Auction of Promises, Charlbury Memorial Hall, 9th May
The Riverside Festival ran a successful event a couple of weeks ago to raise funds for the Festival. We had two excellent bands playing on the night, with both bands playing their own styles of Americana music.
First on was the local 1000 Mile Highway; playing covers by artist such as Steve Earl and Johnny Cash. A very impressive first gig from this band, which played guitars, fiddle, keyboard, drums and harmonica to great effect. A few more gigs under their belt before the festival will ensure a great show.
During the band changeover an auction of promises was held with people bidding for tickets for Oasis at Wembley, Kasabian, Wychwood Festival, photo shoots as well as many more fantastic lots. Thank you to all who bid and to Fergus for being a top auctioneer!
The night’s highlight was a stunning set by Guilford based Two Fingers of Firewater who made many new fans with their alternative/country self penned songs. With an accordion, steel guitar and harmonica joining guitars and drums to back a charismatic front man. Top class vocals and backing made for gorgeous melodies, which were taken home by all who watched and stayed in their heads for days to come. Don't miss them on Riverside Sunday at 5pm on the Main Stage. Also playing at Guilfest and gigging across the country.
A big thank you to all who supported this event!
Riverside Taster, Fat Lils, Witney 17th May
The line up for this all day show consisted of acts that are playing at The Riverside Festival and on the Riverside Stage at Cornbury Festival.
The Black Hats started proceedings with another of their fantastic sets to an already great crowd. Nick Breakspear and his guitar were truly on form as were the rest of the band. Their album release is 23rd May at the Wheatsheaf in Oxford. Don’t miss it!
billypure were next on, keeping the tempo high with a big sound and soaring fiddle. With the quirkiness of The Wonderstuff and melodies that stick in your head, the crowd asked for more…. but it was time to press on.
WAM took to the stage and ripped the crowd into a frenzy with their punk/ska set of the greatest hits of that era - Bad Manners, The Ruts, Sham 69 and The Specials to name a few. If you don’t love this band, you don’t love music!
King B changed the genre of music, giving the audience a stunning set of high-class blues and soul. With one of their guitarists away, a sax was introduced to great effect to compliment Claire Johnson’s raunchy vocals. Regulars on the Blues scene in the south of the country and the “Bully” in Oxford, no one stopped dancing the whole time they played.
Thin Green Candles gave everyone a chance to cool down a bit as they layered the venue with their ethereal electronic rhythms, dark beats and menacing guitar, beautifully accompanied with Verity’s haunting vocals.
1000 Mile Highway finished the night with yet another change in musical genre. Playing a string of Americana greats to please the crowd, who were dancing again. The highlight of a very accomplished set was “Mrs McGrath”…. goose bumps everywhere!
A huge thank you to Paul and Fiona who run Fat Lil’s, Rhys for the best sound and lighting anywhere, and to the girls on the bar for keeping our thirst slaked, and once again, to all og you who came along an supported us!!