AWARD-WINNING country duo the Shires entertained thousands of people as they brought this year’s Chagstock festival to a rousing end, writes Ruth Davey.

The two-day event held near Chagford saw some 5,000 people pass through the gates to sample some beer, musical treats and great entertainment.

One couple even held their wedding reception at the festival after tying the knot earlier on Saturday.

Luckily for them, and the rest of the festival-goers, the rain managed to hold off for most of the weekend and the sun was beating down on the main stage.

After horrendous rain showers, on Friday, and tales on social media of mud and vehicles getting stuck festival goers got braver and gathered at Chagstock.

While Undercover Hippy played out their cheerful tunes on the marquee stage everyone’s spirits lifted, the rain eased off, and the festival got properly underway for the first evening of entertainment.

Well-dressed ‘Undercover Hippy’ Billy, from Bristol, now plays with a five-piece band, bringing keyboards, drums, bass and congas to create a high energy, interactive and highly entertaining live show, including reggae and Ska riffs. The Chagstock audience loved them and, by the time they played their quirky track Boyfriend, the audience were all dancing and leaping around, lapping up encore after encore.

Then out on the open-air main stage Raghu Dixit’s unique blend of traditional Indian music with a contemporary, global sound created the perfect backdrop as the sun came out before setting beautifully on the moor.

And then the party really started as Slamboree burst onto the stage with their crazy unique ‘pyro circus rave’ act. While some were left speechless many stormed to the front to join in this feast of festival madness.

With ‘naughty ballerinas’; fire and knives juggling; death masks; men in Houdini-style chains; and so much more, this amazing band blasted Chagstock with an incredible show. Having picked up ‘best festival band’ accolades in recent years this wildly innovative group — who combine dance music, brass band, burlesque, and circus skills, including some not for the faint-hearted — appear to be travelling from festival to festival, and strength to strength. The Chagstock crowd was suitably enthralled.

And then came the headliners, Soul II Soul, to finish the night with a heady trip back to the 80s and 90s with their many soulful classics, including Back to Life and Keep on Moving. Lead Jazzie B was on great form and clearly enjoying his trip from London to Dartmoor.

Although a lot of the Slamboree fans seemed to vacate to the more danc-ier Live Lounge area to continue their rave, Soul II Soul captured the remaining audience with their soothing melodies and lyrics of hope and love, as in the words of Jazzie B: ‘a happy face, a thumping base for a loving race’.

Kicking Saturday’s music line-up off was Kings of Soul, Daisy Clark, Echo Town and John Fairhurst. 

Chagstock organiser Si Ford and his band New Crisis whipped the crowd into a frenzy with their rendition of Prince’s Kiss and Ian Dury and the Blockheads’ Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.

Seventies rock band Dr Feelgood took to the main stage on Saturday afternoon and had the crowds singing along to some of his numbers including Milk and Alcohol before Mr Tea and the Minions entertained punters in the Marquee Stage.

Lots of visitors, embracing this year’s theme of spies and dolls, could be seen plodding around the festival sporting fancy dress.

An abundance of Austin Powers look-a-likes were spotted along with Dr Evil, Hong Kong Fuey and your traditional spy in a long coat, brief case and hat.

The Dub Pistols and Skinny Lister were the last two acts to take to the stage before the Shires gave it their all.

Consisting of Ben Earle and Crissie Rhodes, the pair’s country sounds echoed around the festival’s picturesque surroundings.

Naked, A Thousands Hallelujahs and My Universe – which is the country’s second fastest selling album in history – were among many of the songs belted out by the duo.

Any profit made from the annual festival will be donated to the Devon Air Ambulance and Water Aid.