Farmyard frolics


Take one farm in beautiful mid-Wales, some gorgeous late summer weather, a host of revellers, a lakeful of booze, a barbeque, a stall selling souvenir CDs and T-shirts as well as homemade spiced plum chutney all in aid of charidee and a clutch of bands and performers drawn from as far afield as Birmingham and London (Hominid, Seventh Syndicate, The Power Balladeers, The Untitled Scruton Project, Joe Campbell, The Buggergrips and Aber - the latter basically ABBA meets Goldie Lookin Chain) and what have you got? A brand new addition to the annual festival calendar, that's what.

The inaugural Evstival last weekend was superb, and given that Truck, the local shindig here in Oxfordshire, began life as someone's birthday party with bands performing - yes - on the side of a truck, who's to say that it won't develop along similar lines? Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, and all that. Eavis, are you worried?

Next year (and there certainly seems to be the enthusiasm in place for there to be a next year), Radiohead are rumoured to be in the running for a place on the bill - though they may have to make do with an afternoon slot on the Dave Lee Travis Promising New Acts Stage.

Thanks to Neil, Hannah and Chris for the bulk of the organising, and to John for the photo.