Report by Colin May and William Walker

THERE were ‘Good Vibrations ‘ at Fairport Convention’s annual Cropredy Festival with Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson among the stars belting out top-40 hits.

Thousands turned out and braved the cooler climate to pack out the festival site near to Oxfordshire's Cropredy village for the three-day extravaganza of folk and rock music this weekend.

Brian Wilson was one of the stars to take to the stage at the popular music festival, seated at a white piano with a superb 10-piece band playing a one and a half hour set featuring all of the 1966 album Pet Sounds.

Other acts that wowed audiences included Brighton folk band Levellers and folk rocker Al Stewart.

Dave Pegg, co-organiser and founding father of the festival said: “For me it was an incredible honour to have a legend like Brian on the field at Cropredy.

"Our crowd loved his performance, the musicianship was out of this world.”

This year’s eclectic line-up included several other acts new to Cropredy including Manx harpist Mera Royle, winner of BBC Radio2 Young Folk Musician of the Year and folk music star Kate Rusby making a first Cropredy appearance in her 26th year of touring.

There was also the award winning and dynamic Afro Celt Sound system, whose Johnny Kelsi told the crowd: "Wow you’re humongous.”

Another newcomer was the Barnsley based, tank top, wearing comedy band, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican, one of whom said he had been down in the crowd as a festival-goer in 2013 before taking to the stage this year.

The lead singer went on to crowd surf into the throng while in a rubber dingy, and they were a big hit on Saturday afternoon.

While this year was not a sell out crowd, a spokesman for Fairport Convention Ltd said they were pleased with the turnout which saw crowds swell from dozens of countries worldwide, with visitors and flags waved from Italy, Switzerland, Northern Territories Australia to Texas, Scotland and Wales.

Celebrity guests at the festival also included ex-Led Zepplin singer Robert Plant, singer and entertainer Joe Brown and DJ Johnnie Walker.

Festival-goer Alan Felstead, who was taking time off from designing nuclear submarines, to come for the 20th time since 1989, said “Cropredy is the best festival in the world”.

Another Cropredy loyalist Jenni Wild said “I first came in the 1990’s. Now my children come with their partners. I love the friendly atmosphere, love Fairport and love the eclectic line-up."