THOUSANDS of people gathered on a meadow in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds to dance in the sun at the county’s biggest free music festival.

The 19th Riverside Festival was held at the Mill Field, beside the River Evenlode in Charlbury, yesterday and Saturday.

More than 40 acts performed across three stages, including headliners The Epstein, from Oxford, and Witney-based covers band The Standard.

Oxford resident Annemarie Buffin, 64, watched her daughter Julia ‘Juju’ Walker perform as lead singer of Candy Says on Saturday night.

The married grandmother, a retired teacher, said: “I love watching her play as their music really makes you want to get up and dance.”

She added: “We’re so lucky to have a free festival so close to us.”

Organiser Andy Pickard said the weekend had been the busiest year so far, with about 5,000 people attending on Saturday and 4,000 yesterday.

Witney Gazette:

Julia Walker of the band Candy Says

He said: “Word has spread that it’s a proper festival, just as they used to be. People come here rather than spend £200 to go to a big commercial event.”

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