TIM HUGHES gets set for one last summer blast – at the Arcane festival near Eynsham.

THE nights are drawing in and the mornings misty – but the summer’s not over yet. Well, not quiet, anyway.

As the festival season grinds to a chilly close, there are still a few excuses to get under canvas and party hard.

And one of the loveliest takes place this weekend, just out of town on the edge of Eynsham.

Called Arcane, it started life four years ago as an excuse for a few friends to have an al fresco dance.

And while it still has that friendly atmosphere, it has grown into a full-on alternative bash – with live music, fairground rides and top-notch food and drink.

“Arcane is a laid-back friendly festival with loads of stuff to get involved in,” says organiser Aemi Blaza “There are a lot of other festivals around but it’s the atmosphere here that makes it special. It is independent and has a real sense of community.

“It all started as a party in a farmer’s field but now has live music and many other things. We still like to keep it small though because that keeps it intimate”

The festival is headlined by Welsh comedy rappers Goldie Lookin Chain – beloved for their bombastic satire on hip-hop and ‘Chav’ culture.

Maggot, Rhys, Eggsy and their band of blinged-up Valley rappers are best known for hit Guns Don’t Kill People, Rappers Do and top a bill largely made up of Oxford artists.

But, says Aemi, the Straight Outta Newport crew promise to be a highlight.

“It’s a bit of a random choice, but we thought they’d be really good – and they were happy to come,” she said.

The music takes place on two stages – one themed the Queen of Clubs Cabaret, and the other named after Oxford’s Winchester Club – organised by East Oxford guitarist and promoter Osprey.

“As well as GLC there will be lots of great Balkan and gypsy beats on the main stage, while Osprey’s will have more rock’n’roll. Osprey is very well known and will bring all the old Zodiac crowd. In fact the whole vibe of the festival will be one of a friends’ get-together.”

Other main stage acts include East London gypsy-rockers Chancery Blame & the Gadjo Club, Oxford reggae act Mackating, art-punks The Goggenheim, Balkan sax and accordion duo Huffenpuff, gorgeous-voiced recorder player Josienne Clarke, and garage-rock gypsy-jazzers Lazarus & the Plane Crash.

Highlights on the Winchester Club stage, meanwhile, include Osprey & the OX4 Allstars, Oxford artist Ady Davey, London’s Beaux Degats, psych-rockers Chambers of the Heart, Eynsham’s David Fulbrook, talented solo artist Justin Gibson, The Insult, and indie supergroup Nine Stone Cowboy.

But, says Aemi, it’s not all about bands. “There will also be soundsystems and DJs, vintage fairground rides, art and a mystic swing – a handcrafted fairground ride which messes with your mind.”

Organic food will be laid on by Oxford’s Vaults and Garden Café, based in Radcliffe Square, with beer from the Shotover Brewery in Horspath.

This year’s festival is in tribute to co-organiser Dan Lewis. Dan, an artist who used the name Halfcut Art was a familiar sight at previous festivals where his graffiti wall was a popular attraction.

He died earlier this year while swimming at the Tumbling Bay bathing area, in West Oxford, leaving fellow organisers devastated.

“He was a friend from childhood, and a great help,” said Aemi. “I couldn’t have organised Arcane without him. Sadly, this year I have had to. But his family wanted me to go on with it.”

The event will raise money in Dan’s memory for the Oxford Art Room – a facility giving youngsters a chance to develop through art projects away from mainstream lessons, with bases in East Oxford, Rose Hill and Blackbird Leys.

“We never make any profit,” she adds. “The bands do it for love, and any money we make goes to charity.”

Previous Arcanes took place in Tetsworth, near Thame. And while it had planned to move to Culham this year, it was forced to set up at City Farm, Eynsham, because the site was bagged by TV motormouth Jeremy Clarkson and his chums.

Aemi explains: “We were set to move to Culham, but Top Gear came along with a better offer – and used the field to film their Christmas special, blowing up a Land Rover. Unlike that lot, we’re steering clear of pyrotechnics – but it will be lively!”

* Arcane Festival takes place on Saturday and Sunday at City Farm, Eynsham. Weekend tickets are £30 (with camping on Saturday night only). Day tickets for Sunday are £15. Teens age 15-17 pay £15 for the weekend or £5 for Sunday. Under-15s go free.

Go to arcane-festival.com