author of the ‘Dinkin Dings’ and ‘Gormy Ruckles’ series’. Guy has recently won the ‘2010 Blue Peter Book Award- most fun with pictures’ for his book ‘Dinkin dings and the Frightening things’.

http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/line-up/kids-literature/

Ticket Info
Weekend Tickets are selling incredibly quickly – please buy now to avoid disappointment. Please visit our Ticket Page for more information and ways to purchase. Day tickets are also available.

That’s it for now, thank you for reading! More news next week!

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Written on May 13, 2010 at 8:31 pm

Last week The Traveling Band dropped in to the TONE radio studio at the University of Gloucestershire to record a live set. There are a couple of tracks available – listen online now! The songs sound absolutely fantastic – we can’t wait to see The Travelling band playing at Wychwood.

We also can’t wait to have the students on site as they will be running our radio station, Wychwood FM.

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Written on May 12, 2010 at 3:03 pm

We have a great selection of caterers coming to Wychwood this year. As well as a number of your old favourites we also have a few new arrivals to choose from.

If you get peckish for a snack during the weekend you can grab a light bite at Café Al Fresco, a crepe from Gourmet Crepes, or a toasted sandwich from Toasty Catering. Teas, coffees and cakes will also be available from Mr Teas, Kookaburra Coffee and The Tea Shop.

Our diverse range of caterers will be providing food from around the globe. A taste of Italy will be provided by Pasta Mania, La Grande Bouffe will be cooking French dishes and Churros Garcia are representing Spain. Asian Grub Foundation will be bringing the flavour of Asia to Cheltenham, Sumo Wok will be setting up their Japanese kitchen and Gado Gado will be creating their wonderful curries. Pura Vida will be serving Mexican cuisine and Iechyd Da will be cooking great Welsh grub.

For meat lovers, we welcome Wychwood new comers Byrons Burgers, Wychwood festival regulars Real Meat Sausage Company and La Vache, with their organic gourmet burgers and steak sandwiches. Goan Seafood will be selling fish dishes as well as a vegie option. If you are looking for healthy options, Goodness Gracious have a great selection of dishes and Groovy Smoothies will be blending some tasty smoothies.

For the first time this year we will also have Pizza Express on site serving delicious pizzas and Mash Shack offering up big servings of mash and bubble and squeak.

We’re all crossing our fingers for great weather, so will have ice cream vans on site ready for when the sun shines! There will also be a campsite cafe provided by Night and Day and a campsite shop selling all of the essential supplies.

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Written on May 11, 2010 at 7:12 pm

Interview with Jali Fily Cissokho by Adrian Phillips at Tuna the Day

This isn’t the first time you’ve played Wychwood. What’s the appeal?

Many people don’t know the Kora. When they hear it they love it and are surprised to hear bass and accompaniment played on one instrument backing my vocals. I think people are enjoying my music.

You are a master at playing the Kora. For the uninitiated could you explain what that this?

I‘m a Griot (praise singer keeper of our history). My family trace their ancestors back to the great Mali Empire where the Griot entertained and advised the Kings. I was taught these traditional tracks by my late father Jali Kemo Cissokho and later by mysenior brother Solo Cissokho I was given my repertoire of songs from my mother Bitou Konte a famous Griot from Guinea. I began my tuition at age 6, playing everyday, even to the present day. This roots training is the basis from which I inspirate. I’ll never loose that, it’s in my blood.

Toumani Diabaté is also playing on the Saturday, any chance that you’ll end up on the same stage?

It’s possible!! I love meeting up with my fellow Griot Toumani here in the UK. He’s been my inspiration from long time ago and continues to support me whenever we meet. I’ve been listening to his latest CD. It’s wonderful.

You’ve just finished a recording session with composer A R Rahman who wrote the score for Slumdog Millionaire. That must’ve been a great experience?

Yes, amazing, it was hard work, but the music was our source of communication. We worked on the new film Raavan, to be premiered at The Cannes Film Festival, and ended up having a great jam session with him singing along to my track in his language. He love’s the Kora.

Your new CD is being released in July; will you be playing tracks from it during your set?

Oh yes of course.

You come from Senegal, but now live in Witney, Oxfordshire. Do you find it easy to adjust to living in a colder climate?

Well I was happy to be in Senegal working on my promotion and visiting family over the winter because I missed the snow. Coming back to my second home just means we have to turn up the heating for a while. I definitely miss my people passing by as I sit outside under the mango tree playing my kora. When I’m not performing here, the door‘s shut and the mobile phone on for most of the day.

Who else are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?

Dreadzone. I heard about the band from my wife’s son Ben Adams (sound engineer on the Pendulum Tour). He’s been working with me on my new CD. Greg from the band started him out.

Jali Fily will be playing on the Saturday of the festival.

And big thank you to @tunatheday for sending it over!:) Check his site for daily dose of good music!

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Category Blog | Tags: bands,interviews,Jali Fily Cissokho

Written on May 10, 2010 at 10:08 pm

We are a band from the Dark Peak just outside Manchester.  In the low grey light on the fringes of the city, we go about our business.  We holed up in a barn last year and recorded a debut album with Andy MacPherson at Revolution Studios in Cheadle Hulme. Sixteen Holes in Sixteen Souls collectively focussed our writing more than we’d ever thought about before, and now we are writing, touring, rehearsing and recording the follow-up.  We don’t really want to say too much about that at the minute. A brooding, strained concept record is certainly on the cards though.

“Rook and The Ravens impress with versatility reminiscent of The Byrds and Traffic” – The Independent

“Articulate, edgy, blistering and self-assured” – BBC Manchester

“Hopefully these boys are the shape of things to come” – gigwise.com

Artist of The Week – BBC Introducing Manchester

Syl:: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

Rooks: Wychwood has a ‘festival vibe’ that is unique. We have played the festival for the past two years… we enjoyed the shows so much that we’re coming back to air some of our new songs from the coming album. Having been locked in the studio for the past few months, we’re ready for a blowout… one that is not to be missed!

Syl: What are you expecting from the performance at Wychwood Festival?

Rooks: To give the crowd something to shout about.

Syl: What are your current performances (place for shameless self-promotion;)) and plans for 2010?

Rooks: We are writing to you from Ireland, a break from recording the new album. We are busy stuffing our rabbit hole full of pop acorns, the oak will emerge later in the year.

Syl: Do you want us to mention any albums, links to those?

Rooks: Sixteen Holes in Sixteen Souls, our debut album, is available from iTunes… please buy it.

Syl: What is your best and most weird/surprising/funny memory from previous performances?

Rooks: The morning after we made our first Wychwood appearance, we woke up to a human ladybird with a saxophone full of laughing gas. We would prefer not to disclose any of the more weird happenings publicly.

Syl: What is your favourite drink(s) – in case if your audience wants to invite you for one?;)

Rooks: Joe – a beer that is bigger than he is.

James – a Margarita slush

Tom – a Flirtini

Dave – Kentucky bourbon and bitters with a slice of lime

John – Newcastle Brown Ale

Syl: Apart from music, what are your other favourite activities?

Rooks: Arguing over which curry house to go to… that and breaking down in the middle of nowhere.

Syl: Where can we find you on-line to stay in touch and learn about new performances? (blog, MySpace account, Twitter, Facebook?)

Rooks: Facebook, Youtube (Rooklevision), Myspace, Twitter etc… just punch Rook and The Ravens into Google and indulge yourselves.

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Category Blog | Tags: bands,interviews,rook and the ravens

Written on May 10, 2010 at 1:19 pm

We’ve just added the box office times to our website. Find out when you can get on to the site.

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Category Blog | Tags: information,Wychwood Festival

Written on May 10, 2010 at 1:17 pm

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

Mandy: Cordial ran a couple of animation stations at last year’s festival, and found that not just the kids, but mums, dads, aunties, uncles, grans, granddads – the whole family got involved. The animation stations were a huge hit. Wychwood is a brilliant festival. We had fun running the workshops and also got the chance to enjoy the wealth of bands, performances and fantastic activities going on all weekend. Wychwood is a fantastic festival for the whole family, and we can’t wait to be there again.

Syl: Tell us more about your workshop.

Mandy: Our Animation Stations are brilliant fun, whatever your age. We have toddlers as young as two or three, and grandparents as old as 90 getting involved. Both adults and children really get stuck in. It’s great to see parents helping the kids make their Plasticine models and getting them animated at one of our animation stations. It’s really easy and fun to make your own short, animated film.

Syl: Tell us more about yourself and your other programmes?

Mandy: For the past five years, Gloucester-based Cordial AV has been working with children and young people of all ages, running digital media workshops in a variety of settings, and a variety of mediums – be it filmmaking, animation or digital storytelling. We work heavily with GLOSS – the county council’s Arts Education Agency - and have taken our animation and filmmaking workshops to dozens of mainstream and special needs schools in and around the county. To find out more about Cordial AV, log onto www.cordialav.co.uk

Syl: What are your plans for the rest of 2010?

Mandy: We have lots of plans for Cordial AV for 2010 – not least the launch of our new entity, C55 Films. Cordial encompasses a wide spectrum of digital media based initiatives – not least participatory film projects and workshops involving children and young people. C55 films is purely our film production arm of the business. We have a brand, spanking new showreel which shows some of the film projects we have worked on and produced over the past five years. You can see it by logging onto www.c55films.co.uk

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Category Blog | Tags: Cordial,Workshops

Written on May 9, 2010 at 10:00 am

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

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Category Blog | Tags: Jon Mackay,Workshops

Written on May 9, 2010 at 9:58 am

Check this out – pirates e-mailing me:)

Ahoy Sylwia,
Thanks for your email.

Great – we’d be delighted to be included in the Wychwood Blog.

We do Walkabout Street Theatre – The Pirate Fairies and the Barrel of Laughs. Check out our website for full details www.piratefairies.co.uk and our Facebook page has photos, blogs and a video of us in action. You are very welcome to use photo and the video – if you need higher resolution photos, just let me know.
(Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?)
1. We’ve been to Wychwood twice before, doing Walkabout Street Theatre and have an excellent time on both occasions, so we’re delighted to be returning this year.
(Tell us more about your workshop.)
2. Two Pirate Fairies, one Barrel and a whole load of Laughs. An evil Pirate Captain was going round the world stealing peoples laughs and putting them in the barrel, so that everyone would be as miserable as him. We liberated the barrel from him and are on a mission to return the laughs to their rightful owners. Have you got your laugh? Can we check it?
(Tell us more about yourself and your other programmes?)
3. When not Pirate Fairying, we are jobbing actors working mostly in Theatre, TIE and Voiceovers.
(What are your plans for the rest of 2010?)
4. We’ll be taking our Barrel of Laughs to a number of festivals this summer including Glastonbury, Cornbury, Endorse It in Dorset and Bestival.

I hope that’s helpful…

Fair winds,

Jan (aka Rock Skeleton Wing)
The Pirate Fairies

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Category Blog | Tags: The Pirate Fairies,Workshops

Written on May 5, 2010 at 11:19 pm

Since 2003, Welsh Folk-fusion band One String Loose have been exciting audiences around the UK and Europe with their complex, dynamic arrangements of original and traditional tunes, performed with jaw-dropping virtuosity and infectious joie de vivre. Their innovative style of folk – fusion has been captivating all manner of people: fellow musicians, casual listeners, purists, grandmothers, teenagers and gyrating hippies.

One String Loose have always recognised that their style of music is deeply rooted in dance, and have sought to contemporise it with grooving rhythmic patterns from the bass and drums, intricate accompaniment from the guitar and foot stomping melodies from the fiddle and whistle. As a consequence, a gig that doesn’t get at least a substantial part of their audience up and shaking has now become a rarity.

Front man, fiddler and banjo renaissance man Scott has a natural, self-deprecating humour which creates that relaxed, inclusive atmosphere that is the hallmark of any really great live band, and the craic between Scott McKeon and fellow band mates Joe Brady, Jack Stewart, Baz Barwick and Owen Emanuel draw the audience further into the weird and wonderful world of One String Loose.

The past few years have been exceptional for One String Loose. The band reached the finals of the BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Awards, followed with a polished performance at the highly prestigious Glastonbury Festival on the Avalon Stage. Breath taking performances in Poland and France further cemented their popularity in Europe and plenty of gigs up and down the UK helped the band to progress to where they are now.  More recently the band released their second studio album “KUMQUAT” which has been received superbly both by critics and fans. Bring on 2010, a year in which they look to further make their mark upon the wider circuit of their genre.

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?
One String Loose: We played the festival a few years back and loved the vibe, we were performing in a beer tent area and the gig was wild for an afternoon performance. I got in contact with one of the festival organisers and he was keen on having us back and here we are.

Syl: What are you expecting from the performance at Wychwood Festival?
One String Loose: A good afternoons worth of dancing hopefully.

Syl: What are your current performances (place for shameless self-promotion;)) and plans for 2010?

One String Loose: Have played Glastonbury Avalon Stage, Royal Albert Hall which were both big highlights, we play in Poland from time to time and have been known to trot over to Italy for festivals when asked. This year is a nice mixture with gigs in Belgium and Italy but also festivals local to us in South Wales, Its all on the website www.onestringloose.com

Syl: Do you want us to mention any albums, links to those?
One String Loose:…Our most recent album “kumquat” is a cracker, available on itunes or via our website at www.onestringloose.com

Syl: What is your best and most weird/surprising/funny memory from previous performances?
One String Loose:…We played at a festival in Devils Bridge (Mid Wales) and the power supply was a tad temperamental, every five or six minutes the Lights and Sound would cut out and the organisers would all rush off to get the generators going again while the crowd danced in the pitch black to the acoustic drum kit. Every time the lights and sound came back on we seemed to be playing to more and more people and the cheer every time was louder than the one before. You cant be a good DIY festival.

Another good memory was in the early days of the band at a wedding performance, we were playing away blasting the tunes out and an elderly gent walked up to the stage and moved us aside so he could walk through us to study a painting on a wall for ten minutes while we carried on. Some times people just need to look at paintings we assume.

Syl: What is your favorite drink(s) – in case if your audience wants to invite you for one?;)
One String Loose:…Guinness is always a winner, although quite partial to a cloudy cider on a summers day, but if anyone else is buying we really are not fussy.

Syl: Apart from music, what are your other favorite activities?
One String Loose:…We have been known to part-take in a game of marbles or tiddlywinks but that can get too rowdy.

Syl: Where can we find you on-line to stay in touch and learn about new performances? (blog, MySpace account, Twitter, Facebook?)

One String Loose:… www.onestringloose.com is the best place to keep up to date with goings on with the band, www.myspace.com/onestringloose is there if you fancy a listen to some of the tunes and we can be found on Facebook too.

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Category Blog | Tags: #wychwoodfest,One Strign Loose,performances,Wychwood Festival

Written on May 5, 2010 at 9:48 am

BARAKA is a World Music Band based in Bristol, which takes as its inspiration the music of West Africa, South Africa, The Caribbean and Ireland, to produce its own unique and original sound. The result is a heady mix of global beats, intricate rhythms and soaring melodies. Featuring Ben Baddoo on Percussion and Balafon; Paul Bradley on Guitar; Royston Gage on Bass; Mark Bradley on Drums; Brendan Whitmore on Sax; and regular guest  – Modou Cissoko from Senegal on Kora and Djembe, BARAKA brings a wonderful mix of cultural and musical influences to bear. Since their formation BARAKA have delighted audiences all over the country, as well as visits to Ireland and mainland Europe. BARAKA have recently filmed a cameo for Channel 4’s “SKINS”, playing the part of an African band backing a gospel choir. As well as Moudou Cissoko writing a song for one of the featured characters to sing, BARAKA wrote, arranged and performed the gospel song featured in the episode.

BARAKA  is a professional, independent, original, multi-cultural, multi-racial band with no affiliations to big business – so we have no incentives to offer except brilliant music. (Well, we might have t-shirts next year) So if you would like an high energy mixture of Hi-life, Township, Soca, Soukous, Calypso and Reggae, BARAKA is the one!!
VENUE MAGAZINE Bristol – 8th November 2009 – “Soon the sunshiney African chiming of Baraka warms the hall, fudgy bass bumping beneath iridescent kora and hand blurring percussion. It’s a blue-skied blend of calypso, gentle reggae, jazzy highlife and lilting soca.”

Brendan: This is our first time at Wychwood, but we have heard so many good things about it. You should really ask me after we’ve performed.

Brendan: Fun

Brendan: All our forthcoming performances are listed on our website (see below). Our plans for 2010 are to keep performing wherever and whenever we can.

Brendan: Again, details on our website – listed below.

Brendan: Every performance is unique, and I enjoy them all.

Brendan: Personally, Guinness. For the rest of the band – buy them all a Guinness – if they don’t want them, I will have them all (after the performance of course)

Brendan: There are activities apart from music?

Brendan: www.barakamusic.co.uk www.myspace.com/baraka2

Syl: Thank you!

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Category Blog | Tags: #wychwoodfest,BARAKA,performances,Wychwood Festival

Written on May 4, 2010 at 11:51 am

We’re pleased to hear the news that The Arcadian Kicks’s debut single will be coming out in July via EMI. The band have also been featured on BBC News recently.

The band have given away the song “Black & White”, as a free download via the My Band tab on their Facebook page. They also have another track called “I Can’t Sleep” available to download on the Strummerville charity compilation album for Jail Guitar Doors project, “Breaking Rocks” which will be available in June.

The Arcadian Kicks will be playing at Wychwood on Friday 4th June.

http://www.myspace.com/thearcadiankicks

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Written on May 4, 2010 at 10:44 am

A number of people have been asking when we will be announcing the bands playing on the BBC introducing stage. The good news is you won’t have to wait much longer. The judging panel consisting of BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 1’s Bethan Elfin, The Independent newspaper’s music critic Elisa Bray and Wychwood’s Festival Director Graeme Merifield have been busy listening to the bands and have nearly made their decisions.

The panel will pick the final line-up of 28 bands from the 70 submitted. Here’s a reminder of the 70 bands broken down by BBC region:

BBC Hereford & Worcester Introducing

Zang Tang, Barbarix, Da Vinci, Dastards, Frantik, Rhondda, Roundstone, The Transcendence Experience, We Killed Rasputin, Wes Dance

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Introducing

Castillo, Century Man, Czech Cheque Checkers, Echo Empire, Garfield Mayor, Les Cadets, Lloyds McGrath, Shakletons, Thom Kirkpatrick, Voodoo Kings

BBC Bristol Introducing

The Fairies, Adelaide’s Cape, Cat Green Bike, Daisy Chapman, Deadlegs, Kill It Kid, Out Like A Lion, Phantom Limb, Severn Sleepers, The Bronze Medal

BBC Gloucestershire Introducing

Jim Lockey & the Solemn Sun, Lounge Fly, Roving Crows, The Echoes, Young Vinyls, Zen Elephant, Aspen Sails, Charlie Baxter, Divine Secret, Elliot Withers

BBC Wiltshire Introducing

Zoe Mead, Matthew Kilford, Napolean In Rags, One Two Three and In, Sailors, DJ Para, The Colorado, The Costellos, The Dacoits, The Jon Trowbridge Band

BBC Wales Introducing

The School, Cate Le Bon, Cuba Cuba, Islet, Ivan Moult, Lucky Delucci, Man Without Country, Mechanical Owl, Oui Messy, Race Horses

BBC Oxford Introducing

We Aeronauts, Charley Coombs & The New Breed, Dead Jerichos, Family Machine, Fixers, Mr. Fogg, Spring Offensive, The Evenings, The Scholars, Ute

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Category Blog | Tags: bands,bbc,bbc introducing,lineup,Wychwood Festival

Written on May 4, 2010 at 9:01 am

photo by Mich Hobbs

The Echoes are a 4 piece Pop Rock group from Cheltenham described as being ‘from the same gene pool as the kooks, but more sassy!’ Their energetic live show has earned them support slots with bands like Futures, Parachute and Canterbury as well as enabling them to embark on a headline UK tour. Their debut EP ‘This Isn’t Hollywood’ has received rave reviews and brought on award nominations from the Exposure and Raven Black Music Group. Catch one of The Echoes’ unmissable live performances before they head out on their September tour.

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

Chris: We’ve always wanted to play at Wychwood Festival being locals.  It’s earned itself a great reputation and we think we can definitely contribute something to it that maybe hasn’t been present before?

Syl: What are you expecting from the performance at Wychwood Festival?

Chris: We’re not really sure. With this being our first time here we don’t know how well we’re going to go down but we know we’ll definitely give our best.  We’re going to try and go around the camp site the morning before our performance and hand out some CD’s, stickers, play some acoustic songs, that kind of thing. We know that being fairly unknown we’re going to have to drum up a bit of a buzz and so hopefully a bit of a crowd.

Syl: What are your current performances and plans for 2010?

Chris: We’re currently in the process of writing and demoing our next E.P set for release in late 2010. We’ve got a few key dates coming up, things like supporting American touring band Parachute at the Academy in Birmingham. We’re also finalising our tour plans for late in the year too. That’s what we want to focus on, the touring side of things.

Syl: Do you want us to mention any albums, links to those?

Chris: Our debut EP entitled ‘This Isn’t Hollywood’ is available online from www.theechoes.bigcartel.com or from Rise Records in Cheltenham town.

Syl: What is your best and most weird/surprising/funny memory from previous performances?

Chris: Our EP release show fell on the night of Halloween meaning that the entire audience was in fancy dress. Felt so surreal playing to zombies, sailors and lions amongst others.

Syl: What is your favorite drink(s) – in case if your audience wants to invite you for one?;)

Chris: We’re easy and drink anything, c’mon we’re 19 and students!!!

Syl: Apart from music, what are your other favorite activities?

Chris: We’re pretty much always doing something to do with music in someway, we all do music courses so it’s pretty full time. Apart from that we’re all into different stuff really; everything from rugby to art. We like going out too of course!

Syl: Where can we find you on-line to stay in touch and learn about new performances? (blog, MySpace account, Twitter, Facebook?)

Chris: We have :

Myspace: www.the-echoes.co.uk

Twitter: www.twitter.com/the_echoes

Facebook: Search for ‘The Echoes’

photo by Mich Hobbs

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Category Blog | Tags: artists,performances,The Echoes,Wychwood Festival

Written on May 4, 2010 at 8:39 am

Rob Cowen & The Dissidents create infectious, impassioned epic folk that comes straight from this country’s heartlands. In late 2009, their self-released debut single ‘Heartache’ smashed its way onto Radio 1, Xfm and 6Music, with support from Huw Stephens, Kissy Sell Out, Bethan Elfyn, and Tom Robinson. Q magazine also voted it ‘Track of the Day’.

New single ‘City Lights’ (released 19.4.10) is more of the same; an impassioned anthem for the masses that has already been picked up on various BBC stations, Introducing sessions and used to close Sky Sports ‘Super Sunday’ footy show.

The Dissidents story starts with singer/songwriter Rob Cowen who hails from a small town on the Yorkshire moors. Spells studying film, working in a tannery and amateur boxing on Wednesday nights turned out to be a mine of inspiration and Rob headed to London in 2006, broke and bruised, but with a guitar case full of stories.

After recording a solo album that drew rave reviews from everyone from Q to Radio 2 Rob enlisted the considerable skills of Charlie Westropp (guitars and production) and together they carved out a sound that triggered the birth of The Dissidents. The epic talents of John Stevens (bass), Danny Williams (synths) and Olly Samuels (drums) completed the line up and ROB COWEN & THE DISSIDENTS officially formed in January 2009; a five-piece that is capable of both epic stadium-sized anthems and intimate, delicate tales of passion and hope.

Just as folk music has always been used to spread news through song Rob Cowen & The Dissidents write anthemic tunes that hold a mirror to the world with heartbreaking poetic accuracy. Growing ranks at thier live shows have been treated to jaw-dropping, passionate performances of righteous rock ‘n’ roll ripped through with raw emotion and depth, earning comparisons with Arcade Fire, Bruce Springsteen, The Killers, Elbow and Neil Young.

Interview: Rob Cowen from ROB COWEN & THE DISSIDENTS

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?
Rob: I have been hearing about Wychwood over the last few years and it’s always sounded like the ideal festival. Boutique in style, beautiful people and brilliant bands. We wanted to experience it and bring our passionate epic folk to the ears of the more discerning festival-goer!

Syl: What are you expecting from the performance at Wychwood Festival?
Rob: We put everything we can into every performance and work hard to ensure it is as memorable for everybody watching as it is for us. We hope to win over a whole host of new fans to the band and have everybody singing their lungs out in joyous rapture. It’s going to be great.

Syl: What are your current performances (place for shameless self-promotion;)) and plans for 2010?
Rob: We are playing PUNK in London on the 8th May and Water Rats, London, on the 18th June. Our second single ‘City Lights’ was released last week and we are working on an our debut EP that will be out later in the summer.

Syl: Do you want us to mention any albums, links to those?

Rob: Debut single ‘Heartache’ and follow up ‘City Lights’ are both on iTunes…

Syl: What is your best and most weird/surprising/funny memory from previous performances?
Rob: Wow. There’s been so many. The night Danny’s keyboard stand collapsed in the middle of a song and some kind fans had to hold it up for the rest of the gig…or I remember playing a solo acoustic show a couple of years ago when a woman just got up at the end of a song, walked onstage and kissed me, then left. She didn’t say anything. That was weird. But nice.

Syl: What is your favorite drink(s) – in case if your audience wants to invite you for one?;)
Rob: Oooh, good beers, good cider and guinness. Thanks.

Syl: Apart from music, what are your other favorite activities?
Rob: I like writing. In all it’s various forms. And sleeping out in the wilds.

Syl: Where can we find you on-line to stay in touch and learn about new performances? (blog, MySpace account, Twitter, Facebook?)
Rob: Facebook page, myspace – www.myspace.com/robcowen, blog – www.robcowen.net, twitter – www.twitter.com/robbiecowen

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Category Blog | Tags: #wychwoo,#wychwoodfest,performances,Rob Cowen & The Dissidents,Wychwood Festival

Written on May 3, 2010 at 3:22 pm

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

Steve: I am involved with Wychwood festival for several reasons, primarily as I am booked professionally to provide circus workshops, I also have some very good friends involved so this makes it a jolly festival socially and also very importantly it is a fabulous ‘smaller’ festival!

Syl: . Tell us more about your workshop.

Steve: My workshop – ‘Circus Kaos’ The most fabulous circus workshop in the world… is a free event and a chance for EVERYONE (but hopefully not at the same time) to have a go/try/play/jolly nice time – with all kinds of circus props from juggling balls & hula-hoops to unicycles and tiny clown bikes! Saturday & Sunday between 12 and 5pm (with a break in the middle for tea. Very civilised!)

I will teach complete beginners if desired & anyone with more advanced skills can throw things at me (artistically please) or even teach me some tricks (which is nice)!

Syl: Tell us more about yourself and your other programmes?

Steve: I am a professional circus entertainer known as Steve Kaos, I have been performing for about 20 years specialising as a juggler, stilt walker, trick cyclist, jester & various characters as well as teaching circus skills to just about all kinds of people & age groups, I have done this all over the UK & also in Holland, France, Germany, Dubai, Bahrain, Kuwait, Egypt, Syria & the Lebanon! My Website is at www.stevekaos.co.uk & also on Facebook at ‘steve kaos & circus kaos’.

Syl: What are your plans for the rest of 2010?

Steve: For the rest of the year I will be doing much of the same at events wherever they may be… I am booked to perform at Glastonbury Festival a ‘larger one…(see 1.), Circus Kaos at the End of the Road festival in September, stilt cyclist at Cornbury festival… smaller, Greenbelt festival…medium? Plus fetes, promotions, weddings, parties, markets, fayres, cabarets etc etc!!

Steve White aka Steve Kaos

www.stevekaos.co.uk

Email: steve@stevekaos.co.uk

Mobile: 07973 896 197

32 Lyttelton Street

Worcester WR1 3JN

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Category Blog | Tags: Steve Kaos,Steve White,Workshops

Written on May 3, 2010 at 3:11 pm

From Jem, our workshop organiser:

Spoken Word Cabaret, An amazing collection of awesome orators and wordsmiths, the creme de la creme of the UK spoken word scene – a stage positively bursting with creativity – join them and join in.
A mix of performance poetry and open mic.  Featuring Alison Brumfitt, Sophia Blackwell, Mab Jones, Mark Neil, Peter Wyton, Tony Walsh, Joel Denno and Brown Torpedo!
10 – 12pm all three nights.
Contact Alison Brumfitt – 07928 944291 – abrumfil@talk21.com

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Category Blog | Tags: Workshops

Written on April 29, 2010 at 10:38 am

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

Nigel: It’s a kind of homecoming for me. I now live in Los Angeles. I grew up in Cheltenham and rode a winner there as a jump jockey, many moons ago. It is also a brilliant festival with eclectic and exciting entertainment.

Syl: What are you expecting from the performance at Wychwood Festival?

Nigel: To enjoy the moment, to make new friends and present my bands music to a wider audience.

Syl: What are your current performances (place for shameless self-promotion;)) and plans for 2010?

Nigel: Wychwood is the first date on a UK tour, that is still being finalized.

Confirmed dates so far:

Friday June 4th at

Wychwood Festival http://www.wychwoodfestival.com/line-up/friday/

Monday June 7th at

The Croft Bristol http://www.myspace.com/thecroftbristol

Monday June 14th at

Kasbah Coventry http://www.kasbahnightclub.com

Friday 18th June at

The Leopard Doncaster http://www.myspace.com/theleoparddoncaster

Saturday 19th June at

Willowman Festival http://www.willowmanfestival.co.uk/site/lineup.html

More gigs will be added soon, check in at http://wwww.tunnelmental.com

Syl: Do you want us to mention any albums, links to those?

Nigel: The new album ¿teatime? Plus the new single “Charlie said” and the “Killing time:8:15 mixes” are available at all digital outlets

(itunes etc) http://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/id346096812

more info at

http://wwww.tunnelmental.com

Syl: What is your best and most weird/surprising/funny memory from previous performances?

Nigel: Seeing the other members of the bands faces, who were already on stage at the Whiskey a go-go in Los Angeles, when I walked out of my dressing room and made my entrance to a full venue, painted head to toe in gold make-up, wearing only a gold sequined g-string and gold angel wings. That was definitely weird/surprising/funny.

Syl: What is your favorite drink(s) – in case if your audience wants to invite you for one?;)

Nigel: Tea of course, it is ¿teatime?

Syl: Apart from music, what are your other favorite activities?

Nigel: Writing, reading, painting and best of all playing with my 2 beautiful daughters.

Syl: Where can we find you on-line to stay in touch and learn about new performances? (blog, MySpace account, Twitter, Facebook?)

Nigel: http://www.tunnelmental.com

http://www.myspace.com/tunnelmental

http://www.facebook.com/nigel.r.mitchell

Syl: Thank you ever so much for your time!

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Category Blog | Tags: artists,performances,Tunnelmental Experimental Assembly,Wychwood Festival

Written on April 28, 2010 at 11:43 am

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?
6 Day Riot:We have always wanted to play the festival and we can’t wait to play this year, there are a couple of bands that we are good friends with that are also playing, so that should make it even more fun.

Syl: What are you expecting from the performance at Wychwood Festival?
6 Day Riot: Hopefully a sunny day, with a crowd that are ready to dance with us and that will enjoy us warming them up for the rest of the day

Syl: What are your current performances (place for shameless self-promotion;)) and plans for 2010?
6 Day Riot:Our new single will be released on 7th June the day after our slot at Wychwood, and then our new album will be released in Oct along with a UK tour. We are playing lots of festivals throughout the summer so it should be a busy time for us.

Syl: Do you want us to mention any albums, links to those?
6 Day Riot: 6 Day Riot Have A Plan

Syl: What is your best and most weird/surprising/funny memory from previous performances?
6 Day Riot: Glastonbury and Cambridge Folk Festivals have both been very memorable gigs for us, perhaps one of the less sensible performances has to be Greenman last year where we all wore Green outfits and masks and none of us could see what we were doing on stage.

Syl: What is your favorite drink(s) – in case if your audience wants to invite you for one?;)
6 Day Riot:… Being a Scot Tamara is partial to a whiskey (any type will do)

Syl: Apart from music, what are your other favorite activities?
6 Day Riot:… Tamara used to be a gymnast for Scotland and Great Britain, Dan loves a bit of pool and is a real shark, he was the under 16s Champion (if you believe what he says)… we also like a band game of footie during rehearsals and Dan’s famous quizes on the tour bus.

Syl: Where can we find you on-line to stay in touch and learn about new performances? (blog, MySpace account, Twitter, Facebook?)
6 Day Riot:
http://www.myspace.com/6dayriot
http://www.6dayriot.co.uk
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/6-Day-Riot/10236849596?ref=ts
http://twitter.com/6dayriot

Syl: Thank you ever so much for your time!

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Category Blog | Tags: #wychwoodfest,6 Day Riot,performances,Wychwood Festival

Written on April 27, 2010 at 12:32 pm

www.peterschiazza.com, photo taken from band MySpace page

Syl: Why are you getting involved in Wychwood Festival?

Pat: As it’s earlier in the summer the grass is that much greener. We were lucky enough to be on the bill last year and had a thoroughly civilised time of it so we jumped at the opportunity to play again. Besides, John left his shoes here last year so he’s come to pick them up.

Syl: What are you expecting from the performance at Wychwood Festival?

Pat: Expectations can cause suffering but I hope it’s sunny and a shade below 26 degrees centigrade.

Syl: What are your current performances and plans for 2010?

Pat: The plan, such as one exists, is to play lots of gigs to as many people as we can. Here are our tour dates

Plus Reading and Leeds and the Milan date

Syl: Do you want us to mention any albums, links to those?

Pat: Some of the bands we like include Thee Single Spy, Oldwick and Joseph Works. They each are brimful of talent and surprising good looks.

Syl: What is your best and most weird/surprising/funny memory from previous performances?

Pat: I can just about recall Jim getting into a discussion with a member of the audience part way through our set after Jim had misheard an approving exclamation as a swearing heckle and so volleyed back a swearing heckle of his own. He hasn’t profaned since and I doubt he will again.

Syl: What is your favorite drink(s) – in case if your audience wants to invite you for one?;)

Pat: Mid priced French red wine. If you can get this round I’ll get the next once I’ve gone to the cash point. Okay?

Syl: Apart from music, what are your other favorite activities?

Pat: Music is one thing, driving around in vans is another.

You can find out more about Goldheart Assembly on their website, MySpace site, YouTube channel, Facebook or Twitter. profile.

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Category Blog | Tags: artists,Goldheart Assembly,performances,Wychwood Festival

Written on April 27, 2010 at 12:31 pm

Today we want to share with you another interview, this time with Nick Hemming of The Leisure Society, conducted by @tunatheday. Enjoy!

Before we start with the in-depth stuff mighty congratulations on being nominated for your second Ivor Novello Award in a row. Not bad for a guy who last year was working in a warehouse. Has it all sunk in yet?

Yes, just when I though life couldn’t get any stranger!  I was pretty shocked when I got the letter but it’s slowly sinking in. The whole band are going to the ceremony this year so, even if we don’t win, we’re going to have a great, boozy day out together.

It must give you a buzz to have the support of so many people within the music business?
It’s pretty special when people you admire give you support. Last year was completely crazy, so many amazing things happened, but the highlight for me was hearing Guy Garvey read out the lyrics to The Last Of The Melting Snow on his radio show. It really made me well up with pride.

The Sleeper was so well received and made it onto many lists for Album of the Year in 2009. Do you feel under pressure to repeat that response with the next one?
I personally have felt a lot of pressure. As I was writing the first album I was only really writing for myself, but now I know there’s actually an audience out there who care what we do! I’ve written all the songs for the new album now so the pressure doesn’t feel as great, we’re all incredibly excited about how it’s shaping up. There’s still a long way to go recording-wise but I’m convinced it will be a huge progression from the first album.

There were quite a few tracks on the first album that were obvious singles, but do you consider yourselves more of an album band?
I definitely care more about the sound of the album as a whole as opposed to deliberately writing singles. Although saying that, we’ve all been quite shocked as to how many prospective singles this new album is throwing up. I think it’s because we’ve played a lot more live shows since we made The Sleeper, so there’s a tendency to want to play more upbeat, arresting tunes.

I loved your version of Gary Newman’s Cars which accompanied the deluxe version of The Sleeper. Not an obvious choice to get the Hemming treatment?
No, not an obvious choice at all, great fun to do though. We were asked to cover a famous song for the Dermot O’Leary radio show & Christian & I were standing in the back garden discussing it. Christian was blurting out a huge list of 80s & 90s singles, as soon as he suggested Cars I knew it would sound great with the Leisure Society touch. The sounds Gary Numan used were so far removed from what we do I knew it’d be interesting at the very least. We enjoyed playing it live so much that we decided to record it. One year on & we’ve only recently taken it out of the set!

You are a very hard working bunch and always seem to be on the road. Do you always get on or are there touring ‘incidents’?
We do get on surprisingly well. With 8 people crammed in a van there are bound to be odd moments of irritation but so far no serious fall outs.  We probably spend much more time together in vans than most bands as Christian & I refuse to fly unless there is absolutely no other option… the result of a terrifying flight back from a festival in Latvia last year.

You are no newcomers to the festival scene (as well as Wychwood the band are playing Glastonbury and The Big Chill this year) do they each have their own feel or do they tend to merge into one?

It can become a bit of a blur but every festival seems to have it’s own unique traits. It’s going to be another very busy summer, which is great for the band… Although, our drummer Bas has a profound hatred of camping so he has mixed feelings about the whole thing.

You are playing the Friday, if you get the chance is there anybody else you are keen to catch?
I’m definitely gonna try & stick around for The Happy Mondays on Saturday. I was an extra in 24 Hour Party People so I got to meet a few of them, larger than life characters & a little terrifying!  If we get there early enough I’d like to catch Arcadian Kicks too, I saw them play a small London venue last year & they were great fun.

Thanks for your time and we’ll catch up with you on Friday June 6.

And big thank you to @tunatheday for sending it over!:) Check his site for daily dose of good music!

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Category Blog | Tags: artists,performances,The Leisure Society,tunatheday,Wychwood Festival

Written on April 26, 2010 at 11:18 am

‘There has never been a rapper like Mr.B’- Sunday Times
‘Note perfect’- The Telegraph
‘Pure genius’- Tom Robinson, BBC 6Music
‘One of my (Manchester) Festival highlights’- City Life
‘Sublime Genius’- The Chap

On a one-man mission to introduce Hip-Hop to the Queen’s English, Mr. B is delighted to present Chap-Hop. Having spent the best part of a decade bringing some manners back to popular culture, this dopest of fellows will entertain and amuse you with his ingenious stylings. Aiming to dazzle with dignity, Mr. B takes to the stage with his Banjolele and stiff upper lip to perform ditties of pipe-smoking, high society, Cricket and sexual misadventure, as well as some more well-known pieces from the world of Hip-Hop, re-worked in true Chap-Hop fashion. Mr.B has fast gained a reputation as an eloquent and entertaining live performer, playing recitals across the UK and into Johnny Continent for the past two years from the Glastonbury Festival to club NME in Paris, from the club in Surrey to a week’s residency at the Edinburgh fringe. His recent video ‘Chap-Hop history’ received over 100,000 hits in its first week on youtube. He has just guested on banjolele and vocals on US nerdcore rapper MC Frontalot’s forthcoming album.

At last year’s Wychwood Mr.B’s set on Tom Robinson’s Introducing stage went down a storm and he sold £500 worth of CDs. The queue to get them signed had to be shepherded away from the front of the stage as it was interrupting the next band. His debut long player ‘Flattery Not Included’ is available via www.gentlemanrhymer.com now.

Mr B:…Crikey, I’m playing all over United Kingdom in May, then off to the Edinburgh Fringe where I shall be part of a three-person show called Me! Me! Me! Should be dreadful fun.

Mr B:…My debut long player is called Flattery Not Included and it is available via www.gentlemanrhymer.com

Mr B:…My favourite performance was probably at the Grand Anarcho Dandyist Ball last year to celebrate 10 years of The Chap magazine. A few hundred trilbies aloft fills one’s soul with joy and no mistake.

Mr B:…I do like a sherry or a port. Any good quality fortified wine will do the job.

Mr B:…I’m something of a Flaneur. There’s no direct English translation of it, but it basically means to stroll about one’s town with no other plan than to observe the human race. And I like a drink.

Mr B:…I am on facebook and twitter, just search for ‘gentleman rhymer’ there, and of course www.myspace.com/gentlemanrhymer or gentlemanrhymer.com

Mr B: You are most welcome my dear. Sherry?

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Category Blog | Tags: arts,Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer,performances,Wychwood Festival

Written on April 26, 2010 at 10:12 am

First things first, a quick hello. My name is Stefan and I work for Wychwood for the period leading up to the festival. This is my first posting on our new blog so go easy on me!

We have some great traders and stalls attending Wychwood this year, so I thought I would give you a quick sneak preview of what to expect.

Kids and adults will both love the hats and toys from Mandala and the sweets at The Little Yellow Sweet Shop. Be sure to also check out the ceramic models from Geckoman, herbs from Herbal Haven and Chango Music, who will be selling fair trade ethnic percussion and drums from Indonesia, Nepal, Ghana, Peru and Spain. We will also have funky supplies for fairies from Fairy Dust and temporary tattoos from Tattoosh!

If you are in need any camping equipment we will have Blacks on site. We will also have sports gear available from Abbey Sports and kites and flags from Hizakite. For a lasting memory of your weekend, pop in to see Phestival, who specialise in capturing fantastic photos. There will also be the opportunity to buy CDs from the artists playing at the festival, a number of whom will also be signing merchandise.

We are delighted to be working with Christian Aid, RSPB, World Development Movement, War on Want, World Vision and Friends of the Earth, all of whom will have a presence on site. There will also be some exciting things happening in association with our principal sponsor Waitrose.

There will be an amazing range of clothes and jewellery from stalls such as Divya Fashions, Save The Pixies, Karma Suitsya, Tamrakar, Acha, Artysanz, Four Seasons Clothing, Unique Jewels, P3 Design, Mahasiddha, Jmiko, Shilpa Silver, Big Sky Jewellery, Conscious Clothing, Gem Mania, Purplepop Vintage, Vagabonds, Becka’s Insects, Wild at Heart, The Big Fab Clothes Stall, Karma, Goodies from the Gambia, Mama Earth, Negative Clothing and Planet Poppy!

If all of this tires you out, then you can get re-hydrate with a delicious glass of elderflower and plum potion from Nurses Cottage Drinks. As well as all of these great trade stands we will of course also have a fantastic selection of food stalls to pick from… more details on those coming soon to this blog!

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Category Blog | Tags: shopping,shops,traders

Written on April 21, 2010 at 11:07 pm

BBC introducing bands to play and exciting new workshops.
Just 43 days to go until Wychwood 2010! Have you got your tickets yet?

The BBC Introducing Stage

We are very pleased to announce that our third stage will be partnered with BBC Introducing to provide a unique platform for emerging artists at the festival. BBC stations in the six counties that border Gloucestershire have submitted bands from their Introducing shows on BBC Radios Oxford, Bristol, Wales, Warwick & Coventry, Wiltshire, Hereford & Worcester and, of course, Gloucester.

The judges who include BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson and BBC Radio 1’s Bethan Elfin, will pick the final line-up of 28 bands from the 70 submitted. Find out more here.

The partnership is the first time that a number of regional BBC Introducing outlets have joined forces to provide through the judging panel a direct route for emerging artists to BBC Introducing at a national level- and alongside that an opportunity to be included in the line-up at the festival. BBC Radio Gloucester’s Introducing presenter Rob Champion said, “We’re so happy to be working with the Wychwood Festival as well as our colleagues from the six bordering BBC regions on such an innovative partnership. I can’t think of a better opportunity, not only for our up and coming artists in Gloucestershire, but for those in the wider area. Wychwood is a big deal for local bands here, it represents a major achievement to play at such a prestigious, vibrant and eclectic festival and I can’t wait to be there!”

We’ll be announcing the final line up in just a few weeks time!

More Band Announcements

We have yet more bands to announce! The Geees emerged from the Oxford Canal at Wolvercote, a hairy band of narrow-boaters brandishing strange instruments including bagpipes and percussion. The band pride themselves on their ability to get people dancing and will be performing in our Big Top on Sunday as does Noush Skaugen; Take smooth British nuance combined with passion reminiscent of Joan Jett, and you get the mesmerising style and sound of Noush Skaugen. Noush was recently crowned the number one Independent/Unsigned artist on Twitter and has over one million online followers. She was awarded ‘Alternative Pop Artist of The Year’ at The Los Angeles Music Awards, and ‘National Independent Rock EP of The Year’ at The Hollywood Music Awards. “From the opening chords, the reasons behind her million strong Twitter following quickly became apparent”, The Daily Mirror.

Noush Skaugen Also in the Big Top on Sunday we welcome Baraka, the Bristol-based world music band who take their inspiration from the music of West Africa, South Africa, The Caribbean and Ireland, to produce an diverse and original sound. Their music is a heady mix of global beats, intricate rhythms and soaring melodies. “It’s a blue-skied blend of calypso, gentle reggae, jazzy highlife and lilting soca”, Venue Magazine.

Rob Cowen & the Dissidents join us in the Big Top on Saturday with their infectious, impassioned epic folk. Their debut single ‘Heartache’ smashed its way onto Radio 1, Xfm and 6Music, with support from Huw Stephens, Kissy Sell Out, Bethan Elfyn, and Tom Robinson. “A rollercoaster across the English landscape seen through a poet’s heart”, BBC Radio 2.

In the Big Top on Sunday, we also welcome Theo Altieri who started song writing whilst in a band at the age of 8 and soon went solo with a collection of his own songs. “At just twelve years old, Theo Altieri, has within him the ability to embarrass the rest of the music industry with his astoundingly developed talent for songwriting and performing”, efestivals.co.uk.

Finally for this edition we also welcome to the Big Top on Saturday, Senegalese master musician Jali Fily Cissokho. Jali Fily comes from a family of musicians, the skills and traditions passed down from generation to generation. Yet, as a citizen of 21st Century, he is also attuned to the rhythms of the present and future, creating a unique natural musical blend that spans centuries and continents. He has just finished a recording session with top Bollywood music producer and composer A R Rahman.

Also a quick congratulatory mention for The Leisure Society, who you can see on our mainstage on Friday, who were nominated for yet another Ivor Novello Award yesterday for their song “Save it for Someone Who Cares” from the band’s debut album.

Workshop News

As always, there will be plenty to keep all ages entertained in our workshop area; in this newsletter we would like to highlight just one of the 4 venues up on ‘The Green’. Alongside all the other workshop venues, ‘Hawthorn’ is our ‘Performance Cafe’. Along with a gallery, comfy sofas and an interactive art exhibition (working alongside Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum) it will have a full programme of shows (including Sir Randolph Ramsbottom), singers (like Nick Cope), puppetry (eg Mouse Tale – with Wink Taylor who writes for Basil Brush, Sooty and CBBC) and storytelling.

A place to kick back, relax and be entertained in the daytime, the mood changes in the evening with a jam session, live bands and finally poetry performance into the early hours.

Elsewhere on ‘The Green’ we have lots of new additions and old favourites for you to enjoy. New additions for 2010 include The Poetry Pod – an interactive silver caravan where experienced poets will help you find your muse and The Yarnsmith’s Medievil Storytelling Tent with a rolling programme of exciting stories. We also welcome for the first time the Silly Science workshop – create a rocket with fizzy pop power alone and Contemporary Dance workshops. For the Circus Skills workshops we welcome Circus Kaos for the first time and Mirage Belly Dancers will get you shaking your stuff. Also look out for Electric Cabaret’s Pop Up Circus making it’s UK festival debut.

New workshops this year include Samba with Bath School of Samba, sessions in Musical Theatre for all you fans of Saturday evening TV shows and Ukelele workshops too.

We also welcome back some regular favourites – Inta Africa’s Drum Circle, Tango, The Musiclab Open Mic Sessions, Folk Unplugged, Static Trapeze, Computer Animation and more. And that is before we get to the making/craft tent with 10 different interactive activities! Find out more here.

Ticket Info

If you haven’t purchased your tickets yet, you can find out how by visiting our ticket page.

Remember under 10s are free, and we’ve got special prices for 10-15 years olds and concessions too – Day and Weekend Tickets are now available.

Alternatively you can call us direct on 01993 772580 to order now.

More news to follow in early May!

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Category Blog, News | Tags: bands,bbc introducing,Workshops

Written on April 19, 2010 at 11:33 am

I thought I would use the occasion of this fresh and crispy blog going live to mention that Wychwood is going more social this year. You would think it is impossible, however we looked at your discussions around Festival on-line and realized that maybe we can do more to make it an unforgettable experience for you.

I am joining the team of Wychwood Festival as a geek who likes to present brands and projects from more personal point of view – so I will be trying to document the backstage of the organization of this event, showcasing the famous and the ordinary, as well as pointing you to interesting stories around the event. I hope you will join me, and share your experiences too!

For  start, here is my initial discussion with Graeme (above with his family) – person, who made it all happen!:) My lovely iPhone decided to cut the final words of the conversation, but the point is that Graeme as well as the entire team will do their best to join you on-line!

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Category Blog | Tags: interviews,Wychwood Festival

Written on April 15, 2010 at 12:20 pm

This year we are partnered with BBC Introducing to provide a unique platform for emerging artists at the festival. The partnership will see our third stage rebranded as the ‘BBC Introducing…in Gloucestershire’ stage and will invite the six counties that border Gloucestershire to submit bands featured on the Introducing shows. BBC Radios Oxford, Bristol, Wales, Coventry & Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Hereford & Worcester and, of course, Gloucestershire will each submit ten bands to a judging panel consisting of BBC 6Music’s Tom Robinson, BBC Radio 1’s Bethan Elfin, The Independent newspaper’s music critic Elisa Bray and Wychwood’s Festival Director Graeme Merifield who will pick the final line-up of 28 bands from the 70 submitted.

The partnership is the first time that a number of regional BBC Introducing outlets have joined forces to provide a unique platform for emerging artists by giving them a direct route to BBC Introducing at a national level – via the judging panel – and an opportunity to be included in the line-up of the UK’s leading boutique festival.

BBC Radio Gloucestershire’s Introducing presenter Rob Champion said: “We’re so happy to be working with the Wychwood Festival as well as our colleagues from the six bordering BBC regions on such an innovative partnership. I can’t think of a better opportunity, not only for our up and coming artists in Gloucestershire, but for those in the wider area. Wychwood is a big deal for local bands here, it represents a major achievement to play at such a prestigious, vibrant and eclectic festival and I can’t wait to be there!” The 70 bands broken down by BBC region are as follows:

BBC Hereford & Worcester Introducing

Zang  Tang, Barbarix, Da Vinci, Dastards, Frantik, Rhondda, Roundstone,  The Transcendence Experience, We Killed Rasputin, Wes Dance

BBC Coventry & Warwickshire Introducing

Castillo, Century Man, Czech Cheque Checkers, Echo Empire, Garfield Mayor, Les Cadets, Lloyds McGrath, Shakletons, Thom Kirkpatrick, Voodoo Kings

BBC Bristol Introducing

The Fairies, Adelaide’s Cape, Cat Green Bike, Daisy Chapman, Deadlegs, Kill It Kid, Out Like A Lion, Phantom Limb, Severn Sleepers, The Bronze Medal

BBC Gloucestershire Introducing

Jim Lockey & the Solemn Sun, Lounge Fly, Roving Crows, The Echoes, Young Vinyls, Zen Elephant, Aspen Sails, Charlie Baxter, Divine Secret, Elliot Withers

BBC Wiltshire Introducing

Zoe Mead, Matthew Kilford, Napolean In Rags, One Two Three and In, Sailors, DJ Para, The Colorado, The Costellos, The Dacoits, The Jon Trowbridge Band

BBC Wales Introducing

The School, Cate Le Bon, Cuba Cuba, Islet, Ivan Moult, Lucky Delucci, Man Without Country, Mechanical Owl, Oui Messy, Race Horses

BBC Oxford Introducing

We Aeronauts, Charley Coombs & The New Breed, Dead Jerichos, Family Machine, Fixers, Mr. Fogg, Spring Offensive, The Evenings, The Scholars, Ute

The final line-up of 28 bands over the three days as decided by the judging panel will be announced in due course along with further details of BBC Introducing activity onsite over the course of the weekend.

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