The first ever OgFest has been hailed a huge success after more than 300 people gathered for a day of live music, community spirit and celebration in the heart of the Ogbournes near Marlborough, Wiltshire.
Organised by a team of volunteers from Ogbourne St Andrew and Ogbourne Maizey, with support from local farmers and landowners, the festival showcased the talent from the local area. Every act performing at OgFest came from the Ogbournes and surrounding villages and towns, creating a truly homegrown festival atmosphere.
The event brought together families, friends and visitors of all ages, with live performances ranging from folk music to funky tributes, a DJ set as well as crowd-pleasing favourites.
Opening OgFest was Hawaiiron Maiden, a ukulele band formed especially for OgFest by local Steve Poulton from Ogbourne Maizey. The band’s tongue-in-cheek name and lively set quickly became a talking point among festivalgoers.
Forming part of the organising team, Ellie Prout also took to the stage alongside her brother Benjamin. Ellie, a music teacher and harpist from Ogbourne St Andrew, performed with Benjamin, an accomplished accordion player, delighting audiences with a stunning folk set.
Other bands and musicians performing at OgFest included Ann Liu Cannon and DJ Jay from Ogbourne St George, La Flèche from Marlborough and Chippenham, and festival-closing band RIO. RIO’s drummer, Neil – whose house overlooks the OgFest site, was joined by bandmates from Royal Wootton Bassett to bring the inaugural festival to a memorable close.
Alongside the music, festivalgoers enjoyed cookery demonstrations from MasterChef Champion of Champions Thomas Frake, who hosted a steak masterclass, and MasterChef finalist Sam Kaekon, who cooked his signature pad thai for visitors.
OgFest was co-hosted by The Ogbourne Community Pub Society and The Silks pub, the community-owned local at the centre of village life in Ogbourne St Andrew. The historic pub, which is more than 100 years old, was saved by its community in 2022 after residents successfully raised nearly £260,000, alongside additional support from the Government’s Community Ownership Fund, enabling the purchase and reopening of the much-loved village pub, and is now owned by the community.
Keith Hammond, Chair of the Ogbourne Community Pub Society, said:
“OgFest showed exactly what can happen when a community comes together. We were thrilled to see so many people enjoying local music and supporting a festival created entirely by volunteers. A huge thank you must go to the incredible team of volunteers who delivered such a fantastic day and night, alongside the generosity of local farmers and landowners – without whom this event simply could not have happened.”
Ellie Prout said:
“It was incredibly special to perform alongside my brother at the very first OgFest. The atmosphere throughout the day was amazing and there was such a strong sense of community.”
Steve Poulton added:
“Forming a band especially for OgFest started as a crazy idea in The Silks one evening and before we knew it – we were on stage! It was huge fun, the whole festival.”
Following the success of the inaugural festival, organisers are hopeful that OgFest could become a regular fixture in the local calendar.
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