Cornbury Festival acquired by 3a Entertainment

The Cornbury Festival brand has been acquired by leading independent concert promoter 3a Entertainment who are establishing a new enterprise to take the festival forward. With many years of experience at the forefront of the live music scene, 3a are currently promoting artists including Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Kylie Minogue, Ocean Colour Scene, The Waterboys and Paul Weller, as well as the phenomenally successful X Factor Live tour, with which they have been involved since its inception.

Cornbury Festival was created in 2004 and has grown to a 20,000 capacity event traditionally held over the first weekend in July. Affectionately nicknamed ‘Poshstock’ for its beautiful VIP facilities and upmarket audience (which includes local MP David Cameron), this family friendly festival attracts people from all walks of life and is particularly proud of its relaxed friendly atmosphere. 

Producing an eclectic mix of great music, legendary Cornbury headliners have included Paul Simon, Elvis Costello, Joe Cocker, Robert Plant and Jackson Browne along with contemporary artists Amy Winehouse, David Gray, Crowded House, Texas, KT Tunstall, and the unique Humphrey Lyttelton, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain and Peter Green. 2010’s event featured a complete cross-section of talent from Buddy Guy to Squeeze, Dr.John to The Fisherman’s Friends and Joshua Radin to Imelda May.

The festival's founder Hugh Phillimore will remain the ‘face’ of Cornbury and the creative director. ‘I’m very excited to be working with 3a’ says Hugh. ‘I’ve found the perfect partner who thinks like us and is independently minded. They’ll bring to the festival all the things we’re missing and they have the integrity to leave us to get on with it, so the unique nature of the festival won’t change’.

3a directors Pete Wilson and Dennis Arnold have described Cornbury as one of the Crown Jewels of the live music calendar. 'Having created the prestigious Route of Kings concert series in Hyde Park, we understand the special place Cornbury occupies in the festival landscape and we look forward to nurturing it for years to come' says Wilson.   
 
For 2011, Cornbury Festival is moving to a new location about 10 minutes drive from its original site near Charlbury in Oxfordshire and will remain a 20,000 capacity event. ‘I’m delighted with our new site’ adds Phillimore, ‘it gives us everything we need and will allow us to make the festival even better’. Details of the new site will be announced when earlybird tickets go on sale in early December.