LOCAL hero Gaz Coombes, indie-rockers Echo & The Bunnymen and the singer Elkie Brooks are among the new names to be announced today for Cornbury Festival.

They join headliners The Beach Boys, The Specials and Keane for the 16th instalment of the three-day music event, held at Great Tew near Chipping Norton.

They will be joined by the tenor and musical theatre star Alfie Boe and pianist Billy Lockett – who both make their debut appearances at the festival, which runs from July 5-7.

Also added to the bill today are KT Tunstall, Beverley Knight, The Shires, Paul Carrack, The Hothouse Flowers and the Trevor Horn Band – who have all played the event previously.

Also making a return visit are TV’s The Hairy Bikers, who will bring their popular barbecue tent back to Great Tew.

Gaz Coombes is one of Oxfordshire’s biggest stars. His former band Supergrass were one of the biggest bands of the 90s, scoring six top 20 albums, three of them platinum – including the classic I Should Coco, which was the biggest-selling debut for Parlophone since the Beatles released Please Please Me in 1963.

Oxford Mail:

Katie Tunstall

His solo albums World’s Strongest Man, Matador and Here Come the Bombs have also been highly acclaimed and feature a host of local artists in his studio and live band.

Festival director Hugh Phillimore said: “We’ve won the musical jackpot here at Cornbury HQ. With The Specials, Keane and The Beach Boys already announced and national treasures The Hairy Bikers hosting their unique Festival Feast we think it’s our best line-up ever.”

The Specials will top the bill on the opening day of the festival. The legendary Coventry ska band have just returned to the UK album charts with their first new record in 38 years, which reached the No. 1 spot. They are currently on a sold-out UK tour.

Rounding off the festival on Sunday 7 July are Californian pop-rock experimenters The Beach Boys.

Oxford Mail:

Gaz Coombes

Keane will play on the Saturday night, six years after their previous performance at the festival. Cornbury will be one of Keane’s first appearances since band members took a break at the end of 2013 to work on other projects, and their appearance is expected to be a large crowd-puller.

Formed in 1995, all four of Keane’s albums have debuted at No. 1 with 2004’s Hopes and Fears remaining one of the UK’s best-selling albums of all time. 

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“Keane are our all-time favourite headliners at Cornbury so of course I’m completely thrilled that they’ve chosen to include us as part of their return,” says Hugh.

He adds: “Cornbury is a unique hybrid of premium music festival and quintessentially English village fete with a rock & roll twist. There is always something for everyone with a superb line-up over four stages, fantastic food offerings, a comedy stage, a creative kids’ zone, a traditional funfair, an exclusive VIP area, and beautiful campsites.

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“The festival is very much a family affair. The Kids’ Zone is right in the middle of the festival, in sight of the main stage, so families can drop in and out while seeing all the festival highlights; and, unlike other festivals, all activities are free with something for all ages on the go all the time.”

  • Cornbury Music Festival runs from 5-7 July at Great Tew Park, near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire. For tickets and more information go to cornburyfestival.com
  • Day tickets from £75, weekend tickets from £180, weekend with camping tickets from £215. senior, teen and child concessions are available. Under 3s get in free.