Kiefer Sutherland stole the show as the Wickham Festival came to a fantastic finish.
The Hollywood action star of 24 showed he is equally at home with a guitar as a gun when he brought his band to the tiny Hampshire village.
His presence drew a capacity 7,000 crowd with the day completely sold out and the Village Stage Big Top packed long before he took to the stage with thousands clamouring for a glimpse of the actor.
And he did not disappoint with a 75-minute set of country, rock and blues to prove this was no novelty act.
With two hit albums to his name, his music was a perfect fit for this boutique festival which is now established as a major event in the south.
Kiefer was clearly bowled over by the rousing reception from the crowd going out of his way to say: “I can’t tell you what an honour it is to perform for an audience like this.”
He mixed old and new, slow and fast with both passion and precision to the delight of the crowd who had flocked to see a true icon in action.
It was a tough act for Alabama 3 to follow but they managed it with a powerful set which kept the party going right until the curfew signalled the start of another 12-month wait.
While the Village Stage was hosting a party, the Valley Stage housed more traditional acts with a fantastic four-pack to finish the festival.
Ralph McTell proved his voice is as strong as ever with a delightful set to pave the way for another music legend in Lucinda Williams.
She was followed by the ever popular Lindisfarne who delivered their usual high quality set before Gilbert O’Sullivan wheeled out the hits to close what has been a hugely successful event.
Tickets are already on sale for next year. Even though the line-up has still to be decided, hundreds have already reserved their places safe in the knowledge it will be high quality and the atmosphere will be as chilled and vibrant as ever.
Fans can save up to £80 on a weekend ticket by returning the booking form by August 12 – or save £70 if you book online.
