MAKING a welcome return to the Festival On The Farm are Magician’s Nephew, who bewitched the coaches on ITV’s The Voice Kids.

The band was started by brothers Josh (guitars and lead vocals) and Noah Lima (drums and sax) with Euan Campbell (bass guitar). The musicians have notched up three albums and are currently promoting their latest offering, Today’s News For Tomorrow’s World.

They will be performing tracks from the album at the festival based at Purton House Organics in Purton from tomorrow to Sunday.

Josh said: “Since the release of our previous album the world has been gripped by fake news, catastrophic environmental disasters and bizarre politics which has inspired us to write these songs. Contrary to advice from one critic that we shouldn’t be getting political we’ve found it hard not to, and writing these songs has helped us make sense of things.’’

The young band are named after one of their favourite books, The Magician’s Nephew, which is a prequel to the books of The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.

Event organiser and farmer Rowie Meers said: “As an organic farm in need of diversification, we have been growing the festival over the last few years! This year we have pulled out all the stops with some fantastic bands, local food and activities.”

Andy Pett from Riffs Bar, Greatfield near Hook, has organised the musical line-up with bands such as The Go Go Five playing Motown, soul, jazz, rock and blues. Andy said: “Founding band member, Ivan Chandler, used to play keyboards for Dusty Springfield, Kiki Dee, Cat Stevens and Motown’s Marvelettes.’’

Also in the line up are Swindon’s own Sex Jazz, The Shudders, and Penfold. Comedy comes from Alan Francis, past winner of Channel 4’s So You Think You’re Funny Award, and El Baldinino. There will be tributes from Marc as Robbie Williams and The Berries paying homage to The Hollies. Kid Calico and The Astral Ponies, Rotten Aces, Neon, No Middle Ground, and Festival On The Farm favourites Binomial will also play.

The duo is singer/songwriter Paul Dodson and electro/dance artist ALR (AKA Andy Randle). They perform 80s synth-pop, including hits by such artists as the Pet Shop Boys, Soft Cell, The Human League, OMD, Depeche Mode and Erasure. The band are no strangers to the Festival of the Farm having performed there for the last couple of years.

Paul said: “When we took to the stage, people literally stopped in their tracks to listen to us. Our performance had the crowd buzzing.’’ We could see a field filled with singing and dancing people - our favourite music giving everyone a great time. An amazing experience for any band.’’

There will be a de selection of locally sourced refreshments such coffee bar serving teas, barista coffee, home made cakes and ice cream.There will also be tempting snacks from the Purton Farm Shop which is based on the farm, producing home grown fruit and vegetables, free range eggs, pork, beef and lamb. Purton Organics also won an award for its box delivery scheme. The young ones are not forgotten as this festival is very much about the family with a fun fair and face painting.

Joining Ivan in the all star GO GO Five are Dave Gray of ‘Rufus Ruffcut’ – guest guitar player & singer, Christina Al-Wakil of ‘Shifty Little Sister’ – vocals / flugelhorn (Smokey Robinson, Dionne Warwick) James Duncan Dunx Byiers – vocals / acoustic guitar, (Ruby Turner, Johnny Marr, ABC) Ed James Jordan (drums) & Chris Austin Hampson (electric bass).

Guesting with the band for Festival on the Farm are Tee Green, (Kylie Minogue, East 17, Will Young), Hannah White vocalist, (George Benson, Kenny Thomas and Top 5 UK Soul Chart artist), Sean Horsey, sax player (Edwin Starr, Phil Fearon & Galaxy, Tony Bennett) Otha Smith guitarist, (The Temptations, Detroit Spinners, Detroit Spinners, Brother Strut) Piper (age 13) vocalist and winner of Surrey Heath Music Festival Open Mic and backing vocalist Chloe Horsey (16). Chloe is currently working on her first album of original material.

For the full line up and tickets go to www.festivalonthefarm.co.uk or ask at the Farm Shop Tel. 01793 771556.

Children under 12 go free and teen tickets are reduced.