Friday 29/05/09 Wychwood Festival 2009, Day One @ Cheltenham Race Course, Gloucestershire

In a world where a lack of headliners can make event listings appear as though someone hit the copy and paste buttons a few too many times, this family focused event manages to forge it's own path with impunity. Elegantly perched on the edge of the Cotswolds in the attractive surrounds of one of our nation's best shrines to the sport of Kings, Wychwood continues to attract enough big names and hotly-tipped acts to appeal to the masses whilst also bringing some of the best folk, world and fusion acts to the forefront, creating a dynamic mix that is guaranteed to expose you to something new, exciting and unexpected. Add to this one of the best organised and thought out sites I've seen, multiple reasonably priced bars, diverse and exceptionally good food outlets, a mini fairground, comedy and poetry readings and a host of activities ranging from bread making, to yoga and circus skills for kids, and you've got one of the truly great undiscovered gems of the summer season that brings you the best bits of big-hitters such as WOMAD and Glastonbury without the crowds and queues.

In accordance with the family friendly nature of proceedings, day one kicks off at around 4:30 pm allowing plenty of time for the post-school crowd to arrive. A variety of folk and acoustic acts filled the second 'Big Top' stage with particular highlight being the Celtic tinged rhythmic melodies of Ella Edmondson who's  previously toured with Jools Holland and his friends.  The mainstage launched with Oxford folk rockers Danny and the Champions of the World, whose nostalgia tinged  tunes provided almost as much warm as the blazing sun overhead. A distinct change of pace comes with the arrival of 80s punk-folk rockers The Men They Couldn't Hang. Less famous than their contemporaries The Pogues they still have the energy, presence and material that's sustained a 25 year long career.

As the evening draws in and the temperature begins to cool, a host of new unsigned and independent talent aims to heat things up over in the Old Hooky Bar as part of 6 Music's Tom Robinson's Fresh On The Net Sessions. A variety of acts hand picked from his BBC Introducing shows play over the three days and tonight include chilled-out electronica two-piece Mooli and imaginative and fresh indie-pop rockers Hoodlum. Then it's a quick ramble back to the mainstage to catch the return of alt-rock stalwarts The Wonder Stuff who churn out the hits to an appreciative if heavily sedated audience basking in the last of the warmth. As the sun sets the crowds assemble and the atmosphere builds towards the arrival of headliners Welsh indie and psych rock heroes Super Furry Animals. One of those odd bands who received critical acclaim but never got the status they really deserved despite continuing success, SFA are always better than you remember them being, with powerful swirling chords, evolving and inescapable beats creating a sound distinctly their own and that  no-one has bettered.

Quiet on-stage, SFA never-the-less extremely engaging to the extent that they manage to pull off the use of comedy cue-cards calling for 'APPLAUSE' and cries of 'WHOO!!!' throughout the set with full audience participation. They even keep the punters happy whilst playing entirely new material from new ninth album 'Dark Days/ Light Year' for the entire first half of the set before bringing out the fan favourites, but with the new tracks apparently a return to top form for the group this isn't too much of a difficulty. Stand-outs include 'Crazy Naked Girls', 'Moped Eyes' and the Bangra heavy 'The Very Best of Neil Diamond'.