Tuesday 9 July 2019

Summer of Love - The Cornbury Festival 2019



 With a turnaround time of just twenty-four hours, Wednesday morning saw us driving south yet again, this time to the Cornbury Music Festival in the heart of the glorious Cotswolds. We squealed with delight at seeing our festival trader family again, some of whom we'd only said goodbye to a couple of days ago at Glastonbury. After spending eight hours setting up - and chatting excitedly with our friends - we collapsed into bed just after 9pm, Glasto had all but wiped us out.


 After an eleven hour sleep marathon we tweaked the stall a little more and then went off for a wander around the site. There's something magical about being at a festival before it opens its gates to the public, the energy is almost palpable as the crew frantically rush about putting the final touches in place. 


The afternoon was spent lazing in the sunshine, interrupted only to make a few sales to crew members and fellow traders.


 Cornbury opened to the public at 10am on Friday morning and, with the temperature already hitting the heady heights of 24°C, we were ready for them.


My psychedelic print cotton maxi was a gift from Ann & Jos and the 1980s sequinned bustier a car boot find five years ago (apparently after the age of 50 bustiers are a massive no-no - you can see how bothered I am). Jon's 1950s Banner shirt used to be on the Kinky rails until he saw sense, his Levis' Pantella shorts came from a flea market in Goa a decade ago and the 1950s Stetson trilby was embellished with feathers we'd found on yesterday's adventure.




Just as in previous years we were visited by roving entertainers.


Kinky Melon was visited by Echo and the Bunnymen earlier in the day so I thought I'd return the favour, collecting neighbours Donna and Winnie from Red-Leb and catching part of their killer set on the Pleasant Valley stage where they reeled out the classic trio of ‘Bring On The Dancing Horses’, ‘The Cutter’ and ‘Killing Moon’instantly transporting me back to Sixth Form . Jon & I had last seen them live in 2007 and I'm happy to report that they were just as good twelve years later although I get the feeling that a lot of the crowd didn't understand Ian McCulloch's strong Liverpudlian accent.




We were further spellbound by a group of hot air balloons gently passing overhead during the Bunnymen's set.


Friday night's headliners were The Specials who were phenomenal although many of the ultra posh people in the crowd didn't know what to make of them dedicating The Lunatics Have Taken Over The Asylum to Boris Johnson (although we loved it!) After watching the set us and End of the Road festival  Shaun from Shilpa Silver hit the Disco Shed for some late night dance action (not all that late though, the arena closes at midnight).


Unusually for Cornbury, Saturday was dull and overcast with rain forecast for the afternoon. In the five years we've traded there it's always been glorious. Not that it hindered anybody's enjoyment. The kids (and their parents) threw themselves into the drumming workshop in the kids' field opposite.


  
Trevor Horn and his band played the Pleasant Valley stage on Saturday afternoon treating the crowd to everything from Slave To The Rhythm, Rubber Bullets, The Power of Love and Relax. We didn't need to venture from our pitch to hear the set perfectly.





 Remember last year's Scooby-Doo gang? This year they'd come as cheerleaders. One of the gang bought a vintage military jacket from us which they think may be inspiration for next year's theme.


Photo taken by Andrea and borrowed from her Facebook page.

As promised the rain made an appearance but it failed to dampen our (or our customers' spirits). On Saturday Jon wore the shirt Ann & Jos had given him when we met up a fortnight ago and I wore one of my Dollyrockers dresses.


Emma decided to leave wearing the pink Anokhi dress she'd bought from us, Suzy and Sharon came away with a tan leather coat, 1960s suede skirt, fringed cowboy boots and the twin to the Dollyrockers dress I'm wearing in the above photo and Laura bought this 1980s Anime-inspired sailor dress.

 The lovely couple on the left came back to show us how happy they were with the 1980s leisure shirt and Moroccan leather belt they'd bought the day before, Annabelle from Jack FM bought this 1970s Prova maxi and this cool dude was so happy with his 1960s batik shirt that he returned with a gang of friends so that they too could rummage our rails.


The psychedelic 1960s hooded robe went to this gorgeous lady who brought her brother back to try on the 1960s raincoat, Andrea's wearing a vintage Mexican handloom cotton blouse and Mary a 1960s Lurex cocktail top in baby blue and Vronni's  rock star brother Julian bought this 1970s Indian block print shirt to wear on stage for his headline set with Steeleye Span.


The lovely Hairy Biker, Dave Myers and his wife shopped with us last year & we were thrilled to see them again. This time Dave bought a super loud 1980s Yves St Laurent shirt and invited us over to see Si's band, Little Moscow play the Campsite Stage at 11pm. Andrea's wearing a vintage midi skirt and Mary's wearing a psychedelic headscarf (tied by me - all part of the Kinky service!)

The rain stopped just in time to catch Saturday night headliners Keane play the Pleasant Valley stage to a crowd packed with adoring fans. Si's band was great fun, just as Dave had promised they would be.


Walsall friends Liz and Adrian came to visit (Cornbury is their first ever festival) but, as they both had to be at work on Monday morning, left on Sunday afternoon.


Traditionally Sunday is a slow trading day for us as most people like to buy their vintage at the start of the festival and wear it all weekend, but after a slow start trade was brisk. 






The sun made a welcome return and we and our trader friends were able to bask in the sunshine.


Cornbury's not Cornbury without a pair of cat ears.




Donna and Mandy (from Chameleon) with Sammy & Nicola from Lick.


I ran down to the main stage to catch a bit of the Beach Boys featuring co-founder Mike Love and long term member Bruce Johnston, a wonderfully mellow end to another fabulous weekend.








Yesterday we packed up the remains of our stock, took the stall down, waved goodbye to our trading friends, several of whom we won't see for another year, and got back into the house late in the afternoon. After unloading the van, tackling a week's worth of washing and trying to tame a garden gone feral over the past fortnight we're fit to drop - thank goodness we've got this weekend off!


Thanks Cornbury, you've been amazing! See you next year.

57 comments:

  1. I've never been to a festival and I really should do it sometime before I get my zimmer frame...lol.
    Your dress rail looks amazingly colourful.
    Hugs-x-

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    1. You should do a festival, Sheila - Cornbury's a proper traditional British knees up!

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  2. I love The Specials, I've been a huge Ska fan since 1967 when I spent a summer as a waitress in Folkeston and went to an amazing Ska club there. the Specials are a great Ska band!

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    1. The Specials are amazing and their lyrics are as powerful now as they were back in the days of Thatcher's Britain. x

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  3. Cornbury looks like a fabulous and fun festival, and both you and Jon are looking suitably groovyliceous as always. That psychedelic maxi skirt looks absolutely divine on you. I'd just found it at Think Twice days before we left. I've got Echo & the Bunnymen playing in my head right now, and I had a good chuckle at The Specials dedicating that song to Boris Johnson. Very apt indeed! And oh, how wonderful to have met Vronni's brother! xxx

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    1. That skirt got so much love, thank you so much for finding it for me! xxx

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  4. Cornbury looks like such fun, I'm glad you and Jon had such a fabulous time! I've never been to a proper festival so I always enjoy reading about your experiences, you make me want to give it a go.

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    1. Thanks you! Cornbury is the perfect starter festival, full of lovely people! x

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  5. your festivals seem so much more fun than the ones here. Which is probably why I don't go to then (that and the heat). So many "older" people and families!

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    1. Cornbury (like Glastonbury) is fun for all ages! Love it! x

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  6. So. Much. Fun!

    I'm drooling over that amazing maxi skirt Ann gave you. It looks amazing on you!

    For once I know one of the groups that were playing, Echo and the Bunnymen. I've got Sugar Kisses on my running play list. That is the only song I know from them. I found when I lived in Europe that there was often a big difference in the popular bands.

    I hope you guys have a few days to recuperate now before you're off to the next festival.

    Suzanne
    http://www.suzannecarillo.com

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    1. Ann did well with the skirt, didn't she? It's amazing!
      I bet you know more Echo and The Bunnymen stuff than you think. People are Strange was used in The Lost Boys soundtrack, The Killing Moon was in Donnie Darko, The Killing Moon is in Grosse Pointe Blank and like Sheila mentioned Bring on the Dancing Horses is in Pretty in Pink.
      WE're rested and almost ready to rock up to the next event - I'm postponing my packing as the weather is looking very mixed! xxx

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  7. So glad you had a good weekend - looks like a blast!

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  8. What fun! And very successful! 💜🎶

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    1. Thank you! So lovely to hear from you! xxx

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  9. Oh, you saw Echo and the Bunnymen! I love "Bring on the Dancing Horses" - it's the first Bunnymen song I ever heard (off the "Pretty in Pink" soundtrack, I think), and still my fave.

    That looks like it was a wonderful event for you, catching up with repeat customers, friends and making new ones! I hope you and Jon have some relaxing in your future soon, Vix!

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    1. Yes!! I've mentioned a few other films Suzanne may have seen. We watched a cool indie film last year called "I Don't Feel at Home in this World Any More" which also featured Bring on the Dancing Horses. xxx

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  10. That looks like an amazing time! Loved your psychedelic maxi skirt; in fact all your's and Jon's outfits are fabulous. I'm so pleased Julian made it to see you and what a brilliant shirt he bought! It's wonderful to see such happy and satisfied customers wearing their purchases! What a wonderful advertisement for your stall!

    Hope you've had some time for R&R since your return...
    xxx

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    1. It was lovely to finally meet Julian, he looked so good in his shirt and I could really see a family resemblance around the eyes and chin! xxx

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  11. Can you say a little more about Steeleye Span for this longtime U.S. fan of the group? I know that Tim Hart joined the celestial choir several years ago, but are any of the original SS members still touring? (I go back as far as Hark! The Village Wait, so this is a serious question.)

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    1. Hello A.Marie! I'm afraid I can't tell you much about Steeleye Span as neither of us saw them play. I found this review online written by a journalist who saw their performance: "Steeleye Span certainly put their all into the set, despite a few sound gremlins early on, with highlights including the opener ‘Harvest’, a jaunty ‘The Elf-Knight’ and one of their ‘must plays’ in ‘Thomas The Rhymer’. Maddy Prior is still the focul point of the band, although she is ably supported on singing duties by Benji Kirkpatrick, Julian Littman and Spud Sinclair. Of course ‘All Around My Hat’ got the biggest cheer and crowd dancing of the evening. For a band celebrating fifty years they perform and enjoy themselves like a band half their age. If ever Steeleye Span play near to you, go and see them as they are one of the best live acts around."
      As I mentioned in the post, Julian is Vronni's brother and she suggested that he seek us out. If you click on her name you'll find a link to her blog. Hope this helps. x

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    2. Thank you for passing along the Steeleye Span review, Vix. Glad to see that Maddy Prior is still very much with us, although I don't recognize any of the other names.

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  12. You both have endurance that would put marathoners to shame. Congratulations on getting through both festivals-and having fun doing it.

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    1. Thank you - it took a while to recover but we're almost there now - bring on Bexhill-on-Sea xxx

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  13. even with a little bit of rain - cornbury sounds and looks totally fab!!!
    love the bejeweled bustier on you!
    xxxx

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    1. Thanks, Beate! So glad it was warm enough to give the bejewelled bustier an outing! x

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  14. Where do you get the energy?! All this festival talk is getting me in the mood for Latitude in a few weeks. I love reading your festival posts!
    xx

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    1. We give festivals our all, we're broken when they're over! Hope Latitude is brilliant for you. Go and say hello to my friends Jo and Drew of Retro Bambi, it's the first time they've traded there - you can't miss them! x

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  15. It look all do fun,but I know these festival is a lot of hard work.
    I have to wonder how you pick the festival and such you attend.
    Coffee is on

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    1. It's like a lottery, you apply for loads at the beginning of the year then wait to hear if you've been successful. We've been doing Cornbury for years, we'd be heartbroken if they didn't invite us back. x

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  16. Meghan said. I am so happy that you wore the bustier. You look fabulous in all your clothing. It is high time after all these thousands of years that women get to decide what they want to wear AND OH BY THE WAY..... WE GET IT RIGHT. WHAT DO YOU KNOW? WE ARE BRILLANT. Can't stop us now.

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    1. Yes, yes, yes! Meghan, you always manage to say the perfect thing. You rock! xxx

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  17. WOWW, lovely post, lovely music (Echo and the Bunnymen!, The Specials!, really classics!) and lovely people! it looks like a family friendly festival!.
    Your stall looks totally fabulous, you look really cool and gorgeous and love to see some of your happy customers too.
    So fabulous to see you enjoying!
    besos

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    1. Thanks, Monica! it was a fantastic five days! x

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  18. Ah, I have festival envy! Looks like so much fun. I always had the impression that Cornbury attracted quite a posh crowd (at least in comparison to other festivals )so it makes me laugh hard to think of the consternation at the Boris reference. (Stormzy had it right...)
    As a Scouser in exile, I love hearing Ian McCulloch speak as well as sing! Makes me feel at home xx

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    1. Hello, Mil! Cornbury is a very civilised gathering (as they say on the reviews) but it's absolutely lovely, everyone is so friendly, the park is spotless and the views over the Cotswold hills are breathtaking. xxx

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  19. I know this is the silly season for you but I love how much fun you have doing it all xxx

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    1. We do! We love every minute and feel about 150 years old when we get home! x

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  20. I don't just have festival envy, I have life-style envy!!!

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  21. Cornbury looks like so much fun! I love how the Hairy Biker came to visit your stall again and customers brought back their friends and siblings. They must have loved your stall! Is the festival season over or do you have more to look forward to? X

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    1. We're back on the road next week - two down, five to go! xxx

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  22. Cornbury seems like such a fun festival ...so great you managed to have fun and get some selling done... always a pleasure to see your fab vintage items and Kinky Melon shop. I love the outfits you and Jon wore. The outfit with the pyschodelic maxi and a bustier is so fabulous. The maxi dress you wore is beautiful as well.

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    1. It's such a brilliant weekend! Cornbury is a wonderful reminder of what a great country we live in - politics and Brexit aside! xxx

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    2. yes, it does seem like a great place to be, I hope to visit some day.

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  23. Cornbury certainly seems to have such a relaxed vibe . It must be so good to see your customers return each year to check out your brilliant stock. You both look fantastic and certainly enjoying yourselves.

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  24. What a fantastic time you had! lots of bands I recognise and lots of fun people visiting you and buying your lovely stuff - the Hair Bikers - would love to meet them!

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    1. Hairy Biker Dave is just one of the nicest most genuine people ever, love him (and his wife!) x

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  25. What a fun experience! it looks like you had a busy but great time over the weekend! So many stylish customers :)

    Hope that you are having a wonderful weekend :)


    Away From Blue

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    1. Thank you, it's a brilliant festival! x

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  26. Oh I am so glad you had such a wonderful time! It's really nice to see your customers with their purchases! By the way, I am SO envious of that pink Anouki dress that one customer bought- it is sooooo nice!! Cornbury sounds like a really decent festival xx

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    1. I wish that Anokhi dress had been my size, it was gorgeous! Emma looked amazing in it though so it didn't feel quite so bad letting it go! xxx

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  27. Gaaaah, the food stalls make me tempted to give that festival a go!

    You look great in your bustier. Those silly rules are probably made by people around the age of 30 who think turning 35's going to turn them into 150-year-old crones.

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  28. Looks like fun. The food stalls are making me feel hungry!

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  29. I so enjoy your Summer festival posts - I feel like I'm living vicariously through you. I'm not good with crowds anymore, or extremely hot temperatures (which caused me to miss both of our big summer festivals this year) so I'm glad I can virtually tag along to the ones you go to. I would have loved to see Echo and the Bunnyment and the Specials!!

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Thanks for reading and for leaving a message. Please don't be anonymous, I'd love it if you left a name (or a nom de plume).

Lots of love, Vix