Larmer Tree festival 2015 - a great way to discover wonderful music

That was the Larmer Tree festival, on the Dorset/Wiltshire border, which completed its Silver Anniversary show at the weekend with reggae legend Jimmy Cliff rocking the main stage as the sun slowly waved a reluctant farewell to a beautiful summer's evening.

The Larmer Tree has come a long way from its debut festival in July 1990, when 150 music fans turned up for a one-day event.

A quarter of a century on, the festival now attracts a crowd of around 5,000 and this year featured live music on six days, though most of the entertainment did not really kick in until the Thursday.

By then, Sir Tom Jones had performed two hugely well-received shows on the Tuesday and Wednesday nights.

I was there on the second night, and a memorable 100-minute run through of classic songs showcasing the Welsh maestro's (still) phenomenal voice - despite his 75 years - left many in the audience believing they had already witnessed the festival highlight.

Even though there was so much more left to come, on and off the main stage.

There were probably those who never returned to the festival once Sir Tom had finished his second night encore.

Their loss, not ours.

Bill Bailey on stage on Sunday night

I'll be honest, here. This was my first Larmer Tree, and I'd never heard of most of the bands which made up a packed 25th festival bill.

That was fine, because it meant one thing, and that remains a never ending wonder.

The joy of discovering new music.

May that ability never leave us.

First off, I was introduced to the Southampton Ukele Jam, a collection of amateur musicians who could be found at regular intervals throughout the festival playing at a variety of places.

I initially caught them on the Garden Stage on the main lawn, and was instantly impressed. After all, any band playing songs by Kim Wilde, Depeche Mode, The Killers and The Cure on ukuleles deserved further investigation.

And that resulted in watching further songs from such diverse acts as Johnny Cash, Oasis, Taylor Swift, Lady Ga Ga and The Killers.

Founder member Colin McAllister has a nifty line in patter, ensuring the audience constantly have a smile on their face as they sing along to the unlilely sight of 'Poker Face' being belted out by ukulele players.

Coco and the Butterfields

Saturday provided a couple of highlights on the main lawn, kickstarted by the mesmerising and haunting vocals of Laura Doggett.

No, I'd never previously heard of her at all, but then I don't watch Broadchurch on television, the hit series which has featured her work.

Show of Hands then appeared on the Garden Stage, and I was quickly won over by their acoustic folk songs featuring great lyrics.

It is with a sense of shame that I have since discovered singer and main songwriter Steve Knightley and multi instrumentalist Phil Beer first met in Exeter, the city where I was born and grew up, and made their name playing clubs and pubs in the east Devon city.

The Levellers rocked the main stage on Thursday night

I'd never heard of them before the Larmer Tree either. I obviously need to get out more. You're no doubt wondering why this newspaper didn't send a reporter who HAD heard of the bands?!

Show of Hands write catchy songs, with wonderful lyrics. As a west country lad myself, I take my festival hat - and the one which looked like a pineapple was my favourite - off to the man who happily pens songs featuring lyrics about Cornish tin mining and Dartmoor.

I caught Show of Hands later that night in the Arc tent, and again I was very impressed. They left me wanting to know more, and surely that must be the aim of everyone in the entertainment industry.

Onto the final day, Sunday, and the superbly-named Coco and the Butterfields trod the small Garden stage in glorious sunshine.

All previous buskers in Canterbury, Coco play a heady cocktail of ... well, almost everything. Folk, pop, rap - they have a human beatbox among their group - with more than a passing nod to blues and rock. If it sounds unlikely, the reality is some gloriously melodic music.

A view towards the Garden Stage on the main lawn

These were my musical highlights - plus folk/punk/rock legends The Levellers headlining on the Thursday night - but everyone will have their own.

That is the joy of music. Always has been, is, and always will be.

And that is the joy of festivals, especially ones such as the Larmer Tree featuring such an eclectic line-up.

There is a place for festivals devoted to a single musical genre, such as rock, pop, folk or metal.

That place is not on the Wiltshire/Dorset border, however.

The joy of the Larmer Tree is its wide-ranging choice of bands, and that's part of its continuing appeal.

And as I happily discovered, that means it's easier to have your eyes and ears turned when you least expect it.

In these instants, it's better to be pleasantly surprised than just pleased to hear tunes you already know.

Away from the music, there was comedy every night.

A festival-goer in colourful wig

The long list of names were topped by Bill Bailey, the well known television personality, appearing on the Main Stage on Sunday evening in front of one of the biggest audiences of the festival.

Don't forget the street entertainers (the singing nun was hilarious) and the usual festive fayre of food, drink and a shopping village for those all important festival hats, colourful trousers, flower garlands and jewellery.

But it was the music most of us went for, and the music we will remember.

The weather Gods were in a forgiving mood, which invariably helps keep the vibe a happy, smiling and relaxed one.

And more than three cheers to all the musicians who ensured that the 25th Larmer Tree festival became a memorable one too.

The Shires were on the Garden Stage before both of Sir Tom Jones' concerts.