Towersey festival is the UKs longest running independent family festival of music, comedy, ceilidh, crafts & family fun. It celebrates 2023 with a superb line up of artists, headliners the Divine Comedy, Frank Turner, The Proclaimers & Nickel Creek, will be entertaining the 10,000 strong crowd for a weekend of family fun that’s ‘any stream but mainstream’
Described as one of the most bravely adventurous festivals in the folk and world music calendar by The Guardian, the festival won the Access All Area’s Legacy award, following it’s move last year to the new venue of Claydon Estate, Buckinghamshire. Taking place 25-28 August, 2023. Tickets on sale now and more information can be found here: https://www.towerseyfestival.com/
Organised by generations of the same family, Towersey is a well-established festival & firm favourite of the merry making local communities throughout Bucks/ Berks and Oxfordshire. With a mix of contemporary and traditional folk and alternative acts. The festival has many fantastic activities to enjoy for all the family Including; Dance, Celidah, Circus & Theatre Shows, Storytelling, Outdoor Games, History & Ghost Walks, Fun Run, Forest School, Campfires, Craft Making and Music Jams, with excellent camping facilities, flushing loos, low carbon footprint and a no litter/ community clean up initiative.
The Divine Comedy
Located in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside, Claydon Estate has over 170 acres of stunning parkland and historic Walled Gardens with a classic example of a fine English country house, which is owned and managed by The National Trust. The privately-owned, estate and gardens were initially laid out in the 18th century for the 2nd Earl Verney by James Sanderson, a pupil of Capability Brown. Successive generations have made their mark on them, with beautiful herbaceous borders, unique features, and stunning views over the estate’s parkland.
Festival organiser Joe Heap has this to say of the Towersey Legacy:
“I know how hard it is to put anything on in these times. 59 years ago my Grandad got a few mates together who believed in community and in culture and they started a festival. One of the first…..even before Glastonbury! Now the oldest independent festival in the UK, it still has those core values at its heart. Togetherness. sharing knowledge and learning skills and most importantly community. I and the very small team (just three of us) are the current custodians. Before us my grandad and then my dad looked after this important event for over 40 years. I’ve been working in the festival for over 25 years and now my sisters, my kids and the wider family are all involved. BUT…. It’s those that come that truly own this event. Audience, artists, volunteers, concessions….They pass the torch from generation to generation. It’s what they take into the world from Towersey. Community, Culture, sharing and learning. Growth as human beings that make our legacy so powerful”
Brit Pop favourites The Divine Comedy will certainly be something special for the weekendand whilst we may all be in ‘Recovery’ after a punchy and uplifting set from Frank Turner, no one will need to walk 500 miles for The Proclaimers at Towersey, they’ll be at the festival with their stomping sing a long hit, joined by Thea Gilmore, Molotov Jukebox, Flook, The Young Un’s, Rusty Shackle and many more whipping up a perfect mix of entertainment, for the friendly four-day event. In a booking coup, Towersey have also secured Grammy award winning Americana Blue Grass band Nickel Creek to make one of only two festival appearances in the UK this Summer. The Platinum selling Trio played live together for three very special sell out shows in January for the first time in 20 years. Hailing from California, Nashville, the trio revolutionized bluegrass and folk in the early 2000s and ushered in a new era of what we now recognize as Americana music. Poetic and plain-spoken, musically the band hit the sweet spot between ethereal and relatable. It’s going to be a mighty fine August Bank Holiday!
Full info and tickets: towerseyfestival.com
