The award-winning festival of music and nature held in the beautiful Chiltern hills at Braziers Park.
What's on at Wood
Alongside a full programme of musical artists on two stages, Wood hosts two days of talks and interviews, and runs over 50 workshops and activities across the Workshop Village, the Teen Tent, and the Kids Tent.
Click on the links below to find out more:
so far...
A long-standing pillar of the UK’s independent pop landscape, Jane Weaver continues to enrapture and expand her legacy in 2024 with a freshly announced tour and an album, ‘Love In Constant Spectacle’, her first since her unanimously lauded top 40 album ‘Flock’. Recalibrating her singular journey in the British musical landscape with her most open-hearted, direct and intimate collection of material yet, 'Love In Constant Spectacle' evokes spectacular imagery and distills the artists’ vision in its purest form, elevating her inimitable sound and poetic vision to new heights. “It’s about searching for joy, wanting to love and feel loved, then uncovering it in unusual places and in the smallest, hidden things in life. Magnified under rocks and stones, it explores connecting with nature and your surroundings as opposed to other people - focusing on autonomy, new beginnings and feeling bewitched” adds Jane. Jane Weaver’s experience as a truly independent and resilient songwriter and sound-carrier commands respect and inspiration in equal measures.
Amadou Diagne has centuries of West African music at his fingertips. Cory Seznec is a musical wanderer and uncertified ethnomusicologist. A chance encounter while busking in Bath planted the seeds of a collaboration that’s been fermenting for over a decade. Those seedlings are shooting up into the light with a prestigious Arts Council grant and their 2nd album, Plastic Man, recorded at the legendary Real World Studios. Touki means “journey” in Wolof, Diagne’s mother tongue. Plastic Man focuses on climate change, environmental activism and spiritual matters—drawing together West African fables, personal stories and the social, economic and political challenges facing both developing countries and western ones. Born into a griot family of percussionists and praise singers in Dakar, Diagne is no ordinary griot. Though he draws heavily on Coastal African sounds and rhythms, he has forged his own identity as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. A self-taught kora player (prohibited from studying in Senegal because he did not descend from a lineage of kora players) and guitarist, he has developed a unique style to accompany his rich, high-pitched voice, drawing on his skills as a percussionist. His music has been featured in Songlines and BBC R3 Late Junction. A French-American in Paris, Seznec’s fingerstyle guitar and banjo playing is syncopated, polyrhythmic, and idiosyncratic. Busking with Malian musicians in the Paris metro led him to Songhai songsters in Timbuktu and ancient omutibo guitarists in Kenya. Touring with world roots trio Groanbox gave him his sea legs. But a three-year stint in Ethiopia is what cracked everything open. These experiences shaped Seznec into an artist who traces the line through musical cultures and whose songs let the past reverberate in the present. As they sail through the crosscurrents of our complex world, Touki understands that the musical voyage itself is the destination. “A scintillating sequel to Ali Farka Touré & Ry Cooder’s Talking Timbuktu.” —ROLLING STONE
The Canadian folk singer renowned for her purity of voice and composer of the ever-fresh ’Morning Dew’; once at the heart of Greenwich Village heyday when she sang at Gerdes Folk City with the likes of Paul Simon, and Bob Dylan. The UK’s premier purveyors of Cosmic Americana riding a wave of creativity and acclaim, with two successive classic albums Hollow Heart and On A Golden Shore. The spry octogenarian and the psychedelic cowboys proved a match ripe to be made. Since Bonnie’s reemergence, at Jarvis Cocker’s Meltdown, she’d been interacting with a host of London musicians, but when the Stars came onto her horizon she sensed she’d found the perfect accompanists for her new compositions. With no concrete plan they worked up a few songs, then went into Sean Read’s Famous Times to see what might happen. What might happen is now a forthcoming album with some new titles, notably the autobiographical ‘Dreams’ giving the lie to ‘Morning Dew’’s finality, and opening up the future that former song closed down, an older favourite ‘Stay With Me Tonight’, and a revisit to Dino Valenti’s 60s anthem ‘Get Together’.
We are thrilled that we are once again able to welcome the one and only NICK COPE, who has been writing and recording his beautiful and unique songs for children and adults for well over a decade now. Nick has an incredible fan base from all over the UK, which has grown even more over the last few years due to the phenomenal success of his CBeebies show, Nick Cope's Popcast, featuring Wood’s very own Joe Bennett in the Popcast band! Nick is a Wood festival institution; there’s no better sight than the main arena standing room only with ‘kids’ aged 0-75 years on a Sunday morning (even the teenagers!). Nick has a way of reaching into people's hearts with his songs of the everyday, igniting children's imagination in an organic, unpatronizing, educational and fun way.
The Dreaming Spires are brothers (and Wood festival founders) Robin and Joe Bennett, with Jamie Dawson (Drums), Tom Collison (Keys and Nick Fowler (guitar). Robin and Joe formed indie band Goldrush, signed to Virgin Records, in the early 2000s. Over the last decade they’ve also toured the world in Saint Etienne and the award-winning Bennett Wilson Poole. Jamie is in constant demand drumming for US artists such as Annie Keating, while Tom plays in Danny & the Champions of the World. Nick joined Goldrush for their final album before they split in 2008, and is guitarist of choice for Gaz Coombes and Peter Buck. The Dreaming Spires released debut album, Brothers in Brooklyn in 2013 on Clubhouse Records. The album was compared to "Big Star by way of Gram Parsons and Teenage Fanclub" in The Independent, and detailed experiences on the road in the US during Goldrush’s many tours there. 2025 marks a decade since their second album “Searching for the Supertruth”, another acclaimed release on Clubhouse. The band were nominated for Song, Album and Artist of the year at the inaugural UK Americana Awards; this led to an invitation to appear at Americanafest in Nashville, on which trip they found time to record material at the legendary Ardent Studios in Memphis, home to Jody Stephens of Big Star (who’s since been to play at Wood). These songs formed the “Paisley Overground” EP on At The Helm Records. After a break to work on other projects, they’re back, not just to celebrate their anniversary, but also to release brand new material in 2025.
Formed by Simon Stone and Nicholas Broten in 1995, Hull’s Fonda 500 have been releasing brilliantly off-kilter lo-fi alt-pop since 2000. Their songs have appeared on the soundtrack to the British comedy “Teachers” on channel 4, Colin Farrell film “Intermission” and E4’s “Skins” (2010). They have built up a cult following chiefly through their explosive live performances and their unique musical style, which draws elements from 60's pop music (Beach Boys harmonies) bedroom pop (usage of novelty instruments) and indie rock (electric guitars). We are delighted to welcome them back to Wood after their set in 2018 nearly blew the roof off the tent..
One might be tempted to think of the Deep Dark Woods as a band steeped in capital-T tradition, and that may be true, but now nearly two decades into their life as one of Canada's finest folk-roots ensembles, that tradition is one of their own invention. The voice of founding member Ryan Boldt sits at the forefront of the band, and it doesn't take long to reveal that he is a master of subtlety and shading, working in the lineage of iconic singers like Bob Dylan, Bert Jansch, Rick Danko, and Jason Molina. Boldt, a relentless lifelong listener of music, says “It's all I do. When I'm not playing music, I'm listening to it, trying to find songs that make me feel an aching pain in my chest.” Accordingly, his singing is full of highly emotive nuance and an elegant, relaxed precision that makes it seem downright effortless, a perfect vehicle for the band's particular brand of updated folk music. A brand new album of original music recorded by David Parry (Loving, Alice Phoebe Lou) will be released on Victory Pool throughout 2025 complimented by tours of the UK, Canada, and Europe.
Hailing from the industrial town of Middlesbrough in the North East of England, Finn Forster is a pioneer of songs that come from places of real truth, deliver anthemic melodies and shine light on the trials and tribulations of his youth told through captivating vocals. Featured on BBC Radio 2, Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and picked as a ‘BBC Introducing One To Watch’ artist, Finn also won the prestigious Drake YolanDa award and has supported the likes of Rag n Bone Man, Bastille, The Reytons and The Lottery Winners.
“I’m not sure if it gets much better, either in terms of music from the North-East or in terms of bluegrass, than The Often Herd” BBC Radio Cambridgeshire. Bluegrass band The Often Herd transcend the traditional boundaries of the genre. Although they might resemble an American string band, complete with driving energy, tight vocal harmonies and dazzling instrumental interplay, their vibrant, transatlantic sound is deeply coloured by their surroundings; the striking natural and industrial landscapes of Northern England. This unique approach won them the title of “Best European Bluegrass Band 2018” at the prestigious La Roche Bluegrass Festival in France. Rupert Hughes (guitar) and Evan Davies (mandolin), write songs steeped in personal experience whilst drawing from a wide pool of influences ranging from old-time to psychedelia. American-born fiddler Niles Krieger and jazz bassist Sam Quintana add fiery instrumental skills to the mix, launching the band’s arrangements into the stratosphere. Together, their sound is both boldly contemporary and soothingly familiar, taking time-honoured traditions to new places with a fresh perspective. The band have showcased at IBMA Bluegrass Ramble and Americana Music Week, Hackney, and released their debut album ‘Where The Big Lamp Shines’ in June 2022, recorded with producer Tom Moore (Slow Worm Records, Moore, Moss, Rutter). “Traditional, inventive, tight and sharp… for those who think they don’t like bluegrass this could be the point they change their minds.” FolkWords
The Maes bring modern folk to life with lush harmonies and acoustic mastery on guitar, mandolin, fiddle and banjo. Born in Victoria Australia, the sisters grew up emersed in a melting pot of music from around the world washed up on stolen land. The Maes are outstanding live, with engaging storytelling and spinetingling harmonies. The sisters draw their audience in like your sweetest and scariest friend. With echoes of Gillian Welch and The Waifs, there is a timeless luminescence and simplicity to the songwriting and sound of Maggie and Elsie Rigby. The Maes self-titled 2019 album won the Music Victoria Folk/Roots Album of the Year and their song Driving Ali through Mining Towns was a finalist for the Vanda and Young songwriting competition. Their 2017, Nashville-produced album Take Care Take Cover also won the Music Victoria Folk album of the year as well as a five-star review from The Australian. I’ve always had such love for The Maes! Their timeless sound is always sung with such sincerity and emotion straight from the heart. – Josh Teskey simply superb — The Australian quite simply breathtaking — Rhythms Magazine
The all original lineup of cult Southampton indie slackers Black Nielson reforms after a 16 year hiatus; Mike Gale, Andy Reaney, Will Gradidge and Chris Wilson, joined live by Mike Monaghan on drums, made 3 critically lauded albums on Oxfordshire’s Truck Records in the early noughties, and made fans across the world with their fuzzy/dreamy alt-pop, with echoes of Mercury Rev, Grandaddy and Sparklehorse. Their 1st LP, “Still Life Hear Me” (produced by Wood’s own Bennett brothers, way back in the year 2000) received BBC airplay from Steve Lamacq for radio hit single “calm down it’s all a dream”, single of the week on Mark & Lard’s Radio 1 show (for debut 7” ‘Lasoo The Moon’), and great reviews across the music press. They followed this up with 2003’s “The Seahorse Boe” and 2006’s “Current Sunlight” before calling it a day. Prolific singer & songwriter Gale has gone on to further critical acclaim, releasing 5 albums with Co-pilgrim (with Reaney) as well as numerous solo records, but Black Nielson holds a special place in all our hearts, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming them to Wood festival for the very first time. Not to be missed!
A new duo from ambient pedal steel explorer Joe Harvey-Whyte (The Hanging Stars) and psych-country guitarist Bobby Lee, taking in Paris, Texas-esque dusty instrumentals, west coast canyon-rock, brit-folk pastoralism, kosmische choogle and new-age mellowness. The pair bonded over their broad church approach to cosmic country, where Eno and Arthur Russell stand shoulder to shoulder with Gram and JJ Cale. Individually, they’re both rare torch bearers of ambient americana on this side of the Atlantic.
Sophie Jamieson doesn’t shy away from discomfort, or life’s ugly truths. The subjects of her songwriting are put to unflinching examination, often revealing aspects of the human character that most would rather turn away from. Need, desperation and anger simmer through her songs, but are balanced by an unsentimental acceptance of life’s painful contradictions. All of this is carried by a deep, raw voice which pivots from wobbling vulnerability to soaring, pent-up longing unleashed. On stage, Sophie digs deep into the darkest corners of the human spirit. Her performances are inescapably intimate and intense, earning her supports for the likes of Father John Misty, Ezra Furman and Marika Hackman to name a few. Her debut album, “Choosing” received widespread critical acclaim for its candid examination of the self-destructive urge, with high praise from the likes of Uncut, Mojo and The Financial Times. Her second LP, “I still want to share” will be released on Bella Union in January 2025. A warm, yearning record of flourished ambition, expanded heart and emboldened voice, Sophie is not slowing down in her commitment to hold nothing back, to face the ugly longings of the human race with love, curiosity and acceptance.
Singer-songwriter Clara Mann’s evocative debut album Rift navigates the fractured environment of the in-between—those liminal spaces exposed between light and dark, growth and remorse, loss and reclamation. Raised in the Lot Valley in rural France before moving to the UK for her teens, and influenced by artists like Jacques Brel, Edith Piaf, Judee Sill, and Tom Waits, Mann has a deep love and care for songwriting. Her lyrics are vivid and visceral, and her approach to songwriting is not one of purging emotions but rather of composting them—digesting life’s experiences and cultivating them into something meaningful, tangible, hopeful. Primarily recorded at the 4AD Studios in London, the album was produced and mixed by Fabian Prynn (Martha Skye Murphy, Ex:Re, Fabiana Palladino) who facilitated an imaginative space for Mann to express the playful, strange and real parts of herself. The album is a tangible expression of her entire world—a snow globe raised in her palms for the world to see, in all its layers and complexities, containing all her love, relationships, memories, and experiences. It is a deeply personal record, yet it is universally resonant, holding a mirror up to herself and to the world around her.
“I play for peace in these uncertain times” Jali Fily (a GRIOT) is a traditional storyteller/musician who can trace his roots back to 12th century Mali where they entertained and advised the Kings of the empire. Born into the great lineage of Cissokho Griots from Southern Senegal, he began his training at the age of 6 with tuition from his Griot father and songs learnt from his Griot mother. His music and compositions are deeply rooted in his Mande tradition and his performances show the virtuosity of his kora playing as he is able to pick three parts at once: bass line, melody and improvisations above them, mixing fearsome technique with an ability to improvise scintillating runs out of thin air. He creates a unique musical blend that spans centuries and continents, ranging from solo traditional Mande music to rocking electro-kora with his Coute Diomboulou Band. Since moving to the UK in 2002 he has performed at many major festivals and worked with many renowned musicians including his nephew Seckou Keita, Toumani Diabate, Baba Maal, AR Rahman and Will Gregory (of Goldfrapp fame).
"Fascinating stuff... a sort of folk-meets-Laurie Anderson" Mark Radcliffe, BBC Radio 2. "Lingering spell-craft of multi-layered acappella vocals" Songlines. Katy Rose Bennett is a Birmingham-based singer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, composer and arranger. She has been creating her earthy, intimate folk music for over 20 years, telling stories of love, despair, connection and community. She has released 7 albums to critical acclaim with plays on BBC Radio 2, 3 & 6 and RTE 1, and she has toured the UK and beyond. In recent years, Katy has collaborated across art forms, creating music for dance, spoken word and theatre. She loves bringing people together through song, whether that’s through performing her songs or getting 100 people singing in sweet acapella harmony - or sometimes both at the same time!
"A true unsung hero" David Rodigan. Irish born, South London raised and latterly an Oxford instution. Count Skylarkin mixes reggae with soul, ska, dancehall, dubstep, jump blues, jungle and anything else he likes the sound of, to devastating effect. The Count’s passion for classic Jamaican sounds has led to him tour DJing for The Wailers and sharing stages with The Specials, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, The Skatalites, Prince Buster, Alton Ellis, Max Romeo, Dawn Penn, Mad Professor, Andrew Weatherall, Don Letts, Jerry Dammers, Trojan Soundsystem, Benga, DJ Yoda, Alex Paterson (The Orb), Mr Hudson, Massive Attack’s Daddy G and Horace Andy among many others. A veteran of the UK festival scene, The Count has rocked every blade of grass at The Big Chill, Latitude, Reading, Truck, Glastonbury, Shambala, The Secret Garden Party, Out To Graze, Notting Hill Carnival, Outlook Festival (Croatia) and countless others. In 2005 he co-founded and built the infamous Disco Shed.
And check out our Wood 2025 Spotify Playlist!
This is our space for kindling ideas and revolution, hosted by hedgehog-loving ecologist and author Hugh Warwick. Hugh's amazing list of guests over the years has included the legendary Peggy Seeger, environmental and political activist and author, George Monbiot, Guardian columnist Nell Frizzell and “Infinite Monkey Cage” comic Robin Ince. More information about what's happening in Kindling in 2025 will be available soon...
George Monbiot, 2022
Peggy Seeger, 2023
Filmmaker Lucy Michaels, 2023
Try something new!
Wood Festival offers workshops and activities for all ages. We have great things planned for Wood 2025. Click the button below for more information about the workshops and activities this year.
The Kids Tent and the teen area (AKA the Den) have lots of things to do for everyone.
More information about what's on in these areas can be found by clicking the link below:
event photos by Fyrefly Studios
Location
Braziers Park Camp Field, Ipsden, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 6AN
Opening Times
Doors open 3pm Friday 16th May.
Campers must depart by 11am Monday 19th May.
Music starts 5 pm Friday.
Workshops and activities, including the Kids Tent, start 8 am Saturday.
Braziers Park Camp Field, Ipsden, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 6AN
What3words for campsite: bought.cubed.movie
BUS: Braziers Park is served by the X40 Thames Travel service connecting to Oxford, Wallingford and Reading. The Braziers Lane stop is a request stop so ask the driver, and it’s a 5 minute walk to the festival site from the stop. Take care if crossing the busy A4074. You should be able to see the yellow AA signs and other event signage.
TRAIN: It’s best to go to Reading station and then catch theX40 bus to Braziers Park, as these buses run from just outside the station. Goring & Streatley Station is around 40-60 minutes walk with steep hills and no buses- occasionally taxis.
To catch a bus from Reading railway station, leave the station at the main entrance, cross the road opposite and make your way to bus stop EB. The bus takes approximately 30-35 minutes.
There is a £20 (weekend) parking charge.
Please note: cars with 3 or more occupants receive a £5 rebate; single-occupancy vehicles will be charged a further £5 on arrival.
We recommend parking is purchased in advance.
Why not try Liftshare?
Liftshare is free to use and helps people who are going to the same place connect to share lifts. There is a dedicated Liftshare Community for people attending festivals.
You will require a separate camper van ticket – available from the ticket page.
Camper vans must not exceed 6m in length.
Camper vans are sited in the main field in a different area to general camping.
3 nights camping in the beautiful surrounds of Braziers Park, Oxfordshire, is included with your weekend tickets.
We need to keep an emergency access lane through the campsite, and also to make sure there is room for everyone to camp; please pitch your tent sensibly and co-operate with any requests from our friendly campsite stewards.
We regret that no gazebos are allowed in the campsite.
For your safety the campsite is monitored 24 hours.
Luxury bell tents for 2 - 4 people are available to hire from our friends at Beautiful-Bells.co.uk.
Your tent will be ready and waiting for you on your arrival at the festival!
Includes:
5m cream canvas bell tent furnished with flooring, rug, cushions, mirror, bedside tables, LED lanterns, fairy lights and REAL plants.
Beds and mattresses - each single comes with additional memory foam topper, duvet with cover, fitted sheet, 2 pillows with cases and additional blankets.
Bell tents can be booked when purchasing tickets for the event.
A limited number of rooms can be booked in Braziers Park house.
Please contact Braziers Park directly to book – 01491 680 221
Our wood-fired showers will be running throughout the weekend.
This area will be open from 8 am - 6 pm.
Children must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
The equipment in this area is challenging and potentially dangerous.
Children play at their own risk.
Children under 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
Children under the age of 16 must be supervised by a parent or guardian at all times.
Children aged 13-17 need to have a Teen ticket.
Children 2 and under need to have a Child ticket.
Children under the age of 2 go free but we do ask that you include them in your purchase so we know who's coming.
We kindly ask that all children under 13 wear wristbands with the phone number of their parent or guardian. These wristbands will be provided when you arrive at the main entrance to the festival.
We have accessible parking, camping and toilet facilities.
A discounted ticket is available for carers accompanying a child/children with a disability or if you’re a carer accompanying an adult or teen with a disability.
Please contact us for further details.
Please report any issues or concerns to Festival HQ. Someone in our team will be able to direct you to the help you need.
We’re sorry but dogs must stay at home. This field is used for grazing when we are not here.
Open fires are not allowed. You are warmly invited to sit around the main campfire from dusk ‘til late.
You can have a raised BBQ for cooking purposes only. This needs to be raised off the ground and leave no trace when you go home.
All the toilets are composting. Don't knock it until you try it!
Here's what people have to say about them:
"..much more environmentally friendly and much nicer to use." -Laura M.
"It proves that you don't have to go to the loo in a horrible plastic box that smells awful."- Sam I.
"Some of the nicest loos on a festival site that I've ever used!" -George U.
Wood is an annual, early summer award-winning folk and roots music festival and environmental gathering taking place in the beautiful Chiltern Hills at Braziers Park, Ipsden near Wallingford, Oxfordshire. It's a small, family-friendly festival of music and nature with a full programme of free workshops for all ages, a kids activity tent, a teen tent. Wood features international street food serving plant-based menus as the norm not the exception, traders selling ethically sourced, sustainably produced products, and charity stalls. If you would like to receive an Application Pack answering all your questions about trading at Wood please join the Traders Application Pack Mailing List (you can unsubscribe at any time).
If you feel you need to be in touch with someone email sarah@woodfestival.com
Food Stalls and Trading at Wood
Wood features international street food serving plant-based menus as the norm not the exception, traders selling ethically sourced, sustainably produced products, and charity stalls. If you would like to receive an Application Pack answering all your questions about trading at Wood please join the Traders Application Pack Mailing List (you can unsubscribe at any time).
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