Microfest ought to have happened in February this year, but was shot down by my assorted lurgies. It still seems like a good idea.

WHAT IT’S ABOUT: a lot of my musical friends don’t so much go to festivals to watch the concerts, as to find the pub sessions and make music. With the festival season on the wane, it seems sensible to do away with the whole ticketing affair and simply provide a place where you can get a good drink (and hopefully something to eat), meet like-minded people and spend the day in sessions of your choice - if not of your making. If you want to come to listen, that’s fine, too. The evening should morph into something resembling a ceilidh: it will be about doing what you enjoy, so be ready to muck in. We hope to find time for all sorts of styles of folk music and might resort to spinning the bottle to see what happens next.

THIS IS A FREE EVENT: we expect to recover our costs from bar profits and no, we will not be overcharging for drink. Cholsey’s Amwell Springs Brewery will provide tasty beers that have travelled barely half a mile to please your palate. You can also expect excellent ciders from Hitchcox’s of Warpsgrove; there will be many other popular lines in drink, including tea and coffee.

INTERESTED?: it will be useful (HINT!) to know how many people might want to take part: it helps with guessing the beer and food requirements. Just email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you like the idea; you won’t have to sign up or commit to anything. We can’t really cram more than a hundred into the premises, so hearing from you ahead of the day might help to avoid disappointment, too.

Just a mention: off-road parking is free at The Pavilion but up to about 2.30, there may still be some cars belonging to our local footballers and their fans.

I hope to see a lot of friendly faces at Microfest, so make a note in your diary now.

Best wishes
Ian Wheeler