SEVERAL thousand partygoers joined a muster of peacocks at the beautiful Larmer Tree Gardens for the ‘happiest, friendliest, quirkiest festival in the land’.

The event kicked off on Wednesday with British jazz singer-songwriter and Radio 2 presenter Jamie Cullum performing a number of songs from his 17-year career including his cover of JayZ and Pharell’s Frontin’ and These Are The Days. Acoustic, folk, pop singer Jack Savoretti was also a pleasing warm-up act on this opening evening.

Dutch jazz and pop singer Caro Emerald dazzled on stage when headlining the festival on Thursday night.

One of the biggest crowds of the weekend gathered on the main lawn on Friday evening to watch 70s rockers The Stranglers as they took us through a selection of their greatest hits from the past four decades, including Golden Brown, Always the Sun and No More Heroes.

Hot new Brighton band First World Pros entertained later on in the Social with a range of songs focusing on the ‘mundane’ and the ‘obsessions of life in the First World’.

Comedian Mark Steel had a packed Arc in stitches later on as he took a light-hearted look at current affairs including the EU referendum and the Queen’s 90th birthday.

Wellbeing is at the forefront of the festival ethos and for those not feeling too fragile in the mornings there was were a selection of exercise classes to wake up to, including yoga and Tai Chi on the lawn or, for those feeling more energetic, a jog with festival director James.

A bit of light-hearted fun to take part in at various times over the weekend was Ronan Leonard’s Ringo: Music Bingo in the Social. Also a late-night boogie in the Hide to his Dead Cool disco, playing anthemic tunes from artists who are sadly no longer in this world.

Southampton’s finest Still Moving DJs, Sidmouth-based singer songwriter Lori Campbell and alternative singer Jane Weaver all deserve a mention.

All good things must come to an end and after the fabulous, fun and fairytale carnival on Sunday afternoon, who better to round off this wonderful weekend of diverse music and more than Ivor Novello award-winning singer-songwriter Tom Odell with his grand piano and amazing band. Returning to the Larmer Tree with a second album under his belt, Odell had grown in confidence and was a true performer. With an explosive set of fast and furious piano playing and a few slower medleys, he took us through hits Another Love, Hold Me and Grow Old With Me from his first album as well as a number of tracks from his latest album The Wrong Crowd.

A fantastic ending to a fabulous, family-friendly and diverse festival.