Bands

Hailing from Banbury, Oxfordshire, Neon Nights is an indie rock force formed in the summer of 2022 by founders Dan Bonas and Steve Parish. The quintet, also comprising Tom Stilgoe, Liam Morgan and Joe Bruce, weaves a tapestry of soulful soundscapes drawing from diverse influences.

Neon Nights released their critically acclaimed debut album “Thirty Three” in August 2024, and have been building their name and popularity by performing at well-known music venues across the width and breadth of the Midlands.

With catchy melodies, emotionally charged lyrics, and a rhythm section that’s both tight and rocky, Neon Nights has quickly become a local sensation. Our unique blend of indie rock sets us apart in the music scene.

featuring local superstar and vocal acrobat Matty Keefe to perform a range of electro/acoustic covers – a live lounge experience in a marquee.

Founded in 2014, The Badgers have established a strong reputation for pub gigs, festivals, weddings, birthdays, and other special events in Oxfordshire and beyond.

The band plays an eclectic mix of rock & roll, glam-rock, pop-punk, and new wave favourites spanning the 1950s up to the late 1970s.

They are a group in the pub rock tradition, rather than a typical ‘function’ band, and they work hard to ensure every song has a “Badgers freshness” designed for maximum singing and dancing.

The Badgers are all about great nights out and events to remember.

The Saturday featured headline band for 2026 in their full and exciting line up. Following the amazing launch of their latest album at the Beacon Bristol (Colston Hall- venue of legends!) we are thrilled to have them at our festival!

Celebrating their 15th anniversary year, FolkLaw bring award-winning songs and foot-tapping music that get faces smiling and festival crowds jumping! Winning friends and fans wherever they go, FolkLaw have taken their unique brand of celtic-rock across the UK and Europe, from Cropredy’s Field 8 (UK), Costa del Folk (Ibiza) and the Maritime Festival (Germany) to the Aalten Fair in Holland.  FolkLaw’s latest album “Catch the Sun” has seen radio play across BBC Scotland, BBC Wales, and as far afield as the US and Australia!, and received critical acclaim as a “Gold standard of folk music” by Irish Music Magazine.   Put on your dancing shoes and get ready for a high-energy show from one of the UK’s top folk-rock bands – FolkLaw.

An after party of classic rock covers from the amazing Bruiser. Welcome back.

Established 4-piece rock covers band from South Northants. A hard-working, hard-rocking 4-piece rock covers band from Northamptonshire. Playing the best rock cover songs across the decades, live music played the way it should be! Fabulous, powerful vocalist and awesome musicianship… a perfect way to round off Saturday night!

Established touring artist, all-original songs in a unique roots/blues/folk style, and now living in Chipping Norton.

Mark’s music is widely regarded as wholly individual and is well received by a wide variety of audiences. “With my band, I was recently the guest on Cerys Matthews’s BBC Radio 2 show and was chosen for the BBC Radio 2 Pick of the Week Show”. Described by the BBC as an artist who ‘makes you think afresh’ and by countless reviewers and audience members as ‘uplifting’ and ‘inspirational’. Generally considered to be unlike any other artist out there, the show involves humour and storytelling as well as memorable melodic songs on a variety of unusual topics that audiences relate to. Widely considered one of the top roots guitarists, with a very distinctive fingerpicking and slide style. They have been nominated multiple times in the UK Blues Awards (including 2023).

Mark tours extensively solo and with the band, playing excellent venues all over the country. “Among many other dates, we recently did a sold-out show at the wonderful Minack Theatre in Cornwall”. They have played at numerous top festivals of many kinds, including a sell-out headline concert at Celtic Connections, Lakefest, Bearded Theory, Great British Folk Festival, Jazz FM Love Supreme, and Great British Rhythm & Blues Festival. Mark has released seven albums which have been unanimously acclaimed across a wide range of areas of the music world, receiving a very great deal of airplay and highly enthusiastic reviews in the UK, Europe and the US, the latest being the double album The Road To Liberty

Blues rock covers trio called Tres Hombres, playing tunes by Hendrix/Cream/Zz Top etc. featuring Andy Douse on guitar – after a ‘storming’ and well-received set in 2024, we are thrilled to welcome back Andy and his amazing band of experienced musicians.

In October 1978 Neil Young and Crazy Horse performed a ‘concert-fantasy’ show called ‘Rust Never Sleeps’ in San Francisco. Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the “greatest live performances of the last twenty years”. The album ‘Live Rust’ was released in 1997.

‘RUST NEVER SLEEPS’ band play tribute by performing a selection of songs from this live show.

The Lookout are an emerging four-piece indie rock/alternative band from Oxfordshire, blending melodic guitar and hard-hitting drums with soulful folk undertones on ukulele and keyboard. Their multi-instrumental talent, 3 part harmonies and great chemistry has been well received wherever they perform.

Their distinctive style lies in their versatility, with the band swapping instruments to spin different tales within their music. The Lookout’s sound moves fluidly, with stripped-back moments, subtly textured dynamics, and impactful power-ballads.

With camaraderie, eagerness to progress and positive energy, The Lookout are ready to bring their varied and cohesive act to public events, and produce music for a wider audience. They are for sure a band to look out for!

Formed in 2017, Catfish Creek bring a hefty dose of country rock to pubs, clubs and festivals. In addition to their growing repertoire of original material they also cover Lynyrd Skynyrd, Chris Stapleton, Brothers Osbourne, delivering a ‘yeehaw!’

Since forming just 18 months ago, Underdog have racked up 21 gigs (incl. 7 festival stages) and recorded a live EP of their music they call ‘countrybilly’. Toe-tapping, head-bobbing and general mood lifting shenanigans

Hanley Webb is a rising star on the music scene. He played for us two years ago with ‘mSquared’.

He joins us as his musical journey continues and opens up our Saturday session at MAC with his new band. Check him and the band out in the links below.

An upbeat Oxfordshire 5-piece indie folk band – perfect for a great festival vibe. Performing original catchy sing-along moments by fusing vocal harmonies, violin and a unique percussion set up. Their loyal and ever-growing followers compare their sound to the likes of Fairport Convention, Waterboys, Fleet Foxes and Fleetwood Mac.

Leigh has been a full-time professional musician since 2018.

As well as being a guitarist and vocalist with 20 years of gigging experience within the public and private events and theatre industry, both as a performer and sound engineer, Leigh also books various local bands for a couple of local venues and Banbury town council for their outdoor events.

The Mangoes provide an eclectic mix of jazz blended with neo-soul and R&B.

They are experienced local musicians with a wide variety of influences.

Expect a chilled-out musical offering which has delighted audiences at the Fairport Festival Fringe, Banbury Mill Arts Centre and many other music festivals.

Noted for their sweet four-part harmonies and classy musicianship, the Mangoes provide music for the heart and soul.

The Night Herons are a Oxfordshire-based band blending jazz, funk, folk and pop into a rich mix of original songs and standout covers. Since forming in 2013, they’ve built a loyal following across Oxfordshire’s live music scene, with two EPs: Here Comes The River (2023) and Persephone (2025).

The band includes songwriter/keyboard player Dave Hemming, Werner de Jong on bass and Chris Baines on drums. The band are delighted to be joined by new member Sari Alfi, a brilliant soulful singer and songwriter who effortlessly covers the breadth of jazz, rock and folk, and brings her cool original heartfelt songs and rich interpretations of other music.

The Night Herons’ EPs have been described by Oxfordshire Music Scene Magazine as “proper timeless music painted on a broad canvas” and by Nightshift as “seductive balladry” and “revival jazz-tinged funk-folk sparking tales of relationships in all weathers”. Above all their tunes are fun, euphoric and uplifting – music to move to and be moved by.

After an impromptu appearance in 2023 we welcome back Lee AKA The Infamous Rooster Fish – expect an engaging collection of original songs. Stacks of stage presence, humour and pathos. Accompanied by slide and bottle neck guitarist Rich Miller. Punk Blues.