Wychwood Festival 2025

Cheltenham Racecourse

Gloucestershire

30th May – 1st June

In the grounds of Cheltenham Racecourse with a backdrop of Cleeve Hill the setting for the Wychwood Festival was idyllic. The atmosphere is more family centred, as my partner mentioned in passing it could be compared to a village fete for it's look and feel at times. Indeed there were lot's for the kids to do with art workshops, fairground rides, children's book signings and so much more. For the adults there was a range of music in different places to entertain us.

This years big name was James and I am sure they were the reason many arrived over the weekend especially the busiest day on Saturday. Tim Booth mentioned early on that they had altered their setlist to include more appropriately fantasy / fairy-tale themed numbers as per the Wychwood name which conjured up that theme in his mind. There was an amazing graphic and film backdrop displaying colourful images throughout.

James

James

They started with "Getting Away With It (All Messed Up)" followed by "Ring the Bells" before Booth came down from the stage to mingle along the walkway with the many fans in the front rows. He was the flawless frontman throughout being captured for a film being shot during their set. He produced as expected some "windmill" dancing while the band took the songs along in fantastic style.

James

James

Blast from the past "Come Home" reminded us of their Manchester sound of 1990 and provided another moment for the the crowd to engage vocally. A run of "Tomorrow", "Born of Frustration" and of course "Sit Down" really sealed this as a first-class gig. Completed with "Laid" and "Sound" a truly momentous finish to Saturday night.

Public Service Broadcasting

Public Service Broadcasting

Public Service Broadcasting have ploughed their musical furrow for a good few years now and have refined their live performance into more of a show with ingenious backdrop to colour the themes of their songs. As the sun went down on Saturday we were enraptured by the visuals to go along with "Spitfire", "Go!", "Gargarin" and "Everest" with added dancing spacemen to enrich the performance of "Gargarin" the band hit the right spot. They acted as a great appetiser for James.

Shed Seven

Shed Seven

Shed Seven

Shed Seven took the top spot on Friday, still producing new music which sat akin to their nineties output. Rick Witter can still knock out a mean vocal too, sounding still in his nineties pomp, "Speakeasy" and "Where have you been tonight?" transporting those who listened originally, straight back to those times. "Going for Gold" evolved into the similarly structured Elvis classic "Suspicious Minds" which Witter pulled off superbly aided by some effortless guitar work from Paul Banks. They concluded with "Chasing Rainbows" to send the campers back to their sleeping bags with a smile.

Lottery Winners

Lottery Winners

Lottery Winners

On Friday before Shed Seven we had the wonderfully entertaining Lottery Winners, up front Thom Rylance singing and providing hilarious quips, they provided a cheerful appetiser before the headliners. Their songs off their two number one albums are excellent too and I can't think of many more such "feel good" bands around at the moment.

Dub Catalyst

Home Counties

Home Counties

On the second stage were many highlights seen such as Dub Catalyst who seem tighter and more dynamic than I had seen them last, with their reggae / ska perfectly intune with the audience vibe. They were on Friday which had a bit of a Dub/ Reggae theme going on. Home Counties were also on Friday with their angular indie rock.

The Bug Club

The Bug Club

Do Nothing

Saturday had a great run on the second "Garden Stage" with Do Nothing, The Bug Club and The Magic Numbers. The tent was absolutely rammed for The Magic Numbers who treated everyone to an atmospheric show using all their twenty plus years of stage craft.

The Magic Numbers

Having the need to depart early on Sunday it was a shame to miss The Zutons and Doves but I am sure to catch up with them on my travels.

Daniel Bedingfield

Scouting For Girls

I

Ibibio Sound Machine

Skinny Lister

Skinny Lister

Songhoy Blues

Idestroy

The Wychwood Festival from atop Cleeve Hill