It’s easy to see why Wychwood Festival in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire is one of the most popular family festivals to go to in the UK. A variety of acts across a generous number of stages, there really is something for everyone!

Held within Cheltenham Racecourse, the festival is quite easy to get to as is just on the outskirts of the town. The only struggle we had was the long walk from the car park to the arena with two kids and a buggy but I can’t see how that can be resolved.

Wychwood just feels like home. It is an incredibly welcoming festival where you feel completely safe and can relax, go wild and simply just be free. With fairground rides, relaxation tents, various stores, activities and workshops for kids and adults, it would be impossible to be bored.

Whilst sold out, to us it didn’t feel that way as the crowds were manageable – there was plenty of space in the main arena and nothing felt overwhelming!

We arrived on Saturday! Hoping to catch P.E with Joe Wicks, we sadly missed him due to a tragic accident on the M5. This accident also caused Lack of Afro to not appear as he was held up. Given the tragic circumstances of the accident, no-one was complaining.

Setting up for the day in the V.I.P area, we were immediately settled. This year the V.I.P area was on the left hand (facing stage) side of the stage and seemed slightly larger. A portion of the area had restricted viewing of the stage but only the area surrounding the toilets. This was actually a welcomed section for us as due to the viewing restrictions, no-one sat there and the kids made friends and played football for hours without disrupting anyone at all. I personally will always be grateful for decent toilets at a festival and that alone makes V.I.P worth it for me!

We caught Doreen Doreen’s set first. A favourite amongst festival goers, the Bristol based band drew an excepted large crowd. Fun, crazy, hilarious and full of delightful treats, they are simply just a guilty pleasure! A band who perform cover songs such as Shania Twain, they are more than just a covers band as bring so much joy to all those who see them! Their costumes and overall stage presence could win over the most grumpiest of people and have them dancing along.

Hailing from Timbuktu, Mali, the Songhoy Blues were a very much welcomed addition to Wychwood festival whom are known for their genre spanning line up. The band’s signature blend of desert blues and afro-rock filled the festival arena with such an infectious energy that they instantly drew in a large crowd. Despite some lineup changes due to members having visa issues and lead vocalist Aliou Touré recently departing, the band were as exceptional as the critics have always praised.

The rhythm and groove of their performance was instantly captivating creating a memorable standout moment and undoubtedly winning them a wave of new fans. Playing songs from their current album Héritage live for the first time, the bands sound was sensational and so beautifully moving. You didn’t need to understand the language to appreciate the songs depth and emotion as their music translates to such an incredible scale in a live setting. You can really feel every word and note played! With that being said, they have inspired me to take a deeper dive into their music and its meaning.

Picking up the energy left by Songhoy Blues were London based Electronic Afro-Funk group Ibibio Sound Machine. The band kept the momentum going with an astonishingly high-energy set that had the crowd fully engaged. Festival goers were dancing, singing, and soaking in every moment. Lead vocalist Eno Williams performed flawlessly with her incredible vocals and commanded the stage with sass, wit and loveable charm. The band delivered a masterclass musical experience and kept the good vibes flowing without missing a beat.

With many festival attendees sporting Public Service Broadcasting T-shirts, it was already obvious that they were going to draw in one of the biggest crowds of the day! The British based Electronica/Rock band were perfectly placed on the main stage at the right time of the start of the evening. With the heat gently calming down and the sun slightly fading, the scene was already set for their immersive soundscapes to take hold. Public Service Broadcasting created an ambient atmosphere that flowed beautifully throughout the gentle breeze leaving fans fixated on every detail of their performance. Songs such as ‘Go!’ were met by a fun audience engaging moment that even those whom were unfamiliar with the group found it easy to participate in. Their set was “out of this world”, a phrase so fitting with much of their music being themed as such including their Race for Space album (ten year anniversary). Public Service Broadcasting’s signature performance wouldn’t be complete without the appearance of their astronauts and their lively brass band members whom play such a pivotal part of the show. I would imagine this is a much anticipated moment in any of their live shows. The brass band are far from just providing backing music as they take centre stage to deliver a choreographed routine that was as entertaining as it was impressive. Watching their set, I found myself becoming an instant fan, wondering how I’d missed them until now. But that’s the magic of music festivals—stumbling upon something extraordinary when you least expect it.

Headlining the night was 90’s sensation James. A band so much more than their single ‘Sit Down’ – you simply just need to sit down (pun intended) and take a deep listen to their back catalogue to fully understand why the band are so successful and have spanned across many decades and continue to do so. Last year, James had a number one album with Yummy. We were fortunate to have watched James from the side of the stage, backstage. A unique experience, just seeing the joy of the fans on the front row made the night for me. The band began with Getting Away With It (All Messed Up) which sparked an incredible force of energy and emotions amongst the fans. Tim Booth is an incredible frontman and showman and his ever lasting youth flows into his fans making you feel like you’re back in the 90’s again.

A platform set in front of the barrier, Booth spent a lot of time holding onto fans hands and singing into the audience proving not just his humbleness but the respectful fans that he clearly attracts. Saying how he imagined Wychwood to be like a magical forest, Booth explains how he made the set list fitting to that environment taking risks with various deep cuts as well as much loved numbers. There wasn’t a moment of distraction as the band held the attention of their entire audience throughout the set. The faces of the fans said it all, the chorus of the crowd singing along filled the air with an incredible sound and it went on for what seemed like miles. It was such a spectacular set with so many emotional moments including a breathtaking performance of Moving On where Tim sadly explains how his mother died in his arms. James as a band are masterclass performers and their shows are an unforgettable experience.

With Sit Down being close to the end of the set, it wasn’t the song they closed with and I appreciated that. As someone who has never seen them live before, I wasn’t sure if they would close with it or not. James closed with Sound from their fourth studio album, Seven (1992)

I can’t say in words quite what it was like to experience James live but they were nostalgic, atmospheric and beautifully emotive and I feel incredibly privileged to have been there.

We can’t wait to return to Wychwood Festival next year as it truly is a festival everyone should experience. Whether you go as a family, with friends or on your own, Wychwood is one of the most loveable festivals you could go to and after your first time, you will find yourself addicted.