Just so there's no doubt: the festival Q&A and the information leaflet about it and the email sent out all say that the gates open at 9:00am but the camping fields don't open until noon. Some people do conflate the two, but they are different. Currently the license for the festival camping runs from noon on Wednesday to noon on Monday, so unless that license is changed, queueing will continue for people arriving before noon and those after noon will be queueing behind the early arrivals. The Police won't let us send early arrivals around the block, fyi. I agree that the holding field is not the right solution.


A number of factors exacerbated the situation on Wednesday morning, including a fatal traffic accident on the A36 first delaying, then releasing, a high number of festivalgoers, causing us to have a massive bump in numbers at one point.

But that's no excuse. We recognise that the holding field is a temporary measure whose time has hopefully come to an end. We're working to get a better system in place for next year.

My apologies for the inconvenience caused. We're working on it.

Agree with Nick, the holding field, although a neccesity to keep the queue off the main road, needs to be addressed as the 2-3 hour wait is spoiling what is essentially one of the finest festivals in the land. The problem (as I see it) is the pitching up, there seems no urgency, yes its all very polite and nice but when you have that number of vans and tents to get in it needs to be far more millitary, one after the other and kept moving. Between the holding field and actually getting pitched we were stopped 3 times to ask if we were camping with anyone else or with a group, most festivals tell you to meet up off site and arrive in convoy, at one stop the first question to us was simply "campervan", I was very tempted to reply "NO its a Bo-ing 747" but I bit my lip, then the van in front was sent the wrong way and had to be re-directed, at that point even the steward was starting to admit defeat, it cant be good for their morale listening to the moans. Once on the field we were stopped a final time to ask if we were wanting to camp with anyone else or with a group, by which time I'd had enough and put my foot down, once in the field we picked our own pitch (as did all the people around us) as there wasn't a steward in sight. fortunately safe gaps were left between but it could have gone horribly wrong, some even took enough space for 2 vans. Once the camping fields open there should be a non stop stream of vans with a Sargeant Major directing, Hope next year is better for those attending, we however are having a year off as the lineup didn't really do it for us, good selection of artistes, but not enough to our taste for the 500 mile round trip, hopefully back in 2028, with picnic lunch and lots of cold drinks in the fridge just in case.

This is the best festival going by a mile and I really enjoyed it, but we have let next years early bird offer lapse because I just cant cope physically (or mentally) with the holding field. Five hours driving , three hours stuck in a blazing hot field, and then a new , unfamiliar and heavy awning to erect was just too much. Sad but I had to see the paramedics as well, just not possible any more. I hope they can find a way around it.

Tonight, 9pm 'til 11 pm : Scattering The Roots with Dan Ogus...two hours of the finest folk, roots, blues, etc...plenty of etc...

I've rifled through my vaults to bring you some excellent music both new and vintage every Wednesday evening...

This week's show features the following artists :

Robert Jon & The Wreck, Niall Kelly, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Jo Harman, Kris Delmhorst, Hollie Rogers, Sally Robinson, Le Vent Du Nord, Steph Mcleod, Marley Blandford, Birds Of Chicago, Richard Thompson, Jackson Browne, Nerina Pallot, Lemoncello, Davy Knowles, The Longest Johns, Shea Rafferty, Hayes Carll, All About Eve, The Rutles...

Listen tonight, 9pm 'til 11pm on Portsmouth's Express FM, on DAB and online here :

https://www.expressfm.com/programmes/scattering-the-roots/

Ian Prowse's midsummer shows at Liverpool this weekend.  Acoustic Friday, full band Saturday.

A great weekend in London :

ABBA Voyage at the ABBA Arena

Darts 50th anniversary show at Dingwalls

Liz Jones & Rachel Croft on The Golden Hinde.

Or, if you prefer, ‘duct tape’ https://skirky.blogspot.com/2026/07/it-is-question-as-old-as-time-itself.html

In fairness, we got paid enough to cover our expenses and were covered for drinks vouchers all round.

Yeah, I loved it too. My first visit, and hope to return again.  Somehow Steve Knightley's new stuff didn't quite hit the spot with me, but loved most of it, and it was a good idea to bring True Foxes on to sing for a few songs too.  I really enjoyed a number of the acts, including Lucy Kitchen, The Courtiers, Harbottle & Jonas, Gerry Colvin, Ranagri (who I 'got' this time, after not being very impressed at Cropredy), the Laurel Canyon Project, Skerryvore, Fisherman's Friends and Seth Lakeman. There was hardly a weak act - though Charlie Dore & Julian Littman were a bit of a disappointment.

Really enjoyed the whole weekend.  Everyone friendly and looking out for each other.

Especially liked Steve Knightley's new band, the Laurel Canyon band and Reg Meuross' Woody Guthrie set.

I'd like to see all of those again, and for more than an hour.