Radford Mill Jazz Festival
Fri 11 to Sun 13 Sept'Radford Mill Farm - Book Δ
I was asked to become involved in this new festival back in December 2025, by the farm owners.
The farm is nestled alongside the 'Cam Brook', south of
Bristol and Bath, near to Paulton and Timsbury. The farm is a 115 acre mixed farm in Somerset, with organic certification. Working with the soil, and without chemical
pesticides or fertilisers, they grow healthy, nutritious food. Apples are harvested from old orchards, vegetables are grown using agro-ecological methods and chickens,
sheep and turkeys roam freely on grasslands. All the food on sale at the Festival is provided by the farm catering team using their own produce, which has gained rave
reviews for the quality and value at other festivals and at weddings, which they also host on the same site. Ticketing and camping prices will appear here soon.
They have experience of running other small festivals based on Folk & Blues, as well as food festivals and well-being festivals, over several years. They have had
a jazz festival in the past years, but programmed by folks with less knowledge and interest in jazz.
I have been asked to take on the programming for the 2026 Festival,
so I am looking at this year being a brand new festival, that I hope will progress over a couple of years to become a regular event in the calendar.
The programme this year will cover three sessions. The music I am planning for the first year will be easily accessible to all.
Friday night (11th September) as a supper/Jazz event.
Alan Barnes & The All-Stars
2 x 1 Hour sets with an interval break, 8pm to 9pm & 9.30pm
to 10.30pm. The site will be open from 5.30pm, earlier in the afternoon for campers, food will be available from 6pm onwards.
An all day Saturday programme (12th) from 12.30pm to 11pm.
Sets from the likes of Woodwerk, Ben Kerrigan Trio, Silverado, & The Saoco Collective.
More bands to be named later.
Sunday Brunch Jazz session (13th) from 12.30pm to 3.30pm approx'.
The Mendip Swing Big Band
2 x 1 Hour sets with an interval break,
The accomodation options are varied and across many different price ranges to suit anyones pocket.
Simple camping, enjoy camping as it should be, close
to nature, simple, and with plenty of space. It is not a formal campsite but they have a number of fields offering pop-up camping for individuals, families or groups.
Bringing your own gear and set up in several beautiful, flat fields alongside the Cam Brook.
The Cam Brook flows along all the fields; it's a quiet and shallow
river but needs to be taken into consideration for families with very young children. The farm provides water, compost toilets and fire pits.
Children under 16yo
can attend free of charge (but they do need to get a ticket for number counting).
Dogs: Well behaved dogs are allowed (they don't need tickets!). Please
keep them on a lead around farm animals and amongst groups of people. Owners must collect any dog poo and take it home with them or dig a hole near a hedge and bury it
thoroughly.
Camper vans & Caravans are also allowed, with some limitations, as they are not kind to the grass.
All the camping fields are directly adjacent to the
festival site, and continue for more than a mile. Access to the camping areas are via a separate entrance to the festival parking site
If camping is not your thing, other options as weekend tickets include; 4 x Farmhouse double rooms for two persons, 2 x Shepherd Huts each for two people and then there are
Glamping tents.
The bell tents are beautiful canvas structures each spanning a 5m or 6m circumference and all have a zipped in groundsheet. The 5m bells
comfortably sleep up to 4 adults and the 6m bells comfortably sleep up to 6 adults.
Basic: This includes a gorgeous bell tent supplied by 'Pepper Bells Glamping' with external bunting and fairy lights. Internally the tent is completely empty and is therefore a real blank canvas and perfect for those people happy to bring their own kit.
Comfort: As above plus: LED light, beds, one low recycled ottoman/table and rugs. No bedding is included in this option so it's perfect for those people happy to bring a sleeping bag or duvet and pillows.
Luxury: As above plus full bedding including a fitted sheet, 15 tog duvet, pillow and tent carpet.