Story So Far...

We really can't quite believe that it's 22 years since the whole thing started.  We know it's now a bit bigger (4,000 people), a bit longer (five days), and there’s lots more going on, but we always work really hard to make sure that the original 'Larmer Tree' atmosphere is retained.  

James’s original inspiration for Larmer Tree Festival was the Bracknell Jazz Festival in the beautiful grounds of South Hill Park in the late ‘70s.  From then on James was always on the lookout for a similar venue and eventually found the perfect place in 1990, while out jogging on the Cranborne Chase.  Within five months he’d organised his first festival and unknowingly embarked on quite a journey!

The first festival was held on a really beautiful Saturday in July 1990.  Called 'The First Larmer Tree Jazz, Blues & Folk Roots Festival' and, with Dick Heckstall Smith headlining, it ran from midday 'till midnight with an audience of around 150 people.  Everyone had a fantastic time and they all said “you really must do this again”.  So, apart from taking a year off in 1992, the festival has run annually in July since then.
 
We vowed right from the beginning that the festival would be sponsor-free and despite some very tempting offers, we’ve been true to our word.  So with no outside forces to influence us we’re free, with the aid of our brilliant team, to develop an intimate and extraordinary event of entirely our own creation.  Our links with local organisations as well as hundreds of volunteers from the local area help us maintain the festival's original roots and community spirit.
 
In the last couple of years we are really proud to have been awarded the UK Festival Awards for  'Best Family Festival' and 'Best Toilets' by festival-goers and every year we are even more determined to continue our quest to give ourselves the accolade of 'The Best Larmer Tree Ever' award!

We really hope you enjoy Larmer Tree Festival 2012!


James (Shepard) and Julia (Safe), Co-Directors