Set against the rolling farmland of Staxton, Staxtonbury Family Festival is a wonderfully relaxed celebration of live music, family fun and community spirit.
Organised by Brett McMann and his team, with performances spread across a lively marquee stage and a charming outdoor stage, the festival showcases a mix of talented local artists alongside acts travelling from further afield, creating an atmosphere that feels both proudly Yorkshire and refreshingly diverse. Around the site, visitors can explore a variety of stalls, enjoy fairground rides and take part in activities designed especially for children, while hay bales provide rustic seating for the outdoor audience. Adding a playful touch to the setting, giant bears crafted from straw bales stand proudly beside the stage, complete with drum kits and guitars, perfectly capturing the festival’s creative and family-friendly character.
Reviewer Maria and her daughter share their festival highlights.
Friday
We arrived to hear the voice of Freya Ruder playing on the marquee stage; we only caught the end of her set, but her voice was powerful with excellent tone variation; a strong start to our festival journey!
Up next was Caitlin Painter, who delivered a confident and engaging performance, showcasing impressive guitar skills with clean, expressive playing that perfectly complemented her songs. Her vocals were strong, with a warm tone and excellent control that drew the audience in throughout the set. What stood out most was that the majority of her performance consisted of original material, demonstrating not only her talent as a musician but also her ability as a songwriter; Angel Boy from her set a particular highlight. Overall, it was a polished and enjoyable set that displayed both her creativity and musicianship.
January Jam then gave us a performance that was powerful and inviting, playing a number of originals including Charades, Witches, and Dead Already. Every member of the band brought something distinctive to the stage, and they performed very much as a unit, constantly feeding off each other’s energy and creating a connection that was obvious from the first song to the last.
The guitarist added melodic energy, the bassist and drummer created a strong rhythmic foundation, and together they showed excellent chemistry throughout the set. Lead singer Lucy had a unique vocal tone bringing emotion and character to every song. A standout moment was ” Very Yorkshire,” which clearly resonated with the predominantly Yorkshire audience and was met with an enthusiastic response. Overall, the band combined impressive musicianship and song writing with a natural connection that made the performance memorable and enjoyable.
Following January Jam were Time Keepers who delivered a wonderfully relaxed and enjoyable performance, creating a warm, feel-good atmosphere from start to finish. The band played together with confidence and great musical chemistry, keeping a smooth, steady groove that suited their laid-back style perfectly.
The instrumentalists complemented one another well, allowing each part to blend seamlessly, the vocalists were engaging delivering the songs with warmth and clarity that matched the band’s easy-going sound. It was clear the crowd were thoroughly enjoying themselves, gently swaying along to the music and soaking up the relaxing vibe. The Time Keepers created the perfect soundtrack for an evening of good music, great company, and a chilled atmosphere.
Lastly on the Marquee Stage was Captain Clap, who brought plenty of energy and enthusiasm to the festival. It was clear from the crowd’s reaction that they had built a strong connection with the audience, with many people singing along and enjoying the performance. They brought confidence and commitment to the stage. Their covers of Teenage Dirtbag and All the Small Things were particular treats and really got the audience engaged. They rounded off the Marquee Stage with a lively, memorable performance that many festivalgoers clearly enjoyed.
As the evening drew in, enticed by Soul Rida, we headed over to the outdoor stage and took a seat on a hay bale. Soul Rida delivered a polished and engaging performance, showcasing impressive musical ability and excellent musicianship throughout. The vocals were confident, expressive, and well supported by the band’s tight instrumental arrangements, while the chemistry between the performers was clear, making the set feel natural and enjoyable. The audience responded warmly, with plenty of applause and visible engagement, creating a relaxed, upbeat atmosphere that suited the outdoor setting perfectly. Overall, it was an entertaining performance that combined strong talent with an infectious stage presence.
Typically Tina came out next and immediately captured the audience’s attention with an incredibly authentic tribute to the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Bearing a striking resemblance to Tina Turner, this tribute perfectly embodied the legendary performer’s unmistakable look, while her powerful, soulful vocals did justice to classics including Proud Mary (Rollin’ on the River), The Best and Addicted to Love.
Every dance move was delivered with energy and precision, recreating Tina’s iconic stage style with confidence and flair. Her commanding stage presence never faltered, engaging the crowd from the first song to the last. The dynamic lighting complemented the performance beautifully, enhancing the atmosphere and adding excitement to every number. The audience responded enthusiastically throughout, singing along, dancing on their bales and rewarding Typically Tina with well-deserved applause. It was a high energy performance that perfectly celebrated the music and legacy of one of the greatest entertainers of all time.
To finish the evening’s entertainment was P!nk-!sh, and as a huge Pink fan I was very much looking forward to this final act. She certainly did not disappoint, delivering a superb performance and creating an electric atmosphere from the moment she walked on stage. The crowd were singing along from the very first song, and the energy only grew stronger throughout the set.
The sound was excellent, allowing every song to shine, while the lighting added real concert-style drama with vibrant colours and perfectly timed effects. Vocally, she was incredibly impressive, capturing Pink’s tone and attitude remarkably well. She not only sounded like Pink, but also nailed her mannerisms and even got Pink’s distinctive laugh just right, which drew huge cheers from the audience.
One of the standout moments was the way she came right up to the barrier, almost climbing over it to interact with the crowd. She spent time hugging children, giving high-fives and making everyone feel part of the show, creating a warm and personal connection that many tribute acts simply do not achieve. It was a brilliant act to end the opening night at Staxtonbury Festival.
Maria’s photos from the event:
Saturday
When we arrived on Saturday, the festival vibe was already in full swing with Accidentally Acoustic providing the soundtrack on the outdoor stage. Their instrumental talent was outstanding. They delivered an upbeat, feel-good set including covers such as Losing My Religion and Sweet Dreams which had everyone joining in, singing, clapping and bouncing along creating a fantastic festival atmosphere. A brilliant performance from a hugely talented band that really knew how to get the crowd going.
We headed over to the marquee stage next to listen to Kate James who delivered a heartfelt set of original material. Her vocals were rich, effortlessly controlled and delivered with genuine sincerity. Accompanying herself with confident and accomplished guitar playing, she created an intimate atmosphere that perfectly complemented her music.
Throughout her performance, Kate shared a collection of beautifully crafted songs, including Shine, How Can the Heart Survive, Mistake and Here I’ll Stand. Her authentic stage presence and ability to draw listeners into her music made for a memorable set.
Lewish Capaldi next, who delivered a brilliant performance, capturing not only the unmistakable sound of Capaldi’s biggest hits including Hollywood and Before You Go, but also the humour and personality that fans know and love. His powerful vocals did justice to the songs, while his relaxed stage presence kept the audience engaged from start to finish.
Adding to the entertainment were the trademark ‘dad jokes’ sprinkled throughout the set, perfectly blending comedy with music and keeping the crowd laughing between songs. It was a fun, feel-good performance that celebrated Lewis Capaldi’s music while creating an atmosphere full of smiles, singalongs and plenty of audience interaction.
Back over to the outdoor stage for Harry Traves. Taking to the stage takes courage at any age, and although he seemed a little nervous at first, this young performer showed real determination and delivered an enjoyable set. As his confidence grew, he settled into his performance, winning over the audience with his enthusiasm and commitment.
Performing a selection of well-known covers, including Riptide, Cash Machine and What’s My Age Again?, he demonstrated plenty of potential and a genuine love for music. It was great to see him push through those early nerves and put on a performance that earned plenty of encouragement from the crowd.
Before our time reviewing came to an end we headed back to the marquee stage for Teddy Swims tribute act, Teddy Sings, who delivered a captivating performance, with powerful vocals that captured the soul, emotion and distinctive style of original artist Teddy Swims. From the moment he stepped on stage, his appearance and stage presence closely reflected Teddy Swims, helping to create an authentic tribute that immediately connected with the audience.
The crowd responded enthusiastically throughout the set, singing along to the familiar songs including Funeral and I’m Not Your Man, showing their appreciation with plenty of applause and cheers. The singer clearly connected with the audience, holding their attention from start to finish with a confident and engaging performance. As he left the stage, he received a warm reception from festivalgoers, providing a memorable conclusion to his set before the evening’s festivities.
For more on upcoming events from the Staxtonbury team check out:
And see Part 2 of our Staxtonbury coverage here, with two galleries of photos from Saturday and Sunday!
