After the party is over...!

OsFest 2012 draws to a close as Razorlight take to the stage.

SO THAT'S it for another OsFest!
But even though the 2012 event is over, there's always next year to look forward.
And with over 5,500 festival-goers made their way through the gates this year - up on last year's 5,000 - it's hardly surprising tickets for 2013 are already selling!
Event Director, Carly Jackson, said: "The weather has been a shame, but if you have a wander round people have definitely embraced it, so I'm really pleased.
"It's definitely helped making the site smaller this year and everyone seems to have had a really good time, which is fantastic."
But any plans for next year's artist wishlist were put on hold as Carly and the OsFest team had quite a bit of clearing up to do, including 30 tents, numerous shoes and boots and over 15 tonnes of rubbish.
"Our new waste management team were fantastic and kept on top of the rubbish all weekend, so on Monday they just had to blitz the area," she said, adding: "The Showground Committee were great. The ground had been churned up over the weekend, but they rolled it out so it's not too damaged."
A limited number of earlybuy tickets are now available until June 30 by visiting www.osfest.co.uk, or by calling 01691 680468.
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Keeping everyone in check, but really causing all the backstage gossip, it's OsFest presenters Katy and Clayton!

THEY caused mayhem at last year's festival and had already damaged the VIP tent by the end of the first night this year.
But Katy Poulsom and Clayton Wright - pictured with that Razorlight groupie who just kept cropping up, but who definitely had a soft spot for Miss Poulsom - are still firm favourites with festival-goers and OsFest organisers as they bring chaos to the event.
"I can't believe they invited us back, but I'm so glad because I love Summer festival," said Capital FM presenter, Katy, just before wrapping up OsFest 2012.
Clayton agreed, adding: "It's great to bring what we do to the festival crowds.
The duo, who have known each other for over 12 years, compere over a dozen festivals every year and literally whizzed off to Rockness in the wilderness of Scotland, following OsFest. But they still enjoy their Shropshire visit.
"It kick starts our Summer," Clayton, who freelances as a DJ, explains, "It's just the most amazing stage and there's an amazing line-up, plus there's a great family atmosphere - we are really privileged."
And the typical British weather wasn't going to dampen their spirits, as he continues: "Saturday night with Dappy was incredible and today's line-up is massive too.
"The crowd are really playful, we are here to have a laugh and it's a festival that we want to have and do have fun and party at - regardless of the weather."
He added: "The team behind the event do a fantastic job and I see it getting bigger and bigger."
Katy agreed, commenting: "It's great that smaller places are bringing out the crowds like this with massive acts and I really hope we're asked to come back next year."
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Razorlight are here, but it's all change on the stage

IT'S been a while since we last saw Razorlight in full flow.
Having rocked their way into our lives back in 2004 and making frontman, Johnny Borrell a international success - he dated Hollywood actress Kirsten Dunst - the band appeared to fizzle out following the release of their third album, Slipway Fires in 2008.
But now they're are back, with Borrell still in the spotlight, but surrounded by new faces.
David 'Skully' Sullivan Kaplan, Gus Robertson and Freddie Stitz, got on board just a few months ago and have already performed at a string of festivals as they work on new material.
However, the question on everyone's lips is what will the 'new' Razorlight be like and what is like to work with someone as renowned as Borrell.
"We're mostly continuing the old sound," bassist Freddie, pictured with band groupie 'Josh', revealed at last weekend's OsFest, "But there is some new stuff mixed in, so it's changed a little bit, but we still sound like Razorlight, Johnny doesn't want to lose that, it's just more like the first album."
So how did he join Razorlight?
"Johnny was looking for a side project and I played quite a lot of instruments, then he just turned up at a rehearsal one day.
"At first I thought 'what am I getting into?' but it's a different sounding band and I have got a lot of respect for Johnny."
He also revealed that OsFest is just one festival of many over the Summer, while the band concentrate on their new project.
"It's nice to do all types of gigs, the smaller ones like OsFest have a great atmosphere," but commenting on the wet weekend added: "If the crowd can wait in the rain for us then we want to play our best for them."
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Still to come...

RIGHT then guys, due to lack of battery I'm gonna have to call a halt to the blog tonight, but be sure we still have interviews to come from Razorlight, presenters Clayton and Katy and the event organisers.
And don't forget, we'll be tweeting the randomness for as long as the battery holds out!
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The GLC are in the house...and they promise not to break the stage this year!

IT WOULDN'T be OsFest without the kings of the South Wales rap scene, Goldie Lookin' Chain.
Making their third appearance in as many years, the band - which seems to have an untold number of members - have promised not to break the stage this year as they were famed for doing in 2011.
"It was Billy who broke it twice," says Rhys, "Hopefully, we're planning on not breaking it this year. We're hoping the OsFest guys have put some sort of provision in to stop that."
He continues: "This is the best festival in the British Isles, we're so excited and happy to be back.
"It's amazing this year performing alongside some big acts and we're pleased to be back."
Eggsy adds: "The band are really excited about watching the other bands, especially Hard Fi!"
But the guys are disappointed about one thing - missing Levi Roots yesterday: "If we're invited back again next year we will do a cooking demo and I bet it will be hotter than Levi's," says Rhys.
The lads say they love returning to Oswestry, with Rhys describing The Ironworks as "an awesome place", adding: "The people are really nice."
"It's a good part of the world," says Eggsy, "It's quite and nice - not violent like some of the places we visit!"
And the gang have been visiting a lot of places since we last saw them 12 months ago.
Maggot has filmed a part in a film due for release next year featuring Martin Freeman and Eggsy regularly appears on Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert's radio show.
Graham explains: "We're all going to appear in a film Eggsy has written.
"But anyone in the band who does something else is supported - it's what we do."
Expanding on the project in question, Eggsy explains: "I've done a couple of films, one was just a short film that won a Reed Recruitment film award recently, but in this latest project I play a record producer who works with the Satan. We just need to get finance for it, but I'd like to start shooting next year."
He adds: "Working with Rhod has been great, I really enjoy it and he's a really cool guy.
"But I guess it's all just extra branches to the GLC tree!"

More details and links to the lads filming projects will follow.
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A smile that can melt any heart...

I CAN'T lie, interviewing acts at OsFest is one of the best parts of my job, but when the artist in question is Loick Essien it's tricky not to go weak at the knees.
The 22-year-old heartthrob was more than willing to have a chat ahead of his performance supporting Dappy last night and with a smile that could melt any heart, he told me how he has quite a few exciting projects up his sleeve.
"I'm doing something for the Olympic Torch Relay with Coca Cola, performing with Wrench 32, Katy B and a few others and I'm really looking forward to that," he explained.
"Then I'm also performing at the Isle of White festival and I've got a new album coming out later this year, but before then I'm bringing out a CD with some extra songs on it to give the fans a taster of what the album is like - it should be good."
The Londoner continued: "Music brings me everywhere and everywhere there is music. Right now it's brought me to Oswestry and I'm really looking forward to bringing my music to the people here."
As with most of the acts performing at OsFest this weekend, the gig is just one in a very long line of events, especially following the success of his single 'How We Roll', but Loick is very enthusiastic of what seems like a gruelling schedule: "It's crazy, but it's good. It's something I love to do and performing is the best part for any artist because it's letting people hear the music and have a sing-a-long."
And as those at OsFest last night know, that is exactly what the fans did - along with a fair bit of whooping and cheering!

Follow Loick Essien on Twitter @LoickEssien, or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LoickEssien
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Delilah kicks off her festival season at OsFest...

THE British Summer wasn't going to dampen Delilah's spirit as she kicked off her 2012 festival season at OsFest last night.
The 21-year-old from London gained a large fan base with the release of her single 'Breathe' last month, but has also collaborated with Chase & Status and Wrench 32.
"I'll be going to festivals every weekend now," she said before hitting the main stage.
Currently, on a whirlwind promotional tour ahead of releasing her debut album, 'From The Roots Up' next month, she added: "I really enjoy festivals and there are lots of cool acts here at OsFest.
"I'm sorry about the weather, but I'm sure the crowd are up for it."
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"We're not like other girl bands" say Stooshe...

The Stooshe girls, from left, Courtney, Karis and Alex.

IT'S been yet another hectic day for Stooshe.
The three-piece RnB, hip hop girl group have literally arrived from a gig in Birmingham and within minutes of having a quick curry in the OsFest green room, Courtney, Karis and Alex are preparing to get the party started on the main stage.
Since their second single 'Love Me' reached number five in the UK singles charts, the London ladies have been on a none-stop tour of the country.
"We're really happy to be here," says Karis, with Courtney adding: "It's really exciting and we can't wait to be on stage."
"It's been absolutely crazy and none-stop," continues Alex, "It's great to be doing what we're doing."
The girls came together in January last year after Courtney and Alex were approached to form a band, along with former Brit School pupil Karis, who says: "The bigger names like Adele were a couple of years above me, so it gave me the initiative to go for it."
But the trio are adamant that they're not like other girls bands as they genuinely get on.
Karis explains: "We do get on, we're like sisters and it's gone passed the friendship stage and I think that comes across on stage - it's who we are."
"We just want to make music and make people happy through it," Alex adds.

Follow Stooshe on Twitter @Stooshe and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Stooshe
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From the streets of Hollyoaks, to the OsFest stage...

"AREN'T you the band from Hollyoaks?" asks a fan as I'm interviewing groove/pop band Daytona Lights.
The five London lads - Matt, Danny, Laurence, Louis and Sam - could be any other group enjoying the VIP area at OsFest, but there short stint on the popular soap has seen the propelled to stardom.
"We were asked us to come on and play ourselves in the show," explains Louis, but we were a fully functioning band before, during and after."
Things have certainly been busy for the group in recent months, especially after launching their debut album, 'This Modern Landscape' at the end of last year after forming two years ago.
"We are looking to write and record new material in the next few months," continues Danny, "but at the moment we're busy performing at gigs and festivals."
OsFest is their first outdoor festival of the Summer - sorry about the typical British weather lads - but the wet isn't putting them off: "We're hoping it will pick up," says Matt, "We want to try and get people to forget about the rain."
"We're sure it's going to be brilliant," continues Danny, "and it's nice to be sharing the stage with some big names."

Daytona Lights perform later this evening. Follow them on Twitter @DaytonaLights and via Facebook www.facebook.com/DaytonaLights

Daytona Lights, from left, Sam, Laurence, Danny, Matt and Louis.
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Putting some music in our glasses...

LEVI Roots has come a long way since he nervously stepped foot in front of the formidable five from the BBC's Dragon's Den.
But who could have thought that one day his now famous Reggae Reggae Sauce would lead to a record deal, cookery book and even a drinks range?
And now he tick performing AND cooking at OsFest 2012 off his to do list after he put some serious music into the festival.
Just minutes after performing on the main stage, getting the crowd grooving to his easy Caribbean sounds, he moved to the OsFest VIP kitchen to get everyone's taste buds watering with Jamaica's national dish - ackee and saltfish - using his favourite implement, the pestle and mortar!
"It's great to see Caribbean food on the shelves alongside French and Italian and it's great that I've had a part and influence on that," he said.
"I've always believed music and food go together and I think that's why the Dragons invested in me."
Unfortunately, Mr Roots did struggle to pronounce Oswestry, but he added: "I've had a fantastic time on the stage, it blew me away."
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The Loveable Rogues kick off OsFest 2012 - but say don't believe everything you read in the papers...

IT MIGHT only be a couple of weeks since the end of Britain's Got Talent, but The Loveable Rogues have been clocking up the mileage around the country - and last night they hit OsFest!
The talented trio, who hailed from London, kicked off the festival straight after the fantastic Shropshire Proms fireworks display, performing songs including Rude Boy,
"We've been going around trying to meet everyone who voted for us, said Te, "We've had great responses to our gigs, but we still find it scary going on stage.
Eddie continued: "It's encouraging to get out there, the numbers who voted for us was incredible, but we've had no downtime - it's amazing what you can fit into a week."
From getting used to shopping with security guards, to be heckled by builders who voted for them, the boys have been on a steep learning curves - not least because of the controversy surrounding the news that they were asked to audition.
However, the boys are adamant they had no connections with music mogul Simon Cowell, with Eddie commenting: "Don't believe what the papers say. Loads of acts were asked to audition - there are many ways to audition on there and loads that are asked don't get through.
"We were really lucky it happened," he continued, "and I wouldn't change any of it for the world."
Ahead of their OsFest appearance, Sonny said: "We're really excited to be kicked it off."
Te added: "There are some massive names here this year and to be opening it is amazing."
And open it in style they did, especially when they said all the other festivals are nothing compared to OsFest - but then we knew this already!

The Loveable Rogues: Twitter @LoveableRogues; Facebook www.facebook.com/LoveableRogues

The Loveable Rogues, from left, Sonny Jay, Te Eugene and Eddie Brett.
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It's all red, white and blue for the Shropshire Proms!

WITH flags flying and a strong British spirit, Oswestry's Diamond Jubilee celebrations went off with a bang last night - literally!
Concluded by a beautiful ten minute firework display, the Shropshire Proms event held on Oswestry Showground last night (Friday) ahead of OsFest was the pinnacle of the county's jubilee festivities - and what an event it was.
Kicked off by local singer Libby Gliksman, who performed some beautiful renditions of classics by Grammy award winner Adele, and followed by OsFest regular Glenn Aitken and his band - who had flown in specially from The Maldives - the highlight of the night was the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, who brought a rousing 'Last Night of the Proms' to people young and old.
Families from all over the area came to the event, hosted by Shropshire Council in conjunction with the OsFest team, with many bringing tables, chairs and even candles to enjoy the full spirit of the night.
And Keith Barrow, Leader of the Council, has hinted this could be one of many Proms-style events on the Friday before Shropshire's biggest festival.
He said: "This has been a fantastic success. There's a great atmosphere and just look at the mothers, fathers and children all waving their Union Jacks and singing - it really doesn't get any better.
"Hopefully we can do something on the Friday before OsFest next year because it's great to see people enjoying themselves together like this."
Cllr Barrow continued: "The whole OsFest event is fantastic for Oswestry and I'd like to thank them for their help, the Showground Committee for allowing us the use of the field for free and the people at Shropshire Council, especially Kate MacDonald from our Graduate Scheme, who has done so much of the organising."
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The countdown is almost over...

So the months and weeks have finally passed and we're just 24 hours away from OsFest 2012.
But as if Shropshire's biggest festival isn't enough to get excited about, here at the Oswestry Advertizer we've teamed up with the OsFest guys to bring you all the best news, interviews, reviews, plus ALL the backstage gossip with this, our Advertizer OsFest blog!
Reporter Emily Davies will be the eyes and ears for the whole four days, getting you as close to access all areas as we possibly can.
So if you have any burning questions for any of the artists, or you just want to tell us who you're looking forward to seeing and hearing, send us a message either on here, via our Facebook page, or Emily's Twitter account.
And from all of us at the Advertizer, have a great OsFest 2012!
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Advertizer Osfest Competition Winners

Congratulations to Jack Jones and Emily Evans, winners of the Advertizer's Osfest competition, pictured receiving their prizes from Event Manager Carly Jackson (centre). It's not too late to get your hands on tickets for OsFest, but don't forget the last order time for home delivery of tickets is 2pm tomorrow (Wednesday May 30) tickets bought online after tomorrow will need to be collected from the ticket office and a limited number will be available on the gate, subject to availability.

Don't forget to follow Advertizer reporter Emily Davies on twitter @BCA_EmilyDavies to get her live updates during the event, or check back here for photos and blogs over the weekend.

OsFest is coming!

With just days to go to OsFest 2012, the Oswestry Advertizer launched this blog with all the best news, interviews, reviews and not forgetting all the backstage gossip!
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