‘We threw a party and everyone came’

THAME high street rocked last Saturday, when the town added a music festival to its growing reputation for innovative events attracting locals and visitors to the town.

The audience of all ages, who came to enjoy a running programme of bands on the main stage by the town hall, grew and grew to at least 2,000 people, some of them bringing their own camping chairs and settling in for the duration. In between – and sometimes at the same time – other performances of all musical genres, filled many of the pubs and restaurants in the town centre and the Snooker Club too (those Mercia boys will go far!), where satellite sets were being performed to packed venues.

The blazing weather too played its part in creating an atmosphere of holiday, community and a love for music all rolled into one, and business was brisk for the open-air bar, the Vinyl records stall and a variety of food vendors from all round the world, from Jamaica to Peru. And, by the way – it was all FREE!

Jonnie Littler – Image courtesy of Pow Pow Pictures

The Thame Town Music Festival was the dream of Jonnie Littler, Founder and organise of Thame’s First Thursday Music Club, who managed to persuade the town and district councils to support his venture, and with an army of yellow-T shirted volunteers as Crew he pulled it off – and with some!

The festival was officially launched from the main stage by the Mayor of Thame, Tom Wyse, setting the spirit of the day by ‘playing’ a guitar riff on an inflatable guitar. Then the real music started with Rock a Billy band, Hiway 51, which includes Thame’s very own guitar shop owner, Phil Carwardine. Then, with a change of mood, came The Boodlum Band with their hilarious mix of comedy and music, before the multi-talented Emma Stevens wowed the crowd.

Glen Matlock (centre) and friends

From then on, it was a succession of great music, including the deft and dazzling Dung Beatles, the very good Van Susans (Quote: ‘The Levellers for a new generation’) and the lovely, singing Lady In the Van, Nikki Loy, that built and built to the excitement of the headline act, Glen Matlock and Friends; Glen – founding member of The Sex Pistols, now grey but with a slick of hair that involuntarily fell down the middle of his forehead, to be frequently swept back with a comb – still as cool as ….well….as that word that rhymes with luck! And the crowd loved it – especially a comically respectful rendition of ‘God save the Queen’ which, though missing the anarchy and rawness of the teenage ‘Pistols, was as raucous as any middle-aged Republican could have hoped for.

As twilight fell over the scene, Welsh Indie-Roots band, Rusty Shackle, Towersey and Beaconfest favourites, rocked the day to a close. As the crowd wended its way home, there was just time if you were heading that way, to catch some very cool jazz at Jack and Alice’s. Nice !

Still reeling from a ‘brilliant’ and a very hard day’s work, Jonnie said: ” From all of us on the festival team, ‘thank you’ to the people of Thame. We threw a party and everyone came!”

After the event, social media was buzzing with messages of thanks and congratulations and there’s no doubt that Thame has seen the first of what will surely become, the event of the town’s festival calendar. Here are just some of the tweets and Facebook comments:

“Fantastic event @TTMFest An amazing success. Great to see a community coming together #fortheloveofmusic. Congratulations to all.”

“Amazing day and so well organised with so many class acts….thank you ❤”

Via facebook, from volunteer, Michele Pethers, who was in charge of looking after the artists: “Feeling shattered but very proud to be part of the volunteering team for Thame Town Music Festival and what a wonderful day it was! The town centre was heaving with people, all the venues were full with people enjoying all kinds of different music, and the town centre was buzzing with people dancing and singing; what a truly lovely day!”

Roll on 2018 !

NB Thame.Net was there all day and you can see all our pictures HERE