Just a fortnight ago, the future of this weekend's Riverside Festival in Charlbury looked bleak as torrential downpours swamped the site.

But organisers are anxious to reassure music lovers the event will be going ahead as planned, even if it is the potentially unlucky 13th such festival.

Andy Pickard, who has been involved in the festival since it began, said: "It's all looking very good.

"Only two weeks ago, the whole Mill Field was about four to five feet under water, but it is all back to normal and dried out so we want to make sure we stop any rumours flying about."

Riverside, which attracts up to 4,000 people over two days and offers 40 musical acts on two stages, is Oxfordshire's only free festival.

Mr Pickard said: "Although we have music all day and we have some of the biggest names in Oxford playing, what we want to do most of all is create a great family occasion."

Mr Pickard said: "It's for everyone, from little toddlers up to 60-year-old-hippies.

"The music ranges from rock through to indie through to blues through to acoustic. We try to keep everybody happy."

Headliners on Saturday will be Oxford rock outfit Smilex, with Witches on Sunday.

Other acts in the line-up include Ivy's Itch, Tristan and the Troubadours, Rubber Duck, Black Hats and Captain Strange.

All the bands are playing free of charge.

Smilex frontman Lee Christian said: "Our guitarist used to be involved in booking the bands and I've compered at the festival in the past.

"But we actually had nothing to do with the organisation of this year's event, so it was really nice to be asked out of the blue to headline.

"We're really looking forward to it, but we're quite nervous about it in a strange way."

In the past, Mr Christian has climbed to the top of the scaffolding and jumped off at the end of his set, and on another occasion, he stripped half-naked and waded through the river.

He said: "We have grown up with the festival and we have seen some of our favourite bands play headline sets there, so we feel like we have to put on an amazing show.

"I don't like it to be planned - it's all about the heat of the moment with us."

Music will start at 2pm on Saturday and at noon on Sunday.

More information is available at www.riversidefestival.charlbury.com