Cornbury Music Festival celebrates their 10th Anniversary with the perfect weekend

Cornbury Music Festival 2013

Friday 5th to Sunday 7th July 2013
The Great Tew Estate, Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, OX7 4AH, England MAP
£190 with camping

Daily capacity: 20,000

Glorious sun, glorious setting and glorious people. Cornbury Music Festival were celebrating their 10th Anniversary and everything was ready for the perfect weekend. While, in my opinion, the line up was not exactly up to what it had been in the previous two years that I had covered it but hey – everything about the festival is what I love so I was up for seeing how it would pan out.

The wonderful Great Tew estate played host again to the festival and would see acts such as Van Morrison, James Arthur, the Proclaimers, Echo & The Bunnymen and Keane take to the stage over the three day festival. My Dad was to be my partner in crime for the weekend and I feel extremely lucky to have inherited a lot of my music taste from him so who better to have by myself.

The festival is a beautiful, charming family experience which is amazing to walk around. Bubble machines, flags, wellie wanging and face painting creates a delightful atmosphere. Cornbury music festival is safe and friendly with everybody willing to help out. An example was while I was sat out of the heat, I developed a cramp in my leg which a Father of 2 saw as he walked past me and he walked over to see if I was okay. That sort of thing doesn't happen at larger festivals which makes Cornbury so unique. It's a special place to be. With the Cafe Nero stage and the Acoustic area, e festival goers can experience music on an even smaller scale. Cornbury isn't about getting completely out of your face - it is about enjoying the music and the glorious surroundings that Great Tew has to offer.

We started our weekend on the Friday with Candy Says, who are a band who have been brought through the the BBC Introducing Oxford system and have been Supported by Lauren Laverne. They are bright and cheerful pop.

Matthew Lee is a rock and roll pianist who performs a mixture of classic rock and self penned songs. He is a multi million selling artist around Europe and he excited the crowds at Cornbury.

King Charles is a friend of Mumford & Sons and he is an eccentric guy who has a rocky edge to his music which went down a storm. Nell Bryden in my Dad's words was "Amazing!". Bryden is a traditional singer/songwriting hailing from New York and she stole the show. The Overtones are a great band to carry on a sweltering hot opening day at Cornbury. They are known for their harmonies and they were faultless.

Beverley Knight's voice is incredible. Knight's voice is sublime. Every note that she sings is perfect and the best thing of her set is just how humble she is. Imelda May was very good – as expected. She is a regular at Cornbury Music Festival and each year the audience welcomes her back. May played quite a few new songs from her forthcoming album and was a reliable act to have on the opening day.

Squeeze were the headliners for the Friday night. Original members, Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford, performed a mix of new and old favourites like 'Cool for Cats', 'Up the Junction', and 'Pulling Mussels (From the Shell)' which kept the people of Cornbury happy.

review by: Hayley Edwards

photos by: Hayley Edwards