Oasis (sort of) make appearance in Cambridgeshire festival line-up

Scarecr-Oasis
-Credit: (Image: PA)


Oasis fans were delighted when the iconic British band announced they were reuniting for a tour next year. Liam and Noel Gallagher have buried the hatchet and announced a whirlwind tour of the UK and Ireland.

The tour dates are all in big cities including London, Manchester, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Dublin. However the band are also part of the line-up at a Cambridgeshire festival this summer - alongside Taylor Swift, Thomas the Tank Engine, the Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland and many more.

As you've probably guessed by now, it's not a music festival and it's definitely (maybe) not - as far as we know at least - the real Oasis. It is the Great Paxton Scarecrow Festival, which has returned to the Cambridgeshire village.

Read More: The Cambs village with beautiful nature reserve and annual scarecrow festival

Read More: The Cambridgeshire areas with the most people claiming Pension Credit

The Oasis tribute, among 57 scarecrows at this year's event, have been dubbed Scarecr-Oasis. Liam Gallagher’s signature parka and a pair of sunglasses is worn by one of the scarecrows, while the other is holding a guitar and donning a checked shirt and a wig which bears a striking similarity to Noel Gallagher’s real hairstyle.

If you want to catch a glimpse of Oasis in Great Paxton -which at least would avoid the controversy over dynamic pricing - then you don't have long. The scarecrows are on display until midday on Sunday (September 22).

May the straw be with you! A scarecrow Stormtrooper from Star Wars
May the straw be with you! A scarecrow Stormtrooper from Star Wars -Credit:PA

The festival was founded by Great Paxton local Joanna Clark, 47, during lockdown, in 2020. For the the past two years, it has been run by a committee, including Ms Clark and five others between the ages of 43 and 49.

Rachael Martin– one of the committee members who is also landlady at The Bell, a pub in Great Paxton – told the PA news agency most of the scarecrows have been made with straw, while others have been made from materials including pallets, paper and even bedding.

Taylor Swift scarecrow
Oasis aren't the only big names in music making an appearance - here's 'T'Haylor Swift' -Credit:PA

Reminiscing on the origin of the festival, the 43-year-old said: “It started four years ago as a crazy – too many wines – bored Jo idea in lockdown. Then just got bigger. Over the years, there have been some real stand out ones and some hilarious ones.

“We had the Queen, Beatrix Potter, Peter Rabbit to Ironing Man (a scarecrow Iron Man from Avengers stood at an ironing board).

“This year there were 57, but we have had up to 90 in the past.”

Thomas the Tank and the Fat Controller
Thomas the Tank and the Fat Controller -Credit:PA

The festival does not have a theme and never has as the committee hope this allows people to “use their imagination” more. It has taken roughly six months to plan for the event and has been well-liked by locals and those further afield alike since its inception.

“It means a lot to Jo who is the founder, but the village love it as do the visitors every year,” Ms Martin said. “The hard work is getting people to make them. But they (the villagers) always come good.

“It’s the best village community event without a doubt.”