Star Q&A: Blur’s Alex James

Liz Nicholls chats with musician Alex James ahead of Big Feastival on his Cotswolds farm, 28th to 30th August.

Big Feastival celebrates its 15th anniversary this summer, bringing together chart-topping music, award-winning chefs and family fun on Alex James’ Cotswolds farm. Ahead of the festival, Liz Nicholls caught up with the Blur bassist to talk food, music and how the event has grown into one of the UK’s favourite weekends.

Q. Hi Alex! Big Feastival is in its 15th year… did you ever imagine it would become this big?

Alex James: “Hiya! I always loved doing it, but I don’t think I imagined quite how it would grow. It’s helped that we started it at a time when British food was really coming back. When my wife Claire and I bought the farm 20 years ago, farming was in a tough place… foot and mouth, BSE; you’d only ever see farmers on telly having a terrible time. Now it’s so different. There’s been this huge food renaissance, especially in the Cotswolds. It’s become a real foodie mecca.”

Q. What makes Big Feastival different from other festivals?

Alex James: “It’s that mix of food, music and family. Food is universal – it’s something everyone can enjoy together. We’ve made it really accessible for families, with everything from kids’ cookery schools and mud kitchens to fire pit sessions and chef demos. Hopefully there’s something for everyone and you can learn something in the day, then have a few drinks and forget it all in the evening.”

Q. The line-up’s banging!

Alex James: “I’ve been trying to book Bastille for years – my kids are thrilled. The Streets will be brilliant. On the food side, we’ve got Simon Rogan, Rachel Allen, and lots of Bake Off and MasterChef talent. We started with three stages, now it’s about 30, including comedy, which has really taken off.”

Q. How has the food scene changed?

Alex James: “When we started, it was molecular gastronomy, chefs in lab coats, food from the future stuff. Now it’s gone the other way – back to basics! Fire, simple ingredients, cooking outdoors. Much more instinctive, and actually much easier to do in a field!”

Q. Food clearly plays a huge role in your life – what’s your signature dish and guilty pleasure?!

Alex James: “We’ve been making pizzas every weekend for about 20 years – from scratch, growing the wheat, tomatoes, making the mozzarella. Simple things done well are best. Great cheese on toast is as good as anything if the ingredients are right. As for guilty pleasures, I still love Primula in a tube. You never grow out of the food of your childhood.”

Q. What’s your earliest music memory?

Alex James: “Wanting the Laurel and Hardy record Trail of the Lonesome Pine. As a teenager, New Order – Blue Monday made me want to be in a band.”

Q. How do you see the music industry now compared to the early days of Blur, back in the ’90s?

Alex James: “It’s much harder for new artists. You’re either huge or nothing. It used to be possible to make a living playing small gigs, building up. It’s tough. But at least that independent spirit has moved into food instead.”

Big Feastival takes place from 28th to 30th August at Alex James’ Farm in Kingham. Find out more and book tickets at thebigfeastival.com.

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