Gray Matter
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So much to enjoy in the great outdoors
Wimbledon and the British Grand Prix drew huge crowds at the weekend, though most of the fans were inveterate stay-at-homes slumped in front of the box. Those who prefer more sociable pursuits had a rich variety of big events to choose from in Oxfordshire. I took full advantage of the opportunities, with visits to Henley Royal Regatta on Friday, Cornbury Music Festival on Saturday and Cowley Road Carnival on Sunday.
At Henley, my hosts were Brakspear's, the 'local' brewery that is local no more. Its handsome former buildings close to the Thames are now occupied by the Hotel du Vin, with the company's beers being produced (using equipment shifted from Henley) at Wychwood Brewery, in Witney. Wychwood itself is these days (since April) the property of Marston's PLC, which happily remains committed to excellence in beer production. This was quite apparent in the flavour of the five beers I tried (in tiny quantities) over lunch at Henley's Saracen's Head. The tasting reminded me how wonderful beer can be, the ales being the first I had drunk (a solitary half-pint excepted) for more than three years.
Wychwood products were to the fore - as location would suggest they should have been - at Cornbury Music Festival. This proved to be almost as much a celebration of food and drink, I thought, as of music. More than 30 separate stalls were operating, including the Goan Seafood Company, Just Falafels, Sancho Panza (paella), Pura Vida (Mexican), Wok's Happening, La Grande Bouffe (French rustic) and Cafe Carib (West Indian). Remembering how much I'd enjoyed their huge baps last year, I stayed faithful to the champion pig roasters of Charlbury Pre-School, whose very name must inspire terror wherever porkers gather.
In common, I suppose, with most of Saturday's Cornbury visitors, I was there primarily to see Paul Simon. Correction, to hear him, in which endeavour I was not assisted by the many people around me who were determined to talk and lark around throughout the set. For them, the legendary singer's performance was an irritating intrusion on their selfish pleasure. What is it, I wonder, about a pop audience that makes many of its members so disinclined to listen? I noticed the tendency a few weeks ago during Coldplay's outdoor performance at the BBC Television Centre. This turned into Sing-Along-A-Chris, with Mr Martin and his mates' best efforts transformed into little more than a karaoke backing for their fans.
A better mannered crowd by far was gathered earlier on Saturday at Cornbury's Riverside Stage to enjoy a gripping display of musical skill from Oxford-based band The Epstein. I have been a big fan of the hugely melodic, country-influenced sound of this five-man group since acquiring their album Last of the Charanguistas earlier in the year. It was good to hear their now-familiar songs (and other excellent ones besides) delivered so flawlessly in live performance. Catch them again at the Truck Festival, at Hill Farm in Steventon, on July 19 (or go to www.myspace.com/theepstein).
Music and food have long been synonymous with Oxford's Cowley Road, and were heavily to the fore in Sunday's Carnival there. I was privileged to enjoy a delicioius lunch served before the festivities at Aziz's justly famous restaurant to a group of guests that included the Lord Mayor, Susanna Pressel.
Before plunging firmly into the action on the streets, I enjoyed an overview of it by climbing the 101 steps of SS Mary and John Church. The wonderful vistas of the city I experienced (pictured above) were certainly worth the effort - and the modest admission charge of one pound.
5:19pm Wednesday 9th July 2008
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