WALLINGFORD’S Wood Festival has announced its eleventh line up, after being recognised internationally for its green credentials.
The ‘intimate family festival’, which celebrates ‘music and nature’, will see Tunng, Martin Harley, Belshazzar’s Feast and Midnight Skyracer perform on May 17 - 19 at Braziers Park, Ipsden.
The festival promotes green issues and aims to operate by example, making minimal impact on its forested setting - which has now won it international acclaim.
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Set up by Truck festival founders Robin and Joe Bennett, Wood won the Circular Festival Award at the International Greener Festival Awards earlier this month.
That followed a national award from the same organisation last year.
Director Mr Bennett explained: "Greener Festival goes out to measure the different impacts festivals have on the environment and Wood has always been a bit of a pioneer in this.
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“At the end of last we received the Greener Festival award for the whole of the UK and at an international award ceremony this month we won the ‘circular award’ - mainly because of what we do for composting, staging and having a local audience and food suppliers.
“We’re slightly punching above our weight on the green front.”
Discussing his excitement ahead of this year’s festival, he went on: “We also have good music which is a big part of why people come.
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“And we have workshops and activities which everyone takes part in – from Tai Chi to knitting.”
Headliners Tunng, who recently released their sixth album, are an acoustic and electronic band, often seen as ‘synonymous with the folktronica genre’ .
Martin Harley is an acoustic roots and blues guitarist, singer and songwriter with a burgeoning global reputation and seven albums to his name. Belshazzar’s Feast are seen as ‘one of folk’s odd couples’ and have been amusing and entertaining audiences worldwide for nearly 25 years.
Other announcements for this year’s music include Nick Cope, Jali Fily Cisskho’s Coute Diomboulou band, Gwenifer Raymond, Morganway, AK Patterson and Frankie Lee.
In a statement, the festival said: “As always, we have a full programme of free workshops for all ages, kids tent activities, talks and discussions in the Kindling tent, delicious locally-sourced food and drink… (and) even some owls.”
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Discussing the addition of a notorious green activist group that blocked cars on Botley Road, it added: “This year we are excited to host Extinction Rebellion’s Rebel Rebel stage for the first time ever.”
Mr Bennett is enthusiastic about the new addition.
He said: “This year we are having a festival space devised by Extinction Rebellion - I believe this is the first festival they are doing it at.
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“There will be training in non-violent direct action, an ‘extinction talk’ and a citizen’s assembly.
“It’s a bit different to your standard festival activities.”
Only a few tickets are still available, with adult weekend tickets costing £109 – with £20 savings available for those going by bike or bus. Accompanied children under 12 are free. For tickets and more information, visit woodfestival.com.
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