married here and generations of families return every year.” The festival's 50th anniversary in 2014 was headlined by Richard Thompson. The anniversary was also marked by the publication of a book, Towersey Festival: 50 Years In The Making which explored the 50-year history of the festival, from its inception to present day. Since 2015, the festival has been based at Thame Showground. 2019 saw the festival present an exhibition at Thame Museum entitled Capturing Towersey: Festival Photographs By Phil Sofer - a collection of images shot at the festival by the official festival photographer, Phil Sofer. In April 2020 it was announced that the Towersey Festival would not go ahead in that year, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The event was postponed until August Bank Holiday 2021. Recent headliners 2012: The South, Bellowhead, Nic Jones, Edward II, Kathryn Tickell, The Albion Band 2013: The Unthanks, Show Of Hands, Home Service, Eliza and Martin Carthy, The Blockheads 2014: Topic Records 75th Anniversary Concert (featuring Norma Waterson, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy and guests), The Bootleg Beatles, Richard Thompson, Seth Lakeman, Lau, Conservatoire Folk Ensemble 2015: Bellowhead, Stornoway, Joan Armatrading, Show Of Hands, Simpson Cutting and Kerr 2016: Billy Bragg, Kate Rusby, The Wonder Stuff, Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain, 9 Bach, Midge Ure, Tom Robinson, The Young'Uns 2017: Jon Boden, KT Tunstall, Eliza Carthy and The Wayward Band, Newton Faulkner, Show Of Hands, Lindisfarne, Demon Barbers XL, Coope Boyes and Simpson 2018: The Shires, The Proclaimers, Richard Thompson Electric Trio, Beth Orton, Big Country, Sharon Shannon Band, Fisherman's Friends, Blair Dunlop, Brighouse and Rastrick Brass Band, Peter Knight and John Spiers 2019: The Selecter, Hothouse Flowers, Newton Faulkner, Seth Lakeman, From The Jam, The Unthanks, Steve Harley, Oysterband, The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican and a special tribute to Roy Bailey with Tom Robinson, Martin Simpson and guests. Towersey traditions Roy Bailey's Monday afternoon concert, featuring invited guests, was a Towersey tradition until Bailey's death in 2018. For the 2019 festival, the organisers announced a celebration of Bailey's life, featuring many of the artists who had played as guests at his concerts. The festival traditionally ends with a Festival Finale singalong in Venue 65, with the closing act leading the audience in a rendition of The Beatles' "Hey Jude". Monday evening also sees the festival's traditional Lantern Parade. The lanterns are made by members of the audience over the duration of