The Wychwood Music Festival has become a mainstay in the annual festival calendar in Gloucestershire, especially among families.

And this year the festival is celebrating its 15th anniversary with one of their biggest and most varied line-ups yet.

Founder and Festival Director Graeme Merifield explains how the very first Wychwood Festival came about in 2005.

“I’ve been involved since it was just a fledgling idea, when we set out to meet the needs of a growing number of festival fans who wanted a family-friendly experience,” he said.

“Way back then, I’d just been to the Larmer Tree festival with my fiancé for the third or fourth time, and walking through the campsite on Sunday morning, I suddenly thought it would be great to do this for a living. The rest is history.”

Looking back to the first Wychwood, which was voted Best New and Best Family Festival at the UK Festival Awards in its debut year, Graeme recalls some great memories.

He continued: “There were a lot of ‘is this really happening?’ moments, but my distinct memories were walking into the Big Top on Friday night and seeing Baka Beyond performing to an audience who looked like they’d always been there, and that’s when I realised that we’d actually done it.

“That and listening to the many bands performing live that had kept me going the months before in my office in my kitchen, next to the washing machine – Damien Dempsey and Yaga Yazzist – and finally when it was all over, partying until the sun rose on the Monday morning!”

Over the years the festival has played host to names such as the Happy Mondays, Supergrass and The Proclaimers, but the variety of music and other activities on offer has made Wychwood stand out from the crowd.

Graeme continued: “My tastes are eclectic and sometimes influence the programme – I’m a world music lover, a reminiscent music lover of my 90’s student days and much more to boot.

“As Festival Director, I oversee how the whole thing comes together, including the programming and keeping a lot of plates spinning behind the scenes.”

This year’s festival, which runs from Friday 31st May to Sunday 2nd June, will see the return of legendary punk band The Stranglers – who also headlined in the 10th anniversary year of 2014.

Pop rock band Scouting for Girls and 80s new wave band ABC will also be headlining, with a host of other musical acts – including snooker player Steve Davis who will have his own set as a DJ.

As well as musical entertainment, Wychwood hosts a packed programme of workshops, dance and music sessions, circus skills, crafts and a kids’ literature festival, as well as a curated programme of talks, debates and comedy for all ages, with lots aimed at families to do together.

“To give you a flavour,” said Graeme, “Aardman Animations will bring model making classes for everyone to create and take home their favourite character.

“The Olá Samba Bateria brings a taste of Brazil, and Tiny Wild Fox is a collective of actors and interactors who will be running sports, games and activities for the whole family, joining Chichi Fit, Mr Dilly’s World of Wonder, Jo Porter’s Kitchen Dancing, comedy juggler Ben Cornish, and family songs with Nick Cope, and much more.”

And 15 years on, how has Graeme ensured that the festival has grown year on year and stayed so popular?

"I didn’t really know what would happen in the first year,” he added. “Over 15 years so much has changed or come and gone and come back again.

“The main bases are still the same with our mix of music across four stages and our strong focus on family and workshop entertainment alongside the music, but we try to freshen it up year on year and we have a great team full of enthusiasm, energy and creativity.”

For more information visit www.wychwoodfestival.com