Elms Park rocks as thousands flock to Music in the Park

THOUSANDS turned out to bask in the sun and some glorious music and dancing, at Thame’s sixth Music In The Park on Saturday, May 1, and the hardier stayed on as the day cooled, to see the headliners, Beatles tribute band, The Dung Beatles – brass section and all!

From Indi, folk, punk, rock and choirs, local people and visitors could take their pick, or, in the spirit of the event, just let the whole line-up entertain as a backdrop to dancing, picnicking, chatting with friends over a drink, or just playing around and blowing bubbles!

Unfortunately, Thame trio, The 2 Strokes, were unable to appear, but Sidewalk Express jumped in at the last minute and definitely made an impression. So to did the John Hampden School choir with an energetic and most harmonious rendition of the ELO classic, Mr Blue Sky, which they touchingly dedicated to Headmaster, Alan Haigh, who retired at Christmas, and was in the crowd to hear it.

Indie rock band, SinFiction, perform on the Dome stage at MITP 2016

Every year the standard seems to rise and rise, and this year, as well as proper, older, experienced musicians like Chinnor-based Bootlegger, Paul and Martin, Celtic Heartbeat and The Rattlesnakes (featuring John Hampden School’s new Headteacher, Paul Hankey), there were two stand-out young men in the persons of the sensational, 14 year-old, ‘Anglo-Brazilain, fingerstyle guitarist’ Billy Watman and the even younger, emerging young talent, the  jaw-droppingly talented, Ben Corby who is just 11 years-old, and writes his own songs about the things that matter in his life like sleep-overs and friendship – such a mature and charming head on such young shoulders – awesome!

Showing that girls rock too, Thame’s Andrea Yates, confidently set the bar high as first on, in the Crash Stage tent, with her bang-on, floating vocals and acoustic guitar covers, and The Nikki Loy Band, lead by First Thursday Music Club favourite, the ball of energy that is Nikki her self, stirred the crowd into action with her sometimes moving and personal lyrics, on the Dome Stage. Ellie Ruddock with her new band, Out of the Village, gave some folk and pop covers a truly ‘different’ slant to the delight of their appreciative audience on the more intimate Crash Stage, and a young lady described as ‘one of the most promising British artists of 2016’, Georgie Bird, continued making waves live in Thame.

The organisers were delighted with the way the festival went, and on the MITP2016 facebook page, posted:

“Wow – what a fantastic day! The rain stayed away and we were treated to wonderful performances by all the singers, dancers and musicians, topped off by an awesome performance by the The Dung Beatles!

“Thanks to everyone that came and partied with us and helped us raise money for local community projects.”

Let’s have YOUR comments on the performers and the day! Lots more pictures by Thame.Net here: SEE LINK