Story So Far...

Wow, I really can't believe it's 20 years ago that the whole thing started.  I know it's now a bit bigger (4,000 people), a bit longer (5 days), and got lots more going on (80 artists, comedy, street theatre, 150 workshops, children's shows, talks), but we’ve always worked really hard to make sure that the original 'Larmer Tree' atmosphere is retained. 

I vowed right from the first day that the festival would be 'sponsor-free' and Julia and I, despite some very tempting offers, have been true to our word.  So with no outside forces to push us around we are free, with the aid of our brilliant staff, 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 'Best Family Festival' and 'Best Toilets' by the festivalgoers and we are even more determined to continue our quest to award ourselves the 'Best Larmer Tree Ever' award! 

My original inspiration for Larmer Tree Festival was going, in the late '70s, to Bracknell Jazz Festival in the beautiful grounds of South Hill Park.  From then on I was always on the lookout for a similar venue and I eventually found the perfect place when in 1990, whilst out jogging, I stumbled on the Larmer Tree Gardens.  Within five months I had organised my first festival and little did I know then what a fantastic journey I was about to undertake!

The first festival was held on a really beautiful Saturday in July 1990.  Titled 'The First Larmer Tree Jazz, Blues & Folk Roots Festival' and, with Dick Heckstall Smith headlining, it ran from midday 'till midnight with around 150 people having a really good time saying “James, you really must do this again”. So, despite taking a year off in 1992, the festival has run annually since then.

I met Julia in 1993 and we were both immediately aware that our individual skills were complimentary and we've been producing the festival together as Co-Directors ever since (and miraculously we're still talking!).

Here’s to a great 20th Year!

James Shepard, Co-Director & Founder