“And so, the ‘biggest little festival’ has come and gone.”

That was how the Herald’s then-arts editor, now reverend and part-time contributor, Stella Wiseman began her review of Weyfest music festival in 2011.

Thirteen years on, the many passionate fans of that ‘big little festival’ are now hoping Weyfest has not gone for good after The Feeling and Stereo MC’s headline sets brought the 2024 festival to a close on Sunday, August 18.

Weyfest, which began in 2004 in the much smaller surroundings of the Holly Bush pub in Frensham, once again took over the Rural Life Living Museum in Tilford last month and filled it with the sound of music and revelry.

But a dark cloud now hangs over the event, with concerns over the viability of the museum forcing the early cancellation of Weyfest 2025.

The irony is obvious. While two ageing rockers stand to pocket an estimated £50 million each from just 14 shows next year, Weyfest is under threat because the Rural Life museum cannot find £150,000. Oasis Rolls in the millions, while Weyfest is left Half the World Away…

Weyfest began humbly 20 years ago as a fundraiser for Alton’s Treloar’s College and moved venues several times before finding its permanent home at the Rural Life Centre in Tilford in 2007.

The choice of this location was serendipitous. The 15-acre living museum, a site dedicated to preserving the history and heritage of rural England, provided an unparalleled backdrop for the festival.

Surrounded by vintage buildings, craft displays, and even a functioning railway, Weyfest quickly became known for its relaxed, family-friendly atmosphere. What set Weyfest apart from the crowded festival circuit was not just its picturesque setting but the warm, welcoming environment it fostered.

Colin Webb, one of the founding directors, often spoke of how the festival was designed with the audience in mind. The aim was always to create a safe, inclusive space where music lovers of all ages could enjoy top-tier performances without the rowdiness often associated with larger festivals.

This ethos extended to the artists themselves, who frequently mingled with attendees, adding to the intimate, communal vibe of the event.

As one festival-goer approvingly told Stella in 2011, it was “what festivals used to be before they got commercialised”.

Over the years, Weyfest played host to an impressive array of artists, from legendary acts like Jethro Tull, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Chas and Dave, The Stranglers, UB40, Echo and the Bunnymen, Squeeze, Jools Holland, Alison Moyet, Buzzcocks, Billy Ocean,  Boomtown Rats and 10cc to contemporary favourites like Scouting for Girls, The Feeling, Newton Faulkner, The Darkness and The Lightning Seeds.

It offered a platform to an array of local acts too, with performers such as the Charley Farley Sunday Four and Vic Cracknell among the regulars, and many other familiar names jumped at the chance to make return appearances; among them the Dr Feelgood, Mungo Jerry and festival favourites Leatherat.

The festival's eclectic lineups ensured that there was something for everyone, whether you were a fan of classic rock, blues, or more modern sounds. Artists loved playing at Weyfest, with many returning multiple times simply because of the festival's unique atmosphere.

This year's festival, featuring performances by The Feeling and Kosheen, was another success, but the financial instability of the museum cast a shadow over the event.

For all the above reasons and more, let’s hope this year’s Weyfest is not its last.

As Stella put it in 2011: “A festival may be primarily about music, but there is far more involved than that. There's the atmosphere, for a start, and Weyfest’s is one of easy-going friendliness. It felt safe to let our children wander; there was a sense of people looking out for each other.”

What are your standout memories of Weyfest? What does the festival mean to you? Email your memories and photos to [email protected]