Towersey Festival Headliners 2023

“any stream, but mainstream”

We Believe in Cher

The UK's longest-running independent family festival of music, comedy, crafts and family fun announce their final line up additions with Frank Turner and Nickel Creek, joining The Divine Comedy and The Proclaimers for a weekend of family festial fun that's "any stream but mainstream."

Frank Turner is an English punk and folk singer hailing from Hampshire. He has released nine studio albums to date; his first being 2008's Love Ire & Song and latest being the 2022 Official Albums Chart Number 1 FTHC. Tape Deck Heart, His breakthrough album in 2013, gave him his first number 2 album and produced the extremely popular single Recovery which became an anthem for that year and somewhat a signature tune. Franks feel good and energetic stage performances keep audiences rapt and uplifted, with punchy vocals and sing along melodies, it’s music that makes everything feel like it’s all going to be alright.

Hear Frank Turner here: https://frank-turner.com/video/

In a booking coup, Towersey have secured Grammy award winning Americana Blue Grass band Nickel Creek to make one of only two festival appearances in the UK this Summer. The Platinum selling Trio played live together for three very special sell out shows in January for the first time in 20 years. Hailing from California, Nashville favourites Nickel Creek are mandolinist Chris Thile, violinist Sara Watkins and guitarist Sean Watkins. Together a sum of more than their staggering parts, the trio revolutionized bluegrass and folk in the early 2000s and ushered in a new era of what we now recognize as Americana music. Poetic and plain-spoken, musically the band hit the sweet spot between ethereal and relatable.

Towersey Festival has many fantastic activities to enjoy for all the family Including; Dance, Celidah, Circus & Theatre Shows, Storytelling, Outdoor Games, History & Ghost Walks, Fun Run, Forest School, Campfires, Craft Making and Music Jams, with excellent camping facilities, flushing loos, low carbon footprint and a no litter/ community clean up initiative.

Located in the beautiful Buckinghamshire countryside, Claydon Estate has over 170 acres of stunning parkland and historic Walled Gardens with a classic example of a fine English country house, which is owned and managed by The National Trust. The privately owned estate and gardens, were initially laid out in the 18th century for the 2nd Earl Verney by James Sanderson, a pupil of Capability Brown. Successive generations have made their mark on them, with beautiful herbaceous borders, unique features, and stunning views over the estate’s parkland.

Carrying the baton for the spirit of independence, earlier this year the festival won the Access All Areas Legacy award, from a shortlist of worthy contemporaries, including Victorious & Black Deer.

Festival organiser Joe Heap has this to say of the Towersey Legacy: “I know how hard it is to put anything on in these times.  59 years ago my Grandad got a few mates together who believed in community and in culture and they started a festival.  One of the first…..even before Glastonbury! Now the oldest independent festival in the UK,  it still has those core values at its heart. Togetherness. sharing knowledge and learning skills and most importantly community. I and the very small team (just three of us) are the current custodians.  Before us my grandad and then my dad looked after this important event for over 40 years.  I’ve been working in the festival for over 25 years and now my sisters, my kids and the wider family are all involved.  BUT…. It’s those that come that truly own this event. Audience, artists, volunteers, concessions….They pass the torch from generation to generation.  It’s what they take into the world from Towersey. Community, Culture, sharing and learning. Growth as human beings that make our legacy so powerful”