'Surreal' to reach 20 years says festival founder
BBCThe founder of a music festival has said it is "surreal" to be celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Graeme Merifield started the event in 2005 and spoke of how making memories for people is what "keeps him going" – including bumping into somebody in Sainsbury's who got engaged during the Proclaimers' set on the main stage in 2008.
Merifield said the secret to lasting 20 years in a difficult economic climate for music festivals was "the loyalty of the fans", with some people attending the event throughout its history.
Wychwood Festival, held at Cheltenham Racecourse, began on Friday and will conclude on Sunday, with Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Kaiser Chiefs, Levellers and Feeder among the headliners.
The first festival was held in 2005, but a cancellation for Covid meant the organisers had to wait slightly longer to celebrate Wychwood's 20th edition.
Merifield said: "It feels amazing and surreal to think that we are still here after 20 years with many people that have come on the journey with us.
"We started a thing called Ticket For Life a few years ago where people pay in every month to guarantee their prices for a few years.
"Those people have been coming since the first year and now their kids have grown up and they have their own kids, it's just one family that keeps on growing."
"Lets hope I'm still doing it in my 80s."
He added that bigger bands help sell tickets but it was important to support local bands too.
Stroud band Pebble Daisy were chosen from 2,500 acts who applied to play at the festival and said they would "remember this forever".
Speaking before her set, Pebble said: "It's a massive opportunity. I've always wanted to play here, it's such a big local festival.
"We're very nervous, it's such a big stage, it's so much pressure being picked out of so many, but it's going to be really fun I think."
Another highlight will be Barrioke performed by Shaun Williamson, better known by his character name Barry from Eastenders in the sitcom Extras.
It is his fifth year at Wychwood but this time he will be graduating from a tent to the main stage.
He said he had been "humbled and blessed" by the overwhelming response to Barrioke, even though Extras ended almost 20 years ago.
"It's been a wonderful autumn of my career, really," added Williamson.
He said the songs that get the biggest reaction are Livin' on a Prayer by Bon Jovi and Teenage Dirtbag by Wheatus, but the anthem this year is likely to be Sweet Caroline due to it being a World Cup summer.
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