Alex James opens his farm for ‘best ever’ Big Feastival

He may have enjoyed fame and fortune as a member of one of the country’s biggest bands, but right now the Blur bassist has only one thing on his mind – and there is no mistaking his passion.

Having moved to the Cotswolds in pursuit of a quiet life, the rock star turned farmer and cheesemaker is getting ready to open the gates of his Kingham farm for his annual celebration of music, food and family fun – The Big Feastival.

And as we speak, the place is being transformed from a pastoral rural backwater to the home of one of the country’s best loved festivals.

Pastures which are home for the rest of the year to cattle, are now studded with stages, fairground rides and bars in readiness for the arrival of more than 20,000 revellers from this Thursday to Sunday.

There is something endearing about Alex’s enthusiasm for the weekend event he and his family have helped shape – and that excitement is contagious.

“We are flat out at the moment,” he laughs as we catch up at an uncharacteristically early hour – at least for a rock star.

“Everyone is ‘up and at ‘em’ and we are all at it from early in the morning. I am a farmer after all!”

“It is the most fun we’ve ever had,” he says with real delight as he describes how he took the idea of a festival for music lovers, foodies and families – and forged it into a reality on his farm near Chipping Norton.

“It is great to know this all happens here on the farm – and is bigger and better than ever this year.”

And he is not exaggerating. The bill at The Big Feastival is always impressive, but this year’s is a banger. It features huge stars Basement Jaxx, Rudim3ntal, Bastille and The Streets.

Alex James on stage at The Big Feastival. (Image: Tim Hughes)

Then there are epic indie-rock band Doves, White Lies, Ms Dynamite, Red Rum Club, Freya Ridings, The Coral, Little Mix star Perrie and way more.

Alongside the music acts, there are megastars of the culinary world including MasterChef host Anna Haugh, Ballymaloe Cookery School teacher Rachel Allen, Sally Abé, Simon Rogan, Poppy O’Toole and Emily English.

Then there is comedy featuring The Horne Section, Harriet Kemsley and Shappi Khorsandi.

As a star with Britpop legends Blur, Alex lived life to the extreme. Indeed he still does more than dabble – with Blur having reformed for a massive sell-out stadium tour, and him now fronting his own Britpop Classical show.

The show sees Alex on bass joined by a band performing indie-rock classics of the 90s – accompanied by special guests and, crucially, a full classical orchestra. The symphonic spectacular debuted at last year’s Big Feastival, headlining the main stage as a stirring Sunday finale. This summer he has taken it on the road including an acclaimed show back in Oxfordshire at Henley Festival.

The Big Feastival, Alex James farm (Image: Tim Hughes)

“It is great,” he says. “I am playing bass and I do actually know how to do that. When I am putting on a festival I am winging it, but playing bass is my expertise!”

And while he still gets a massive buzz out of playing live, Alex says nothing makes him happier than throwing open the gates to his farm once a year for his homegrown gathering.

“I am absolutely thrilled to be welcoming everyone back to the farm for our 15th year,” he says.

“I mean, 15 years! If the festival was a plum tree, you’d need a ladder to get the fruit,” he smiles.

“I don’t know if it gets any easier, but with the team we have built up it is a better-oiled machine.

“The key is trying new stuff.”

The Big Feastival, Alex James farm (Image: Tim Hughes)

As the festival has grown so has the number of stages – this year numbering about 30. As well as bands, DJs and comedy venues there are kids areas, spaces hosting live cookery demonstrations, displays of fire pit barbecue tips, hands-on culinary workshops, a cookery school, tasting sessions and banquets. There is even a chance to meet animals up close courtesy of Countryfile star Adam Henson’s Cotswold Farm Park.

“You can ‘geek-out’ or ‘freak out’,” says Alex.

“There are a thousand festivals up and down the UK, but what we do is look after families. When you have kids, nothing is more important than having quality time with them.”

And while the number of stages has mushroomed and the line-ups grow ever more impressive, the festival has stayed loyal to its roots and to Alex’s original vision of an event celebrating “music, food and family”.

“It encompasses everything I care about,” he says.

“I have a terrible habit of making my hobby into my job. It happened with Blur and then with The Big Feastival.”

He goes on: “Some of the best days of my life were at festivals – either performing with Blur or just spending time with people. Being at a festival has a sense of magic about it; you are creating life-long memories.”

Alex James Image: Big Feastival (Image: The Big Feastival)

As all farmers can attest, this summer’s drought and record temperatures have made conditions hard. But, ever resilient, fromage fanatic Alex has at least tried to create something positive from the relentless heatwaves – developing new ways to use solar energy to melt cheese.

Joined by physicists, he experimented with fondue and raclette before developing a new treat cooked in a modified solar-powered pizza oven.

And he will be launching it at the festival venue he calls the Cheese Hub – a three-sided farm building which is transformed into a bar and dance club with a glittering bill of DJs including Tall Paul, Seb Fontaine, Sarah Story, DJ Spoony, Chris Stark and Hot Fuzz and Shaun of the Dead star Simon Pegg.

“I call it gastro-physics,” he laughs. “This year the Cheese Hub has a real star doing the cooking!”

While camping passes have sold out, day tickets are still available, with Alex tipping Friday – headlined by Basement Jaxx – as a great day to come.

“If you don’t want to commit to a whole festival, it’s great to come for a day – especially Friday when everything is clean and fresh,” he grins.

“Just come along. Summer is almost over so let’s see it out with a bang!”

The Big Feastival is at Alex James’s farm in Kingham, near Chipping Norton from August 28-30. Details and tickets from bigfeastival.com