Wood festival: Bands play first Oxfordshire music festival of 2026

Once anarchic, raggle-taggle gatherings fuelled by free-spirited fun, creativity and escapism, they have been widely replaced by bland, branded, commercial exercises in consumerism driven not by self-expression but by profit.

So let’s raise a toast to the first real outdoor gathering of the year – the fun, friendly and family-focussed Wood festival.

Springing up in a clearing among the Chiltern woodlands at Braziers Park in Ipsden, near Wallingford, Wood festival is a pioneering event combining high quality live music, active participation and a celebration of the start of summer.

The get-together, which runs this weekend until Sunday has a strong ecological ethos, generating its own green power and offering guests a rural respite from the pressures of urban life.

The Dreaming Spires (Image: Tim Hughes)

Set up by musician brothers Robin and Joe Bennett as an environmentally-friendly offshoot of the larger Truck Festival which they founded in their former home village of Steventon, it is intentionally small – strictly limiting its numbers to avoid overcrowding the scenic site. And, this year Wood marks a major milestone.

“This weekend we are turning 18-years-old,” says a delighted Robin.

“Lots of people have grown up with the festival and some of the adults here first came along as children.”

Robin, who is also a Green councillor on South Oxfordshire District Council, is proud of the festival he and Joe created. And while it routinely sells out, he refuses to expand at risk of losing its ethos and magic – despite the challenge of ever-rising costs.

“We call Wood a festival of music and nature,” he says.

“The main difference between us and other festivals is that we are family-run, family-orientated and intimate in scale – but there is so much to do.”

Wood festival, Braziers Park, Ipsden, May 2025. Picture by Tim Hughes

While Wood is intimate and laid-back it is artistically impressive, packing a powerful punch. The energy builds throughout each day ensuring dancing revellers stay warm well into the fresh spring evenings.

The musical line-up is strong, attracting a wealth of acclaimed international, national and local bands and artists, with rock, folk, country, jazz, blues and international sounds – and so much more.

Action takes place on a wooden stage with a living roof of grasses and wild flowers, and in a marquee shared with a bar so impressively stocked and charismatically staffed that it ought to be the envy of the festival industry.

The Dreaming Spires on stage at a previous Wood festival. Picture by Tim Hughes

Musical highlights included Friday’s headline set by singer and percussionist Falle Nioke – who fuses West African rhythms with experimental electronic music. The singer and percussionist has collaborated with the likes of Hot Chip’s Joe Goddard and Barry Can’t Swim.

Saturday’s bill is topped by powerful folk and Americana-fuelled rock act Morganway, fronted by epic singer SJ Mortimer.

Sunday is closed by foot-stomping, fiddle-led bluegrass and folk roots powerhouse Noble Jacks.

But Wood is not just about its headliners.

A consistently excellent line-up of acts play the weekend including John Bramwell of the band I am Kloot; Kenneth Pattengale of The Milk Carton Kids; UK-Mozambique duo Kate Griffin and Matchume Zango; Jamaican jazz funk quarter Ranglin’; indie-folk singer-songwriter Ella Spencer; and local singer-songwriting genius Emma Hunter.

Nick Cope is a Wood superstar. Picture by Tim Hughes

More county talent comes in the shape of Band of Hope, Oxford Ukuleles – and others including ska, funk, reggae, Balkan and blues act Papa Nui.

The line-up also features eagerly-awaited shows by re-formed bands The Samurai Seven and Unbelievable Truth.

And it would not be Wood festival without a brace of sets by indie-rocker turned kids’ favourite and CBeebies star Nick Cope.

Raising the temperature at night, meanwhile, are Oxford’s much-loved reggae and ska party starter Count Skylarkin and, on Saturday, grassroots DJ collective One Foot In The Rave.

To the delight of Wood regulars, the hosts themselves will also be playing with their band The Dreaming Spires – the outrageously talented Robin and Joe joined by their virtuosic bandmates for what promises to be a rousing, soul-stirring and heart-warming Sunday night set of country-rock and Americana.

The band have just launched acclaimed new album Normal Town, inspired by the charms of nearby Didcot. It is essential listening.

The musical talent is accompanied by a vibrant programme of activities – with craft and performing arts workshops; health, healing and wellbeing sessions; nature focused talks and activities; and loads of kids’ fun.

There are also opportunities to explore the rich setting of Braziers Park with nature walks and forest bathing sessions by day and astronomy by night. Bird lovers can even join a Conversations with Owls session with zoologist Sasha Norris.

“I always try to take part in one of the activities but rarely do,” says Robin.

An endearing festival tradition is the adoption of an animal theme for each event. Previous years have celebrated all manner of wildlife icons from badgers and bats to otters and dragonflies. This year it is the turn of one of our more secretive animals – the lizard.

Dressing up is always welcomed. And the more patient may even spot one on site.

The idyllic setting is a nature haven and Wood treads gently on the land. Waste is kept to a minimum; revellers are encouraged to cycle, car-share or catch a bus; and energy comes from solar power and recycled cooking oil. Don’t be surprised to also find a pedal-powered sound system.

As well as sticking to its sustainable and environmentally kind roots, Wood has retained its sense of community. The main stage is only a few feet above the ground, and was built by local carpenter Rory Bernays.

“We started this as we were trying to start a more sustainable festival after Truck festival was flooded in 2007,” says Robin.

“It has now grown its own identity with regular features and its own sound. People love it and come back year-after year… and some have even grown up with it.”

• Wood runs at Braziers Park, Ipsden, near Wallingford, this weekend, until Sunday. See woodhq.org
• Tickets for next year’s event go on sale soon