the original independent festival...where folk has roots

At 48 years old and with no corporate sponsors & investors, Towersey is truly the oldest independent festival!

And with the current boom in "Folk" making the mainstream music scene we take real pride in our roots. We have always celebrated the people's music, the roots of any great music whatever the genre. It's simply about that music, art, theatre, song & dance and that festival magic that makes Towersey such a special place to be as summer comes to an end.

Read on to see what we have in store and do come join us this August.

music to listen too

And we have a whole lot of that of course. Some wonderful musicians, singers and songwriters join us to celebrate the best in Folk, Roots & Acoustic Music. Here's just a taste of what's in store.

Big Club concerts including Celtic Music legends Donal Lunny, Padraig Rynne and Sylvain Barou; the multi-award winning Martin Simpson Trio, the legendary Nic Jones with Joe Jones & Belinda O'Hooley, a very special musical exploration with Kathryn Tickell's: Northumbrian Voices, Bellowhead front man Jon Boden, Brass Monkey, Session A9, The Melrose Quartet, Roy Bailey (and his now famous Monday afternoon Show), Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, Jamie Smith’s Mabon, Pilgrim’s way, John Kirkpatrick, Jez Lowe, O’Hooley & Tidow and more...

More laid back music in Venue 65 includes The South singing all the "Beautiful" hits, ex Idlewild frontman turned folk troubadour Roddy Woomble, American Old time star Abigail Washburn with Kai Welch, Larkin Poe, The Ian McMillan Orchestra, Spiro, Emily Barker and The Red Clay Halo...

and to jump up and down to

One of the things that sets Towersey apart from most Folk Music events is its appetite for irresistably danceable music. Floors have been known to buckle under the sheer volume of bouncing up and down taking place at Towersey. So get ready to jump with the biggest bands on the scene today. Bellowhead, back by very popular demand, Edward II, the number one celtic Peatbog Faeries, Whapweasel, Gadarene, Walsh & Pound, Jamie Smith's Mabon and Merry Hell to name a few.

Get over to Venue 65 to find out more

ceilidhs with real atmosphere

Starting with the Welcome on Thursday and then going right through to last thing Monday we have enough ceilidh and dance to have you leaving Towersey completely danced out. Our Ceilidhs are incredibly inclusive and great fun. Real escapism in a little corner of the Oxfordshire countryside.

This year's bands include Old Swan Band, Peeping Tom, Hekety, DanceCupola, Lebedek and The Cock and Bull Band.

learning stuff

Our programme of hands-on workshops goes way beyond the norm. Yes, we have all manner of dance styles, big singing, playing of instruments whether beginner or expert but we also have Lantern Making (on a huge scale!), Poetry Writing, Knot Tying, Circus Skills, Yoga, Digeridoo, Storytelling.......

(and for all you "Spooky Men" fans......we have their great leader Stephen Taberner with us all weekend leading some mightly singing sessions. Bring your hats!)

showtime on the showground

The Showground is like the icing on the cake. It's what Towersey has that the others don't. It's like a day out all by itself so you can immerse yourself in the buzz , the colour and the sheer spectacle of this space and know that you will only feel like this at Towersey.

words and laughs....

What Folk festival delivers this kind of spoken word and comedy on top of all the great music? Errr...well we do! We have the legendary Chipolatas doing a very special show to celebrate 20 years doing what only they do. Junk are like a mix between "Stomp", old school clowning and 10 cans of Red Bull. We have more words than ever before with storyteller Debs Newbold, poetry (and comedy in equal measure) from Jason Maverick, a magical afternoon show with poetry legend Ian McMillan and the return of our "Poet in Residence" Shez

the young ones

Children are NOT an afterthought at Towersey and never will be. We have 5 marquees (yes 5), packed full of things to do from morning till bedtime and we know it's great because families come back year after year, generation after generation to do Towersey and be in "That Field".

want to join in?

Our Volunteer Stewards are some of the best on the Festival scene with real dedication and a love for the Festival. Spaces are filling up faster than ever so if you want to join this special band of people do get your form back to us ASAP.

Tickets on sale HERE