We are a free, annual, family festival in the country, celebrating our diverse music scene
and supporting up-and-coming local talent. We are for the community, by the community.
- Family-Friendly & Community-Oriented
Free kids' activities (including a story & craft tent, a football pitch, & wildlife stall with kestrels, ferrets, owls, and other critters) as well as paid activities (such as trampoline bungees, a giant inflatable slide, a merry-go-round, and a shooting range).
- Volunteer-Run & Non-Profit
We do this for the love of live music and for the 2500+ people who come each year to enjoy it. When we do make a profit after paying for the festival infrastructure, this money is donated back to local causes. In 2018, for example, we donated to North Leigh Scouts to support their Jamboree fundraising campaign.
- Musical Diversity
Not sticking with one genre, we have something for everyone. From Gospel Choirs to Samba Bands to Brass Bands and Sea Shanties. From rock to country to ska to folk to prog to soul. We have everything from good old-fashioned covers to original new music from grassroots musicians.
- Supporting Up-and-Coming Talent
Since 2008, we've been supporting local bands as well as up-and-coming fresh musicians, giving early and formative stage time to young talented artists who have gone onto great thing. We also support talent beyond musicianship alone, such as our official photographer (11 years old), as well as budding sound and lighting engineers across both our stages.
- Beautiful Surroundings
We're tucked away in the beautiful green surroundings of West Oxfordshire and the vast woodlands of Eynsham Park estate, without a building in sight.
Festival History
Nor Lye grew out of a thriving local passion for live music with the first festival taking place in The Woodman, North Leigh, September 2008.
In 2013, we moved to the beautiful grounds of Eynsham Park estate and, on our 10th anniversary in 2017, we upgraded onto 2 stages of music across 2 days. Check out our past line-ups here.
Some of the musicians we supported when they were starting out:
The Standard (Peppermint Vandals) / Little Brother Eli (Adam Stowe)
Leader (Million Faces) / The Longest Johns (This Eden)
Death of HiFi & Lucy Vee (LucySamandDan)
Danny Mellin (High Rise) / Sprung from Cages
Twisted State of Mind / Santiago Kings (EsJayBe)
Kelly & the Beards (Kelly Smith, Nick Crow, Dan Blackford)
Cate Moglia (The Songbirds) / Casually Sinister (Rock Revolution)
New Depth / Papercut / RockSolid
Community music we have hosted and supported over the years:
Oxford Gospel Choir / The Accidentals / Sol Samba / MuzoAkademy
West Witney School Choir / Wood Green School Big Band