This years Towersey Festival which takes place over five nights and four days (23-26 August 2013) features a diverse line-up from the likes Martin Carthy & Eliza Carthy and the Unthanks who will be making their festival debut to the lively Mama Rosin and FRUK favourites the Moulettes and Jess Morgan! If that isn’t enough then how about The Blockheads, Nidi d’Arac, VAMM and Banquet of Boxes which includes Saul Rose, (Faustus, Waterson:Carthy), John Spiers (Bellowhead), Simon Care (Albion Band, Tickled Pink), Matt and Dan Quinn (Gas Mark 5, The Mighty Quinns) and Katie Howson (Polkaworks, Old Hat Dance Band).
South West duo Show Of Hands will be working their magic alongside the likes of Martin Simpson, Home Service featuring War Horse songsmith John Tams, Bellowhead founders Spiers and Boden, global brass band Orkestra del Sol, folk elder statesman Vin Garbutt, rising newcomer Lucy Ward.
VAMM which features Patsy Reid (Breabach), Catriona Macdonald (Blazin’ Fiddles) and Marit Fält is going to be a great highlight and a ‘festival exclusive’ as the trio have no further shows planned until a lot later in the year.
With 12 stages and over 100 artists performing you;re going to pretty spoilt for choice!
Taking place in the quiet village of Towersey, in Oxfordshire’s picturesque Thame Valley, the annual event debuted in 1965, and is therefore believed to be the longest running independent music festival in the UK.
While music forms a key component of the festivities, there’s also poetry, comedy, theatre, circus performers, visual arts, films, workshops, dances, storytelling and great food. The popular Children’s Festival, featuring everything from drop-in craft activities to baby reflexology, Shooting Roots, a programme of activities dedicated to, and run by, young people, and a Real Ale Festival, featuring a range of artisan beers and ciders, many from the surrounding area.
There’s also over 30 hours of ceilidh including the reformation of the seminal Gas Mark 5 especially for the fest, making Towersey one of the most important events in the UK’s dance calendar.
Joe Heap, Festival Director, says: “The current boom of folk music into the mainstream with the likes of Bellowhead and Mumford And Sons has seen many pretenders, but Towersey is the real deal. A community festival where folk music has real roots. The people that come, and the sheer variety of music and art on offer, make Towersey a total escapist event.”
Tickets for the full festival start range from £55-£125, with under 5s free. Camping available.
Day tickets (Fri-Mon) £10-£30.
For further information and to book tickets, call 023 8071 1818 or see: www.towerseyfestival.com
