SEPTUAGENARIAN legendary folk musician Donovan took to the main stage at Chagstock’s tenth festival claiming music festivals are the ‘people’s choice’ and as such are free from the restraints imposed by TV executives.

He made the barbed criticism of mainstream media during his under-stated, sometimes melancholy, Friday headline set, which included his classics Sunshine Superman and Mellow Yellow.

The 5,000 festival-goers lapped it all up during a sunny two days of fun on the moor.

Saturday night headliners The Stranglers proved their punk longevity – 23 UK top 40 singles and 17 UK top 40 albums to date in a career spanning four decades – and whipped up a storm of revelers pogo-ing and dancing to classics such as No More Heroes and Peaches.

Opening with Andy Quick Band, fresh from their success at last week’s Glas-Denbury festival, the quality of music went from strength to strength throughout the event.

Free thinkers Ferocious Dog  put the crowd through their paces with a heady mix of rhythm and politics; popular reggae collective Easy Star All Stars performed their unique take on Pink Floyd classics; Johnny and the Chic Sisters breathed new life into 70s disco classics; and Marc O’Reilly more than ably filled the legendary ‘Irish-slot’ with his mix of spell-binding guitar and heavy melancholy rock beats.

Festival founder and organiser Si Ford led the band New Crisis on the main stage, and The Blockheads, performers for nearly four decades, brought the crowd to their feet with classics such as Reasons to be Cheerful. Ian Drury left a big hole to fill after his death in 2000, but front man Derek ‘the Draw’ Hussey breathed new life into favourites.

Fancy dress, stilt walkers and street entertainers, and tons of healthy tasty food, including smoothies crushed by bike-power, ensured there was also plenty to entertain young and old away from the stage areas.