The former Blur bassist has established a new chapter in the Oxfordshire countryside, where agricultural pursuits have replaced musical stardom for much of the year.
At his working farm near Kingham, just outside Chipping Norton, Alex James prepares annually to welcome thousands of visitors for an event combining live entertainment, culinary experiences and family-oriented activities.
The pastoral landscape transforms completely during festival weekend, with grazing fields repurposed as entertainment venues, fairground attractions and hospitality areas in anticipation of visitor numbers exceeding 20,000.
Agricultural land typically inhabited by livestock accommodates temporary structures, performance spaces and dining facilities for the duration of the event.
This year’s musical programme features headline performances from Basement Jaxx, alongside appearances by Rudimental, Bastille and The Streets.
Additional performers include indie acts Doves, White Lies, Ms Dynamite, Red Rum Club, Freya Ridings and The Coral, with Perrie from Little Mix also confirmed for the bill.
The comedy element incorporates acts from The Horne Section alongside Harriet Kemsley and Shappi Khorsandi.
Culinary programming brings together prominent figures from the food world, including MasterChef presenter Anna Haugh, cookery instructor Rachel Allen from Ballymaloe Cookery School, Sally Abé, Simon Rogan, Poppy O’Toole and Emily English.
Interactive elements span live cooking demonstrations, barbecue techniques, hands-on workshops, tasting experiences and formal banquet settings.
James rose to prominence as bassist for Britpop group Blur, who recently completed a successful stadium tour following their reunion.
Separately, he has developed Britpop Classical, a concert format pairing indie and alternative tracks from the 1990s with full orchestral arrangements.
This symphonic production premiered at the previous edition of the festival before touring to venues including Henley Festival in Oxfordshire.
The event now operates across roughly 30 stages and entertainment zones, encompassing musical performances, DJ sets, comedy spaces, children’s activities and extensive culinary programming.
Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park provides animal encounter opportunities within the festival grounds.
Despite this expansion, organizers maintain focus on the original concept emphasising music, food and family participation.
The gathering marks its fifteenth edition, having developed from a smaller-scale occasion into a significantly larger undertaking with an improved operational structure.
Solar energy experimentation has yielded new cheese preparation methods, developed in collaboration with physicists and involving fondue and raclette techniques.
A solar-powered cooking device will feature at the festival’s dedicated cheese venue, which transforms into a bar and club space during the event with performances from DJs including Tall Paul, Seb Fontaine, Sarah Story, DJ Spoony and Chris Stark, alongside appearances by actor Simon Pegg.
The festival takes place from Thursday through Sunday at the end of August at the Kingham location, with day admission options still available for purchase.