Record crowds for Thame’s Music in the Park!

RECORD temperatures, record number of visitors and an even wider choice of music this year proved to be a winning formula for what has become Thame’s biggest day out, Music In The Park.

Guitar-playing phenomenon, 17 year-old Billy Watman – Image copyright Sonja Francis

The Mayor of Thame, Tom Wyse, in what was his last official duty before he hands on the mayoral baton, officially opened MITP 2018 at 12pm on Bank Holiday Sunday, and from then on it was non-stop music to suit every taste and age, from the delightful youngsters from the John Hampden School choir; from Thame Pop Choir, to the zany lyrics and wacky renditions (and corruptions) of well-known pop and rock songs from the Boodlum Band. We were treated to rock ‘n roll from the Rattlensnakes (fronted by John Hampden School’s very own rocking headmaster), Folk from Celtic Heartbeat, Country music from A Little Bit Country, right through to the evening with two of the best tribute bands on the circuit, Prof Floyd and the Headline act, the Bootleg Bee Gees.

Local talent abounded between the two main stages, including First Thursday Music Club regulars, Band With No Name, as well as Indie Rock band, Sinfiction – a band which truly brings to any live event, its very own brand of energy,  great melodies and a just-about tamed rawness (you can probably tell they were my favourite set of the whole day!).

For a small, market town, there is no doubt that Thame punches above its weight when it comes to the nurturing of musical talent, and the young people of our town did not fall short in doing the town proud; Lord Williams’s Singers of the year showed why they deserved the title and all the young people who performed either alone or together, whether playing an instrument, singing, dancing or both, were refreshing, confident and competent and many bound for greater things. (See Billy Watman’s evocative and memorable While my Guitar Gently Weeps looped, on Ukulele, HERE

Having to compete with the sounds coming from the two main stages, those performers in the ASM Stage, nevertheless held their own in the more intimate space, an oasis of comparative calm and welcome shade from the heat and sunshine of the main field. From the mid-day Youth Hour – a new concept for MITP this year – to 7pm, some familiar faces to Thame such as Tay O’Lay, 2am Blue and Paul Martin, alternated with some new faces and younger artists, and one particular act that I was sorry to miss but heard all about, Wildwood Didgeridoo!

I’m sorry for not mentioning everyone who performed at MITP 2018 – there was so much choice that it was impossible to personally ‘cover all bas(s)es’ (musical pun there !) but I know from talking to friends and aquintances there that Thame’s Music in the Park never fails to search out talent o’plenty to keep entertaining, amazing and inspiring its towns folk in an atmosphere of jollity, pleasure, relaxation from our work-a-day lives and above all, a sense of community.

And long may it continue. Music In The Park deserves all our support, and on that note, let’s not forget to be thankful to the hard-working organising team and the local businesses who, through sponsorship and help in-kind, make it happen. Rock ‘n Roll on to 2019.

MORE pictures on Thame News’s facebook page HERE

Please feel free to share your thoughts and impressions from the day in the COMMENTS section below.

For full details of the line-up, sponsors etc, visit the Music In The Park website HERE